Very Sick Vizsla!

[CheyI]

I have a wonderful 3 and 1/2 year old Hungarian Vizsla. My dog began vomiting 3 days ago, we took him to the Vet yesterday. They completed x-rays, blood work, and a urine sample. The results were this:
Fluid build-up in the abdomen
Severe Dehydration
Protein in urine- indicating kidney disease

We have been pushing fluids for 24 hours- he has received IV anti-biotics- however when he drinks water, he will vomit within 2-3 hours. He remains very lethargic and refuses any food (which I would like to hide additional oral anti-biotics in)

Any assistance or suggestions would be great! We love him and are so worried!

[Jaybay]

I lost one of our dogs on February 4th to undetected cancer - hemangiosarcoma.  She'd just been kind of "off" so we had her to the vet twice in as many weeks before she died.  Nothing showed up on her labs, and the vet tested her thoroughly.  Nothing on x-ray either.  She seized late in the night and was gone a few hours later when her spleen ruptured and she bled to death. We're still not over the shock and loss.  One thing that has helped is knowing exactly what happened.  My Christmas wish for you is emotional healing and prayers that your other furry friend will be OK.

[Margot49]

Oh no!!!!!  What a terrible thing to have happen.

Agree with Karla and hope it is nothing serious.

[Misfits4Me]

Hello Cheryl, OMG!!! I'm broken hearted to read this....My goodness, I don't even know what to say! Bless your heart AND his!

As you know, your 7 year old needs his Vet. Any mass should be checked out ASAP.....No way to know what this is from here...Hopefully, an infected Saliva Gland, but it also could be far worse.....There are many things it could be, but all would be treated differently, so it's impossible to say if an antibiotic would help or not.....

Again, let us know what you find out.....If the mass is growing this quickly & it's in his throat, his respiratory system is at risk & not being able to breathe is a possibility.....This can happen very fast.....Try to get in to see your Vet Monday before the holidays begin....Good luck & please come back, Karla

[CheyI]

Now our 7 year old weimeraner has a mass in his throat the size of a tennis ball. The mass is hard. It doesn't seem to bother him unless we try to touch it. What could it be?!!!! I am beginning to think we are destined to be a family without any furry friends--- Please advise. I still have Clavamox left from our Vizsla- could an anti biotic help?

[CheyI]

Results are in.... horrible news. He had a bone shard break off and puncture his intestinal wall- he bled to death internally :(

[Misfits4Me]

Cheryl, Did you ever get the results? I've been thinking about you and your boyfriend....Let us know when you can....Thanks, Karla

[Margot49]

I need to check for updates on that.  I think it resembles more parvo symptoms but I need to check again too. Last I saw a map, think it was in more states.  Problem, when things like this pop up, you can only hope your Vet knows about it or might nit even suspect it.

When you are actively involved in showing dogs, word about anything gets around quickly as these dogs are often shown all over the US, shipped in, shipped out, etc.  

When I was doing Greyhound rescue that virus broke out in a Greyhound kennel and spread as these dogs can be moved around a lot too!!  Scary.  They even stopped all transporting to rescue groups for a while.

[Misfits4Me]

Yes, Margot...I forgot about the new virus....That makes sense....I've looked it up once, but really forgot what it said...Will go look again.....I believe it has only been diagnosed in very few (Maybe 2-3) states......Goodness....Karla

[Misfits4Me]

Oh MY!!!!  As you probably know, Lepto IS contagious, but I honestly can't think of anything else that is, other than some parasites.....

I have a healthy dog, that out of the blue was close to death in a few short days.....Happened first week of August....Kidney Failure topped the list, among many other things! Your dog reminded me of her! Including the bloodwork....My first Vet did not make the diagnoses. We had already waited 4 days & I knew she was dying.....My second one (Holistic & miles away) did....Since the lepto tests would take a week or longer, as a precaution, my Vet put all my dogs on Doxy & I had to see a MD & start it, too!

Sure enough, He was right! Ginger, (Poodle mix)  ended up with 4 strains of Lepto. Two ARE covered in the vaccine & 2 were NOT!!!! One strain is not even registered in the US!!!  This is an indoor dog that takes walks daily, out at our local small community golfcourse! She has done this her whole life!  Very scarey stuff!!!

Again, I know your heartbroken & now, more worry on top of that.....I will be praying for you and your boyfriend.....I also will be following this thread for any updates.....Please let us know when you can & thank you for any information.....Sincerely, Karla

[Margot49]

Really???  What are his symptoms??  

There is a new virus being reported, Circovirus, but don't know that might be contagious to humans.

Nice of your Vet to do that.

Please keep us updated.  You have been through enough.  Hope that is not the case.

[CheyI]

The Vet is concerned about Max having something contagious- (Lepto test came back negative) now my boyfriend has similar symptoms. We requested an autopsy to determine cause of death- our vet even offered to pay the $400 fee.... Will know results by next week. Thanks everyone for your support.

[Jaybay]

OMG!  I am so sorry to hear this terrible news.  Sending hugs your way.  :-(

[Margot49]

Oh, I am so sorry to read this. You certainly tried your best,
Hugs to you.

[Misfits4Me]

Hello Cheyl..I'm so very sorry for your loss.....I sure wish we could have helped you further.....I suppose it was not meant to be! Did your Vet have any ideas?
Thank you for taking care of this guy so well! He was very lucky to have you and I know he will be missed.....
My condolences to you and your family..... Karla

[CheyI]

He died in his sleep tonight.....

[CheyI]

I have just been waiting for the vet to check in. He went 24 hours with no vomiting so we began to syringe feed him. Now the vomiting has returned. This has been such an awful week. Thank you everyone who has contributed.

[Margot49]

That's why I asked about pancreas too.  Surprised that wasn't checked.

[Misfits4Me]

There isn't enough of the Blood test to show Amylase values....It appears that your Vet only did a Half test/pre-anthesetic test which doesn't show a complete profile.... The Liver enzymes are also elevated which made me lean towards poisoning of a sort....However, If this ALL started after the Thanksgiving Meal, then Jaybay is spot on!  Please, Let us know......I've got my fingers crossed, Karla

[Jaybay]

Ouch. That's pretty classic for acute pancreatitis.  Sudden intakes of fat (pork is always a bad one) tend to cause it in dogs.  Call your vet and ask him to run labs for pancreatitis.  I'm kind of surprised he hasn't done it already because most vet clinics see a rash of pancreatitis after a big eating holiday.  He may have done the labs but it was too early to see a rise in amylase and lipase.  Kidney labs can go wonky too with pancreatitis and vice versa, so it's definitely a question that needs to be answered.

I really hope that's not it, but it sounds too suspicious to me.  It's an EXTREMELY painful condition that can be fatal, and if your dog has it, will need lots of supportive care and pain meds.  Please don't wait on this and call your vet.  

[CheyI]

Unfortunately, I let them overindulge on Thanksgiving- approx. 4-5 oz of turkey/ham and a deviled egg, plus whatever the kids could sneak them

[Misfits4Me]

Recipe for pets that won't or can't eat:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/12/02/pet-bone-broth.aspx?e_cid=20131202Z1A_PetsNL_art_1&utm_source=petnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20131202Z1A&et_cid=DM34377&et_rid=354730101

[Jaybay]

How many extras did your dog share in on Thanksgiving?  The jaundice has me wondering about pancreatitis and I don't see amylase or lipase in the labs.  

[Margot49]

Clavamox can also kill off the good bacteria in he gut and can cause nausea, usually given with food.  Dud the Vet mention possibly giving some probiotics?

As for the drinking and vomiting, sometimes drinking too fast and too much will cause them to vomit.  I had a Sheltie that did this.  I also had another Sheltie that vomited after drinking water but he had MD so I always had his bowls raised.
If you don't use raised bowls, you may want to try that and ration the amount if water in the bowl.  Actually, if you measure it, you will have a good idea hiw much he is consuming.  I assume Megaesophogus and pancreas problems have been ruled out?

Ok, you are not feeding the best of foods ( and Karla is probably going to jump on me)   :-). you might pick up a small bag of Pro Plan Salmon for sensitive stomachs and try that and I would still try adding the canned green tripe.

[CheyI]

OMG! I thought these were reputable dog food companies!!!!