Thanks to Dr. Comer at VMRC of Tacoma, CH Melwen's Baron Czok Czok a.k.a. Czok was diagnosed in January 2005 with lymphoplasmacytic duodenitits with moderate lymphagectasia. He also had low normal cTLI and very low cobalamin. We had been trying for months to determine the cause of Czok's problem. His only symptoms were gushing water diarrhea and significant weight loss. His weight had dropped from a high normal of 56 pounds to 35 pounds.
Even though most dogs do not respond well to treatment, we were very luck in that Czok did.
He started with 30 mg prednisone twice a day, 50 mg azathioprine daily and a shot of 500mcg cobalamin weekly. I never would have believed that I would be happy to see my dog having normal, thick diarrhea ~ it was a big improvement from the gushing water! Czok continued to have thicker stools and the more formed they became, the more weight he gained! He managed to get up to 75 pounds and I was thrilled to have a fat Vizsla! Throughout his ordeal, Czok has never lost his zest for life and continues to be a happy & goofy Vizlsa. He has been losing weight again, but his stools are formed (soft, but not liquid). He is still taking steroids and azathioprine, but it is on alternating days & the steroid is now at 10mg. We still go back approximately every 5 months for re-evaluation & re-adjustment of his medication. Because he is on steroids he is watched closely for signs of "roid rage" and we have only observed a couple on instances of a short temper, but both times he responded quickly to correction. With the continued help of and monitoring by Dr. Comer, I now look forward to having Czok around for years, which is far better than when I was just hoping for days or weeks. He is the peace keeper for my house full of dogs and is the primary re-socializer for the rescue Vizsla's I foster. He enthusiastically welcomes them into our home, teaches them the "house rules" and lets them know that he is there to protect them and play. It has been almost 2 years since Czok first became sick and the progress he has made is, to me, miraculous. He is now 6 years old!
Patt Ekendal
Melwen Vizsla's
Olympia, WA.
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