clarke119
05-30-2010, 11:15 AM
Good morning. I am the mom of Tara, my precious 13 year young Wheaten Terrier. She was diagnosed with Cushings over a year ago and since the Trilostane, her readings have been "perfect". She is also on Levothyroxine and Enalapril. Unfortunately, like many others, she does have a sensitive stomach and food allergies and sometimes struggles with colitis. I am posting this as a warning that I wish I had seen. Over the years, for the colitis, Tara's vet has prescribed 250 mg. 2x a day of Metronidizole. In has usually worked after just a couple of days. Recently, this happened when her regular vet was going on a leave and we saw a new vet. The colitis hadn't resolved and she said that the dosage was way too low and should be 750mg! I reluctantly agreed to 500 mg 2x day but was very afraid. Again, it didn't solve the problem and now she was hesitating to squat outside. I thought maybe it was arthritis or something. I couple of days later, she was walking strangely as though she was "high stepping". Then, she started to really struggle and after calling the vet on a Sunday morning and being prescribed "pain" medication, I called again and this time, she met us at the office. As much as in retrospect, I am furious with her, I am grateful that at this point she did call the neurologist. In the meantime, she gave me prednisone but did want to speak to the neurologist first. Thankfully, the neurologist called back. Immediately she wanted the metronidizole stopped. I then had to take her in a couple days later to be looked at. In the meantime, she was unable to stand or walk at all. Her back legs were not working and she was weak in the front. Although this may be a "rare" neurological side effect of the drug, when it is happening to you- it is not "rare". It was so frightening and I'm sure all of you know how we worry and believe me, this was a heart stopper. Tara did recover from the metro toxicity and I am now trying very hard to get her on a diet that she can manage without problems. Currently we are trying venison by Royal Canin but I am thinking of trying the Addiction brand version. No by-products, etc. Any suggestions with food allergies that cause colitis? Thanks much, Tara's Mom