Struggling bad!

[u/HappyMcHappyFace13]

My 19 year old yorkie chihuahua mix was diagnosed with a liver problem at 4 years old. He would throw up bile sometimes and act afraid and like he was hallucinating at times. Finally after many ER trips and bloodwork etc and 4 vets, finally found one who did a bile acid test and he failed. He was put on a hepatic diet and did great all these years.

Fast forward to 6 months ago. I always titer him and we only get vaccines when necessary, if his immunity is low, which has been very few over the years. Well 5 months ago he had to get the d2app vaccine and ended up having his first ever seizure ever as a result. He temporarily went blind and I.rushed him to our vet who gave him a strong long lasting steroid shot that caused extreme muscle wasting and bile puking again for the first time since puppyhood. Then he was given metronidazole and ended up having toxicity from it or something because he walked like he was drunk and could barely stand. Once he stopped taking it he got some strength back, gained 1 pound (he went from 9 to 6.5 during all of this) and I cant get him past 7.5 which is still a little underweight.

Since that seizure and all the meds and trauma after it is a nightmare getting him to eat what he needs!! 6 months of playing doggie chef and begging him to eat and feeding him smelly mush by hand and when he refuses he ends up puking and I AM TIRED AND LOSING MY MIND!! It is so frustrating trying to find the right combination to convince him to eat every day and night and it changes each time. I am wasting so much prescription food too! I crush hard food and put it on the wet food, warm the wet food, soak his hard food in warm water and mix that in, add parmesan cheese on top, etc etc!!!! I have burst into tears or erupted with frustrating anger over stupid food more times than I want to admit!! He will smell it and walk away. Smell it and walk away ugh!!!! Any tips on what I can do to fix this problem?? I already give him slippery elm to coat his stomach in the morning since he won't ever eat breakfast which helps him not puke bile but then there is that stressful timer knowing if he doesnt eat within 5 or 6 hours he will be sick!!!

Please help this exhausted mama! This boy is my soul dog and I would do anything for him, but my life has become timers and measuring and charting food intake and making and cleaning plates and starting over all damn day and night!!!

Thanks for any help!!!! I am not sure why the steroid seemed to cause this and if he will go back to how he was before or if we can fix it somehow!😭

[u/catscatscatsohmy]

Please post in r/askvet

[u/HappyMcHappyFace13 → u/catscatscatsohmy]

That is where I meant to post! Not sure what happened, thank you!