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Both dogs sick ....

7K views 65 replies 21 participants last post by  Karen519 
#1 ·
Hi All - it's been a rough 12 hours in our house! So last night around 6:30 I fed both dogs (Cash - 16 months and Colt - 7 months). Colt gobbled up his food like normal and Cash kind of turned his nose up at it. He's not a huge eater so I didn't think much of it (they are both on different foods). Around 8:00 p.m., Colt started throwing up. At first, we assumed it was because he ate too fast (a terrible problem of his!), but then it didn't stop .... In the course of 2-3 hours, he threw up about 5 times. He made a couple of wines, curled up into my lap, and then would run off outside to throw up. My husband mentioned that he might have chewed up a toy so we made that frantic phone nighttime call to the vet since we were concerned about a blockage. They told us it was a judgement call about bringing him to the hospital and the main concern was dehydration. About as soon as I hung up the phone, Colt began to return to normal so we decided to wait out the night.

Well, right around 2 am, Cash started throwing up. Since then, Cash has thrown up probably 6-7 times and since he hasn't eaten anything, it's pretty much all water. He's incredibly "down" and has no energy. We have not offered him food yet but when he's had anything to drink, it comes back up 5 mins later (just like it did with Colt). He looks MISERABLE and my heart breaks for him.
Colt, on the other hand, is already back to normal.

We have an appointment in a couple of hours with the vet for Cash. In the meantime, I was wondering if you have any thoughts? It doesn't appear like they got into anything (I even walked around the house and backyard to see if we might have missed anything), they both eat different food, no swollen/distended stomach (I was concerned about bloat), I haven't seen worms in anything, and since they both are sick - I tend to think it isn't a blockage. Is it possible for dogs to get the stomach flu? Usually I would wait 24 hours before taking him to the vet, but since he's not keeping down water, I want him seen today.

THANK YOU for all of your help!
 
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#2 ·
Your dogs

Glad you are taking both of them to the vet.
Are they eating and drinking now?
Did they get HW or flea meds recently?
Glad that you ruled out bloat?
Did they get any shots lately?
I would take them both to the vet.
 
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#3 ·
Thanks for your lighting fast response, Karen! Colt is eating and drinking like normal (and keeping it down). His energy is high and he's playful.

We haven't offered any food to Cash but he isn't keeping water down. Since every time he drinks, he throws up - I removed the water and am trying a bowl of ice until we get him to the vet. He seems so dehydrated but I'm concerned that drinking and then throwing up just makes it worse.

We put Frontline on them both one week ago exactly. No heart worm medication or shots recently.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Cash

I'm no vet. I would call the vet and ask about the ice before you give to him.
I would ask if you can bring him in a little earlier.
I'm concerned he might be dehydrated too and I would mention about the Frontline.

Please let us know what the vet says.
 
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#5 ·
I know its so worrisome! Very sorry this is happening to you and them!
I had a somewhat similar situation Monday night. I was awakened by Bryley vomiting his entire dinner at 2:30 am. I got up with him as he was restless and panting. He drank some water around 3am and immediately vomited 4 more times. I knew why, though, I had let him chew a knucklebone earlier in the evening and there were shreds of the bone in all the vomit. Called to the vet and she asked me to bring him in. He had IV fluids, anti nausea injection, belly xray and bloodwork. He is fine,but still on the bland diet. Bone is in the trash!
I hope your pups are happy and feeling fine very soon!

**Once I called my vet and described what was going on, she said do not give him water. I guess the empty stomach best if something serious is going on?
 
#7 ·
Sorry about your boys, hope they are feeling better soon.
Mushrooms was my first thought too as I am lately harvesting bags in my small backyard almost daily.
 
#8 ·
Has there been standing water in the yard the might have drank? Any new treats, or had the yard treated for anything?

Just seems like it's something they share for both of them to get sick.
 
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#9 · (Edited)
Thanks for all of the input! We just returned from the hospital. The vet seemed convinced that it's an obstruction of some sort so we did X-rays. They came came back more or less inconclusive. They showed trapped gas in the small intestine but no obvious foreign object. She also was unable to palpate anything. With that said, she said the trapped gas is a symptom of an obstruction - especially when the gas stayed in that position despite multiple views. I explained that BOTH dogs have been sick but she didn't seem to put too much weight on that. She suggested admitting him to monitor him over night, rehydrating him with IVs, performing blood work, and then performing the X-rays again in the morning to see if the gas has moved. The other (less ideal) option was to rehydrate via a bubble under the skin, bring him home, and then bring him back in the morning for X-rays. She indicated that rehydrating him would help him pass an object if one was present.

We decided to admit him to the hospital in an abundance of caution. The extent of the dehydration is what concerned me the most. After we left, we got a call that his blood work revealed pancreatitis. She said it's a little bit of a chicken and egg scenario in that pancreatitis can cause trapped gas bubbles but an obstruction can also cause pancreatitis. He also had low electrolytes and increased liver enzymes - all indicate of pancreatitis. The good news is whether it's pancreatitis or an obstruction, the initial treatment is still the same (hydration, monitoring, and X-rays).

Right now the plan is to continue to hydrate him via IVs overnight and then perform the X-rays again in the morning. If there is still trapped gas, the vet believes it's likely an obstruction. Our next option is either a barium test or exploratory surgery. I think we will likely go the more conservative route and move forward with a barium test if needed. I hate the thought of putting him through surgery without knowing it's a blockage.

My gut says its pancreatitis. We were out of town last weekend and the dog sitter apparently gave the dogs rawhide bones (trying to be nice - in all fairness, I didn't warn her). Ever since he was little, Cash has always had a reaction to rawhide (usually diarrhea). The thing that throws me is, again, that they were both sick and the rawhide was 6 days ago. The good news is Colt is 100% back to normal.

This is the first night we've been home without Cash. It just isn't the same .....

On a side note, thank goodness for insurance!! This will be our first time using it but it's such a blessing to not have our choices be dictated by finances. While, we will certainly be left with a decent vet bill, we were able to make the best choices for Cash and not have the financial part of it be the determining factor. The vet was grateful we were willing to admit him for the night.

THANK YOU for all of your care and concern. I'll let you know how tomorrow goes ...
 
#13 ·
Cash



So glad they are watching Cash over night. Please let us know what they find. Saying prayers for Cash and I am so glad that Colt is back to normal. I wouldn't doubt the rawhides had something to do with it. I know that I've read about dogs that have choked on them. I know how I worry when one of my furbabies is sick!
 
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#10 ·
Thanks for the update, hope your baby is feeling better soon and doesn't need any surgery. I know it is hard on you and your family, sending hugs and prayers.
 
#11 ·
Thanks Buddy's Mom! They really are our babies .... We don't have any of the two footed kind yet so I don't feel too bad saying that. My heart broke when we had to leave but I know he's in the very best hand. Soooooo missing these puppy dog eyes ....
 

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#14 ·
We just heard from the vet. The good news is he didn't vomit overnight and the trapped gas appears to have moved a little bit. The bad news is there's still some shadows on his X-rays. We are moving forward with the barium study. We should know more in about 6-8 hours. Praying surgery isn't needed. *sigh* I was hoping our boy was going to be home this morning. I know he is in the very best hands but I worry he thinks we've abandoned him. I'll be heading over this afternoon after the barium test to either bring him home (if it goes well) or visit him (if he needs surgery).
 

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#16 ·
Sending good thoughts your way. I've had the barium test done on my boys on at least two different occasions each. Not only is it very helpful for monitoring "progression" or lack of, it also helps coat the stomach/intestines and eases moving of things through. It's a good option before electing surgery. And I don't have insurance on my one guy; learned that lesson the hard way and he can't get insurance now that will cover anything because of his two bumps that have been removed. Very good that you have insurance :)
 
#17 ·
Love those pictures, they are so sweet.
Hope you take him back home in the afternoon and surgery is not needed. Sending good thoughts and prayers.
 
#21 ·
The Barium test is mostly complete. 80% of the barium passed, which leaves her to think he has a partial blockage from some sort of fabric. That's good and bad. They're going to give him a couple more hours and try and get him have a bowel movement and see if they can get the blockage to pass naturally. If not, it will be surgery for our boy tonight.

She suggested that we neuter him while he's under. He has a retained testicle (otherwise, I may have considered not neutering him) and, since they're going to be in the abdomen for the surgery, they suggested removing the testicle as well. One surgery, one recovery. I was hoping to wait to the 1 1/2 - 2 year mark but he's 1 1/2 in a couple of days and I'd like to avoid more anesthesia (and recovery) for him.

The vet said he is in excellent spirits and very playful and loving. She said he's had more attention from all the vet techs than he probably should - so that gives me a lot of comfort.

THANK YOU for all of our prayers, sweet thoughts, and kind words. You all are truly the very best.
 

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#23 ·
Anxiously waiting for poop news. C'mon Cash it is time to poop it out!


Yep it is the moment when people decide to bypass Facebook. ;)
 
#25 ·
Oh god I was hoping it will come out what ever it is. Sending good vibes and prayers, please give him a hug from Charlie and me and keep updating.
 
#28 ·
Just heard from the vet - surgery went great and he's in recovery now. They found a piece of fabric with some plastic in it in both the small intestine and stomache. I can only imagine that it must be a chewed toy ...? I feel horrible - I'm not sure how we missed it. We are usually really good at throwing away toys once they've been damaged.

Recovery is about 2 weeks of keeping him calm (how do we do that when all he and Colt do is rough house all day!!).

I'm just so glad he's going to be ok. He should be coming home Monday morning. Can't wait to wrap my arms around that boy. He looked great going into surgery - like his energy was up and he wanted to play. The vet techs all told me that they've been negotiating with each other on who got to take care of him - I guess he's loving the attention.

We are just all ready to have our boy home. It's crazy how much the dynamic changes when even one of the dogs is gone ...!
 

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#36 ·
Cash



I am so glad that Cash is o.k. We stopped giving Tucker and Tonka any fabric stuffed toys years ago, because Tonka would chew the ears, nose, off and swallow. Not taking any chances. We buy only buy the Kong toys now, and Tucker walks around with the dumbbell in his mouth!

When you are used to having two dogs, it seems so quiet and empty when one isn't around!
 
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#29 ·
I am so glad the trouble was found and removed. Our Honey ATE my husband's leather wallet. All that was left was the picture holder thing and a little gauze from the lining. She also chewed the corners off his driver's license and his person credit card--but didn't chew on any of the company cards. I had to take her out on leash so I coudl exam all her poops to look for the leather. Nothing like going outat night with your dog on a leash and carrying a flashlight and a stick to tir poop. But all passed. T

Then a few months later hubby was working in the yard, came in for lunch and left his leather work gloves on the table on the patio. When he went bck out one was gone. Honey had eaten it, sowas the same thing all over again. THEN she age about 6" off the end ofhis leather belt. She had a thing forleather. But luckily she was always able to pass everything.

Prayers for you sweet boy. And good luck keeping him calmn for 2 weeks.
 
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#30 ·
I am so glad to hear that the surgery went well! Don't beat yourself up over him eating a piece of fabric. For all you know it could have been something which was simply blown into your yard by the wind! These darn fur kids of ours will gobble up just about anything they can find. And they can do it in a flash! It is NOT your fault. You were on top of things and got him to the vet right away. I would say that is really good dog parenting. I hope you can finally get some rest. It's so hard when our fur kids are sick or injured
 
#32 ·
I am so glad to hear that the surgery went well! Don't beat yourself up over him eating a piece of fabric. For all you know it could have been something which was simply blown into your yard by the wind! These darn fur kids of ours will gobble up just about anything they can find. And they can do it in a flash! It is NOT your fault.
G-bear said it perfectly. you got him to the vet and he had surgery while he was healthy and in good form.
Hoping the recovery goes well and you enjoy having him home on Monday.
 
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