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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

The Pointy One is at the vets, am very very worried... handholding please...

232 replies

BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 10:49

On Friday and Saturday our lovely rescued whippety cross, Sam, had a bit of diarrhea. Still playful and eating, drinking etc.
On Sunday he started to be a bit lethargic and felt sorry for himself. I had decided to starve him for 24 hours from Sat night as diarrhea was not clearing but he was off his food anyway on Sunday. Had rang lady at rescue where we got him from for advice (she is fab like this, always ready to help and was a vet nurse so a bit knowledgeable too). By Sunday night there was a steak of red blood in the diarrhea. Rang emergency vet who said Sam had probably burst a blood vessel due to contstant pooping. Keep up giving him water and keep an eye was the advice.

Early Monday morning Sam was pooing pure blood and looking very very unwell. We rushed him to the vets.
He was admitted, put on a drip and IV antibiotics. Severe Gastroenteritis or Hemorraghic Gastroenteritis was the diagnosis.

On Tuesday morning he was still no better. They decided to put him on a second type of antibiotics as well as the first one.

This morning he is a bit brighter and whilst he still has diarrhea there is no more blood.
However, his liver enzymes have rocketed to over 1000 and he is jaundiced.

We are going to visit him this evening and the vet will tell us more then.

Please please knowledgeable mumsnetters, can you give me an idea of what is happening to my lovely boy. Am very very worried.

We only adopted him from the rescue centre two months ago but we love him to bits.

OP posts:
Lizcat · 26/10/2011 11:18

Difficult to say the cause though HGE is very possible. Liver enzymes go up for lots of reasons not just because there is a liver problem. He is in the best place and it sounds like they are doing all the right things.

DogsBeastFiend · 26/10/2011 11:24

Poor little babe and poor you. Sending loads of positive thoughts from me and mine and hoping very much to hearing better news from you this evening.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 11:33

Thanks guys. The vet said she tested his liver enzymes yesterday morning and they were only just over 100. This morning they were over 1000. She will test again tomorrow morning (I think that is what she said, was a bit panicked by then and phone line was crackly) and if they are still high she said 'we will need to talk'. Which does not sound good, does it?

Feel numb.

We lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel Dillon 18 months ago after he fractured his spine the day before his 5th birthday. We were all devastated. It took us a year before we could contemplate another dog and all fell desperately in love with Sam at the Greyhound rescue centre. Only for this to happen two months after bringing him home.

Keep everything crossed please, will update as and when I have news. Looking forward to cuddeling Sam this evening but not looking forward to seeing him ill.

Just want to bring my boy home.

Will try to stick a picture of him on my profile.

OP posts:
Scuttlebutter · 26/10/2011 15:56

Keeping everything crossed for you.

miacis · 26/10/2011 16:08

What a beautiful dog - everything crossed

HenriettaFarthingay · 26/10/2011 16:11

He's gorgeous! Fingers and toes all crossed! Keep us posted.

kid · 26/10/2011 17:20

fingers crossed here for some positive news. Enjoy your cuddle with Sam tonight.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 17:25

I am feeling very very nervous. I can't wait to see my boy but I know I will cry in front of the children, when I have been trying to tell them all will be fine...

Dh is held up at work and may not make it, and I was counting on him to hold the serious and sensible conservation with the vet whilst I crumbled in the corner (that is usually how I react in a crisis, I am not strong, I just curl up into a ball and keen Sad)

Think of me from 17.50 onwards please. Am so worried he is not going to recover.

I want to take Sam's blanket from his bed with me. It smells of home. Will the vet let me put it into his crate?

OP posts:
kid · 26/10/2011 17:35

I don't know if they will let you take his blanket, can you phone and ask?
Also, it might be a good idea to call them anyway before you visit so you can get the latest update so there will be no surprises when you get there.
Let them know you are feeling anxious, I'm sure they have seen people get upset before. Do you have to take your DC with you? Its not a bad thing for kids to see people cry, but it might convince them things are very bad. Its a hard situation to be in, I hope its all sorted out for you soon.

I have a bit of a phobia of vets myself after receiving the worst phone call imaginable last year. I hate having to go as I don't always want to hear what they have to say. My precious dog has an appt this evening at 6:10 but I know the worst that will happen to him is he will be given a needle.

Update us when you have any more news if you can.

Elibean · 26/10/2011 17:56

Crossing paws and fingers and so sorry to hear he's sick, Behind...I think you are probably there now, and am thinking of you.

Our own rescue boy had diarrhoea Sun/Monday, one never expects it to be anything so serious Sad

Hope Sam is on the mend, xxx

momnipotent · 26/10/2011 17:59

Thinking of you and Sam with fingers crossed.

BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kid · 26/10/2011 20:20

Its great news that Sam has started eating and its reassuring to hear he is looking better than this morning. Hopefully, he will continue to improve and won't need much more doing to him. Then he can come home where he belongs and you can sort out the insurance.
I have insurance with Argos and they have been very good. They pay the vet directly and the excess for us is £65 which I think is reasonable.

Keep us updated on Sam and I hope to hear he is home soon x

DogsBeastFiend · 26/10/2011 20:37

Good to hear he's improved. I hope so much that it continues.

And look! There's a kind rescue owner! :o

BLNN (what a name!), are you willing to name them? No problem if you're not of course. :)

BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Elibean · 26/10/2011 21:32

Hurrah for Sam and improvements! Diving in between putting dc to bed and eating to see how he was doing...much relieved Smile

Here's to more improvement in LFTs tomorrow.

oldqueenie · 26/10/2011 21:35

oh blnn, just seen this and wanted to post. our 2yo bedlington terrier was v v ill with HGE over easter this year, had to be inpatient for 5 days on iv antibiotics, rehydration etc etc... we really thought she wouldn't make it.... but, she bounced right back and is completely fine. so really really hope your ddog does the same. sounds as though he is in good hands and is v lucky to have you all worrying and caring about him. will have my fingers xed for you all.
what i would say is that our vet says some dogs are predisposed to this sort of thing and we need to keep a careful eye. our ddog is now permanently on a special "sensitive" dried food and only has this and plain chicken / white fish. she has had one further episode of tummy trouble but not HGE and was nothing like so severe / worrying. hth.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 22:09

Thank you all Smile

kid, is that the argos lifetime insurance? Have just got some quotes via Compare the meercat and the Argos one looks good Smile

OldQueenie - thanks for your message, that is very reassuring. This morning the vet was indeed very very sombre and I have spent all day trying to come to terms with the fact we may lose him.
Is the HGE now classed as a pre-existing condition on your dog insurance?
We fed Sam the Arden Grange Adult Sensitive, the lamb and rice one. The nurse tonight said that was a good food to continue with. I used to make it more interesting with some cooked chicken, or left over pasta etc but will stop that now. No more table scraps and treats.

They are a worry these dogs, aren't they...

OP posts:
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oldqueenie · 26/10/2011 22:16

she was insured when she got the HGE (Petplan). They say HGE is now an excluded condition... we had to have a row about it as originally they were saying "gastritis and all gastric conditions" were excluded Hmm. has your dog had all his jabs? only asking as originally my vet thought ours might have parvo (similar symptoms)... she had had all her puppy jabs, booster was 3 weeks overdue....

DogsBeastFiend · 26/10/2011 22:21

Ah, I've never worked with them but have heard great things about them. They rehome as a good rescue SHOULD - wish they were all like that.

Thank you. :)

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 22:27

Sam was one of the lucky ones, he came to Celia Cross (with two other lurchers) when his time at the Pound in Essex was up and he was scheduled for destruction.

OP posts:
Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 22:30

Oldqueenie, yes, Sam has had all his vaccinations. He is approx 18 months and was found as a stray in Essex, presumed abandoned from a traveller camp. When his 7 day stay in the pound was up and he was scheduled for destruction he ended up coming to Celia Cross where he was immediately checked over and given all his vaccines and neutered.

So it looks like whichever insurance I choose will exclude HGE. How did you sucessfully argue the gastric conditions thing?

OP posts:
kid · 26/10/2011 22:33

behind, yes I have the lifetime one as I was worried about my dog developing a lifelong condition and the insurance only paying out for a certain amount.

I've just claimed for the first time this year. The bill was £290. I paid the £65 excess and the vets send the form to the insurance for payment of the rest of the bill.
I know someone who is with directline and they had to pay £3000 up front and wait 8 weeks for it to be refunded.