Question Details
Wt Loss In A Dog
by CorinneC - November 3, 2024    View Case Report
Rio is a 5yo MN labradoodle that originally came to our clinic ~3yrs ago for wt loss and voracious appetite when O was first pregnant. He has always been fed a good quality raw diet. Went through an online holistic Vet (I was not working at the clinic yet) and did hair analysis, much bloodwork (NSF), added a Dr Judy Morgan home cooked diet, etc. No real diagnosis was found but once baby born, Rio settled out and seemed BTN?!?!

Flash forward to me on Sept 4/24, Rio returns for rapid wt loss (5-6lbs in past 4mth, 41 down to 35lbs) and constantly hungry, begging for food. Diet and exercise the same but O is now pregnant again. Stools now quite dark, he's a little constipated, occasionally black and tarry stools too. He's also more clingy, barking more obsessively, and on hikes ore agitated and nippy, usually a very easy-going friendly boy. His tongue is reddish-pink, moist, small and pulses are thin, superficial, weak. He seemed like a clearcut case of Liver Blood and Yin deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation, so I put him on Yi Guan Jian, and had O add eggs to diet and focus on Blood-tonifying meats.

But only a few days later he is V+ with blood in it, more lethargic, so I added Sulcrate and he seemed to really rally. However, 1 mth later, email from O, not much change with weight, even lost 3 more lbs, so I had him back in for bloodwork. HIs energy was still great, E/D well (always wanting more), stools now normal brown but consistently on the soft side, no V+. O relayed at this point she felt he had had a really bad rxn to his vaccines at 1yo which seemed to spark some of these issues as well. It also seemed to me that Rio was reacted to her pregnancies?!?

His tongue now is still reddish-pink, phlegmy strands, sl dry and narrow and pulses seemed superficial, taut/wiry. We drew blood for a general panel an NAF! I added GF oatmeal to diet to increase soluble fibre as well as started him on Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan now considering some Empty Fire brewing. I also added Thuja Occidentalis 30C for 3 days, then once/week for 2 mth potentially.

After O gave 2 doses of Thuja, Lio seemed to become more hyper, pacing, restless, jumping at door to be let out, gassy, seemed really wired, acting like he needs to poop but nothing coming out...I thought I had given too many doses as homeopathics work to affect, so stopped it, but he ended up with leaky runny stools that weekend. At this point, with his persistently voracious appetite, progressive wt loss, and loose stools I now pictured an endoparasitism-type issue which generally calls for Wu Mei Wan. My understanding is that Yang is trapped in the Stomach and Heart some producing the ravenous appetite, and sometimes agitation and stress. The Yang is prevented from entering the lower burner leading to diarrhea. Started this and stopped Thuja and ZBDHW for now (although O did say that his appetite did slow down and he would lay down calmly after eating but stools runny).

Yesterday O called and although he is handling the new herbs (WMW) well, they don't seem to be doing anything: he's still super hungry, hyperactive, and agitated. So I kept him on WMW for now and added back in YGJ, and I'm emailing you!!

What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Corinne
Replies
by naturevet
November 3, 2024
Hi Corinne,

I think you're close on this one. The only thing I would suggest maybe adding in for now is Xiao Chai Hu Tang. Because the dog is tolerating or benefiting from YGJ and sucralfate, it tells us there is Yang Ming Dryness (i.e., a Stomach Yin deficiency) driving appetite and maybe contributing to the anxiety. Yin deficiency usually means Blood deficiency in dogs resulting in Wood overcontrolling Earth. All of this to say Yi Guan Jian is a good choice and that you're right to try to build on it.

There are only two ways to do something different here. One is to introduce Wu Mei Wan, and one is to add Xiao Chai Hu Tang. The hypervigilance is common in Shao Yang disharmony. Both formulas have ample Ginseng that can help the dog deal with the stress of pregnancy in the mom. Once she delivers, she may be much less stressed, allowing the dog to follow suit. Lower stress means a more normal microbiome and more normal weight (interestingly, microbiome changes are likely a big driver of weight gains and weight loss).

Rather than stopping the WMW, I would add XCHT. If she finally sees Rio settling, then you can likely wean him off the WMW, unless you reach a low enough dose that he starts to act up again. Both formulas harmonize the interior with the exterior, so they are wholly compatible and can be used at the same time. Both normalize the interior/exterior movement of Yang.

Hopefully XCHT is what takes Rio the rest of the way. I think you're close! XCHT is a good IBD formula, well indicated for those bowel and stool complaints, as well as a stress-induced microbiome issue. I would try adding it in.

Steve
by CorinneC
November 3, 2024
Interesting! I honestly don't think I would have gotten there without your reasoning. I am so excited to start the XCHT for Rio. I really want to help this sweet sensitive boy!

Thank you SO MUCH!!! And even more appreciated on a Sunday!!
Corinne
by naturevet
November 3, 2024
No problem. I meant to say that the main cause of Yang Ming Dryness is Shao Yang disharmony. Another reason why XCHT is a good next step.

S
by CorinneC
December 11, 2024
O is at the Wu Mei Wan and XCHT 1/2 tsp twice daily. She said that his food obsessiveness has returned and he is not losing weight but is not gaining either. She did not bring him in unfortunately, so no new tongue and pulse info. I kept him on WMW but instead of XCHT, I changed to Halscion as I felt like the voraciousness needed the hit of Yi Guan Jian and his anxiety around the pregnancy needed the CHJLGMLT. Make sense?
by CorinneC
February 3, 2026
Rec reducing Pred to 1.25mg SID and a slow transition to the freezedried . Hoped diet change and reduction in Pred would help with his gas and agitation/polyphagia. However, no change. O feels he may have regressed a bit with 1/4 dose Pred - more nippy and aggressive with other dogs, more voracious again. Gas less smelly on Smack though. He has very well toned pulses IMO. Tongue looks relatively normal but a bit red. With Pred addition last year O took him off Halscion and I really want to at least add back the XCHT? I have put his Pred back to 2.5mg SID (I started this 1 year ago as he was continuing to lose wt and becoming aggressive with food and kids so assumed an Atypical Addisons. O had a very tight budget).
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