Help please, GSD looks sick again and the vet. isn't of much help

[JR0579]

My 8-month old GSD was diagnosed with coccidia about 2 weeks ago. He spent a night at an emergency vet. clinic after vomiting and getting a bit dehydrated. The same morning I picked him from the emergency I dropped him off at my vet's clinic to be monitored for the day while I was at work.
We just finished his medication last night and in the past 2 weeks he's been acting almost normal as far as eating, drinking and playing.
Last night he pooped and the poop looked very soft but not as in diarhea.

This morning he started showing the same signs he showed 2 weeks ago despite that his poop looked much better than last night's. Doesn't want to eat and his activity level is well below normal besides looking sick to me and I know my puppy when he's not feeling well.
I took him to the vet this morning. Examining his poop, it turns out that coccidia is gone, at least that's what the vet told me. He then took his temperature and said that it was normal. 2 minutes latter he said the "Roy is kind of warm " !!!!!!!!!!!!
The rest of the vet's speech was "maybe giardia", "we are not sure what is going on", "we might have to do some more tests". Basically, the speech was all "maybes", "mights" and "not sures".

I am right now really panicing for 2 reasons :

1. I don't want to lose my puppy
2. I don't want to have to rush to the emergency again at the last minute... the bills really hurt ... last time he was there for less than 24 hours and the bill be was close to $400.00 and that's not counting $200.00 at the clinic and another $100 this morning.

 

[AmberwayGSD]

If I were you I would find a new vet.maybe and not sure is not something I am willing to risk with my pet.

 

[Jynx]

well I'll trade ya vet bills,,I've spent almost 3000$ on my aussie since June on vet bills and believe me I'm no millionaire. We gotta do what we gotta do when we take on animals.

Anyhow, if your not happy with your vet, seek out a new one or look for a specialist as in internist,,I've found even tho you would think the specialists would be more costly,,they really aren't in the long run. Initial visit may be higher than your normal vet, but your getting a "specialist" who's most likely going to get to the root of the problem faster, thus saving you money in the long run

good luck with your pooch.
Diane

 

[Saje]

I don't know anything about it but from this article http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_coccidia.html it looks like a strong immune system is key. I suppose you know about good dog foods? Maybe you could find someways to boost his immunce system to help him fight it?

 

[Saje]

http://www.swiftwaterfarms.com/swiftwater/p21Coccidia.htm

 

[JR0579]

Believe me when I say that I will pay any amount of money to keep my puppy healthy and happy. All I am asking for is someone who knows what he/she is doing. In mind, although I am from a culture where my dog is my pet not my baby or boy, I have taken him into care and it's my responsibility to keep him healthy and happy no matter what it takes.

For those of you who suggested finding another vet. how can be sure that the "another" is any better.

He had his dinner 1 hour ago and drank water which I think is a good sign.
What do you think ? Also my vet gave me medication for giardia until they examine his poop for it next week. I am just kind of apprehensive of giving him medication that he might not need


GSD Gurl : I left my vet and went looking for another one right away, I swear.
Besides not finding any in my area, I thought of not complicating matters and getting a second opinion that might have been different from the first. I decided to wait until the poop analsis comes back on Tuesday. I have one vet across the street from my house but I have heard very bad things about them. I pass their clinic twice / day and they are never busy which tells me something

Saje : The article you referred me to mentions stress as a major factor in coccidia. There have been no changes whatsoever in my environment or life style. Also, it mentions that coccidia cannot be eliminated 100% especially after the first treatment. So how is my vet. saying fecal exam. was coccidia negative

I am going crazy with worry

 

[AmberwayGSD]

It is scary.I dont know what you should do.Is he still eating and drinking for now.This sucks,poor boy.This is why I like pet insurance.I hope your boy is ok.

 

[JR0579]

It is scary.I dont know what you should do.Is he still eating and drinking for now.This sucks,poor boy.This is why I like pet insurance.I hope your boy is ok.

Yes he is and also started playing a little but playing doesn't say much. He just looks sick or tired ... I don't know. I haven't been taking him for walks lately because of the weather and the cold. Last time this happened I couldn't sleep and kept checking up on him every couple of hours scared to death to look in the crate ,,,,

 

[AmberwayGSD]

If he is still eating and drinking that is a good sign.Try to play ball or something else in the house.I dont know what to tell you.My bosses dogs had Coccidia and are finally over it.I hope he gets to his normal self soon.Poor guy likely feels yucky still.

 

[JR0579]

If he is still eating and drinking that is a good sign.Try to play ball or something else in the house.I dont know what to tell you.My bosses dogs had Coccidia and are finally over it.I hope he gets to his normal self soon.Poor guy likely feels yucky still.

He's right now playing ball with my wife while I am at the computer following up on replies to my post on several other forums. By faaaaaaaaaaaar, this forum rocks in the number and speed of responses.

 

[panzer426]

I dont know much to tell you either, but I agree that I would find another vet. preferably one who is being used or has been used by someone you know who could recommend that vet. second and third opinions never hurt anything but the bank accounts. tell them what you have been told/suggested/hypothisised by your current vet and emergency clinic and have them check him out.
you may also want to have them x-ray him. gsd's can get (I cant remember the term but basically...) growing pains in their bones up until around 2 years old. x-rays will show this condition as either a cloudy area inside the bone or a sort of lump/bubble on the very outside or very inside layer of the bone. symptoms can be lack of appetite, diahrea or loose stool (full blown diarhea or just loose), fever, lack of energy.
they can treat it with a couple different medications (not all at once, the vet will recommend one or another) and dogs usually grow out of it, from what i understand occasionally a dog will have it throughout his/her life.
I am not trying to diagnose your dog, I'm not a vet, but it is a possibility that you might want them to check for.

 

[Debi]

maybe he's still a bit weak, afterall he did just complete the treatment. he may need time to regain his full strength (as after any illness). don't panic yet, especially if your vet is still testing. I really don't know if it makes a difference, but I wouldn't overdo on exercise just yet (if it were my dog). his eating and drinking are great signs. keep us posted. poor boy.

 

[JR0579]

Panzer : Hip dysplasia , I think, is what you mean. Personally, I am not a vet myself, I don't think that is it. Remember, he has already been diagnosed with coccidia. I'll have him X-rayed anyways.

Debi : He might be still a bit weak but his activity level was fine until this morning although he wasn't 100% himself. I guess I'll just have to wait until Tuesday.

I'll keep you all posted

 

[doberkim]

have you checked your GSd for EPI --EPI is exocrine pacreatic insufficiency - its a breed specific disease that GSds are pretty prone to...

 

[Nobody's Fool]

If you think it is intestinal, have you tried feeding plain yogurt? Or putting a little lemon juice in his water? Just an idea......

Sara

 

[bubbatd]

I'm so sorry you and your pup are having to go through this...if your vet is taking alot of samples for tests , I'd stay put. Otherwise do you have a Vet College near you ??? He may be just worn out at this time... love on him and keep us posted.

 

[Richard D.]

Have some confidence in your vet, he couldn't give you a definate answer without doing more tests, that would be irresponsible. If your dog is eating that is the best sign of all and reason enough not to over react.

If you want to compare vet bills, medical problems and disasters I could probably make you feel a lot better about your situation, I promise. Just follow your vets advice and if you feel he isn't spending enough time explaining things and being responsive then look for someone else.

 

[JR0579]

have you checked your GSd for EPI --EPI is exocrine pacreatic insufficiency - its a breed specific disease that GSds are pretty prone to...

That's one of the things my vet. is suspecting. He wants to wait for the fecal exam results for giardia first.

 

[JR0579]

Have some confidence in your vet, he couldn't give you a definate answer without doing more tests, that would be irresponsible. If your dog is eating that is the best sign of all and reason enough not to over react.

If you want to compare vet bills, medical problems and disasters I could probably make you feel a lot better about your situation, I promise. Just follow your vets advice and if you feel he isn't spending enough time explaining things and being responsive then look for someone else.

Richard : thanks for he advice. He spends a lot of time repeating himself and that's why I have no confidence in him. He also hesitates a lot when I ask a question. Just an example, I asked him if the medication he prescribed had any side effects. He should have told me even without me asking for me to keep an eye on Roy. He was very hesistant to answer. When I insisted, he said that the side effects are not common but they might include the puppy being in pain and suffering stiffness in his body. Imagine if that would have happened with me having no clue about was going on ...
I think a good vet or doctor should be brief and just give the possibilities and advise of signs that the medication is causing issues.

Nobody's Fool : I give him yogurt mixed with his food but I can't find yougurt with live culture which I am told is much better than just ordinary yogurt.
Adding lemon to water ! .... No one told me that before ... I'll try it

 

[Colleen]

Has your vet done any X rays to see if the dog has any foreign objects in his stomac? Foreign objects can cause all kinds of funky things to happen to the animal.