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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:
elm26 · 29/03/2023 13:00

Everything crossed for you all OP, what a beautiful girl 💕 hope she gets well soon x

Honeyroar · 29/03/2023 17:21

Oh gosh what a rollercoasters. Sounds slightly on the positive side. Keep doing what you are doing!

Savedmybacon · 31/03/2023 14:45

Any news @Redcarsgofaster?

Savedmybacon · 31/03/2023 14:46

Savedmybacon · 31/03/2023 14:45

Any news @Redcarsgofaster?

@RedCarsGoFaster

Urgi · 31/03/2023 15:01

I really hope your little lady is doing ok.

Our elderly boy (18) has what we have for dinner, anything cooked/warm - he seems to do better with it than cold food. (His fave is lasagne, might Blondie have a go at that?)

Sending huge big hugs to you all x

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 31/03/2023 15:17

Hiya, she is still doing OK, vet is pleased so far. We have more blood tests on Monday to see how she's really doing inside. She's eating so is not currently at immediate risk, but we're not out of the woods yet. I feel like it's a month since I wrote the OP!

Yesterday she took sausages, bacon, a bit of pate, two fillets of white fish, and mugged me for 1/4 of my pizza. She also had a poop!

As of today, she's drinking under her own steam - no more syringing. She also eating from her bowl rather than hand feeding, so big changes. Her behaviour is a bit better, but she's still not right of course. Lots of sleeping like the dead which I think is good as she's actually resting rather than restless in pain.

I bought a pile of food today to try her with - tins of sardines and mackerel, more white fish, sausages and pate but also dog foods as I'm worried about her salt intake. I've got some raw food and some wet Forthglade packets which she's loved in the past.

She's not going to die of a lack of food and water right now, but we still don't know the cause of the liver problems. She's currently in the process of pushing her luck by sleeping on my bed 😂

I think my dog is dying
OP posts:
Savedmybacon · 31/03/2023 16:55

I'm so pleased to hear that and it sounds as if you're doing a great job. She looks so similar to my Italian version that you've stayed in my thoughts.

I think my dog is dying
Timeforachangeisitnot · 31/03/2023 17:00

@RedCarsGoFaster & @Savedmybacon Your dogs are gorgeous.

Hope Blondie keeps getting better. 7.5 is no age .

userxx · 31/03/2023 22:59

Mugged for pizza.... the girl is doing ok. Really hope you get to the bottom of it with the blood tests.

DarlingG · 31/03/2023 23:28

Oh wow, I’m so so pleased to see your update is looking more positive. In all honestly I’ve had notifications coming up from this post every time I’ve been on but I thought I knew what your update would say so didn’t want to come on to see it 😢 I’ve just decided I could cope with it there and clicked.. now delighted to see that she’s still going! 😅 hope it continues

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 01/04/2023 21:04

Blondie is currently at the OOH vets on a drip and under sedation. She hasn't drunk in 24hrs and despite taking a pile of chicken nuggets at lunchtime, ate no other food today. She's very dehydrated and has v low blood pressure.

Awaiting a phone call shortly for blood results to see what we do next.

OP posts:
lipstickwoman · 01/04/2023 21:08

I'm so sorry to see that OP. You and Blondie have had a dreadful week. Thinking of you

StrongTea · 01/04/2023 21:14

Fingers crossed for some positive news.

stockpilingallthecheese · 01/04/2023 21:14

I have everything crossed for you and your gorgeous girl, I can totally understand how you must be feeling right now. Flowers

SeasonsBleatings · 01/04/2023 21:16

Thinking of you and Blondie

userxx · 01/04/2023 21:18

Rooting for Blondie.

usernamechanged1 · 01/04/2023 21:19

Aww I hope your dog rallies round and you get some good news.

I have a Romanian rescue myself, they’re the kindest, most loving dogs ever.

ZeroWorshipHere · 01/04/2023 21:21

I’ve got my fingers firmly crossed for you that you can get to the bottom of it. Poor blondie!

cleanthegutter · 01/04/2023 21:57

Thinking of you and beautiful little Blondie.

Original poster
RedCarsGoFaster · 01/04/2023 22:07

Liver enzyme levels are extremely high, but we haven't got access to the test results from last week so we can't do a comparison. She's v dehydrated as her red blood cells are high.

Weirdly, the vet thinks she's 2-4 years older than we thought, so actually 9.5-12.5yrs old.... We'll never really know given she's a street dog though.

She's on a drip overnight and we'll hopefully pick her up in the morning. The OOH vet is very good and very knowledgeable - I actually wish she was our regular vet!

She's mooted the possibility of it being leishmaniasis as the underlying cause, which we can test for through the regular vet but I'm not sure the result comes back quickly so we may not end up with the time to do that properly tbh.... One for discussion on Monday at the regular practice.

OP posts:
DarlingG · 01/04/2023 22:19

Oh so sorry to see things have taken another turn 😔 I nearly got a leish dog once and joined all the Facebook groups to see how doable it was.. If it leish (or even if it might be) you could join the Facebook group. They are all so knowledgeable. There are certain vets across the country that they recommend as being very experienced with leish. They’ve also got lots of tips on getting the medication as cheap as possible. Hopefully you get some answers and she’s feeling better by the morning

Savedmybacon · 02/04/2023 00:05

@RedCarsGoFaster so sorry to hear things have declined again but everything crossed for you and so glad you managed to get her to the OOH vet.

Bunnyhascovidnoteggs · 02/04/2023 00:20

Fingers crossed for you both op...

MarchMadness23 · 02/04/2023 01:18

@RedCarsGoFaster I'm sorry to hear Blondie isn't well. I hope she picks up overnight again.

why can't you switch vets?

it sounds like she's had a lovely life with you & she'll know she's so loved. I think you've made the right decision for her, not to drive so far away for tests etc. it would only stress her out.

I hope she makes a good recovery,but if you have to make the hard call, just remember all she will know is feeling safe & loved and falling asleep. It's you guys that will go through the heartache, but remember what you recused her from & what a fabulous life you've given her 💕

Rosa8994 · 02/04/2023 08:04

💐I hope you have had some answers by now as to what is ailing your lovely Blondie.

I went through something very similiar with my beautiful 14 year dog. Very elevated liver enzymes, and a roller coaster of her eating/not eating and generally being poorly. An early ultrasound scan showed nothing conclusive. We had about 6 weeks of bi-weekly vet visits and were given symptom treatment but no firm diagnosis. Finally a different vet did some better imaging and it turned out to be liver cancer. She was so very, very poorly by then. We let her go that same day.