Shih Tzu Still sick, need advice

    • Gold Top Dog

    Shih Tzu Still sick, need advice

    My 2 1/2 year old Shih Tzu, Nemo, has been sick going on two weeks now. It all started with vomiting and apparently very upset tummy as he wimpered all night. Next day, he slept most of the day. During the first part of last week, the vomiting was down and he appeared to be doing better. Then this past Saturday he seemed worse to me and I took him to vet, I knew he had lost weight. He had lost 1/2 pound, and the vet drew blood, the results were all within normal limits. The vet put him on gastroenteric canned food and gave him Pepcid and Reglan to take 30 minutes before the meal and Carafate for 30 minutes after. He gobbled the canned food down all three days, and no vomiting. The Reglan I was only supposed to give 3 days so he didnt get that last night when he ate before bed. During the night, he had 3 bouts of diarrhea and he vomited up all the food he had eaten before bedtime.
    I am wondering now, if the canned food is causing his diarrhea because he has never had canned food before, or maybe the meds.. or if he is just still sick. Sunday he appeared to be getting so much better. I need some help here, the vets do not know what is wrong with him and his holistic vet is out of town, and she is the only holistic vet in the city. Can anyone perhaps shed some light on what may be wrong with him? He has never been sick before. Both my Tzus eat a diet of Fish and Potato Food, for the last few years. Nemo looks so frail, it is really scaring me. Thank you.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I'm so sorry that your dog is sick!   Who knows,,,but I'm glad you took him to the vet.
    What I would want to ask if by chance he had been to the vet before he got sick, perhaps been given shots, vaccinations,,,heartworm pills?   So many things could make him sick. Our dane Ollie got sick right after his shots and it was a nightmare for a long time to come.
    I sure hope you get to the bottom and he feels better really soon!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Dyan, he hasnt had any recent shots and of course he gets his heartworm medication every month but that is on the 13th of each month and that wasnt around that time. I dont know if something he ate 2 weeks ago made him sick and messed up his flora?
    • Gold Top Dog
    What treats are you giving him? Can you think back to Saturday when you noticed he didn't seem to be doing better. What changed? What new thing was added, if anything?
    Even though your Holistic Vet is out of town, I would take him back to the vet since little dogs can crash so quickly and dehydrate too quick too.
    Are the whites of his eyes yellow?
    I'm so sorry Nemo is sick. Sending you healing vibes.
    • Gold Top Dog
    The treats he gets normally are usually from our local pet bakery, homemade all natural treats and every night he gets a Chicken Drumstick made by Milk Bone, from his daddy (LOL). Other than that, a dentastick once a week and once a month a special treat like a flossie.
    Saturday he just was more lethargic and I knew he had not eaten, I could visibly tell he had lost weight. The whites of his eyes are white.
    I have a call in to the vet. Should he have an xray to rule out a blockage? I think the only labs he had done last Saturday was a CBC. Would that tell if he has pancreatitis? I am really worried about him being dehydrated.
    • Gold Top Dog
    It seems everything I thought of was covered by others, so I will just say i am wishing the best for your baby and hope the root of the problem is found soon.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thank you for sending healthy vibes and well wishes. I am at a loss here. I appreciate all your help.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Well, have the vet rule out these causes, acute pancreatitis, gastric obstruction, enteritis and peritonitis.
     
    If Nemo is still vomiting, I would withhold food and maybe offer him some a pediatric electrolyte solution in small amounts with a few ice chips to lick until you see the vet today. Most of the time a dog that has drank water and tosses it back up only makes them more dehydrated.
     
    I think a CBC is just a Blood count to see if there is an infection within the system. Here is a link to this.   [link>http://www.petplace.com/dogs/complete-blood-count-cbc-in-dogs/page1.aspx]http://www.petplace.com/dogs/complete-blood-count-cbc-in-dogs/page1.aspx[/link]
     
    I would also ask the vet to rule out Diabetes and Addison's disease too.
     
    Please let us know what the vet says. My prayers are with Nemo for a good diagnosis and quick recovery too.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks everyone. The vet told me to bring him right in. He is still there, they are giving him IV fluids and they are doing an xray to see if there is a blockage. I did ask what they did in the way of bloodwork and he said they did a complete workup to rule out pancreatitis, etc. Everything came back normal. He DID say that they are thinking Addisons.....
    • Gold Top Dog
    I am glad he is being checked out for blockage,,,,and hope that he just has a bug of some sort.
    Please keep us updated!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Don't panic if it does show Addison's. This can be treated and maintained through medications and diet.
     
    Keep us posted on how Nemo is doing.
    Sending you and him comfort and answer vibes.
     
    Hugs,
    Angel
    • Gold Top Dog
    I have nothing to add to the advice you are getting; I just want to say that I hope the cause for his illness is found very soon and that he gets better.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Well the IV fluids helped Nemo tremendously. He is feeling so much better today! Last night he ate some of his regular food and he has been keeping it down! I do believe he is on the road to a full recovery!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Well now that canned food is giving Nemo diarrhea. He didnt originally have that, just the vomiting. Now no vomiting but diarrhea. Hmm. Well since I saw him eating his regular food last night, I am going to make a call and stop the canned food, and see what happens. Bad idea?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Which canned food is it? Is it a prescription canned food? Do you know what the label says.
    I'm thinking about him.