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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:
Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 22:46

Is that your vet only, or would all vets deal direct with Argos? Will have to ask the vets I suppose.

They tried to sell me their own insurance tonight, but having done a price comparison online their insurance is four times more expensive than most for only half the cover. Does not seem worth it to me...

OP posts:
kid · 26/10/2011 22:57

as with all insurance, its best to shop around.
My previous puppy died on the operating table at our local vets. Needless to say, I would never go back there again.
The vet I now use was recommended by a friend/dog trainer. They did a free on my puppy check when I first got him and one of the first things I asked them was if they deal with the insurance company directly. They only deal with some insurance companies directly, Argos being one of them.

kid · 26/10/2011 23:00

(just noticed you are a TA and have 2 children, me too!)
Wasn't stalking you, honest! I was just trying to see which area you are in to see if its worth me suggesting my own vets. I'm in East London and judging by where you got Sam from, I'm guessing you aren't anywhere near me.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 26/10/2011 23:32

We are in Woking, Surrey.

Thanks for all your advice, will speak to vets about which insurers they deal with directly.

Off to bed now, hopefully there will be better news about Sam tomorrow.

I remember your thread about Moby xx

OP posts:
Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 10:07

Just spoken to the vet. Sam has has a good night and seems brighter. He is eating and his diarrhea is still slowly starting to form.
They are not rerunning the liver enzymes test this morning as they don't feel there is a need. They are going to keep him in on IV drips / ab's for another 24 hours and monitor his progress. Then Friday morning they are going to rerun the liver enzyme bloods to check levels are back nearer to normal. And then hopefully, if all is well he can come home.

So, getting there, keep fingers and paws crossed please xx

OP posts:
DogsBeastFiend · 27/10/2011 10:47

Certainly am! It's heartwarming to learn that he's perking up, big hugs to him from me and my muts.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 11:26

Thank you Smile

We have an appointment at 17.40 to visit and cuddle him. Will pass your cuddle on to him :-)

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KatharineClifton · 27/10/2011 11:37

I'm really pleased the news is getting a little better!

(and thanks for the prompt to sort insurance)

Elibean · 27/10/2011 13:19

Doggy grins and crossed paws for Sam - very happy to hear news!

kid · 27/10/2011 13:20

Great news to hear he is getting better. I wonder if you will see an improvement when you visit him later?

I took ny dog over the park and he spent an hour running around playing with 2 gorgeous whippets. They are such a lovely breed of dogs.
Good luck with this evenings visit.

Scuttlebutter · 27/10/2011 13:30

Excellent! Another one here who wishes to pass on a virtual ear scritching (and what magnificent ears they are too). Hope he is soon back home, on the sofa and being even more spoiled than he was before. [hsmile]

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 13:31

Thanks all Smile

Have just phoned round our 3 local vets. Two are part of the same chain and one is independent. None deal with any insurance companies direct. Well, the two that are part of the same chain have their own insurance but having looked at their website the monthly premium is over £30 and only offers £2000 per condition only (ie not lifetime). Seems very expensive...

Dog is being cared for by the vets which is part of the large chain, which is also the vets the Greyhound Trust uses (albeit different branch in different town). I am tempted to move to nearby indep vets as have heard great things about them. But feel sort of loyal to this vets because of the Greyhound Trust's involvement.

What would you do?

OP posts:
kid · 27/10/2011 13:40

I'd use the vet that I felt offered the best care for my dog. My closest vet, 2 streets away is where my previous puppy died. I will never step foot in there ever again. The vet I use now is a 20 minute drive away but they are more thorough when examining my dog and very kind and sympathetic towards me regarding my last puppy.
I understand your loyalties due to the rescue, but you must do what's best for you and your dog.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 13:44

I know. My issue with the chain of vets (even when we went there with our cat - a lifetime ago - and then with our previous dog) is that they were very 'commerical'. The vets and vet nurses are fab but the reception staff were always a bit humourless. In addition they kept sending leaflets for joining this scheme to get money off and that scheme to get money off and when I once totted up all the joining fees it worked out more expensive than just paying for vax and flea treatments etc outright.

Not sure. Just not sure.

OP posts:
kid · 27/10/2011 13:58

What makes you want to change vets? What good things have you heard about it?

My new vets it very good. I like it because its a family run place. The vets wife is very friendly and they both fuss all the animals they see. The last vets were very cold and clinical. They never acknowledged me or my dog other than to book us in. I trust my gut instinct and my new vet is by far the best Smile

KatharineClifton · 27/10/2011 14:01

I find my vet rude and it costs more than the other vets in town. But, he is fantastic with my children when we take any animals there, and I trust his judgement with treatment of my animals.

Gotta go with gut instinct I think.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 14:03

You have just hit the nail on the head - the chain seems a bit clinical, a bit distant. Plus we had a bad experience there with out old dog so I feel a bit nervous and stressed when we go there even if only to collect some worming tablets.

The independent vets has a reputation for being caring, more involved, more personal.

I don't know. Just a gut feeling. Perhaps am feeling unfairly biased towards chain because of previous bad experience (which was not even their fault really).

I just have an inbuilt dislike for big chains be they shops or vets, and a love for little independents who offer a personal service. But that does not mean they would do better for Sam.

OP posts:
kid · 27/10/2011 14:16

As far as I'm concerned, my previous vets which is also a chain if vets made a mistake which resulted in the death of my puppy. Another puppy died there less than a year later whilst having the same operation. I advise people I know against going there. The vets working there often leave, my new vet isn't going anywhere as its his business.

BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kid · 27/10/2011 15:55

No, it starts with A.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 15:57

No worries Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 20:11

Visited Sam today. He was a bit brighter but still jaundiced. He also treated us to a large wee and that was quite yellow. So still a bit worrying. Sad

The vet is ringing me by 12 noon tomorrow to let me know the results of the liver enzymes test which they will do in the morning. Am terrified Sad If the levels are going down he may be able to come home.
If the levels are still high, or higher that before then we may have a much bigger problem and heaven only knows what will happen...

So handholding still very much needed, please xx

OP posts:
DogsBeastFiend · 27/10/2011 20:35

With you all the way lovey. Keeping everything crossed for Sam, and for you.

Original poster
BehindLockNumberNine · 27/10/2011 20:47

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
Elibean · 27/10/2011 20:53

Hoping hard its just a case of his liver taking a while to process the toxins that are left over - good news that he is brighter, if his liver was packing up I would have thought he would be lethargic. Paws still tightly crossed though, all so worrying Sad

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