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The doghouse

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

Original poster

I think my dog is dying

78 replies

RedCarsGoFaster · 28/03/2023 21:49

I hope I'm wrong, but she has a poor prognosis.

A week or so of being a bit off her food - not really unusual as she's a bit fussy. Then she started walking slowly on walks and grinding to a halt.

Vet visit last week didn't find much, but a dose of metacam for a week was recommended if to see if it made any difference. No real difference noted, barely eating by this weekend, even with chicken, tuna etc.

Last night (day 7) she was pacing, pacing, pacing, refusing to settle. Vets saw her this morning, wondered about pancreatitis and admitted her to the day ward for bloods and an IV as she's a bit dehydrated.

Bloods show liver enzymes 6x the usual levels. Ultrasound shows possible inflammation of the liver, kidney and bowel. Her gastric system has ground to a halt. She's not eaten today, am syringing water into her now.

She's currently off her face on an opiate injection and going back in the morning.

Vets have said if she doesn't rally quite swiftly, it's not good. We can take her to a specialist vet 4hrs away for liver biopsies, but she's hysterical and very sick in the car after 2mins so I really don't want to put her through that on top of everything else so I don't

I really think she's dying in front of me.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 28/03/2023 22:06

Oh heck. You poor things. Have they done any scans or anything? Just be with her and love her tonight. See what tomorrow brings. How old is she?

Hellocatshome · 28/03/2023 22:07

How old is she?

talkitup · 28/03/2023 22:10

I'm so sorry; it's really hard, I've been there. You're doing all you can. As has been said, just love her, see what tomorrow holds 😞

lipstickwoman · 28/03/2023 22:11

I'm really sorry OP. But I think she should be back at the vet if you've got as far as syringing fluids.

Thinking of you.

itsnotmeitsu · 28/03/2023 22:26

Holding all four paws with you @RedCarsGoFaster . I'd be with you about not taking her to a vet four hours away when it probably wouldn't make a difference. Thoughts with you 😔

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 28/03/2023 22:26

She had the ultrasound today. She's about 7.5yrs old, but she's a Romanian rescue so we have no certainty about her age and no real idea of her life before she was captured as a street dog. We've always wondered if she was someone's pet once as she needed no house training etc.

The vet knew we'd have to syringe water into her to get to keep her fluids up - she's a very scared wee lass at the best of times, so a night at home being nursed by me was preferable for us all to a night of terror in the OOH vet ward (plus the van journey to transfer her from our vet who have no OOH staff).

OP posts:
lipstickwoman · 28/03/2023 22:29

I completely agree she's better with you then OP. I hope you both have a settled night and things look better in the morning.

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 28/03/2023 22:33

She's a bit special. Loves to be brushed. Pulls epic derp faces.

The photo in the cage is when she was in Romania.

OP posts:
lipstickwoman · 28/03/2023 22:37

Oh my, what a difference. From a heartbreakingly frightened and sad pup to a very happy and well loved one.

You did that OP, she's very lucky to have you 💕

userxx · 28/03/2023 22:40

What a beauty. Keep doing what you're doing op, thinking of you both. So hard 😞

BertaHoon · 28/03/2023 22:41

Cuddle up with her tonight. She knows she's loved. I think tomorrow will or should be goodbye.

I'm so sorry ❤️

DarlingG · 28/03/2023 22:46

Aww sending hugs. No age at all either (if her age is right as a rescue). I lost my boy way too young and they thought he had pancreatitis at one point. It turned out not to be. He had eaten something that had caused damage to his intestines and needed bits of it removed. He had multiple operations but just didn’t really get any better then we had to let him go when they finally said he was shutting down and there were no more operations they could try 😞

I really hope there is some positive glimmer of hope tomorrow and something is fixable

caringcarer · 28/03/2023 22:48

I hope she rally's but if no improvement maybe consider one last day of love and treats and the PTS with dignity and love. Has vet mentioned this at all?

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 28/03/2023 22:52

caringcarer · 28/03/2023 22:48

I hope she rally's but if no improvement maybe consider one last day of love and treats and the PTS with dignity and love. Has vet mentioned this at all?

Yes, in a roundabout fashion. We've discussed it at home and we both think that will be the outcome unless she surprises us.

We lost my beloved puss last year aged 16 after a slow but easy descent into kidney failure. The final week went on far too long though with a UTI that became intractable, along with poor quality of life. That last week was so undignified and unhappy for both me and her.

We won't let Blondie (nickname) have a similar experience.

OP posts:
Judystilldreamsofhorses · 28/03/2023 22:54

This just popped up in active for me and I am sending lots of love to you and your beautiful girl. ❤️

SoggyGround · 28/03/2023 23:14

Sending love and hoping for a miraculous pull round for your gorgeous girl. If not, then it sounds like you are facing what may come and doing the right thing for her. Be with her tonight, she knows she's loved.

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 28/03/2023 23:27

I'm on the sofa tonight, she's on her bed next to me and under a blanket as she feels cool to the touch. I'll be up in the night to see how she is - fluids, food, toilet etc if she needs them.

OP posts:
Train007 · 28/03/2023 23:35

Oh bless you . It’s so hard loving our doggies so much . Try and have a night of cuddles and see what tomorrow brings . Be comforted by the fact she has had such a loving home and happy life, if the worst case scenario happens .Sending love ❤️

SmoothSeasDoNotMakeGoodSailors · 28/03/2023 23:36

Rommies are so special @RedCarsGoFaster she's a beautiful girl. I had 2, neither with me anymore sadly. My boy was dying in front of me last year, I totally understand what you mean. You have to do what is best for her and if the specialist vet is going to stress her for no real gain then please don't put her through it. Stay close to her tonight, she will know you love her and will feel safe. I'm so so sorry.

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 29/03/2023 06:55

She's made it through the night.

Had about 200ml water. Refusing all food still, which is really distressing DH who feels like he's failed her somehow.

Ham, cheese, chicken - all being ignored. Had a wee about 6am when I took her outside but not pooed since Mon night - with v little food going in since then, I'm not surprised.

She bounced up onto the sofa just now and is now snorting next to me - I thin she's sick of her bed as she usually sleeps on the sofa, but she's v unsteady on her feet so I can't leave the room while she's up here in case she stands up and falls off.

We'll see what today brings.

OP posts:
lucea87 · 29/03/2023 06:59

This brought a tear to my eye OP. Sending lots of love to you and really hope there's an improvement for doggo today xx

shockthemonkey · 29/03/2023 07:26

Sending you sympathy and hugs. You’ve done a wonderful thing for Blondie. I’m sorry for your distress this is so difficult 😣

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 29/03/2023 11:25

Weird morning. She staggered out for her 6am pee and staggered to the car to go to the vets first thing. There she was so distressed I declined having her put on an IV for the day again - it's the first time she's vocalised anything since this began, and she was whimpering and shaking very hard. They took her IV out as well as she's so uncomfortable with it.

The vet was worried about the refusal to eat and not taking water in by herself, so Iisgoing to phone the specialist to discuss options. I've said we won't be taking her for biopsies and frankly the journey up there is a terrible idea for her with her history of vomiting after about 500m. Fortunately the vets is about 300m away so driving her today fortunately didn't make her puke.

They offered us a nasal gastric tube for feeding if she won't eat as we were at 24hrs with no food by then, with a max of 2-3 days of self starvation being acceptable given her sudden and significant weight loss this week.

So she shot out the door at the vets - no staggering now - and jumped in the car before I could lift her in. She walked back into the house like there was nothing wrong with her and had a nap.

I ordered a pile of tasty human food from a supermarket on Uber Eats, and in the last hour she's had some pate, a slice of corned beef and a slice of bacon! Not healthy stuff, but right now it doesn't matter as long as she has an interest in food.

So, positive steps, keeping everything crossed and I'll offer her all sorts of food today too see what she wants.

OP posts:
lipstickwoman · 29/03/2023 11:31

Oh OP what a rollercoaster! Delighted to hear she's picked up a little though..

userxx · 29/03/2023 12:34

Corned beef is brilliant for coaxing them to eat. I've got everything crossed for you both.