Virgo's sick

[Zoom]

She had a couple of accidents in the house on Wednesday, which is very unlike her, then at work she made a mess in her room, which is REALLY unlike her. Then starting Thursday night she began having diahrrea, but still acted like her normal self and ate with her normal gusto (before I knew about the runs). Friday she had diahrrea all day, once with a couple drops of blood (the color made me think it was just from straining too much) but begged for food even though I was fasting her for 24 hours, and wolfed down the cup of rice I gave her at night after the 24 hours was up.

Today she's being very lethargic, had an accident in her crate (which was very watery and was the grass she ate yesterday) and refused the rice I put down for her. She even turned her head from a couple bits of her kibble I offered. All she wants to do is carry her Kong around. She's still drinking water though.

I'm going to get some Pedialyte at the store, along with a thermometer. Of course it's the holiday weekend and the vet won't be open until Tuesday. Is there anything else I can do or should I just let this run it's course until I can get to the vet? She's not vomiting at all and the diahrrea doesn't have an unusual smell. The watery stuff didn't actually smell much at all.

 

[jess2416]

I dont have any advice, but I am praying and sending good thoughts your and Virgo's way that it is nothing serious...

I hope she gets better soon

 

[SummerRiot]

Would it be possible that she has worms at all??

Riot was like that as a pup when he had worms.

 

[Renee750il]

I wouldn't think worms would have those severe symptoms that quickly though . . . That's worrisome, Zoomer . . . Has she been anywhere that she could have eaten something when you weren't looking? Or gotten into something at the river?

 

[Zoom]

She may have picked something up at the lake at the dog park; that was my first thought. She didn't get to go to the river because she was already sick; she missed out on her "kitty testing" day with my trainer that day for the same reason.

As close as I can tell from her adoption papers, she has been vaccinated against coronavirus...the shot records read "DA2PP+C" anyway. I'm worried that maybe it's giardia...in which case how do I prevent Sawyer from getting it? But he goes swimming in the same places and has never had an issue.

 

[bubbatd]

Zoom, why do these things happen on long weekends !!! I'm worrying with you !!! The lack of interest in food bothers me. I've had blood/mucus diarrhea and it was due to stress . How is her gum color ?? Her breath ?? Let us know what her temp is . Hang in there gal !!

 

[Renee750il]

Dunno, Zoom . . . you need Showpugs or Mordy on that one . . .

 

[Zoom]

Her gums are always a dark mottled color, so it's hard to tell and her breath smells a Kong. She's still wagging her tail though and is trotting around the yard when looking for a place to go. She is (and has been) gassy, which is another unusual thing.

 

[Zoom]

Ok, now I'm starting to really get worried...I just followed her outside to check what's coming out...very liquid, very dark. I don't have a credit card and all my money is in my savings account, which I can't get into until Tuesday. I have a couple hundred on hand that's supposed to go for bills, which I have no problem spending, but I don't know how much the e-vet would be...I know it's $80 just to walk in the door.

 

[Renee750il]

I don't like that either, Zoom . . . sometimes diarrhea comes from an obstruction . . . Check for abdominal and stomach sounds . . .

 

[moxiegrl]

Any news Zoom?

 

[Zoom]

Just got back from the e-vet (only $130, whoo!). Virgo didn't have enough left in her to do a proper fecal test, so they're just guessing and sent me home with the generic diahrrea treatment. I have to go pick up some generic Pepsid (Famotide) in the morning in case she has an ulcer in the upper G.I. tract.

Good news is that she ate the bread I stuck the Metro in and she just finished up the bit of boiled hamburger/rice I made for her. She has lost quite a bit of weight though, she's down to 61 lbs. My poor galumping Lab...

 

[bubbatd]

Awwwwwwwwwwwww ..... Zoom , you know I care !!! I'm here for you !!!! Lordy !! these dogs ... I don't know if I'm white haired from dogs , kids or hubby !!!

 

[Zoom]

Lol, I think I may have a grey hair from this!

She just went outside again and I couldn't find a working flashlight quick enough to find where she went to see what that looked like (any other board/reason and this would get me labeled a freak ASAP) , but I did manage to find a big hole and almost break my ankle.

 

[Doberluv]

Oh, I'm so sorry she's so sick. Poor thing. Is still still not acting lethargic or anything? I wonder if she could have picked up that Giarrdia (sp) at the lake. (?) That can cause terrible diarrhea. What is the vet going to do next? My thoughts are with you. I know you must be worried. But it is good news that she ate something. Keep us posted.

 

[Zoom]

She has perked up a little, at least enough to go back to stealing my socks. She is still having to go outside about every hour though...I wonder how dinner will sit with her...

I asked the vet about Giardia, because that was my main concern, but I guess my descriptions of the diahrrea and no vomiting didn't spark any warning signs? I guess if the diahrrea had been tarry looking it would have been different, but it was just dark.

Thanks everyone for their thoughts!

 

[TheQueen]

Zoom,

I was reading your post and it sounded so much like Roxxy. I had no warning whatsoever. She woke me up 2 weeks ago after having had an accident all over the bed. I changed the sheets, did wash, etc. and went back to bed (after giving her a Imodium). I figured it was a one-time thing. It happened again but not as bad. The next morning I heard her and there was a bit of blood so I took her to the vet. Since it had just started, they were able to get a fecal test and he said she had a bacteria (probably from something she ate). He gave me something (that cost and arm and a leg) and she was fine in a day or two. I was concerned because of the blood as well.

Your e-vet is quite reasonable. My regular visit with the drugs cost me nearly as much! But nothing is too good for our furr babies is it?

I hope Virgo is on the way to recovery and you can enjoy the long weekend!

 

[Zoom]

Update: Ok, as of this morning Virgo was doing great, bouncy happy and wolfed down her food and medication. I fed her a bit at noon with that dose of medicine and everything was fine. Her appetite was back and she was feeling good!

She was feeling so good in fact, that she ate about a half box of mouse poison. Then licked all the grease out of the grease catcher on the grill.

I wasn't home at the time, but mom took her back to the e-vet to have her stomach pumped. She's thrown up food, grease and pellets, so the vet's think they got it and she can come home tonight but I have medication (Vitamin K) to give her for the next month to keep her blood clotting normally. I just got back to check and make sure Sawyer didn't eat any, and I don't think he did. He doesn't pick stuff up off the floor to begin with and there's still pellets scattered around. But I'm going to take him to the vet on Tuesday to do a blood test for clotting--the e-vet said I could wait until then.

I can go pick Virgo up in about an hour or so; they want to keep her that long to make sure she's done throwing up. My poor dog...she was so hungry today because her tummy had been empty because of the diahrrea, and now the first full meal she got to eat had to come back up.

My dad of course thinks I'm an idiot for spending this much ($130 last night, $251 tonight) money on her; he doesn't like her to begin with.

 

[bubbatd]

Ouch on all accounts !!! Boy , you don't need this now !!! My Goldens never did seek out things in the back of closets ( e.g. , mice poisons ) but I know I have to rethink with Ollie !!

 

[Zoom]

No kidding, both money wise and the fact that I've been up since 5am. So I was tired already from work, then I went to a cook-out with some people from the dog park and had to be all social and chatty with people I both don't know and who are much older than I. So I'm super tired, my leg is killing me and I know I'm not going to sleep much tonight now.