When do you see a vet?

[lougle]

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question.

Patch is a staffy x ?pointy of some variety.

Usually extremely energetic, bouncy, loves people. Usually he'll eat anything he sees and clears his food very quickly.

The night before last he was sick in the early hours. I'd say he vomited his whole dinner which had been given at around 6 pm.

Yesterday he seemed OK, eating and drinking, in and out of the house. But by last night he seemed a bit subdued. DH and I had a curry and normally he'd be right beside us in hope of us dropping some. Instead, he completely ignored it.

Last night he again vomited his whole dinner in the early hours. This morning he seems subdued. Didn't make a fuss when the children came into my bedroom. My father came in briefly to see him and although he trotted around a bit and jumped a couple of times, he usually goes dotty and he was noticeably calmer. Dad threw a toy for him and although he did trot off to get it, he didn't run and pounce like normal. He hasn't eaten his breakfast (Burns potato and pork).

He seems to be weeing and he's had a poo. The only other thing is that earlier he seemed as if he was nibbling something little in his mouth and his skin on his head was visibly jeering. I thought he was twitching when he was under my covers but I couldn't see if it was just dreamy jerks or something else.

DH has just come home and he hasn't even bothered to get up.

Yes, maybe. I've been told that he's quite underweight and need to get him to put some on. Funnily, I told them he was to underweight last year and was told he was fine and that we're too used to seeing fat dogs. He's 16.2 kg. The vet nurse seemed surprised when I said we feed him Burns (it's a PDSA hospital). So she's suggested that I give him 3 meals per day once he's on dog food again.

He hasn't had anything to drink since he came home. He's eaten, weed, pooed, engaged in a battle of wills about his tablets, but just won't drink. I suppose he could have had a big drink before we got him (5 hrs ago now).

I wrap my dogs tablets ( he is on 3 a day) in wafer thin chicken or ham ,the alternative is on a spoon pushed into some dairylea - both work a treat . Glad he is on the mend . He doesn't look thin in the photo .

These ones have to be before food. In desperation I put one in a bit of cheese but he managed to detect it.

Ach. Open mouth. Force down throat.

Rub throat.

I didn't put it far enough back, I think.

He still hasn't had anything to drink. I picked him up 6.5 hrs ago now. He won't even lick my fingers when I put water on them.

Am I being a bit PFD about it?

He is not impressed.

We always put pills in a curl of butter - always seems to slip down easily that way.

Well I've had an unsuccessful attempt at giving a tramadol capsule. I stopped because I thought he might bite me (he never normally would but he was really very stressed).

I've had to put his buster cone on because he's licking his wound, but now he won't walk with it on and is just stood with his head down, crying.

Mistlethrush, I think I love you! One curl of butter and a tramadol capsule is in

He still hasn't taken any water.

Oh sweet boy. Hope he feels better in the morning.

It's hard to tell from the photos re weight How many ribs can you see when he's stood up straight?

I can see 3 clearly, 5 if he's looking to the right or left.

Hope he's feeling better tomorrow. Poor lad must be very sore.

I think lurchery types are meant to show 3 ribs as a 'good weight' indicator (as long as they are nice and muscle-y too) - some are very difficult to get weight on.

Oh that's good to know. I already feed him the quantity for a 25 kg dog but it makes no difference to his bulk. I wondered if raw feeding might put a bit of weight on him.

Last night I tried sleeping on the sofa next to his bed but by 2am it was clear that he was going to stare and wine all night, so I carried him up to our bed which he approved of.

This morning he took his meds like a dream in the butter, even though he watched me dose it.

He still hasn't had anything to drink yet, although he did a huge wee this morning. Perhaps he's voiding the IV fluids before he takes more on.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about his weight for his mix, but would probably be trying to get just a little more rib coverage on.

Sounds like he came home well hydrated do hopefully he'll start drinking normally today.

How are his stools? If loose I would feed him less. Overfeeding can be counterproductive if it is passing through his system too quickly.

You could see if you could make his water more attractive by really watering down some milk (if he's normally OK on milk - some aren't) or adding some low-salt stock that you've made up to some water. Mine even likes the water that you've steamed veg in which I'm sure gives her some added vitamins (we don't add salt when we're steaming).

Ah, poor lad. Glad you've been able to get the meds down him. The tramadol will probably make his woozy and sleepy, my girl just slept the whole time when she was on it.

If you can, measure the amount of water in his water bowl, so you can keep track of exactly how much fluid he's getting if he doesn't seem to be drinking much.

As mistle said, if he's got sighthound in his mix, it's wouldn't be unusual for him to be ribby. Three visible ribs with good muscle definition is often quoted as the standard, but there are plenty that show more and are perfectly healthy. My younger dog likes to show off most of his ribs, but is fit, strong and healthy, with energy to spare and a coat that shines beautifully and the vet says he's in perfect condition. He eats like a horse - twice what my older boy is on, plus at least two stuffed kongs daily and my older lad is actually a touch overweight. It's just his mix - most likely Saluki in there somewhere to be as bony as he is.

Is Burns a dry food? If so, could you soak it in water so he gets some that way? Alternatively, could you poach something like chicken or liver and give him the meat in the gravy?

He's drinking now I think he just needed to void the IV fluids. My boy is back.

Thanks everyone, you've really helped.

Sounds like he's on the mend

Yes! Last tramadol in the morning. His wound area is sporting lots of bruising (it's not easy to keep a dog like tigger down for long) but he's taking it like a man.

He insisted on coming under the covers last night as usual -Cone and all

Brill news. Get well soon Patch!

Arnica is very good for bruising if you can get any.