Very Sick Pup

[Scott2553]

Hi all, Bruiser is just 5 months old, and last week, we had to take him to the vet because he became very lethargic, wouldn't eat, or drink. The vet kept him for a couple days to re-hydrate him. Their diagnosys was a viral infection combined with a bacterial infection.

We brought him home after a couple of days, and he was still very lethargic, but seemed somewhat better. He would drink, and the vet gave us some soft foor to try to get him to eat. He would eat very little. They gave us some antibiotic pills to give him twice a day as well.

He seemed to be getting a little more active earlier this week, but yesterday and today, he's had some pretty explosive vomitting and the wiered thing is, the vomit smells like feces....very very nasty stuff.

We've been religeous with the meds, and he's been eating regular food....albeit in very small quantities, and he's been drinking water quite regularly.

Any ideas at all? My wife's going to call our vet first thing in the morning, but we're really worried about the poor guy with this sudden foul vomiting.

Thanks.

Scott

 

[boxmom]

I am sorry that your Bruiser isn't feeling well. Is it possible that he is eating poop anywhere? I know that's gross, but they sometimes will do that. Sorry I don't know too much about this, but I just wanted to wish the best and speedy recovery for Bruiser.

 

[Scott2553]

I know a little knowledge can be dangerous, but I've been trying to scour the net looking up possiblities, and the thing that keeps coming up is a partially blocked intestine. I have a call in to our vet now...not sure she'll respond seeing as it's Sunday, but I just have to find out what's wrong with him.

I say partial blockage becasue he has passed stool, so I know something getting through him. He continues to drink plenty of fluids which is good as well.

As for him eating poop, no, since he's been back home, he's been under constant surveilance, and hasn't eaten any.

Thanks for the concern!

-Scott

 

[Thomas Liggin]

Did the vet consider the possibility of a blockage from something like eating a sock or a towel?

There have been threads about this, and it seems to me that the symptoms were similar.

Try a search on block or blockage. I hope the problem gets resolved quickly and that Bruiser quickly returns to being himself.

Keep us up to date on Bruiser's progress.


Tom

 

[DixieDiana]

I certainly hope that Bruiser will be better real soon!
I hope that it doesn't turn out to be anything too serious.
Please keep us posted!!
You and Bruiser are in my thoughts and prayers!

Jeanne

 

[dukie's mom]

Antibiotics can cause diahrea, in animals and people. It kills off the "Good" bacteria in the bowel that helps process body wastes.
WHat I usually do with my dogs to help reduce risk of diahrea when on antibiotics is to give them yogurt when on them. The cultures in the yogurt help replace the "flora" in the bowel. this works with people too.
It may not 10% eliminate diahrea, but will reduce it more to loose stools.

Your dog may have a partial intestional obstruction if is vomiting fecal matter. Diahrea can be a symptom of that too...there may be enough room for some liquid stool to seep around.

I think your vet needs to check things out more, and quickly.

 

[boxergirlxx2]

Wow, this sounds like something i learned at class today. I was in my EMD class (i'm a 911 dispatcher) and we were going through all the symptoms of different things, and if someone has a blockage in the rectal area, they will vomit feces...as the teacher said, it's gotta come out somewhere, that might be what's going on with your dog....but you never know unless they check it out...just sounds like the same thing she was telling us about, that it smells like feces and all that..


julie

callie and mollie

 

[Marimat]

Scott have you looked up Pyloric Stenosis

This is a congenital problem in all mammals. It usually presents in dogs at around 5 to 6 months.

The condition is characterised by projectile vomiting, dehydration and small loose stools. There is often a fecal smell to the stools.

The stomach has 2 sphincter muscles. The cardiac sphincter and the pyloric sphincter.

The cardiac joins the oesophagus to the stomach, the pylorus is the junction of the stomach and the small intestine.

If this pylorus is stenosed (narrowed) it doesn't allow for passage of food into the small intestine. Once the stomach gets full the only course for this food is to be vomited out, at force, often 6,7, or 8 feet across the room.

Because little food gets through this leads to the small watery stools (if she has those)

There is a simple surgical procedure to correct this when it is present.

The easiest way to tell the difference between this and a blockage is

With a blockage, she'll eventually stop eating. With a PS, she will eat soon after the stomach is emptied

With a blockage the tummy will harden and stay hard. With PS it will be transient. Hard when full, soft when empty

A blockage will see the puppy become lethargic. PS, the puppy will be normal between bouts of overfullness.

The infections are common in PS due to stagnant food sitting in the gut for prolonged periods

Illustrations are here


Pyloric Stenosis

 

[Scott2553]

I'm very sorry to say that we had to put Bruiser down this evening. He was in so much pain, it broke our hearts. The vet diagnosed him with intussusception. His body was not fighting any of the infections that he had as well. Even with him being treated all last week, and then being on antibiotics all this week, the vet said that he had numerous congenital problems that were just compounding on top of each other, and the poor guy just didn't have a chance.

The emergency vet said that they would provide a full report to our regular vet in a day or two. She also said we need to let the breeder know out of courtesy.

Well, that's about all I can muster right now......don't feel much like re-living the events of today.

Thank you for all of the well wishes.

-Scott

In Loving Memory of Bruiser
3/3/03 - 8/10/03

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

So very sorry for your loss.

Deepest condolences.

Dan