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Omeprazole and 'upset tummy'

dizzy

Active member
Quick snapshot - Ruby is 19 months and was diagnosed with SM last Nov. Currently under Mr Deutschland at Chestergates although returning 16th Feb for appointment with Mr Skerritt too - he is considering Ruby for surgery - shunt insertion.

Ruby is on furesimide and tolerates it well. Bunny hops usually occur 1 - 2 times on a long walk and scratching 3 - 5 times a day. We had a terrible weekend 2 weeks ago - on a long walk Ruby appeared 'drunk' and wobbly. She then appeared to rally round for no obvious reason and went on to have a good week.

Mr Deutschland saw her last Friday - he suggested we change her fleece lined harness for a 'step into one' that would not sit so high on her shoulder. He also prescribed Omeprazole alongside her furesimide. We changed her harness and sometimes we can go for a walk without any hops etc She also doesn't shy away from having it put on like she used to with her 'luxury' one. There's me thinking I was doing the best for her with fleece lined and all along a standard step into harness would have been kinder! :dogwlk:

After 3 days on Omeprazole Ruby got a terrible upset tummy - no vomiting though. Diarrhea and flatulence like never before. She eats Organic dried dog food for her main food but has always tolerated meat, veg, rice etc very well. This is the first ever 'upset tummy' she has had. :(

We return to Chestergates a week on Monday but in the mean time I think I will stop the Omeprazole - any thoughts, suggestions, experience with Omeprazole would be appreciated. (y)

Thanks

Dawn x
 
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You could ask her specialist if she can be on Cimetidine/Tagamet instead, but then your vet need to check every medicine she gets from now on for drug interactions.

I give Geordie his at least two hours after eating; have you tried that? Or first thing in the morning before eating.
 
Ilsa did especially well with her omeprazole, but every dog is different. There were some other drugs listed that had a similar effect, if you check cavalierhealth.org there was a list.

I've also read that the omeprazole should be given 2 hrs apart from the gapperntonin, I'm not sure why but that may have something to do with it.

So sorry for the trouble

Jen and Ilsa
 
Thanks for that info - we have not given her omeprazole tonight so lets hope that over the next few days she improves. It really has made what she produces smell fouler than foul! Off to make a nose bag of Lavender and herbs to carry under my nose when cleaning up! :flwr:
 
Update -

Thanks for your note Margaret .. Ruby's tummy is back to normal since I stopped her Omeprazole and to be honest she has only displayed very mild 'scratchy/bunny hop' moments. Walking her on her new step into harness rather than her fleece lined over head harness has proved a real success. :dogwlk:

We go to see Mr Skerritt and Mr Deutschland tomorrow and I am trying to write down all the questions I may need to ask him so I don't come away thinking ' I should have asked this! Obviously my main question would be - If he considers Ruby a suitable candidate for shunt surgery what is his success rate? and of course - What are the risks?

Ruby is becoming difficult to groom down her left side due to her hyper sensitivity and I am wondering whether a 'furminator' tool would be a consideration. Has anyone got any experience / opinions on this grooming tool?

Will update tomorrow after our visit.

Love Dawn x
Ruby :paw:
 
Harness

Hi Brian,
The harness I use now is an - Ancol padded harness. Ruby just steps into it and it doesn't touch her sensitive spot behind her left ear. The fleece lined one was luxurious but unfortunatley it made her bunny hop like mad. It was Mr Deutschland who suggested we changed to a step into one that sat further back on her neck and it's worked. :dogwlk:
Dawn x
 
As good as I could hope for . . .

Couldn't have hoped for a better consultation with Mr Skerritt and Mr Deutschland. Top and tail of it all is -

Ruby has 'normal' ventricles in her brain - apparently this is really good for her outlook with regards to her SM. :p
Her 'only' syrinx is considered small.
In Mr Skerritts opinion her prognosis is ' good ' ( but guarded )
He believes that as she has been caught so early medication is all she will need. He went on to say that Ruby may well only ever have the symptoms she presents with at the moment and not have any further complications.
He believes that because Ruby was put on meds so early, her chances of developing further syrinxs and complications are reduced greatly. He was so optimisitc I left with a huge smile. :p
I am realistic and know that things can go wrong and there are exceptions but he really did err on the side of optimism with Ruby and how she is presenting - MRI and symptoms wise.

The harness has paid dividends and Mr Deutshland gave me a demo of why she was in such a bad way a few weekends ago on our walk - basically the fleece harness was cutting into her 2 arteries and causing untold pressure - This new harness is positioned in a much better place for Ruby. :dogwlk:
So - his parting words were - She will probably live to a ripe old age and die of 'old age' or heart ( which iis perfect at the moment - I know this is likely to change in a few years) and not as a result of her SM.

The key to it all is how soon she was diagnosed and how quickly the diuretics were given, before any real 'major' damage was done.

So we will plod on - with a spring in our step - we will note any major changes and react to them quickly - but, just for now, we will not worry too much and live, and love.
Dawn x
Ruby :paw:
 
Having news about SM is so heartbreaking but, you indeed, got the silver lining. How absolutely grand for Ruby and all:w*w:
 
Hi dizzy

What great news ,well done Ruby pls take good care of yourself .Dizzy may I ask what size harness did you get I am always a bit worried about Daisy and I am sure she would be happier in a step in harness ,I have a fleece and lots of Puppia ones but she doesn't like them going over her head and they seem to rub her just behind her legs.
 
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