My Friend's Dogs are sick

[litlone873]

A friend of mine has two chocolate labs, one is about 10 mos and the other about 3 mos. Both of them have become sick. It seems that since both of them are sick, that maybe it's the food. Has anyone here been through this and could give any thoughts on the cause? Here is what she has to say:

"5/13/07
Our babies are very sick!!!! We spent most of the day Sat at the vet.. They sent them home with meds and some different food.... They are not getting any better ....The baby "Malibu" is so weak at this point she can’t even walk!!! So 7 am 2marrow we will be at the vet again!!! Wish us luck!!! Delete Reply

5/14/07 11:47 am
But both of them are very sick ... We took them back to the vet 2 day they took blood and poop and pee 2 send off to the lab ... They have not eaten in over 5 days. The vet has sent 3 different foods home and no go on that. So I cooked them chicken, rice which the vest said to try ...Malibu ate a little chicken the AM but Raley has not eaten yet!!!!! Raley got a IV this am ...We should know more in 24 -48 hrs when all the test come back

5/14/07 10:24 pm
Another update on the babies!!!!! Malibu ate some chicken every few hrs today. Raley still no food. So we put the canned dog food from the vet in the blender with some chicken and chicken broth and made some mush. We put it in the turkey baster and forced it in him =( he seem to do ok with it. So far he has kept it down. They have been sleeping at least 22 hr out of the day. We carry Malibu out and set her on the grass to potty. She has been too weak to walk. Raley is 2 big for us to carry. Also Raley has had a hard time taking the pills. The vet said they are very bitter and nasty ... So Mike went and found some empty gel caps so we grind the pill up and put it in the gel caps and drop the pill down to the back of there mouth and squirt water down them =( I have been calling in sick 2 work 2 stay with them ... I am hoping they start 2 get better soon... "

[trainingrixie]

oh please keep us posted on this...this sounds horrifying for your friends...maybe she should try a different vet. What was she feeding them when they got sick? OMG! I hope they get better!!! those poor babies must be so miserable

[calgal]

It has to be the dog food. If your friend can afford to feed real food, then please do. I think Novel can give you some tips to pass on because she has feeds several large dogs on a raw diet, and as you can see by her dogs pictures, they couldn't be more beautiful or healthier.

[knewlon]

I totally feel you guys. My little boy is going through the same thing. He's been throwing up thick white substance off and on all week. Well early this morning I had several messes all throughout my house from both of his ends. He was so lethargic he couldn't walk either with his ears lowered and tail tucked under his bottom. I rushed him to the vet and to my suprise there were three other dogs there for the same reason. Milo messed all over the floor when we arrived so getting a stool sample was pretty easy. He said there was quite a bit of bacteria in his stool which could be from numerous things from eating something bad to maybe getting too stressed out. He also found a little piece of wood in his stool maybe from chewing on a stick outside. He seems to think that the stick is the culprit so all he did was give him an antibiotic shot and pills for me to administer. If he doesnt seem better in 24 hour we go back for blood work and Xrays. I should have asked the other people what food they are using to see if maybe that could be the problem. What kind of food were they on initially?

[trainingrixie]

has anyone else noticed the number of sick/dying dog posts on here lately? its getting depressing it seems like the last month has been a rough one for a lot of people and their puppies!

[welshigirl]

Hope they are better soon,please keep us updated

[litlone873]

I sent her the link to this thread so she can read the responses and respond if she wants. I havent' heard from her today on an update. I'll post as soon as I hear. Thanks Everyone!

[Ashlie]

If they are not getting better I'd suggest getting a second opinion from a different Vet. You'd be surprised how night and day they can be.
I've had that sort of experience, and I went with the second vet.

I hope they get better.

[IceyBlueSibes]

How scary for your friend! That sounds like exactly what Sarge had gone through, although this was a year ago. I feel for your friends.

I do hope they get better soon and can find the cause. I echo Ashlie in getting a second opinion. My first vet refused to do anything else after an ultrasound because the other procedures would mean more money. However we'd do anything to save him, but she refused and we went to another vet. They charged us nothing for everything that they tried and if we had gotten the blood results back a little sooner (even though it was a week after the first set) we may have been able to figure it out. But he was just too far gone. I'd suggest getting some more blood work done and keep an eye on their kidney functions.

[litlone873]

Here is the latest info:

Posted: May 15, 2007 9:36 PM
Thank you so much renee... That is awesome that you went out of your way like that .That means so much =) They have been eating NUTRO since day 1 ...We set up a baby pool for them in the back yard for the hot days we have been having .So they go in and out of the pool all day and bring dirt and god know what elese back in the pool then they drink out of it !!!!!! So the vet thinks that what it is ... All the test came back .... Raley liver and kindey enz. are up .The vest is pretty sure its cause they have been sick and not eatiing ..He also said it could be liver diease. On a good note Malibu has impoved alot today she has eaten a bunch of chcicken and a 1/2 can of wet food ... Raley still no food but what we feed him in the bottle ..... So still playing the waiting game

and this

Posted: May 15, 2007 9:51 PM Renee

I read the diffrent post .Lots of good ideas .. The vet has been awesome .I did explain to him all the stuff we have been through with Raley already and the hugh vet bill we are still paying for him form his eye problems . He did do some of the test for free =) Thank god . He sent us home with meds for them to take and seems to be going well with malibu she takes the pills just fine .So I think she has gotten more in her then Raley ... We got the empty gel caps and grind the pills up and put them in the Gel caps so the med thing is going better =) I looked on the food recall and there is not on there ..They have allways had dry food so not sure if it is the food !!!!!! I will keep u all posted

[linnie]

What a terrible worry for your friend
Please pass on positive thoughts from me
I shall keep these babies in my heart and prayers

[litlone873]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback and comments. I think they are reading your posts and I'm sure it gives them lots to think about.

Update:

Posted: May 16, 2007 1:03 AM
Renee,

Thanks a ton for checking into this. I know you are a dog lover, but it's really appreciated that you are helping us with our babies. They obviously mean the world to us, and seeing them in this condition is really hard. At least they seem to be on the uphill.

As far as what caused this, we may never know for sure. There will be a few things that we will be keeping a better eye on, etc. Like Kim said, the vet and us feel that it was probably the water in the kiddy pool. Jen's son also played in the pool one day with the pups, and that nite had some vomiting and diarrhea. The dogs were not really showing any symptoms at that point, so we really did not put 2 and 2 together. I am pretty sure it was the water, but we were also thinking about a couple other possibilities. The dogs have gotten into the outside trash bags recently. I am sure if they had some old food, it could lead to the symptoms they are having. Also, a couple weeks ago, we had a small bowl of chocolate Hershey kisses. It had fallen onto the floor while the dogs were in the room, and we were not. When they were found, they both had one in their mouth. Who knows how many they may have had. Maybe one, maybe several. We all know how bad chocolate is for them.

Bottom line is that we will be making sure there is not anything around that can cause them harm. Whatever it was, they both got the same sickness form it. That is why I am leaning towards the pool water. Anyway, thanks again Renee.

[litlone873]

Good news tonight...


"Posted: May 16, 2007 8:33 PM

Well Seems like the babies have made a huge turn for the better !!! Malibu is eating like a pig... So seems like she is doing alot better still sleeping alot but thats ok by me ..Raley has also eaten a little bit 2 times today =) both of them are acting a little more like labs tail gose crazy when we come home !!!! I will still keep posting on them .... The vet said to give them 10mg of pepcid cause of all the vomiting they have been doing =) Seem to have worked...

Thanks for all kind words"

[linnie]

thats a wonderful update

[trainingrixie]

YAY! they're getting better!! I'm SOO happy to hear that