Puppy has been ill and I can't stop worrying

[OhNoFloyd]

I've name changed... too outing for my usual username...

Tl;Dr - puppy was ill and I can't get over it. So stressed and worried.

The long version... We've had our puppy for 4 weeks, and I was ready for poor sleep, the energy and the nipping and all that stuff but what I just wasn't ready for was him being ill.

We'd had him for 10 days and he stopped eating and wanted to sleep all the time, we took him to the vets and it took some time to figure out what was wrong but they eventually found an abscess in his groin. Once they'd found it and treated it he bounced right back but for a couple of days we didnt think he'd be coming home. He was at the vets for 4 days (3 nights), needed a huge load of tests and interventions. Total cost was £4k. Couldn't claim on insurance because it was within the first 14 days of the policy. Vet has no idea what caused it, breeder was concerned and helpful but obviously no fault of theirs.

Then 3 days ago he started having diarrhea and vomiting. Straight back to the vet - because he'd been so ill before the vet wanted to err on the side of caution and keep him in, so he was in for 24 hours. Cost £900 which we should get back from the insurance company. Vet says he could have eaten something that disagreed with him or picked up a bug, they tested for parvo so not that (he's vaccinated).

I don't really know what to think now... I love him so much, he's lovely. But I'm finding the whole thing so stressful and I keep crying.

We can afford the money, just means some house renovations we'd earmarked the cash for wont get done. Not a big deal on this occasion but if this keeps happening then we won't be able to afford to keep him (our insurance has an annual limit) so that's worrying me.

He's still not 100% over the diarrhea so having to be ultra vigilant which is stressful - he was pretty much house trained before the d&v but he's having accidents again now (I don't blame him and he's not in trouble but its grim...)

I can't stop fretting about what might be next. I am really tired - he sleeps well in his crate at night, usually wakes up once for a wee and then goes straight back to sleep, but I'm struggling to sleep anyway. And I feel like I've not done a good job of keeping him safe and looking after him. I've got three dc and I've never felt like this before! DH is very practical and says we've just been unlucky but I'm not convinced. Vet says it's all a bit unusual but there is no connection between the 2 illnesses so he's just been unlucky.

I just can't relax - the illness, the money, the d&v in the house, the normal puppy mayhem, the worrying about what might be next... it just all feels too much. I don't want to give him up but I'm wondering if he'd be better off with someone else looking after him...

Here he is - Floyd ❤

Gosh you've had really bad luck with him.

It won't be that bad forever, I am sure. With d&v it's really worth giving pre and probiotics to get their gut flora back on track, especially with puppies as they really need their immune systems to build well. It can affect behaviour and all sorts so definitely get something for him. That should also help his poops and general condition. Was his food changed or anything else in that time?

I think you've had a run of bad luck.

It just sounds like a run of bad luck to me, and combined with the mayhem that a new puppy brings, I'm not surprised you're feeling overwhelmed

But if you're worried about costs I would look at his insurance and make sure you have the best cover you can afford for him - ideally a lifetime policy with a high annual limit. You can increase your excess to bring down the monthly costs which may help a little bit too.

All policies will have an annual limit - there's nothing you can do to get around it but you can make sure you have the best cover possible going forward.

That's a lot to go through in 4 weeks. Even without anything going wrong it's possible (maybe even likely) to not have properly bonded with your puppy yet after a month. It sounds like the stress of the illnesses is really effecting you, which is unsurprising. Plus, as understanding as you are about his accidents, having to constantly be on alert for a puppy pooing in the house (plus cleaning it up) is so stressful. I think you've been unlucky and that you just need more time, stress free time, to enjoy your puppy, and that the overwhelming feelings will eventually subside.

Floyd is lovely. Is he a cocker poo or other poodle X? We have one and never had a dog with such a sensitive stomach! Other breeds I've had, could eat anything and be fine. Its be trial and error with our dog in terms of what doesn't upset her stomach- even common dog treats can make her sick! Did the vet recommend a pre-biotic? We have this one and its handy for firming up diarrhoea. Logic Firm Paste for Digestive Upset in Medium Dogs 24ml | Pets At Home

You've had back luck OP, but it sounds like you have developed anxiety over the whole situation. Understandable, but fretting about what might never happen again isn't going to help anyone. Your anxiety will pass to the children and make them concerned and worry also.

He is still a puppy, so accidents are common- but will improve. He has just had a set back from being so ill. Take it day by day. I wouldn't rush into rehoming right now. Let things settle and then have a rethink. What does your DH think about rehoming?

Thank you everyone for being so nice. I was expecting to get told to send him back cause I clearly can't look after him well enough.

DH thinks I'm mad to even consider it, we all love him.

He's got probiotics from the vet and we're doing stool samples every day for 4 days in case something shows up.

He's a labradoodle. We have life time cover for him but I clearly need to increase the annual limit... We estimated what we'd need based on what our cat has needed at the vets and then doubled it...

He's a really good boy, he enjoys training and has mastered sit, down, come and very nearly rollover. I just can't stand the thought of him being sick again.

I really feel for you, it's a lot to deal with in the little time you've had him. It's bad enough in those first few weeks with a new puppy that's healthy never mind one that's been poorly. I was very anxious and overwhelmed in the first few months we got our pup to the point where I would've happily given him up. Now, I can't imagine life without him but it did take until he was around 6 months old for me to feel like this and we'd had him since he was 10 weeks old (he's now 9 months). I would give it a little while longer if you can.

has mastered sit, down, come and very nearly rollover in only 4 weeks, and whilst sick- that is amazing!

Mine is 18mths old, had puppy lessons and only mastered 2 of those things 😁

We got a bell on string and attached it to the back door. Every time we go in our out, we rang the bell. The dog soon learnt to ring the bell when she wants to go outside. It might be something to consider trying.

Sounds awful for you hope it settles soon! What food is he on ?

I'm so sorry - this must be so stressful for you. But persevere and take it day by day as others have suggested.

It sounds like you can afford it, so I would buy the very best dog food you can - Canagans for example is very good and about 75% meat.

If your puppy has a sensitive stomach I would avoid all supermarket sold brands, which have a ridiculously low meat content bulked out with cereals.

He looks so adorable and intelligent and I so hope he and you will be ok.

He's eating Arden Grange puppy food which is what the breeder fed him. When he was at the vets he ate Royal Canine gastrointestinal food which we also have a couple of cans of.

There are 5 of us practising training with him so he gets a lot of attention every day! It's been easy to teach him the things we want him to do - much more so that stopping his doing the things we don't want him to do... 😂

I would recommend moving him to a grain free better quality puppy food this should help with sensitivity

Could you recommend one @Rhino94 ?

The vet told us not to change his diet at the moment but we're open to suggestions once he's recovered from this round of illness.

Raw feeding is definitely the best ime and there are lots of commercial brands out there such as Natural instinct and nutriment, but if it doesn’t suit you then high high quality dry foods like Acana and orijen are great. Definitely recommend going on all about dog food website, they list every dog food out there and give them ratings for quality of ingredients ect.

Just a thought. Have you checked with the breeder regarding insurance? Is it possible because your gorgeous puppy became ill within 10 days before your insurance cover was in place that he might have been covered by the breeder’s insurance? I’m sure when my daughter got their dog 5 year’s ago the breeder’s insurance remained in place for the first 14 days. It might be worth asking. I hope the little fella goes from strength to strength now 🐶

This website helped me choose the right food for my puppy.
AllAboutDogFood.co.uk

Thank you both for this. We're going to change his food over the next few weeks - want to do it slowly. Really appreciate the advice.

You have had some fab advice, it does sound like bad luck though. We have a labradoodle and it felt like he permanently had D&V for the first couple of months. Vet couldn't see anything wrong, just took his tummy time to adjust I think.

In the end we sorted it with a diet of boiled rice and fish (used frozen pollock). We had used chicken but the vet suggested it was too much protein. Sure enough, within a week on rice and fish he was sorted.

We eased him from James Wellbeloved to Lily's Kitchen. But I have just switched him to Burns as he stopped eating that, he is fussy. But he is two now and it takes a lot to upset his tummy now!!! So there is light at the end of the tunnel!