Help-Sick Dog

  Welcome to the forum; I'm sorry your dog is so sick.  Has she had a white discharge from her vagina; this is one of the symptoms of pyometra. Did the vet use ultrasound; it can be useful for detecting stump pyometra. Milk thistle is good for the liver but I'm not sure about how much you should give her; there are others here who know and will probably be along to tell you. Have you considered asking the vet if you could make payments on the vet bills; many vets will work out a payment plan with their clients. I hope someone else comes along with some more ideas and I hope your dog feels better soon.

She has not had any discharge, and she has also been spayed.  That is why I'm having a hard time believing it is stump pyometra.  He did use the ultrasound, but said he couldn't tell if it was stump pyometra.  They also did a cytology on a urine sample.  The vet said they couldn't come up with any results from that either.  He wants to do the exploritory surgery.  He said he wants to do that because he and his team are very interested in this case for their research presentations.  I'm not sure if he just want info. for his next book, or if the surgery is really what my dog needs.  I've been getting alot of mixed signals from him.  I also find I hard to believe that after bloodwork, urine lab cytology, and ultrasound, he still does not know what's wrong.  Thanks for your input! 

ORIGINAL: ZoeBella

 ...He said he wants to do that because he and his team are very interested in this case for their research presentations..... 

That sounds weird to me.  I've never heard a vet say something like that.  If he is wanting do to this surgery for his research purposes, then he should pay for this surgery as well.  Just my opinion.

I would not submit my furbaby for surgery as a research project to further any vets' book, however; if this surgery is necessary and the vet is going to benefit from it at all...let him pay for it! [] lease do keep us posted, let us know what you find out and how your precious little one is doing. In the meantime, prayers and best wishes for your sweet baby! [sm=angel.gif] 

  Stump pyometra is pyometra in spayed females;  it happens when a uterine horn or uterine body is left after surgery; in other words, it's caused by a mistake during the surgery when the dog is spayed.

It really makes me nervous that he is jumping to an exploratory surgery so fast.  That should only be the LAST option!!  Especially if they have an ultrasound.  They need to give you some more concrete answers, otherwise I would be getting a second opinion!  All in all, I do not feel comfortable with this vet...I would go somewhere else.  Make sure to get a copy of everything they have done so far.  Personally, I would be concerned about her liver based on the symptoms, or her kidneys.  The dark urine would be somewhat normal if she was dehydrated, but otherwise not.  How old is she?  Let us know what happens!!

Thanks for eveyones input and support!  I feel the same way about this vet.  Something just tells me he doesn't have my baby's best interest at heart.  I believe I will get a second opinion.  My dog is a little over 5 years old, and this is the first problem I've ever had with her health.  It is prettty scary.  She is still drinking plenty of water.  Although she does nap alot, she still runs around and plays with my other chihuahua when she is awake.  Hopefully I'll have more answers soon!  Thanks again!

ORIGINAL: ZoeBella

  He wants to do the exploritory surgery.  He said he wants to do that because he and his team are very interested in this case for their research presentations. 
 
Just MHO, but I think any vet wanting to do exploratory surgery on a dog just because of his research presentations ought to be offering to do it free, and also to take care of any problems that  might result from the surgery free.
 
Joyce

Unless she was spayed recently, chances are its NOT stump pyometra. Get a second opinion. There are varying opinions about weather or not stump pyometra is even a real condition.

Yes you can give her milk thistle -- but it's not going to 'cure' anything but it may help detox her a bit. 
 
Milk thistle capsules can be gotten at Wal-mart ... however I will tell you honestly that milk thistle that has been decocted in alcohol is more effective.  I've got a dog who is having to take some mega medicine right now for IMHA and Billy is taking 1 1/2 times the 'adult' human dose of milk thistle that is an alcohol-based tincture. (and he's only 35 pounds). 
 
You might try a combination of the capsules (which are pretty cheap) and then ADD some of the tincture (like the adult daily dose of the milk thistle capsules and then add another half dose of the tincture -- would make it more affordable since the tincture is more expensive). 
 
Can I suggest you find a holistic vet that uses traditional Chinese veterinary medicine?  The initial consult will be pricey -- about $100 - $120 usually.  BUT that's about 1 1 /2 hours (90 minutes) of the vet WITH you and your dog.  That will also include treatment of acupuncture and maybe twi na (sort of a Chinese massage) or whatever modalities that vet uses. 
 
Medicine will be pretty minimal -- no testing, but maybe some herbs. 
 
I had a dog who nearly died of a huge liver 'infection' two years ago -- I had four 'regular' vets want me to put him down, but I had confidence in this lady I go to and wow -- within 10 days he was a new dog.  She LISTENED to me ... and diagnosed the infection, rather than the "liver failure" label the rest of the world wanted to put on him. 
 
[linkhttp://www.tcvm.com]http://www.tcvm.com[/link] -- acupuncture is particularly good for liver issues.  The liver is the only organ in the body that can regenerate itself.  Good luck.