[butlerman]

Ever since we got our dog, every couple of months it has went extremely ill, he hacks and tries to cough stuff up, his symptoms include vomiting (sometimes foamy yellow stuff, alot of times blood) he stops drinking and eating, but when he does drink or nibble on something he goes in the garden and vomits it back up. He doesnt poo as much because of his lack of eating, but when he does it has blood in it and its runny.
This happens every couple of months and when we take him the vet they put him on a drip and a few days later hes home and back to his own self...but this isnt the case any more, we got him back from the vet today and hes still the same, the only reason they sent him home is because he ate something (this seems to be an unwritten policy of theirs...if the dog eats or drinks...then it has to go home, with no regard for whatever else is wrong with the animal...as long as its eating and drinking) The vet have no IDEA what is wrong with him, its a mystery to them. Last time this happened he almost died, he had to be operated on to clean his stomach out because of peritonitis. Does anybody else have any better ideas about what it could be...because the vet is frustrating me by saying its a mystery and sending him home when hes still ill.

 

[Mischief]

It's time to find a new Vet. I'm sorry for what you and your dog are going through and I understand your frustration but I don't think anyone here is qualified to diagnose him; he needs a professional, one who is worth their salt to get to the bottom of this.
All the Best

 

[butlerman]

Thanks for your help anyway. His vet is the PDSA, im hoping to find a specialist or something that might be able figure out how to manage whatever it is thats wrong with him.

 

[Sheltiemama]

Not every vet graduated in the top half of his/her class. Someone had to be in the bottom half.

I agree with find another vet. Your dog needs serious help, it sounds to me. I'd get him to a new one immediately so the suffering doesn't continue!

 

[pawzaddict]

Ditto find another vet! What are you feeding and has IBD ever nbeen brought up as a possibility? I'm not sure how extreme symptoms can get but if its bad because its never been treated then it may be able to get that bad. I'd find a new vet today!
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[Tess]

Clearly, your vet is not being a lot of help. Find a new one. Ask friends for their recommendations. This sounds like something serious. Anytime there is blood coming out of a dog... either end, one should be extremely concerned.

Good luck, and do let us know what happens!

 

[ScentHound]

Definately find another vet. Also, just to be safe make sure all poisonous items that your dog can get into are put away. Ask the new Vet to test for poisons, also.

 

[Dawnben]

Maybe you could try a local veterinarian school some times having many minds thinking about a solution helps. It sound like chronic gastritis to me. What do you feed ? My dog Buck was on the road to this same condition you have described. I had to start home cooking for him, but in a week after I put him on a vegetarian diet his stomach problems disappeared and have not returned its been 8 months. So while you are waiting for a veterinarian to diagnose you may want to try changing the diet.

 

[Dawnben]

DogAware.com Health: Digestive Disorders in Dogs This is a very informative article maybe it will help.

 

[fawkese1]

i'm so sorry to hear what your poor dog has been going through! and you as well... (((hugs)))

ditto the others, do a "safety check" of your home, put ANYTHING that is even possibly questionable, completely out of reach, check your landscaping and house plants as well... there are lots of toxic substances that humans unknowingly expose pets to. don't assume the dog understands not to eat a toxic plant, substrate (like that caocao bean bark stuff) etc, do some research into digestive issues, but most of all, find a new vet. as soon as possible...the vet school suggestion is a good one, more minds, that are open and exploring, might be a good way to solve the "mystery"....

sending {{{healing vibes}}} to your poor pup.... good luck, and please, keep us posted...

welcome to the forum btw



Dog | Forum | Rocks!

 

[BoxLove]

You have received some great advice/information here.

I too think it may be time to find another vet. Yes it will be more expensive as the PDSA is charity run and they have monetary constraints, as it is funded by public support. But I do think that it may be in your dogs interest to try another route.

Sending healing vibes your way.

 

[butlerman]

I'm going the vet tomorrow morning with him, and im going to tell them what for...because i don't believe they're doing what they possibly can. An update for you all, my dog has just went in the back garden and kept running to the same spot behing a bush, and he just sat there in the rain in the mud not budging, took me a while to coax him in, his eyes are wide and glazed and he looks like he doesn't know what hes doing. My grandmother suddenly thought he had a problem with his brain which really REALLY worried me. I investigated the spot where he kept running to but there wasnt nothing there (i expected blood/vomit)...he was just sitting there, it scared me. His symptoms are in line with kennel cough and many MANY other things...but the vet has ruled most of them out. I'm not sure how many of you have dealt with the PDSA before, but they used to do everything they can, but i think because we have to go so often they're just starting to throw us aside. Hes so young, hes just over a year old...and my family are talking about putting him to sleep to end whatever suffering hes going through...but i need to do everything i can before i myself can consider that an option...its horrific the ordeal he goes through, which usually lasts 2-3 weeks...but after the vet have CORRECTLY dealt with him hes ok for months...i just dont want 2-3 weeks worth of illness be enough of an excuse to put him to sleep, because he gets to be his happy and adventurous self again for months at a time once hes through the 2-3 weeks of illness.

 

[3Danes]

if you're going to the vet, go to a different one. obviously, the one you have been seeing isn't helping your dog and you are just flushing $$$ down the toilet. if you go in with an attitude, it'll get you nowhere fast.

also, i wouldn't advise a change in food until his present problems have been diagnosed and treated. changing his food could add fuel to the fire.

good luck, sounds like an awful thing to go through.

 

[butlerman]

We took him back the vet...told them all we had to say. The vet was pretty frank with us, she checked him out and said all she can do is put him on an IV drip and hope he gets better, and even if he gets better its a vicious cycle of him getting better then getting sick again and having to go back...we had to sign a euthanasia form there and then because they're not optimistic about him making it through this. My sister (whos dog it was originally) she believes its the end for him, she said she knew him from a pup and she always knew if he was gonna make it...but her words this time "it looks like hes gave up, he just can't fight it" Im suggesting to my family to take him to a new vet and other options...but they believe its too late, which im slowly starting to believe (although im holding on for a miracle to happen for him) they said all the searching for a new vet and the time it'd take them to figure out whats wrong, he would be suffering. I keep breaking down through out the day...hes so damn young, this shouldn't be happening.

 

[3Danes]

i don't know how old you are, how old the dog is, your financial situation or where you live but surely there is another vet close enough for you to get a second opinion. can you get him to an e.r. vet? obviously, this dog needs MORE help than your current vet is able to give him. at least a second opinion, even if it's grim news, would ease your mind if you end up having to have him PTS.

 

[butlerman]

i don't know how old you are, how old the dog is, your financial situation or where you live but surely there is another vet close enough for you to get a second opinion. can you get him to an e.r. vet? obviously, this dog needs MORE help than your current vet is able to give him. at least a second opinion, even if it's grim news, would ease your mind if you end up having to have him PTS.

Im 20, my dog Sooty is about a year old, he belonged to my older sister but she had to get rid of it so we took him on. There is another vet, but hes currently in the PDSA vet on the drip. I'm not the decision maker for him you see, my sister is essentially because he used to belong to her, ive suggested to my family taking him to another vet etc but they don't think hes even going to make it through the next few days in the PDSA...i'm holding on to a glimmer of hope that hes gonna make it. My family believe that the time it will take to make a appointment and be seen to at a new vet, he will have suffered so much. I think differently to them...if it was my decision i'd want him to hang on for a while till i can see a new vet...but its not my decision, thats whats making it hard for me to deal with, that i have no control over what to do with him. Also our vet is the PDSA because they provide free pet care under certain circumstances, we can't afford the bills at other vets...but im doing everything in my power to convince my family about going to this new vet and arranging a pay monthly situation. But again time comes into it, the "decision makers" over his wellbeing believe hes suffered enough.

 

[pawzaddict]

Has this vet done bloodwork? Seriously this sounds like the dog is NOT getting the right tests done. has blood work beenb done? What is the dog eating at home? And is the dog active at all?
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[butlerman]

Has this vet done bloodwork? Seriously this sounds like the dog is NOT getting the right tests done. has blood work beenb done? What is the dog eating at home? And is the dog active at all?
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He is EXTREMELY active when hes well, darting round the garden chasing after his toys, take him for long runs on the beach and parks. But now...he just lies there, can barely lift his head up, i had to lift it to put his collar on to take him the vet. They say they've done blood word and "blood cultures" but "nothing". This sounds crazy but im going to phone our city's university tomorrow and ask to speak to the vetinarian division of it and hopefully they will agree to see him and find whats wrong with him.

 

[fawkese1]

please keep us posted on him... still sending {{{healing vibes}}} your way...



Dog | Forum | Rocks!

 

[pawzaddict]

Can you let us know what he is eating...I am still going with Dawnbens and my suggestion before about possibly being food related.