What the Heck is Intestinal Lymphangiectasia? Leroy's Story

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get. 

Gentle giant, Leroy. Photo My Brown Newfies

Inflammatory bowel disease is a form of auto-immune disease in which the stomach and/or intestine become overwhelmed by inflammatory cells. The resulting chronic inflammation leads to changes in the lining of the digestive tract, messing with passage and absorption of food. At the time of her diagnosis, Jasmine's looked and felt like a tumor.

Symptoms can be anything from diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, gas, noisy stomach, lethargy, and coat changes. Because it debilitates nutrient absorption, an entire body can become eventually affected.

If you're lucky, you can stay on top of it, but I have seen dogs die too.

With Jasmine, once it was finally diagnosed, we managed well with dietary changes, TCVM, supplements and the odd course of Metronidazole. But sometimes even the strongest medications fail to keep it under control.

A friend of mine, over at My Brown Newfies, has been fighting with this disease for what it seems forever. The disease is hitting hard and pulling all dirty tricks it can find up its sleeves. Her lovely gentle giant almost died a couple of years ago. It's been a long fight, but so far they are winning.

What is intestinal lymphangiectasia?

"Intestinal lymphangiectasia, it is an intestinal disease in which the ducts carrying lymph leak protein and other substances into the intestinal tract. This can cause, abnormal fluid accumulations and weight loss ... Leroy’s Lymphangietasia is secondary to his IBD, or so we are told."

Here you can find a list of measures they use to get things under control.

Caring for a chronically ill dog is not easy.

I've been there, done that. There are good days, and there are bad days. Or, in case of IBD, it's more like good weeks and bad weeks. Even when you're doing everything right, and things have been working, something always seems to throw it off balance, and you're dealing with another flare-up. Sometimes there is a trigger you can identify, sometimes it defies all rhyme and reason.

The best thing you can do is learn all there is to learn about your dog's condition, potential complications, and treatments. Over time you are able to see the subtlest signs of trouble in the making. The sooner you act, the better you can keep things under control. With Jasmine, we never knew the reason for the next flare-up. Perhaps it was something in the air. Or perhaps that was as far as her system could hold it together.

Don't give up.

At least, don't give up easily. Sometimes a chronic disease takes over and won't respond even to the best, most aggressive treatment. But until then, give it run for its money.

Have a Hail Mary strategy but don't overuse it.

Hail Mary with IBD are immunosuppressants, such as steroids. I knew that was an option I might use one day. There were times when I just about made the decision to use them. At least one of those times I would have killed Jasmine if I did use steroids as it turned out she had an abdominal abscess nobody knew about.

If you're interested in Leroy's story, follow My Brown Newfies.

Do you have a story to share?

Your story can help others, maybe even save a life!

What were the first signs you noticed? How did your dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?

Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you.

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An award-winning guide to better understanding what your dog is telling you about their health, Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, is available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.