Sick Dog :(

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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
As per title. The oldest dog woke me up about 04:?? this morning throwing up. I put her and the other dog in the back yard (fenced) while I cleaned up the mess and she pee-ed while out. Then I got them back in and we went back to bed for a couple more hours. It's not unusual for her to have an upset stomach from time to time so at first I didn't think anything of it. About 07:00-ish she jumped off the bed and I heard her plop down almost immediately so i got up again to check on her. She'd pooped on the floor and lay down almost immediately (laid down hard enough to indicate trouble standing) Again, I cleaned up the mess and monitored her until this afternoon.

When she still hadn't regained much strength or drank anything by then I called the vet and talked to the vet tech. a while. We decided I'd stop be there and pick up a syringe to try to get some fluids down her (water and Pedialyte) I got the syringe and stopped at the grocer to also get some chicken breasts for her super and the Pedialyte. I mixed the water and Pedialyte half and half and begin to squirt some deep in he mouth. It only took about 10 CCc and she begin to slowly drink the mixture from a small bowl near her. She took about a quart over the next 3 hours or so but then threw up again (but not as much as she'd drank. By supper I had the chicken breast (boneless & skinless/no fat) and a bit of bland rice ready for her. She ate about 3/4ths of what I'd given her (and I hadn't given her much as I want to see her hold it down first) then a bit more fluids.

I'll put them both back outside before we go to bed in a few hours unless she wants out before then. Then we'll just have to monitor her for the next 24 to 48 hours to see if she regains her strength. She has no sore/tender spots. A couple of weeks ago she was in the vet for a bleeding tongue (apparently she'd bitten it) They sedated her then cauterized it and applied skin glue and we put her on a soft diet for a week. That did well but then it started bleeding again and the second time they added a couple of dissolving stitches and we started the soft diet again until it heals.

She's been one of my two best dogs for over 13 years now and I hate seeing her feeling bad.
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,979
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Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
I'm really sorry to hear that Santaman; as Janne says, when they can't tell you where the pain is, how they're feeling, and what they've been doing it's all the more worrying. I hope she gets well very quickly.

Has she been out walking in woods? Two weeks ago my Springer ate 4 or 5 leaves of dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis); we won't go into why there was a sprig of dog's mercury in the house. Within half an hour she was vomiting violently. She couldn't hold down anything for about six hours - then as right as rain! I've heard of dogs voluntarily eating it on walks - they must treat it as a purgative.
 
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Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,151
1,544
Cumbria
I hope she recovers soon too. Best dog. Best friend indeed.

Dogs get into your soul like no other type of pet in my very short experience.

I hope it's just an unsettled stomach. Something didn't agree.
 
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Macaroon

A bemused & bewildered
Jan 5, 2013
7,209
362
73
SE Wales
I'm very sorry to hear of her troubles, and yours on her behalf. You're obviously experienced and a 'dog person', so she'll get the best of care. I hope it turns out well for you all :)
 
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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
I'm really sorry to hear that Santaman; as Janne says, when they can't tell you where the pain is, how they're feeling, and what they've been doing it's all the more worrying. I hope she gets well very quickly.

Has she been out walking in woods? Two weeks ago my Springer ate 4 or 5 leaves of dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis); we won't go into why there was a sprig of dog's mercury in the house. Within half an hour she was vomiting violently. She couldn't hold down anything for about six hours - then as right as rain! I've heard of dogs voluntarily eating it on walks - they must treat it as a purgative.

It's called Dogs because it has no use, a dogs plant. Interesting read here:

http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/mercurialis_perennis.htm

Sorry to hear about your dog Santaman, I have an old one too and it's sad to see her deteriorate. She has ups and downs, sometimes I think we're going to be saying goodbye, and then she rallies and turns the corner and is her self again. I hope yours makes a good recovery.
 
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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Thanks for the replies guys. She's doing better this morning. Walking, getting onto the furniture on her own, exploring the smells in the backyard, etc. Even begging a bit as I had a sandwich (I didn't give in though; just not worth taking any chances. She can have more lean chicken and rice tonight)

Horrible when your dogs aren’t well. Mine goes in for an operation Friday.

Let’s hope yours has a speedy recovery.

Wishing a successful surgery and recovery for yours as well.
 
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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Blood in the stool or puke?......

......... They can not tell us what ails them.
I wish it a speedy recovery!
Thanks. No blood. It appears just a reaction to something she got into. She forages around the green acorns in the backyard.
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
I was going to suggest just age-related.
Nice to read that the dog is picking up again.

My cat is 12-15. Lots of puking recently. I was guessing age.

The vet's best guess was parasites picked up in raw meat.
Single dose parasite med and end of problem!
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
The initial illness was probably caused externally, but her ability to heal quickly (or lack of it) is definitely age related. Also any illness related weakness is amplified by her age related muscle atrophy.
 
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Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
Both our dogs had to be put to sleep, the bitch age 14 in 2016 and the dog age 12 in 2017.
Both went down rapidly, from 'happy old dog' to unresponsiveness in less than 24 hours.
Cancer both of them.

It is heart breaking watching them when you know it is time....
 
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Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,979
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
It's called Dogs because it has no use, a dogs plant. Interesting read here:

http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/mercurialis_perennis.htm

Sorry to hear about your dog Santaman, I have an old one too and it's sad to see her deteriorate. She has ups and downs, sometimes I think we're going to be saying goodbye, and then she rallies and turns the corner and is her self again. I hope yours makes a good recovery.

Yep, as in a number of "dog" named plants. What's interesting about this one though is that it has been used as a purgative in medicine - so not exactly useless? :)
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,979
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
Both our dogs had to be put to sleep, the bitch age 14 in 2016 and the dog age 12 in 2017.
Both went down rapidly, from 'happy old dog' to unresponsiveness in less than 24 hours.
Cancer both of them.

It is heart breaking watching them when you know it is time....

I'm sorry to hear that Janne; I've been through it and I know how long it takes to get over it.

What worries me at the moment is how attached my grandchildren are getting to the Springer; it will break their hearts in a couple of years.
 

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
Yep, as in a number of "dog" named plants. What's interesting about this one though is that it has been used as a purgative in medicine - so not exactly useless? :)

Not at all, but of very limited use. A misunderstanding perhaps, your post seemed to infer it was interesting to dogs like catnip is to cats.

Though our woods are carpeted with the stuff in Spring, if they need to purge they chomp long lawn type grass. And then leave delightful piles of it on the carpet. :cussing:
 
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Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
Couldn't agree more. Dogs like to puke just for fun.
Cats are pretty good at it, too. Every house plant works well.
But, catnip stays down.

When old dogs die and folks get upset (me too), I can't help but wonder if there isn't a life lesson in there.
We all are here for a short time so make the best of it.

Just so hard to guess what kind of a life partner you get when you pick a pup.
 

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