I have a 9 yr old MN Yorkie that has had 3 bouts of pancreatitis over the past 3 yrs. His last bout in April resulted in him needing a plasma transfusion for his hypoalbuminemia.
He had another episode this past weekend after eating goose feces with an abnormal PLI and vomiting, lethargy, but all other bloodwork normal. He was on IV fluids, pain meds and NPO for 24 hours than the case transferred to me. On Monday, he was BAR, comfortable and ate small amts of chicken breast very well so I sent him home on famotidine and cerenia.
Yesterday he returned after not wanting to eat anything and being lethargic. On exam his stomach was very dilated and he was burping up a very foul smelling gas. His films revealed a large gas-distended stomach. We elected to go to surgery in case he had a pyloric obstruction. Exploratory was uneventful and the pancreas looked healthy. I took biopsies to see if we could find an underlying cause. We placed a stomach tube to remove the food that was in his stomach from the day before. So far I think he has a severe ileus from the pancreatitis. He is on a metoclopramide and lidocaine drip and still pretty punky today.
I was reviewing my notes and thinking he may have a TB obstruction so I was considering XCHT, but then Wei Ling Tang also looks good for the gastric dilation and pancreatitis. Unfortunately, no tongue and pulse info because I am at home today.
Also, how should I administer the herbs--if by mouth I am concerned how well they will get absorbed with the ileus, but he is also having diarrhea, so an enema doesn't seem the best either.
Thanks for your help!
Erica