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Original poster

is it bad? help by dog owners required.

36 replies

bethoo · 12/08/2009 09:27

my 9 year old boxer has had terrible runs for the past two days and lost weight gradually over a period time. this morning i came downstairs to mess in kitchen and dog could not get up, when he did he could not stand on his back legs and when he walked he walked on his front legs with his back legs in the air. now he can walk but still trying to avoid putting weight on his back legs and to be honest he is trying ot avoid moving as he is currently laid on the carpet (dont think he can get on sofa). he has not lost his appetite though.
i have him booked in for vets later this morning and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts before i go ion what this is? i suspect he may have internal cancer but has anyone had experience of something like this wehre it has not been serious?
thanks

OP posts:
spugs · 12/08/2009 09:30

Don't know good luck at the vets though.

Bella21 · 12/08/2009 09:40

Could be many things.

Did you explain how bad he was when you made the appt? They may want to see him sooner rather than later today.

Best of luck & please keep us posted x

ilovesprouts · 12/08/2009 09:42

parvo ,hope hes ok

cazboldy · 12/08/2009 09:43

could be colitis? is there blood/mucus in his mess?

ilovesprouts · 12/08/2009 09:49

it could be anything tho im not sure

Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 10:32

not parvo as he gets his booster religiously every year.
his poo is just like brown water sorry TMI.
he is laying by hte front door and will not get up. i called the vets and they booked me in for 1215 and said they would just put ''detiriorated' on the file
does not look good.
i ahve had him almost a decade so upset.

OP posts:
Bella21 · 12/08/2009 10:34

He may have collapsed due to dehydration.

If it were me I would call and ask to speak to a vet or vet nurse. Exaplin that he cannot get up.

Good luck.

Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 10:49

he may be dehydrated but then he has had access to water.
it is a mystery as he was fine yesterday.

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 12/08/2009 10:52

I know it sounds odd but having access to water does not always prevent dehydration, for some reason they do not always take enough water on to replace what they have lost. Did he go for a good walk yesterday - or at a particularly warm time of the day?

Bella21 · 12/08/2009 10:53

Because he has had access to water does not mean he cannot be dehydrated. With diarrhoea as you describe, and going on for that long, he will be losing far more fluids than he may be able to take in.

He was not fine yesterday - you say he has had bad diarrhoea for 2 days and has been losing weight for some time.

Please call the vet.

Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 11:12

when i say fine i mean he was walking yesterday.
i am seeing the vet in an hour as they were busy and unless he was in a car accident they would not see it as urgent. they are fully booked at my vets so i have to go to the one 12 miles away and i cant drive so had to get a lift, could get the bus but then i am pregnant and cant carry a 5 stone dog.
he has always been thin as he is active dog but he has lost a fair amount over time and though he eats his food and has treats etc he does not gain weight easily.

OP posts:
Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 11:14

he was diagnosed with heart disease several years ago which killed his brother.

OP posts:
Bella21 · 12/08/2009 11:14

Good luck.

Please do let us know how you get on.

Bella21 · 12/08/2009 11:15

I'm not a vet (ex vet nurse) but I don't think this is heart disease.

Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 11:15

thanks, i ahve had him since he was 5 weeks old. he is my work buddy as he comes to work with me. very chilled

OP posts:
Bella21 · 12/08/2009 11:18

My earlier posts sounded a bit off but I was just trying to make sure you understand this is pretty urgent. Sorry.

Very best of luck x

Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 11:22

it is ok, i know it is urgent as he loves his walks and he wont even get up, he is lying by hte front door shaking so got a towel around him.
i just hope he is not in any pain.

OP posts:
Bella21 · 12/08/2009 11:26

He may be in shock. Keep him warm.

Could you not get him to vets any quicker ?(car accidents are not the only emergencies, btw - whoever said that at your vets was wrong).

Bella21 · 12/08/2009 11:29

Do his gums look nice and pink? if you press them does the colour disappear and return quickly (within 3 seconds)?

lal123 · 12/08/2009 11:33

I would get back in touch with the vet and explain the situation - poor thing sounds really ill. Can't the vet do an emergency home visit?
Has he been fitting at all?

KingCanuteIAm · 12/08/2009 12:21

Hope you got there and the vet can help, poor pup, I can't imagine how worried you are

lilymolly · 12/08/2009 12:24

ring another vets and get him seen asap

Agree sounds like dehydration and possible shock

Hope he is ok x

ilovesprouts · 12/08/2009 12:25

i keep coming bk here to see how the dog is hope hes ok

Original poster
bethoo · 12/08/2009 13:50

hello ladies i am back and mixed news really. his diarrohea is tummy upset so on something for that and his back legs is caused by a spine problem. the vet said that it is common in older dogs that part of the spine fuses together making it harder to get up. it is so bizarre as happened overnight more or less! been advised to get something called gluco-something for his bones and joints and it can progress at different rate and all they can do is x-ray to see how severe and pain relief/anti-flammatries. he is back home laying down, i dont know if it is a good quality of life for him now if he can barely move. but will give it some time to see how he goes. dont want him suffering unneccessarily.
thanks for all your input and support.
was in such a panic this morning....

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 12/08/2009 14:05

Gosh, a mixed bag of news