Prayers/Vibes Please?

[MimzMum]

My husband left with our younger dog for the vet 30 mins. ago. Dog was unable to go to the bathroom and throwing up his food.

Please send prayers/healing vibes that all goes well. After the horror of the GDV surgery he had this year, I can’t imagine him having to go through another involved procedure. I’m a nervous wreck right now. Hopefully he just needs a little ‘encoragement’ to go potty.

Many thanks in advance!

[luvmybunny]

Aww, sending good vibes your way! (((((VIBES))))) I hope your dog is ok, please keep us posted.

[SophieBun]

{{{{{Many many many great & awesome healing vibes}}}}}}} for your doggie I totally understand you, I have two dogs and I just freak out when something isn’t normal I love them so so much!

 

{{{{{More healing vibes!!}}}}}

[katie, max & penny]

oh no!! what’s the doggie’s name?
((((((((((VIBES))))))))))

[MimzMum]

His name is Taiku. Hubby just called me to let me know they’ve given him an enema and that he was throwing up bile.
This isn’t looking good. I’m really worried.

[TARM]

Oh no, {{{{{{mimzy and Taiku}}}}}

[VelvetLion7]

Oh! Prayers and healing vibes!!! ((((((healing vibes)))))) (((((((((((prayers)))))))))))

[MimzMum]

Update: Apparently the docs got a plug of grass and dirt out of him (after 5 different enemas and I would assume something going down the other way to irrigate), he’s been IV’d since he is apparently dehydrated (how in the heck?? I water down his food every night and give him fresh water twice a day!) and given an anti-nausea drug and we now just have to hope he’ll pass whatever’s left and that he’ll feel better tomorrow.

This was not our normal doc at this place and I think she was a little put out that she had to stay late. Suggested we take him to ER vet. >.< I'm sure glad it wasn't a bunny emergency or I'd be chewing some people new 'irrigations' of their own right now.
I’m so sorry that my dog decides to have an emergency on friday evening when you’re about to close up, but seriously.

Now we have to hope he won’t make a mess in the car on the way home.

Thanks for all the vibes, everyone! These two dogs of ours are kind of on the senior side, so I’m ready for each illness to be the last illness any day. But, I’m not REALLY ready, if you know wht I mean.

[luvmybunny]

I know what you mean and I hope Taiku is feeling better. I am sorry the vet was not in the right frame of mind That is her job to take care of an animal in need!! Well I am going to say prayers for you and Taiku. Hopefullly what ever he ate will pass and he will be back to normal. (((((HEALING VIBES AND PRAYERS)))))

[Monkeybun]

oh noes, moneky and me send good vibes for both of you!

[feeona]

(((((((prayers)))))))))

[MimzMum]

Thanks everyone. He was able to pee, (has enlarged prostate apparently) but still hadn’t passed much more than some air by the time hubby left him at the ER. He’s going to be held for observation overnight by their techs and given fluids (we just got his forearms to grow their fur back and now another IV! Oy!) But they took xrays I guess and all they could see were great big bubbles of air blocking up his system.
Weird. This dog has been quite the investment, in money, blood , sweat & tears. I just hope he makes it through the night. Poor bugger.

[ScooterandAnnette]

You’ve been through so much with them! Sending my very best thoughts his way (and yours!!) *hugs*
– Annette

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

{{{VIBES}}}

*Hugs* from all of us to all of you *HUGS*

[jerseygirl]

MM, I’m late but still send healing vibes ((((Taiku)))). The dehydration would be from the vomiting wouldn’t it? Not because you had underwatered him. Some dogs will just woof down anything in their paths – to their own peril. Glad to hear he’s getting treatment.

[Lara]

Oh, no… how is Taiku doing today? I hope everything is okay and that he makes a full and speedy recovery!

[Sage Cat]

{{{{{{mimzy and Taiku}}}}}

I hope he is doing better today!!!

[Furface]

aww i hope Taiku is feeling better!

[Deleted User]

MM, how is he today? GDV is my scariest dog-related nightmare. I went through it with one of mine.
Ha, after-hours vet manners… I have often wondered why the after-hours vet manners are so poor when that’s exactly the time they are needed most.

[bunnytowne]

Tailu prayers and vibes for you and your family.   

The vet may have had an appointment with someone in her personal life and got shook up.  Though she was needed very badly and should have taken the emergency in a better way

Gosh our poor sick pets going thru so much  oh Taiku

[charliesmom]

I hope Taiku is doing better!

Lets not be too hard on the vets everybody, nobody can be happy and cheery everyday at every moment.

Keep us posted!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hope he is going to be okay!! {{{{{Healing Vibes for Taiku}}}}}

[MimzMum]

Of course, I’m getting this all second hand since I wasn’t there, but I am not used to this kind of reception and now there may be a schism forming as a result. Even today, our regular vet hospital doesn’t seem to be able to be bothered with our dog.
You know, I expect an after hours vet to sometimes be beat after a long day and not really up for arrivals after closing. But when I call in advance and am told to bring my dog in immediately, then we get there and they suddenly don’t have time for him and we need to go down the street to the ER? If they were that booked up and overworked, they should’ve told us to go directly there, not take one look and say, ‘bring him back tomorrow and we’ll squeeze him in’…we live 30 miles from town on a long, dangerous windy road and this is an old dog who had gdv and was in obvious distress. I was warned by my vet that he should come in if he ever got impacted, so that’s what we did. Sorry, don’t mean to sound harpy, but as a result this set my husband off and he got cross with them and now I’m going to have to wonder how do I walk in there with my bunnies or cats the next time I have to go in and worry if there’s going to be a problem?
I like to get along with folks, but if it was too late, they could’ve just told us, not wasted time messing with us. As far as the dogs are concerned, I think it’s the ER or nothing from now on, as I can’t “wait and see” with any further health problems on them. That can be fatal with their history. Before last night we always had excellent service from our regular vet (of course, different techs/docs at the time) so we were not prepared for this.

Anyway…ER vet had him all night, couldn’t get any treatment going till later today and he’ll be released this evening if he actually goes to the bathroom. He’s peeing okay now, but nothing else. This is not good in a dog in his condition. (Also apparently has an enlarged prostate-he was just neutered this summer.)
ER vet couldn’t even begin procedures this morning till they’d cleared it with the other vet. Communication is breaking down bigtime. I was very disappointed.
Luckily I know which doctor to ask for when it comes to routine visits, but I’m not sure we’ll ever bother my regular vet again after hours unless the vet we know well is available. This was not our regular lady and we must’ve really upset some kind of plans (bookwork apparently) and I don’t think the dog should have to suffer waiting for someone to ‘have time’ for him.

[RabbitPam]

MM,
I’m so sorry I am only reading this now, but I really hope Taiku is getting better by now.

I think before you write off your regular vet’s practice, you could have a private, candid discussion with the vet you really like. She may need to know that there is less than stellar work being done in cases of off-hour emergencies. Sometimes all it takes is a reminder of policy, and liability for making poor or hasty decisions. If they should have sent you directly to the ER, your vet can get on them for not doing that. It may help, but it won’t help if you just disappear. It won’t help your bunnies either. Your regular vet may decide to give you her number for emergencies, if only to get you to the right place fast from now on.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Vibes for Taiku}}}}}}}}}}}}

[MimzMum]

Oh I can’t just write the whole practice off…no, not going to do that. This is the only place I trust with the bunnies. And yes, I probably will (hopefully before my husband does) speak to our preferred vet there and let her know this was a problem. I don’t think she is high bird on the pecking order though, so I’m not sure she can do much about it.
Another problem was related to me only this afternoon, that they couldn’t even get the IV in right, husband said they went right through his forearm with it…twice. This doesn’t sound like my usual highly competent folks, so I’m wondering if there’s new trainees onboard that they’re dealing with as well.
I did recognize the doc’s name though, so if she was in charge, things should’ve been going better than this.
I just hope that the current breakdown in medical care and procedure in this country is not extending to senior animals as well. Maybe they just don’t think an older animal is as important?
At any rate, we’re supposed to call the ER about 6 PM our time, so we’ll see how Taiku is. (Boy this is going to be a pricey one, ER for a full night and day!)
I keep thinking of how, every once in awhile, he picks stuff up off the road and before I can get to him he swallows it down. One time, he swallowed what looked like a rock! Other than keeping him muzzled unless he’s eating from his bowl, I’m not sure how to prevent this problem. And I hope it’s not what caused his difficulties this time.
He is a strange dog. He goes out in the yard and digs up and eats dirt. We even put more food on his plate thinking he was just hungry enough to eat dirt, but no…he still does it. Anyone know what would cause this? Maybe he needs vitamin supplements, but I’d be worried about giving him pills if his stomach isn’t working properly in the first place.
Perhaps this is all just due to the gastropexy. Perhaps it’s taken this long for direct consequences to be seen from that surgery. I’ll have to go research the after effects this evening.

[Monkeybun]

Poor puppy… hope he gets better

[Furface]

Poor guy, I so hope he’s feeling better. Sorry you goit such shoddy vet bedside manners.
I have heard of dogs eating dirt. Is this a long time habit or a new thing?

[MimzMum]

I called about an hour ago, he still wasn’t going poop. He pees well, but otherwise….
He’s also drooling, which he wasn’t at home (anti-nausea drugs side effect?) and the doc was going to give him some more Cerenia (he had a 1 mg injection of that yesterday) and she said she’d call if any change occurred. She’s been trying to feed him pumpkin and other food with Vaseline in it all day. “He is not impressed,” she said. Ugh. I wouldn’t be either.
I’m scared. This doesn’t make sense. He’s not distended anymore and after palpating his abdomen Dr. seems to think that he’s nice and empty in his lowers. I’m afraid he’ll wind up having more surgery or needing to be PTS after all this.

I was thinking maybe the only reason he’s not pooping is because he hasn’t had access to any dirt for 24 hours? Could be that’s all that’s been going through his system up to now. 0_o But no, hubby said he had at least two meals waiting for passage in his stomach yesterday when they xrayed him. >.< I am stumped. And the doc sounds like she is too.
Don’t know how long he’s been doing the dirt eating thing, Furface. Definitely since his GDV surgery in the spring. Everything I look up says it’s a vitamin/mineral thing. So maybe we can get something for him (and the older dog) to boost their vitamin content. They are on VERY bland food to keep them from bloating again. Their stomachs can’t twist on them again, but they can still get full of air. *sigh*

Thanks for all the vibes everyone. Please keep them coming! ((((((((((((((hugs all Binky Bunners))))))))))))))))

[Monkeybun]

(((((((((TONS AND TONS OF VIBES)))))))))))))

[Furface]

If it was a life long habit, I would have said he probably just likes the taste. Yuck, I know but mine eats dirty socks & that doesn’t sound appealing to me either. Being a recent development I would think it’s worth asking the vet about & monitoring for times etc. Before a tummy upset, after a tummy upset, during a tummy upset, gassy period, nausea, diarrhea, special treat, nervous upset such as a bath.

I’ve just been googling to see if I could find any info on the stories that & I read several years ago on another forum. I could not find anything by a vet only the story repeated so I’m thinking probably old wives tale. Story was cancer but like I said I could not find any real evidence of this being true.

I did find the mineral/vitamin theories that you did.

I also found some sites saying that it may by acting like an antacid for them – something about clay or calcium soils – the thought is that it can help with nausea or gas & possibly diarrhea – so it may be a self medicating thing.
No one seems to think it’s a very good thing for the dog – parasites etc.
It might be a good indicator for when his tummy is upset so a cue to give some sort of dog safe gas/nausea/diarrhea meds.

I hope he’s feeling better by now. I know how scared you must be. *sending hugs & good thoughts*

[MimzMum]

Update: Well he’s home. Still slobbering all over himself from the anti-emetics, but he was able to go to the bathroom tonight and boy…is he going now! 0_o Poor thing. He was pretty sluggish when they first came home, but seems more lively now.
IV cath was left in in case he needs to rush back tomorrow, since they had so much trouble getting the vein.
We’ll remove it if he seems improved in the morning.
Furface, his momma had an anal cancer that I wound up having to put her down for. The only cause I can think of for this is, we’ve been upping his dry food intake to put some weight on him for winter. (Science Diet Adult) He’s not a big drinker, so the extra dry and the dirt combo must’ve been enough to bloat him again. Poor kid. And I’m a blubbering mess right now, so I’m going to cut this short, clean my bunnies and go to bed.
Oh, and they did give him two vitamin injections, B complex and C.
Can you really give dogs vitamins for people? (Like a multivitamin?) I thought they can’t have all the supplements we can. But that’s what they told us. And we’re supposed to get him some Zantac and give him 20-40 mg per day. Is THAT weird? I’ve taken Zantac for heartburn…what’s that supposed to do for constipation?
You guys don’t want to know how they got him to go. 0_o I’ll just say that word is it’s an old musher’s trick. (Hopefully not trick or treat!)
Thanks again for all your wonderful vibes! They were a big help! G’night! *yawns*

[RabbitPam]

I’m glad he’s back home. How is he this morning?

{{{{{{{{Vibes for all of you}}}}}}}}}}}}

[Furface]

I’m so glad he’s home. I think they often recover quicker in there familiar space with their people.
How old is Taiku & what breed? Is the other one a sibling? Same age?

[Furface]

Do you wet his kibble?

[bunnytowne]

I was just thinking in people if we are dehydrated it is sometimes hard to find a vein.   Could be what the problem was  or new people.

Yes I agree I would definitely speak with your regular vet about the situation.  The ER is more expensive  thats all you need.

Glad to hear your taiku is home and doing better.  30 miles is a long way for a vet.   Glad Taiku got there.

The heartburn stuff.  Could be the vet figured he could have pain from gas and heartburn when this problem occurs.  

OH about the dirt I agree could be in need of some vitamins.,  I know when children eat laundry detergent it means they are lacking a certain vitamin.

My friend has an Eskimo dog I think   anyway it sort of looks like a mini Samoyed    This dog would eat it’s poo.   Eeeew.  The vet told her this breed tends to do that so the wild animals can’t track it and kill it.  Was an instinctual thing.   And the dog was given special vitamins as well to help stop this problem.

So the dirt thing  yep probably vitamins he needs.   Or maybe he is doing it b4 his stomache goes nuts or to keep his stomache from going nuts.  Too bad they can’t talk and tell us wht is wrong.

Glad to hear he is home and doing some better

Healing vibes stay healthy vibes

[Furface]

Is he any better today? *fingers & toes crossed*

[jerseygirl]

Furface, I can answer some of the qu’s on MM’s behalf…I’m hoping her absence on the boards is because all is good and she’s getting lots of rest!
So in past posts MM has said Shadow(12yrs+) is a McKenzie River Husky. Taiku (8yrs+) is  his son.  The Mother a goldenlab/rottie cross?? Not sure if I have that right…

[MimzMum]

Sorry I haven’t posted guys. Sadly, I can’t really say anything is better. In my opinion it is worse.
At least yesterday when we took him in, he was just vomiting and seemed to be straining to go to the bathroom. He still had some of his usual attitude. Today, I don’t know the dog who is in front of me. Besides having lost every bit of what I had thought was winter fat on him (back to skin and bones-apparently he was backed up for a while although he’d only just stopped being able to void anything at all) he has no energy and very little spark left in his eyes. He looks pretty pukey and I’m not sure he’s even keeping down the little bit of water he’s drinking. I don’t see that anything has come out of him today (since this afternoon) either.
I just came in from spending two and half hours cleaning his and Shadow’s space. Not to mention trying to give Taiku a bit of a sponge bath. He’s filthy. He still drools all over his front legs, that’s why they’re soaking wet and in our weather, cold as hell. He looks miserable. He won’t eat. We rushed into/out of town today (the whole time, our car’s engine about to blow, so now we’re down our winter car) to get him some pedialyte and some chicken breast to boil to tempt him to eat. He won’t even look at it. He just laps a little of the pedialyte/water solution. (I know you’re not supposed to dilute it, but he won’t drink it straight.) He can hardly stand and wobbles if he does get up and then just finds somewhere else to lie down. According to the hubby, who checked on him a few times during the night, he emptied out the rest of the five enemas they gave him. But he’s no better. I’m not sure he’s going to make it.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad, but right now things appear pretty bleak. Unless he makes some significant change in the next day or so, I may be calling the lady vet in our area who makes those final house calls.
Taiku is 12. Shadow is 14. They are MacKenzie River Husky crosses.
Shadow is obviously distressed about Taiku’s condition, keeps trying to snuggle with him and wash him, but when he gets no response he gets upset and goes outside and paces. This can’t be good for him either, to have to see this.
I’m off to look up some more possibilities. I think we may be dealing with a parasite, like one of you mentioned before, or maybe even something like tetanus-since Taiku tends to nervously chew the wire fencing on their pen when he’s scared. Other than what we’ve done already, or further treatment, I just don’t know how, without a God given miracle, he is going to make it. I will probably call my usual vet tomorrow and ask her opinion, if I can find her.
But right now, it’s going to be a rough night.

[jerseygirl]

Oh Mimz, I’m sorry! Poor Taiku. More vibes coming your way – keep us posted.

[Furface]

I’m so sorry to hear that he’s not any better. I know it’s very hard. *sends prayers & hugs*

[MimzMum]

Jeez, now I’m in panic because I’ve seen hits come back on Google saying pedialyte is not safe for dogs…then a bunch of others say it is…what the heck?
I don’t think the one I have contains xylitol, which appears to be the worry. But I’m rechecking it just in case.

Hm…just says water, dextrose, less than 2% of potassium citrate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, citric acid and zinc gluconate.

I’ve cross checked xylitol against dextrose and it doesn’t seem to be the same thing. So, not being a chemist, I’m thinking that’s just simple sugars.

This is the clear, unflavored pedialyte, btw.

*bangs head on keyboard* More vibes please, for the dog and to knock the stupid out of his human.

[jerseygirl]

{{{{{VIBES}}}}}  You’re to hard on yourself MM.

Xylitol – one to watch in the bunnies food too maybe.  I found this in regards to dogs. http://www.poynter.org/column.asp  I was thinking it would cause laxative effect or be like a diuretic but that article says differently.

Do you use the allexperts.com site MM?  I had a quick look there and it seems pedialyte is ok for dogs…apparently there is even a dog version but there was mention that they like the human one better.

[MimzMum]

Actually, the hubby called the ER vet tonight and confirmed that it was okay, but they said if he’d come in tonight they’d give him a bag of IV fluids for Taiku, since his catheter is still in. So all is okay for now.
Apparently the pedialyte did some good, because when Taiku saw the hubby, he got up and asked to go outside and go potty. (Not much coming out, but this is an epic turn here!) And he is interacting with him again, so hopefully…. *crosses finger, eyes, toes*
We’ll see how things go when he gets back.
I can hear Shadow out there, curled up in one corner, thumping the wall with his foot in his sleep…lol. I’m surprised the bunnies aren’t answering back.

[Monkeybun]

((((((more vibes from Monkey and me!))))))

[Furface]

*sends more prayers & hugs*

[TARM]

I hope Taiku is on his way to recovery. {{{{Mimzy and Taiku}}}

[MimzMum]

Well, we gave him half the bag of fluids last night, and half this morning. (It was hard to get it started and very frustrating for both hubby and dog.) Earlier, hubby said he was doing so well that he couldn’t get him to hold still for the needle to be inserted in the catheter, but he’s pretty mellowed now. I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet though, because he’s still making some really nasty looking stools and has to strain to do it. I have to wonder if all those enemas could’ve caused what I’m seeing now, which almost looks like it could have some blood in it, if it’s just the last of that nasty Vaseline and how hard they worked on him the other day, or maybe something worse coming on.
Of course my mind goes back to his mom, who had lots of problems passing blood in her droppings before we put her down. With her it was hard to tell, since she wasnt’ spayed, whether it was menstrual or not. It wound up she had an anal carcinoma that was the size of a golf ball under her tail-once it got big enough to see it, but I don’t see anything like this on Taiku at the moment. He’s a lot furrier back there than she was though, so it might be hard to catch. And I’m thinking with all the gas he had the other night, the docs may have missed seeing evidence of a mass that might be deeper inside him than we can see. Late neuters are the dogs most prone to this kind of cancer and his symptoms are beginning to remind me of his mother’s last days. It’s all very worrisome.
Hubby is in town right now, will talk to him about it when he gets back. Taiku is resting and still drinks water, now eats a little bit of chicken now and then. So we may be turning a corner, or may be heading into another valley, not sure which. Unless I see something really alarming, I’m going to keep praying that it’s just the color of whatever they used on him to get him to go, because it doesn’t smell like blood (or even feces) either.

[Furface]

Poor fella
*sends more prayers & hugs*

[KytKattin]

I can’t believe I missed this! I’m so sorry you’re going through yet another thing with your dog! It just doesn’t seem to end for you and your family. (((((((vibes))))))))

[Furface]

How is Taiku today?

[LittlePuffyTail]

crossing fingers he feels like himself again soon xxxxxxxxx

[MimzMum]

Sorry to be so late with updates, guys. You’ve all been so wonderful to watch this thread! ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))
Well today he seems to have a little sparkle coming back to his eyes and he looks less sunken. (He had some strange whitish discharge coming from the corners of them yesterday that had me concerned, but that seems to have abated.) He is eating a very little bit of boiled chicken for meals and even scooped up a tablespoon of plain yogurt as well. He will eliminate for me if I take him in two rounds of walking, but he’s still really wobbly and weak in his rear end. They must’ve really been rough with him for the shape he’s in. I tried to clean him up last night and he’s just so sore that he would rather not have anyone touch his bottom.
Still minute amounts of what looks like blood when he poops, but it seems to be decreasing. Unless he relapses significantly, I think we can take it from here.
Anyway, I had to decide to leave all matters here that I can’t handle to the Almighty and just take care of the things I can. I wake up holding my breath that the hubby is going to come tell me he didn’t make it through the night. Can’t go on with that kind of stress.
I washed out their carpet again yesterday so it doesn’t smell as bad in there and just keep the water and food coming in easy doses.
He’s still so lovey too. Comes up and leans into my leg for head scratches and he’d just stand there all day like that.
I think he did vomit again last night, but it couldn’t have been much. Otherwise, he’s hanging in there.
Thanks so much for all your good wishes. You guys are the best!

[Furface]

I’m glad that Taiku is showing some small signs of progress.

I’ll keep sending healing vibes & well wishes.

 

[Sarita]

Oh goodness. Vibes to Taiku (love that name). I’m glad you called the vet about the pedialite. Really that is your best resource. It’s just too darn stressful when our fur babies are sick.

[MimzMum]

Thanks Sarita! Taiku’s name was my son’s idea…I think at the time he was taking tang soo do and this was his ‘battlecry’. ^_^ Silly, but it sure stuck.
Well I think I’ll wrap this thread up for now. Taiku is feeling so well, he’s starting to jump up on the barrier between the arctic entry and their enclosure when he knows food is coming. That is a very good sign.
For now, he is still not having solid stool, nor does he look like or have the energy of the dog I left at the vet’s last Saturday…but we seem to have been given a reprive. Thank you all for sending your well wishes and healing vibes. We are all grateful. (((((((((((hugs for all Binky Bunners)))))))))))))

A picture of our boy in a healthier time. Hopefully he feels and looks like this again soon!

[Furface]

Aww, great news

[Barbie]

I’m glad to hear he’s starting to feel better – here are some ((((healthy vibes)))) for a continued recovery!

[babybunsmum]

just catching up on bb and reading this now… so sorry to hear you’ve been through yet another scare mimzmum! good grief! glad to read things are improving finally. ((((((hugs and continued healing vibes))))))

[Desma]

Hunny Bunny and the kitties and I send all our prayers and love for your sweet doggie. It kind of reminds me that because we will be moving later on, I will have to get a new bunny vet for that area we are going to.

[luvmybunny]

Aww, that is great news that he is doing better! Taiku is a beautiful dog The bunnies and I will still keep him in my prayers. *Hugs*

[Sarita]

I’m glad he’s better. What a cutie he is too.

[RabbitPam]

Glad he’s doing better. He is so handsome.

[Lara]

Oh, he is GORGEOUS! What a great face he has. For some reason, I pictured him in my head as a boxer or mastiff… no idea why, I just did. lol. I’m glad to hear that he’s starting to act more like himself, and I hope he continues to feel better!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Purdy doggie!!!!

[Author]

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