Question Details
Intermittent Vomiting/regurgitation, Diarrhea And Anxiety In A Pit Mix
by lrf9187 - June 16, 2025
Hey Steve,

Thought I had this one figured out but now we've had an unexpected new symptom I need some help sorting out in my brain.

4yr FS Pit mix with chronic mild vomiting since puppyhood, that had progressed significantly about 1 year ago. She also had regurgitation, diarrhea, lethargy and weight loss when symptoms first got worse in August 2024. Was on Blue Buffalo & Purina kibble prior to that time. Since then she switched to Zignature limited ingredient Venison kibble. She has a history of lung worm, anxiety with insomnia (always wakes them btwn 230-330am), and pica and prefers warmth & sun. Her stools are dry and crumbly half the time, formed & solid the other half. An endoscopy revealed chronic lymphoplasmacytic fibrosing gastritis & mild lymphoplasmacytic duodenitis w/ focal lymphofollicular hyperplasia.

She's been on omeprazole 20mg BID for the past 2 years. Was on budesonide and pred at some point and responded to them both. In the past has been on simplicef for skin issues and metronidazole for diarrhea.

When I first saw her:
T: red with a purple base, dry, a little cracked.
P: weak and feeble.
Overweight (BCS 7/9), halitosis without dental disease, dry cracked paw pads, coat a little dull/dry, and ventral abdominal hyperpigmentation (fairly mild).
She responded really well to GV-20/14, BL-21, SP-6, ST-41, CV-12. Slept better and was really calm for 24hrs.

So I put her on fresh foods, YGJ and a soil-based probiotic. About 2-3wks later, her vomiting and regurigation had significantly decreased, she was drooling less, her pica and anxiety improved and she was sleeping a bit better through the night. She actually got a little too sedate on Glehnia/rehmannia 2 tablets twice daily so I lowered her dose and then weaned her back up slowly.

Everything continued to improve, but last week they e-mailed me that her coat is getting worse. She has thinning under her collar and on her craniolateral hips/thighs, as if her undercoat is gone.

I'm debating adding in WLT for some more SP Qi support. Thoughts?
Replies
by naturevet
June 22, 2025
Hi there! You've had such a clear response to Yi Guan Jian that I think I would stick with diagnoses related to what it treats - Yang Ming dryness and overall Blood and Yin deficiency.

These both arise from and induce Shao Yang disharmony, which can also manifest with chronic skin issues. The regions you're describing can be associated with the GB channel, likewise serving as a signal that the Shao Yang id involved.

For me, then, I would be tempted to use a 2:1 mix of Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum) and Si Wu Tang (Four Materials). This is sold as Cessorex, if you carry Gold Standard Herbs. Otherwise you can blend it yourself from Natural Path granules (www.atimetohealherbs.com).

You can also add in instead Bu Gan Tang (sold by Kan Essentials as Liver Support Formula) to specifically grow hair via nourishing Blood. It doesn't take care of any associated Shao Yang disharmony, though, so if it doesn't work, you'll probably need add in Minor Bupleurum.

I would try those first. My concern with Wei Ling Tang is that it is too warming and drying and might actually aggravate this dog, as they already seem hot and dry.

Hopefully this helps you out. Let us know how things go!

Steve
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