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Looking for any help or advice

4K views 47 replies 12 participants last post by  GatorBytes 
#1 ·
Hey guys. This is my first post and I'm looking for any helpful ideas or suggestions on what's going on with my 9 month GSD, Samson.

It all started on the 28th of December. He started drooling a lot, had diarrhea and was vomiting followed by retching. He was in obvious pain and I surly thought it was bloat. I immediately took him to our local emergency clinic where they did x-rays, blood work and gave him an IV. They told me that he did not have bloat but couldn't see if any obstructions due to all the gas.

I then took him to his vet the next day where they again said he didn't have bloat but we're going to treat him a possible infection in his intestines with antibiotics. They also gave me Science Diet ID food and told me to only give him small spoonfuls at a time along with small amounts of water. He did not retch for about a day until one afternoon. He vomited up what I had fed him an hour earlier and again I took him back to the vet. They took another x-ray and said that he surly didn't have bloat but wanted me to take him to a specialist for an ultrasound. They were going to do the barium test but we're scared he would throw it up, plus he's can get pretty anxious.

I took him for the ultrasound yesterday and they did not see any obstructions and said that everything looked normal. They said that he possibly ate something that he has already passed and is now is feeling the aftereffects. They told me not to give him any food or water for 24hrs.

Well today I fed him very little and gave him very little water and he is still retching. I'm totally at a loss and very frustrated. I'm looking for what may be causing the problems and what steps I could take next.
 
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#2 ·
I'm sorry your dog is going thru this..I honestly can't imagine what it could be, but I think I'd be taking him back to the specialist, and say "look he hasn't improved and is still retching",,what's next??

Keep fingers crossed for him please let us know how he makes out
 
#3 ·
Yes, if I were you I would call the vet. In the meantime, try ice cubes, instead of water. Also some plain cooked white rice with a little chicken broth that he may be able to keep down. Sometimes even buttered toast can help. If he likes yogurt (the one with the live cultures) try that.
 
#5 ·
Things like this are so hard to sort out without knowing exactly what/how much you're giving.

Dehydration alone can make them vomit even more.

1) antibiotics? What ones, how much, how often?
2) water? How much/how often?
3) Food? How often/how much?

Did the retching come on after you tried to feed? Is anything coming up?

A dog can live easily without food for days - did they tell you to start refeeding?

Water is more important by far. If food makes the dog retch, then stop feeding for at least 24hrs. but GIVE WATER.
Small sips.

2-3 laps every 20-30min.
 
#7 ·
He has only vomited two days. The first day and last Monday. The first day was white froth and the next time was the food I gave him and later white froth and what appeared to be like eggs if you whisk them before frying....if that makes any sense. Now its nothing but retching with no vomit and a lot of drooling.

I'm feeding him Science Diet I/D right now in small serving. His normal diet is blue buffalo wilderness. I give him about 5 spoon fulls individually. I'm giving him a few sips of water ever thirty minutes or so and he is urinating.

I plan on taking him to the vet in an hour or so if they can get me in to check him out again for dehydration and other probable causes.
 
#10 ·
He wouldn't eat. Later we found him to have a kidney disease, but once I stopped the flagyl, his appetite returned.
The vet said she has taken flagyl herself and it is very, very bitter tasting.
 
#12 ·
They can replace the flagyl with Tylan powder (also very bitter but my dogs don't care because it's mixed with canned food) or another antibiotic.

So his appetite is there? He just can't hold the food down?

And he hasn't gotten into anything like a poison/anti-freeze? I am guessing his blood work was good?

And his vomiting is the full on vomit - hurkahurkahurakhurkablurghsplat? Or is it a regurg where it's just splat?

Glad you are going back to the vet. The froth and stuff does sound bloaty or pre-bloaty or something! I am not sure what else they can give to settle the stomach - like Pepcid (fametodine -sp), Cerenia (has to be sure they have not ingested a toxin first) or something...
 
#13 ·
I'm not sure if they'll replace it or not. If he's taking it with food, I guess that's ok. They also gave him Cerenia. Not really sure it's working though.

His appetite is for sure there. So far he is holding it down but just retching and drooling. When he did vomit, it was the most horrendous sound. Almost like a loud roar.

There's no telling what he may have gotten into. He's always got something in his mouth. And the blood work was ok. I may ask to have them check again.

I did make an appointment today, so we'll see what they say this time.
 
#14 ·
Oh wow. That roar...is scary.

And usually Cerenia works - but I think for a day at a time.

I am sure there are so many weird things that dogs can have that we've not even seen.

I wonder if a fecal would help - roundworms can be really bad...and sneaky.

Thank you for taking him back in - I really hope he is okay.
 
#16 ·
I like to make up a list of typical and weird things it could be and ask the vet to tell me why/why not. My vets know this is going to happen so aren't alarmed, but you may want to warn them if you start flinging disorders at them.

Causes of Excessive Drooling in Dogs - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

Disorders of the Stomach and Intestines in Dogs: Digestive Disorders of Dogs: The Merck Manual for Pet Health

All About Dogs and Vomiting | Dogster

Intussusception of the Intestines in Dogs

Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment of Vomiting in Dogs (good list)

Will check back tonight to see how things went!
 
#19 ·
As was mentioned, if everything else checks out, it could be worms. My Husky had something like that, repeated episodes, and the stool sample was clear, the vet (and this was way back before all the ultrasound and other tests) decided to worm her for whip worms because they don't always shows up on the test. That what it was - it worked. Hopefully you can get some answers today and your dog will be feeling better.
 
#20 ·
there are otc meds you can give to settle his stomach. i wouldn't do this on my own but your vet can tell you which one and how much. if he wanted you to withhold h2o i would have thought he would given some sub q hydration. dehydration can be life threatening, withholding food for a day or so is safe. make sure you bring a stool sample so it can be checked for worms.
 
#21 ·
Sorry guys for the late update but I work nights and slept most of the day after I took him to the vet.

Well they told about the only thing let that they can do is surgery and/or an endoscope. He is doing about the same. Not worse and definitely not better. He still is lethargic and is drooling and retching. I'm still at a loss and don't know which route to go. He is holding down his food and still has an appetite. The vet says he's for sure not dehydrated and to keep giving him water as I have been doing.

I don't know if this just needs to run its course or not. I just feel so terrible for him.
 
#22 ·
This may be silly but did they check if anything was stuck in his throat or teeth?
Are they hoping to see the cause of the retching with an endoscopy? That may well be worthwhile, and not as invasive as doing surgery!

Poor Samson, I hope he will feel better soon!
 
#24 ·
You know, I was thinking about it this morning watching him. He'll usually lick his lips, then gag or retch followed by a hard swallow. I felt on his throat and it doesn't seem to bother him when I do. They did open his mouth to look but I'm sure its further in his throat if anything is there at all. At this point, I may set up an appointment to get him scoped.
 
#28 ·
Are you any where near a vet teaching hospital? I might do the scope there unless you are really confident that your vet is invested in this.

There is also a Barium x-ray right? Could this be a time for that - and sometimes the barium pushes whatever through...I don't know if this is one of those times for it, I just remember a long time ago, BarbE's Dante had a clump of hair in his gut that came out with the Barium.

Some links:
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-infor...s-often-a-sign-of-intestinal-obstruction.aspx
http://www.allpetsmacomb.com/vomiting.html
 
#30 ·
If I were you, and I had complete confidence in my vet, I would have the scope done. If I had any doubts, I would immediately get a second opinion. I wouldn't wait. I would call tomorrow morning (Monday).
 
#33 ·
I'm sorry your not getting any definitive answers:( I don't think I'd like the hunched over behavior:( Unfortunately I think I'd be back at the vets asap and tell them your not leaving until they figure out what the heck is going on with him..
 
#34 ·
Maybe he has pancreatitis (not to be confused with EPI). The roaching of the back is a symptom of this.

Acute pancreatitis is characterized by the abrupt onset of vomiting and severe pain in the abdomen. The dog may have a tucked-up belly and assume a prayer position. Abdominal pain is caused by the release of digestive enzymes into the pancreas and surrounding tissue. Diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, and shock may ensue

Dog Pancreatitis: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

a new serum test called canine pancreatitis lipase immuninol reactivity and TAP (trypsinogen activation peptide). Abdominal ultrasonography may reveal an enlarged and swollen pancreas.

Fulminant necrotizing pancreatitis is an acute, extremely severe, usually fatal form of pancreatitis. In hours, your dog will go into shock. Dogs may vomit or simply show signs of severe abdominal pain. If you suspect this problem, get your dog to the veterinarian immediately!
 
#37 ·
Gallstone Pancreatitis Symptoms | eHow.com

Acute gallstone pancreatitis usually causes severe abdominal pain that may also affect the back. The pain may be more intense after eating. The discomfort may be somewhat relieved by curling the body into a ball or by leaning over. The abdomen may also be tender to the touch. The pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting
 
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