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Anastasia | 2 days ago
Our Female German Shepherd Dog Is 5 Years Old And Has Had Chronic Liquid Diarrhea For 5 Months. …

Our female German Shepherd dog is 5 years old and has had chronic liquid diarrhea for 5 months. Other symptoms are weight loss, sporadic inappetence and vomiting. Her energy is normal and bright. History of Pika, but no obvious ingestion of foreign objects during this interval. Three fecal studies mostly negative, two blood panels not conclusive (some levels low-normal). Two courses of Metronidazole (no effect), Three courses Amoxi/Clav (effective until finished), Panacur, probiotics, Cobalequin, special diets. Now on Hills GI Biome diet. Negative for EPI. Low B12. Vet has advised that this is antibiotic responsive diarrhea.

Went to an internal medicine specialist today upon referral. Ultrasound shows a tumour and intestinal thickening, lymph node activity. We are being steered toward open surgery to resect the intestine for possible, but unknown, malignancy and removal. Vet cannot explain why the diarrhea is antibiotic responsive, if malignant tumour. We are doing yet another expanded fecal study and Pancreatitis test to determine if coincident. We are already $3,800 into diagnostics with no real answers or help as to the root cause. Dog improves significantly with normal stools while on the Amoxi/Clav, but regresses immediately to liquid diarrhea when treatment stops.

Surgery recommended that may or may not be curative ($6,500). Of course, we hate to put our dog through this if futile, but understand that cancer cannot be diagnosed through imaging. Can anyone offer insights to either affirm our path or offer alternative ideas? Why the improved response to the antibiotics if a tumour is the cause? Thank you kindly.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your dog. What a crazy journey and diagnosis.
    I want to say that medically it sounds like you did everything right. I do not want to interfere with the work up or advice that you have gotten. I do feel that if you are at a specialists office you are at the right place.

    The only things that you might be able to inquire about would be fecal transfer or tylan powder. In some cases especially with GSD I also try a hydrolyzed diet. But based on your work up biopsy or exploratory surgery is on the list.
    There is no easy or right answer. Try to find a vet you trust and very best of luck. It sounds like you absolutely did absolutely everything you could do.
    Dr Magnifico

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Meredith | 1 week ago
My Four Year Old Male Doberman (Oskar) Seen At Emergency Vet For Excessive Vomiting (10 Times Right …

My four year old male Doberman (Oskar) seen at emergency vet Sunday 1/4 for excessive vomiting (10 times right after breakfast) . X-rays /labs/fluids. Suspected hiatal hernia. Vomiting has stopped. They felt he was critical. They transferred us to a larger ER as they were not equipped to handle this. Ultrasound and another xray performed. Dog is stable. First two vets at this location felt wait and watch. Third vet says we need to repair with surgery. Sending us to internal med for barium swallow. We are at about $ 6000 so far. Thank god we have insurance.
History of intermittent regurgitation while eating. No other symptoms. No reflux. No drooling. No weight loss. Only happens in the mornings after breakfast every few months. Nothing as severe as Sunday. Only once or twice then done. Happy energetic dog. History of allergies. Testing done. Tried immunotherapy Itchy skin , runny eyes. Managing on raw diet last three years. Cleared his skin for the most part. Avoided apoquel and cytopoint. Used Zyrtec. Previously tried hydrolyzed protein foods at around a year old. This is when regurgitation started ( coincidence? )he would also refuse to eat it. Bottom line do you think we should we consider surgery ? We do yearly echos and own our own holter monitor. We pinch penny’s to give them good care as these dogs mean so much to us. Feel we are being pushed into a very expensive and possibly risky surgery and I HATE putting my dogs under anesthesia. My own vet left the practice and I’m trying to find another that might be a good fit. I’m in NH and it’s not easy. Thank you !

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    These are one of those cases where too many opinions can make it even more confusing. Try to follow the advice of a vet who is both credentialed and trustworthy. Be honest about your thoughts and abilities and work together to find an answer that everyone is comfortable with.

    Very best of luck.

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Meredith | 1 week ago
Four Year Old Mn Doberman Seen At Emergency Vet For Excessive Vomiting (10 Times Right After Breakfast) . …

Four year old mn Doberman seen at emergency vet for excessive vomiting (10 times right after breakfast) . X-rays /labs/fluids. Suspected hiatal hernia. Vomiting has stopped. They felt he was critical. They transferred us to a larger ER as they were not equipped to handle this. Ultrasound and another xray performed. Dog is stable. First two vets at this location felt wait and watch. Third vet says we need to repair with surgery. Sending us to internal med for barium swallow. We are at about $ 6000 so far. Thank god we have insurance.
History of intermittent regurgitation while eating. No other symptoms. No reflux. No drooling. No weight loss. Only happens in the mornings after breakfast every few months. Nothing as severe as Sunday. Only once or twice then done. Happy energetic dog. History of allergies. Testing done. Tried immunotherapy Itchy skin , runny eyes. Managing on raw diet last three years. Previously tried hydrolyzed protein foods at around a year old. This is when regurgitation started ( coincidence? ). Bottom line should we consider surgery ? We do yearly echos and own our own holter monitor. We pinch penny’s to give them good care as these dogs mean so much to us. Feel we are being pushed into a very expensive and possibly risky surgery and I HATE putting my dogs under anesthesia.

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Meredith | 1 week ago
Four Year Old Mn Doberman Seen At Emergency Vet For Excessive Vomiting (10 Times Right After Breakfast) . …

Four year old mn Doberman seen at emergency vet for excessive vomiting (10 times right after breakfast) . X-rays /labs/fluids. Suspected hiatal hernia. Vomiting has stopped. They felt he was critical. They transferred us to a larger ER as they were not equipped to handle this. Ultrasound and another xray performed. Dog is stable. First two vets at this location felt wait and watch. Third vet says we need to repair with surgery. Sending us to internal med for barium swallow. We are at about $ 6000 so far. Thank god we have insurance.
History of intermittent regurgitation while eating. No other symptoms. No reflux. No drooling. No weight loss. Only happens in the mornings after breakfast every few months. Nothing as severe as Sunday. Only once or twice then done. Happy energetic dog. History of allergies. Testing done. Tried immunotherapy Itchy skin , runny eyes. Managing on raw diet last three years. Previously tried hydrolyzed protein foods at around a year old. This is when regurgitation started ( coincidence? ). Bottom line should we consider surgery ? We do yearly echos and own our own holter monitor. We pinch penny’s to give them good care as these dogs mean so much to us. Feel we are being pushed into a very expensive and possibly risky surgery and I HATE putting my dogs under anesthesia.

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Claire | 1 month ago
Finnegan Is A 3.5 Yr Old Male Cat With Serious Nasal Polyp Symptoms – Sneezing, Noisy/labored …

Finnegan is a 3.5 yr old male cat with serious nasal polyp symptoms – sneezing, noisy/labored breathing (snoring, stridor), persistent nasal discharge and one runny eye. He did two rounds of clavamox and one round of Doxycycline and nothing worked. I took him to two in person vets (including an emergency vet) in the NYC area and his blood work and urinalysis came back unremarkable. From the research I’ve done I’m sure it’s a polyp or something of the sort. The internal medicine places in my area are quoting me 5-10k just for a biopsy and they don’t have openings until mid January. Please help! I am able to travel with him in a car up to 6-8hours and will go where I can get him help. He is constantly snoring and I have to flush him out throughout the day. He is still eating but has lost a bit of weight due to this going on so long and progressively worsening. Last year he had FIP and he made a full recovery from the 87+ days of shots. Thankfully that has not returned according to his lab work but makes sense that he is more susceptible to other illnesses due to a weak immune system.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your cat. If you would like a consult at the clinic with me you can call the clinic and leave me a message. I will call you back and see if we can arrange a time to meet. 410-692-6171. Dr Magnifico

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Keturah | 2 months ago
My 6 Month Old Kitten Has Been Having Breathing Issues. I Took Her To They Diagnosed Her …

My 6 month old kitten has been having breathing issues.
I took her to the vet and they diagnosed her with an ear infection but then she got worse.

I did some research and watched a lot of videos and it seems like she had a Nasal Polyp.

I am sure my kitten is not sick with anything that can be spread because my other cat is perfectly fine.
She typically sounds like she is snoring all of the time.
I am not completely sure what she has, I am looking for an affordable vet to do surgery if needed.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your kitten. It sounds like you are concerned about a polyp? Are you trying to find someone who can help?
    Can you give me more information on what you have done and what has been advised for you to do?
    What are your thoughts and plans for this?
    I am happy to help in anyway that I can.

    I just need to know more about what’s going on?
    Krista.

  2. Keturah Post author

    Hi!

    Yes I am trying to find someone who can give me affordable care for my kitten.
    I live around the DC area and the vets are very expensive and out of my budget.
    I have spent a lot of money bringing her to a vet and an emergency vet that did not help her. I was told that she had an ear infection and I believe she got sick from the medicine they gave her and she got worse.
    She now has a constant snore and from watching your videos and other research I think she has a nasal polyp.
    I originally planned on coming to your office but was told it is too far away and I cannot use your clinic to provide my kitten surgery. I am about an hour and a half away. I have called numerous vets to see if they do surgery and have not found one near me.

    If I am unable to find an affordable vet I plan to take some sort of loan out to get my animal the help she needs.

    Thank you for your help.
    Keturah

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Keturah | 2 months ago
My 6 Month Old Kitten Has Been Having Breathing Issues. I Took Her To They Diagnosed Her …

My 6 month old kitten has been having breathing issues.
I took her to they diagnosed her with an ear infection but then she got worse.

I did some research and watched a lot of videos and it seems like she had a Nasal Polyp.

I am sure my kitten is not sick with anything that can be spread because my other cat is perfectly fine.
She typically sounds like she is snoring all of the time.

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Brianna | 2 months ago
I Just Moved Over 3 States, Which Was A Financial Blow. I Expected To Adjust To My …

I just moved over 3 states, which was a financial blow. I expected to adjust to my new life, but my kitty baby (Female 2 yr old Calico Cat) at the end of July – beginning of August 2025 suddenly had major weight loss and impacted anal glands. Being experienced I relieved them successfully externally, but took her to the vet to get antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and to get to the bottom of what caused it in the first place. I had to struggle finding a vet since I moved here, and no one wants to take payments anymore… the doctor that I talked to was horribly mean to me, made sure to let me know that I was un-welcome, but that they would work with me this one time and to never expect this grace again. From the small town in Arkansas that I grew up in, we have always been able to do payments or a tab, the animal always came first… I have literal receipts and statements from other vets showing that I never miss my payments with the vet, regardless of my credit. I did not realize it then, but their goal was to give me the anti-biotics and anti-inflammatory and send me on my way. But not before they tried to express her anal glands internally in an un-necessary manner. They were not gentle about it either, as she is an extremely quiet animal whose cries and screams when upset or in pain are almost inaudible. But when they took her back there, I could hear her all the way from the other room. I noticed that stuff did not look 100% correct when we got home, but everyone kept gaslighting me and saying it was just the inflammation and it would heal and go away eventually and that I just needed to let the drugs do what they were supposed to do. She started eating again and things were looking up, until this past weekend. She suddenly quit eating and I had to encourage her to eat. I changed her diet to the science diet so she has been on that since the visit. She was losing weight so I got her some vetri-cal while I logged her BM’s and everything until I could figure out what is going on to tell someone. Her butthole did look fine, until it didn’t. I don’t have money, so I was working to try and get to where I can take her, because I know they are going to want payment for EVERYTHING up front. But tonight, when I got home from working late, she was anxious to be going to the bathroom. So, I tried my best to encourage her, but noticed that when she was trying to have a BM she was straining and the inner lining of her butthole was trying to protrude with the BM. She pooped successfully crying the entire time, and there is no protrusion at this time. everything looks normal and dark pink to light red. She has an issue with it gaping off & on. But I am shocked and taken aback and sick to my stomach because I need help and I don’t know where to take her. I can pay, but I just can’t pay all at once in this economy, what can I do? Just took these photos a few seconds ago so you could have a reference to see what it looks like right now.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your cat.
    I have been a veterinarian for over 20 years. In that time I have very (very) rarely seen anal glands be a chronic issue, or cause chronic problems in cats if they can be emptied. I doubt that this is your primary issue. I do think that they should be checked at every examination however.
    I also feel that very few veterinarians run payment plans anymore. Unless you are a long standing good client you are very unlikely to see this available.
    If your cat is not doing well I can only recommend that you find a local, kind, compassionate vet to help you. It is ok to tell them that you are on a budget and it is common practice for us to offer a list of options that can be provided over time as you can afford them.
    I also think that it is important to keep up to date on vaccines, blood work and a fecal check.
    Good luck.

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Shannon | 3 months ago
I I Have A 2 Year Old Male Neutered Cat That Has Had Ongoing Respiratory Issues. My …

i I have a 2 year old male neutered cat that has had ongoing respiratory issues. My vet suspects he may have a polyp in the back of his airway and referred me to a specialist. The specialist wanted to rule out any other diseases so treated him for heart worm, upper respiratory infection and asthma. His symptoms only mildly improved with the asthma pump but has recently been getting worst. He seems to only has breathing issues when he purrs. I saw Dr. Krista Magnifico on YouTube doing polyp removals and I am interested in her opinion. I am willing to travel and book an appointment as soon as possible. I called the Doctors office but was told this was the only method of consultation for Dr. Krista.

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Roxanne | 3 months ago
Hi Krista, I Hope You’re Doing Well! I Came Across Some Of Your Videos On …

Hi Krista,

I hope you’re doing well! I came across some of your videos on social media and noticed that you’ve handled a similar situation to what I’m currently facing with my cat. My cat has been experiencing some breathing issues, and her vet mentioned the possibility of a polyp in her sinus area.

I saw that you’ve dealt with similar cases before, and I was wondering if you could provide me with a general quote based on your experience. I should mention that I don’t live in Maryland, but I’m definitely willing to travel if it means getting the best care for her. Vet prices are pretty high where I am, and I’ve been dealing with a lot of unexpected expenses for my other pets, so any help or insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your time and help!

Best regards,
Roxanne

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    A polyp can occur in any part of the ear, nose or throat area. I have only seen them in young cats. Most cats over 5-6 years old are more likely to either have chronic rhinitis or a tumor. That’s why it is recommended to see a specialist who can use a camera/scope or take a CT scan.
    I am only able to help those cats who have a polyp in the ear or back of the mouth and we only remove them by traction/avulsion. In some cases I cannot adequately reach them and in others we cannot get the whole mass.

    I cannot give an estimate for your cat but for the cases I have helped the estimate has been between $300-800.