[agilegsds]

I rushed Cooper into the vet this evening when he started showing symptoms that looked like bloat to me. Earlier this afternoon he started gagging and tried to throw up but white slime just came out, it was hanging from his mouth like drool. I didn't think too much of it and later put him in his crate for about an hour. When I took him out there was more slime and a retching noise was coming from the back of his throat. I had never heard anything like it and he was panting heavily. Luckily my vet's office was still open and they took him right away. The Internal Medicine vet saw him and took chest and stomach x-rays. When he listened to his lungs, he said they didn't sound clear, therefore the chest x-rays. He also had a fever of 103.8. His chest x-rays came back clear but his stomach was full of gas. But no signs of torsion and the vet didn't think it was severe enough to go in with a tube. He gave him injections for nausea as well as penicillin and baytril because of the fever and possibility of infection. He told me to give him Gas-X and watch him carefully tonight and no food, only ice chips. Any changes and we are to take him to the ER vet. They would have kept him there for observation but they were closing and no one is there overnight, so he felt that he's better off at home where we can monitor him. He seems more comfortable now and isn't panting like he was. They said he was breathing from his abdomen rather than his chest (or something like that) when we came in. Bloodwork will be back in the morning to see if anything else is going on. I feel like I can breathe again.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Holy crap. Did he look bloated? How old is Cooper? I know a couple of people in Illinois who won't be sleeping a lot tonight-I am so glad he's okay and hope that he gets better and better.

Full moon? Cooper and Bearla...

 

[WiscTiger]

Sandy, I am glad that you got Cooper to the Vet and he is feeling better.

The one thing that I have learned on this board was to have Gas-X on hand. I have a box, when it expires I buy another and toss the first one.

I am a bit concerned about the fever, normally with bloat you don't have a fever.

 

[agilegsds]

Cooper will be 6 in July He didn't look bloated but that noise coming from his throat was unnerving. I could actually see the muscles in his neck constricting. The vet showed me where to feel his stomach to watch for expansion.

I hadn't seen the post about Bearla until you mentioned it. Scary how similar.......

 

[agilegsds]

Ironically I do keep Gas-X on hand but didn't even think of it until I was on my way to the vet. Luckily the vet is less than 10 minutes away.

Yes, the fever threw me, hopefully there's nothing else going on. The vet said he could have worked up the fever by all the panting.

 

[Prinzsalpha]

Sandy this just happened to me 3 wks ago. Its scary. I bought Prinz in and they said he wasnt distended but full of gas. They wanted to take me to the cleaners as I was at an emergency vet place on a Saturday night at 10. I asked to treat the symptoms as I knew I caught it early. He got a vomit shot and felt much better and we went home and I watched him for a few days. Great job in catching it. I now keep Gas-X also.

 

[Tula]

Wow, Sandy, what a scare! Glad to know Cooper is ok!

 

[katieliz]

have to go out and get gas-x tomorrow. this must just be coincidence but it is very scary that's for sure. glad prinz is okay, wishing cooper and bearla a speedy recovery.

we love these dogs SO MUCH, don't we?

 

[BowWowMeow]

Eek, this bloat stuff always scares the beejeebers out of me. I am glad that Cooper is ok and hope he has a restful night. I too am going to pick up Gas X on my way home tomorrow!

 

[grmnshpd21]

Holy cow Sandy! I'm so glad you were able to get him to the vet so quickly. I know how scared you must have been. Keep us posted on what the vet says about his bloodwork tomorrow. I know you and Fred will keep a close eye on him tonight. He is in great hands with you guys. Hugs to you and Cooper from me and Molly

 

[bearlasmom]

Sandy, God, you must have been horrified! i know i was when i came home and found bearla in trouble. i dont usually come home to check on her that early but today idid. If you are anything like me, you will probably be up all night with a eagle eye on him. This is scary, two in one day and from what i read here, 1 a few wks ago? i wonder? Does anyone know if the sudden bloat cases have anything to do with our dogs not being able to get at grass for such a long time this winter due to the ever lingering snows?
Im saying a prayer for you both momma sandy. try to hang in there.

 

[Sean Rescue Mom]

Sandy, hopped on the board for a few minutes and read your post about Cooper. Fingers and paws crossed from Sean and me.

Keep up posted on the bloodwork resutls.

 

[katieliz]

and another one very recently...a friend who does not post to this site, who fosters for last hope safe haven here in michigan, lost her five year old girl to bloat/torsion last week, in a matter of hours. so devastating.

take care all...

 

[agilegsds]

Thank you everyone for your concern. Cooper is very relaxed right now and appears to be doing fine. Will post when I get the blood results. The vet did say that his spleen appeared to be enlarged, however, since Cooper is so over-sized it could be that it's that way normally.

Bearlas Mom, I hope that everything continues to go well for Bearla, take care.

 

[WiscTiger]

Sandy, the enlarged spleen could account for the fever. The dog I had that had a spleen torsion was St.Bernard mix that weighed 160 lbs (not fat, just big and muscular). The Vet told me that his spllen would normally be the size of a fist, so I don't think there is a big difference in the spleen according to the size or oversize dog, unless you are comparing to a little breed.

 

[bearlasmom]

hi hon, heres hoping that your baby is doing well today.

best wishes and prayers are coming your way. bearla let a huge belch out of her around 6:30 this morning. she has a bit of fever which the vet will do blood tests to check into today. she seemed to ahve a couple of seizures last night and one this morning. it scared me really bad. the vet said it may be the fever but we will see later. i hope all of coopers tests turn out well. thank you for the best wishes hon. im still praying for a good result for cooper and bearla does as well.

 

[Amaruq]

Wow Sandy what a scare. I am glad Cooper is feeling better. I too keep Gasex (liquid and pills jic) on hand at all times. Keep us posted.

 

[DancingCavy]

Yikes. What a scary night. I hope Cooper continues to improve.

 

[agilegsds]

The bloodwork came back normal. Vet said to continue with the Gas-X and to start giving him a little food. Said the anti-nausea injection lasts 24 hours so he may start feeling sick again later today. Vet referred to it as colic. So far he's doing pretty good.

Val, I didn't even realize there was torsion of the spleen. Looked it up and saw the same symptoms he had, particulary that white foam that came out when he tried to vomit.

Cooper is so big (30" and 107 lbs.) and has those risk factors of a very deep and narrow chest, that I've always been concerned about something like this happening.

 

[WiscTiger]

Sandy, I hope he just had a bad case of gas. A spleen torison can present fairly close to bloat with the torison. When I took my guy in it was really bad because he was a tough stoic Son of a ____. My Vet did a quick exam and said it could be either, but odds were bloat torison, my guy had spleen torsion. Good new is they can live without a spleen and when they take out the spleen they usually tack the stomach.

I didn't mean to scare you. Just something to keep in mind. It isn't really common. Does Cooper play really rough with any of your other dogs. My dogs use to stand apart and do the Ram charge at each other, get up on their hind legs and smack their rib cages together. Vet said that is probably when the spleen torsioned.