Hi everyone, I’m looking for insight or similar experiences because I’m trying to understand what’s going on with my dog.
My dog Apolo is a 7 year old Yorkshire Terrier, about 3.5 pounds. He has a history of a spinal tumor that was surgically removed in 2024, and he has been on cyclophosphamide long term.
At the beginning of March, he started having episodes of pain that felt similar to what he had before his surgery, so we were worried the tumor could be coming back. We took him to the vet, and after testing they diagnosed bladder crystals.
He was switched 100 percent to Hills Prescription Diet c d urinary food, no transition, completely replacing his previous diet.
After starting the food:
the pain episodes improved
he began urinating a lot more than usual
over the following weeks, he lost noticeable weight
gradually became weaker and less active
He stayed on this diet for about 4 weeks.
Then things started getting worse:
very low energy
weakness, especially in his legs
no interest in playing
deep breathing (not fast, but deeper than normal)
still drinking and urinating a lot
Importantly, this feels very different from his previous tumor symptoms. Back then, it was pain driven. Now he does not seem to be in pain, just weak and off.
We went back to the vet. Bloodwork came back mostly normal according to them, especially electrolytes, but I noticed:
very high hematocrit
low platelets
slightly elevated BUN
Imaging:
chest X ray normal (heart and lungs look good)
abdominal ultrasound showed changes in the liver (hyperechoic) and mild kidney changes
At that point, we stopped the urinary diet and switched him back to a simple homemade diet (chicken and rice).
After stopping the food:
the excessive urination improved
he became slightly more alert
but he is still far from normal and fluctuates day to day
We also tried a 7 day course of prednisolone but it only helped his eye irritation, not the main symptoms.
Right now:
he is still weak
still has deep breathing
appetite is inconsistent
some days better, some worse
We are supporting him with fluids (coconut water, water, chicken broth) and small frequent meals.
Our vet is now suggesting a CT scan to evaluate his spine again, but I am not fully convinced this is primarily neurological given the lack of pain and the systemic nature of his symptoms.
My main questions:
Has anyone seen something like this triggered by a sudden switch to a urinary diet like Hills c d?
Could this be some kind of metabolic or systemic imbalance rather than a structural issue?
Does this sound more like dehydration and deconditioning rather than something like tumor recurrence?
Would you prioritize supportive care and stabilization before moving to something like a CT scan?
I’m not looking to replace veterinary advice, just trying to gather experiences or perspectives because something about this progression does not feel straightforward.
Thank you so much in advance.