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RESCUE DOG WITH PNEUMONIA..HELP!!

Posted : 12/13/2006 1:59:39 PM

I JUST RESCUED A WEIMARANER DIAGNOSED WITH PNEUMONIA, VERIFIED BY CHEST XRAY LAST FRIDAY. SHE WAS PUT ON CEPHALEXIN 2X A DAY. SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING BETTER AND WON'T EAT A THING. SHE DRINKS WATER ON HER OWN. I HAVE BEEN FORCE FEEDING HER BABY FOOD WITH A SYRINGE BUT SHE HAS ONLY EATEN 3 JARS IN FIVE DAYS. I AM ALSO GIVING HER PEDIALITE AND BABY FORMULA. SHE IS NOT VOMITING BUT IS GETTING VERY SKINNY. PLEASE HELP!! I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $400 ON HER (NOT THAT THE MONEY REALLY MATTERS) BUT THE VET WANTS TO DO A LUNG CULTURE.(SEVERAL MORE HUNDRED) I DO NOT WANT TO PUT HER THROUGH MORE STRESS BY MAKING HER SPEND ANOTHER DAY IN A KENNEL ATMOSPHERE AND GOING THROUGH MORE ANESTHEGIA.(SHE WAS ALSO SPAYED THE DAY I TOOK HER HOME) ANY SUGGESTIONS ON GETTING HER THE CALORIES SHE NEEDS?? SHE HAD ME FOOLED YESTERDAY WHEN SHE ACTUALLY ATE A LITTLE WET DOG FOOD ON HER OWN BUT TODAY SHE TURNS UP HER NOSE. HOW LONG DOES IT ACTUALLY TAKE FOR A DOG TO GET OVER PNEUMONIA? I KNOW THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN ADDRESSED IN THESE FORUMS MANY TIMES BUT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE..I NEED HELP NOW!

amstaffy

Posted : 12/13/2006 2:41:42 PM

It takes weeks, you won't see it get better for some time. I suggest you confine the dog to a smaller area of the home and run a vaporizer 24/7 along with the Cheph you should see some inprovement in a week or two. The baby food is great, I'd also add in some gatoraide/water mixed.
I would cook some liver, try some raw hamberger anything she might seem to show interest in. In this case you'll want to get anything you can in her.

Has your vet done a second x-ray to see if the Cheph is working or not?

Deborah Thompson

Posted : 12/13/2006 3:05:48 PM

Thank you so much...I am going out right now to buy a vaporizer! I also saw another post with a high calorie recipe with raw hamburger so I will try that. (although even a steak doesn't interest her right now!) I get online and read so many horror stories..it confuses me..the symptoms sound so much like so many OTHER diseases! I can only pray that pneumonia is her only ailment! Sometimes I think the internet has way too much information...it can be overwhelming! Again..going to run out so thank you!

dyan

Posted : 12/13/2006 6:28:41 PM

You know,, I just want to give you another "food for thought!" I know your baby is sick,,you have proof in the exray..but sometimes dogs are all mixed up in a new home...they dont' have an appetite at first..they sometimes need to get used to their new homes and gain trust. Maybe that is not the case of your dog,,,but I know when I got Bubblegum it took WEEKS before she even wanted to eat...I was worried at first. Then we thought she had pyometra on top of it,,which she did not. Its hard to believe the "Chow Hound" that she turned into. BUT I wanted to throw that out there just as a thought. Perhaps between being in a new home AND not feeling well she just doesn't want to eat. I would do as Jamie says,,,feed her any thing she will show interest in, get her to WANT TO eat it...and drink water, Gateraide...anything. Good luck! I hope she gets well quickly!!

Shohin

Posted : 12/13/2006 7:25:54 PM

The lil' guy in the avatar had pneumonia when we got him too, so I can relate to your worry! It took him about a month to get completely over it.

I think that what you have been offered so far is good, sound advice. And like you, I would be very hesitant to conduct a lung culture. At this point, if it were my dog I would give lots of love, attention, and constant access to high calorie foods. Try boiling rice in chicken or beef stock and mix that with some canned food, raw meat, or chicken, you could try canned salmon, also try mixing peanut butter with some kibble! PB has got lots of protein and fat in it, and I'm yet to see a dog that doesnt like a lil' PB! Also, try feeding out of your hand . . . I don't know what it is about hand feeding, but at first it really helps food shy dogs.

I wish you and your pup all the best!

jessies_mom

Posted : 12/13/2006 7:55:40 PM

Besides the pneumonia, Cephalexin can make a dog reluctant to eat; when Jessie used to take it for skin infections it affected her appetite, and she will usually eat anything, anytime. If your dog doesn't want to eat raw meat, and she may not want to since she's not used to it, try cooked hamburger or chicken. You could combine it 50 -50 with boiled rice to give her some energy; this worked for Jessie before when she was sick and wouldn't eat her regular food. I'll be sending healing vibes your way and checking for updates.

amstaffy

Posted : 12/13/2006 10:33:30 PM

Slate,
I was posting quick earlier but wanted to get back to you.

My experience was with a young pup, 3 months old who my vet thought he would not see ever again when we walked out of his office. I returned with the pup three days later after baby food(liver) gatoraide and pedialite as well as the pup crated in the bathroom with the vaporizer 24/7. I didn't feel as if the pup was getting better so I returned three days late for stronger meds, she was on clavamox. My vet explained to me that the new meds I was requesting was actually a 3rd generation antibiotic and that the clavamox was a drug he felt better using. He then proceeded to take a second ex-ray. Upon return with pup and ex-ray he then told me that he would NEVER have believed what he was seeing if he didn't see it with his own eyes and told me when I left his office he felt this pup of mine would not survive!!

I wish you and your four legger the same healing thoughts I had with my Blinky for a complete and speedy recovery

jenhuedepohl

Posted : 12/15/2006 11:29:40 AM

When our 12 1/2 year old Dal had a severe bout of colitis, he hadn't eaten a thing for over 3 days and for another 3 days I could only get him to eat the a jar or two of babyfood a day and a bite or two of ground deer with rice. After trying everything from canned catfood and canned innova to chicken breast, I finally got him to eat canned Alpo. Yep. Alpo. At that point I didn't care what he ate, as long as he would eat it. When I saw him slurp down half a can of sliced mystery meat in gloopy gravy I swallowed my nutritional pride and bought 6 more cans. Honestly, if I had found out he would only eat roadkill I would have been out on the interstate with a shovel.

Whenever I tried to force feed him he'd clamp his jaws tight and spit out whatever I managed to get past his teeth. So I started putting the food on his paws. Then he HAD to lick it off. Putting the food on his legs/paws kind of forced him to "groom" it off. I had heard of doing this for cats, and knew he was as picky as most cats about having anything on his feet.

Pam

Posted : 12/15/2006 12:19:50 PM

Try canned EVO beef. It is so stinky and they love it. Or sardines. He may not be able to smell at this point.

Yes I resorted to Alpo with our rescue dog, but that was before I knew aobut better canned dog food.

dyan

Posted : 12/15/2006 1:47:06 PM

Whenever I tried to force feed him he'd clamp his jaws tight and spit out whatever I managed to get past his teeth. So I started putting the food on his paws. Then he HAD to lick it off. Putting the food on his legs/paws kind of forced him to "groom" it off. I had heard of doing this for cats, and knew he was as picky as most cats about having anything on his feet.

Gee thats a great idea..hope I remember it if I need it!