Puppy update (from a while ago).

niknak1128

Ok girls.. I am seriously concerned about our Sammy (chocolate lab).  He is not ok. there is just no way that he can be ok! He's skin and bones!  He's been to the vet twice. The first time they said his liver enzymes were super high and his kidney levels were too high. They were concerned about kidney failure. They put him on anti-biotics for another week.. he's been off of them since Monday of last week.  I'm supposed to call again Wednesday to schedule him to get another blood draw. But ladies I am telling you.. I have a really bad feeling about this. He's NOT eating on his own.  If you take food to him, he will eat it but he never goes to his dish on his own. He wants to drink out of the bath tub.. toilet.. rain water.. but he never goes to his water dish. He's NOT pooping solid! (TMI).  He hasn't had any diarrhea or throw up in the house is over a week BUT I can see on his butt (I know gross) that he's obviously still having issues. Like we need to clean him up tonight. 

And he is just so skinny. He's always been skinnier then our black lab but he just seems like he's wasting away to me! Boo. I'm sad. I don't know what is going on! When he was on anti-biotics he seemed so much perkier and now he's not again.  

bananers

Poor guy. I hope you get some answers at his next draw. Do you feel comfortable that your vet is doing enough, or is it time for a second opinion. Meanwhile, try adding a spoonful of canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin, not pie filling) to his food. That should help his diarrhea and should also make his food more enticing and encourage him to eat. 

bananers

Also, what kind of food are you feeding? I haven't heard of any food recalls lately, but you may want to google. Normally I wouldn't advocate switching foods in the middle of digestive issues as that can make things worse, but if the food itself is the problem, you could slowly transition to a new food. 

Mom2anAngel2

Poor puppy!  I hate to see animals sick.  Have you discussed crohn's or dietary allergies with your vet?  My mom's dog has to eat a vegetarian diet and my aunts dog used to have a special diet as well.  Both had runny stools and weight loss prior to their diagnosises.  Both did well after changing their diets.  I hope your puppy gets better!

pb&fluff

bananers:

Poor guy. I hope you get some answers at his next draw. Do you feel comfortable that your vet is doing enough, or is it time for a second opinion. Meanwhile, try adding a spoonful of canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin, not pie filling) to his food. That should help his diarrhea and should also make his food more enticing and encourage him to eat. 

I agree about the second opinion.   I don't think that I'd feel that this was enough if this is still going on.  Have they done all the tests they can do (and you can afford)?  If anything, they should be giving you something to treat his diarrhea, that is certainly not helping his weight issue.  And maybe because he feels so crappy with the diarrhea, he may not WANT to eat.  Have you tried a bland diet?  Boiled chicken or (very lean) hamburger with rice?  With the scoop of pumpkin PP mentioned?

My dog has lots of issues with her stomach (we have her on a hypoallergenic diet), and when she has diarrhea, they prescribe her Metronidazole (brand is Flagyl), which is an antibiotic, but also slows the motility of the gut.  Even if they don't see anything on her fecal exam, they give her that to stop the diarrhea.

I would ask about that, and if they won't do it, I would seek a second opinion ASAP.  Your poor dog need some relief from that diarrhea at least.   If you don't feel good about what is happening, advocate for your dog, just as you would for yourself and any other family member whose healthcare you are iffy about.

ETA:  Also, at this point, if he wants to drink out of the bathtub, make sure it's clean and let him drink out of it.  Whatever gets him fluids, since he's losing a lot of fluids with his diarrhea.

luvboston

Take him to a different vet and also have they checked for worms in the stomach or other parasites? There is a dog version of probiotics have they suggested them?

HoolahZinger

luvboston:

Take him to a different vet and also have they checked for worms in the stomach or other parasites? There is a dog version of probiotics have they suggested them?

I'd ditto the second opinion too. A rice and boiled chicken might be easier for him to digest too. Big hugs...it's so painful to see our pets hurting and sick.  

Gregermis

Oh dear.... T&Ps he gets better and healthy soon!

behapy2day

Have they done an xray or u/s to check his intestines for any obstructions? We had a very similiar situation last month with our tri, Bentley. He wasnt eating his food unless you brought it to my by hand, losing weight, having potty issues, etc... turns out he had swallowed a piece of my Old Navy flip flop strap and it had been in his small intestine for almost a month!

SoCoGirl

behapy2day:

Have they done an xray or u/s to check his intestines for any obstructions? We had a very similiar situation last month with our tri, Bentley. He wasnt eating his food unless you brought it to my by hand, losing weight, having potty issues, etc... turns out he had swallowed a piece of my Old Navy flip flop strap and it had been in his small intestine for almost a month!

This.  They should also make sure that his intestines haven't flipped.  It is pretty common in larger dogs and deadly if not treated.  I have a 5 yr old Chocolate Lab, I get worried if she doesn't eat all  of her food within a minute.  Labs LOVE to eat, something is definitely wrong. 

niknak1128

Exactly!  It's weird because if you give him food.. like leftovers or anything really.. he wags his tail and he cries and he's excited and he eats it right up. But I haven't seen him go to his food bowl in so long.  He goes outside and stands under the evestroph (which I totally know I'm spelling wrong!) and he literally soaks himself with rain water. He wants to drink when you're in the shower.. he wants in the toilet but he never goes to his water dish!!  It's weird!  

Sam has always always always eaten less then our other lab. Our black lab is seriously a garbage disposal and Sam has never been able to get to the food quick enough. He's always been thinner than our other lab. But he is seriously so bony.  I'm kinda freakin' out. I'm sad. He's my little baby.. I want him to get better!!  

jelero

I'm so sorry that he's still not doing well.  Sending T&P for him and that you and the vet can find a solution to ease his suffering.