Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
My 4 year old Lab has been sick since Thursday. She wouldn’t eat, threw up bile, has diarrhea and just wasn’t herself, I took her to her vet Friday afternoon unfortunately they were closing, they gave her some fluid and medicine to calm her stomach, and sent us home with some medicine and a canned food.. They said if she wasn’t improving in 24 hours to take her to the emergency room for a full work up Unfortunately, we had to take her in on Sunday, after some test and after 3 day they told us she is finally eating a small amount and her stool is thicker and not bloody anymore. Her protein is low they did a ultrasound of her stomach and said everything looked normal but her adrenal glands are small so they are now testing her for Addisons disease. I tried to do some research but cant figure much out, does anyone have any information or has had a pet with Addisons disease? Is it common for a 4 year old healthy dog to start showing symptoms?
I just want my baby home!!! thank you!
Hi, We are in dire need of a second opinion as our German Shepherd is in Emergency now and we are waiting for the neurologist to call us back again. About 6 days ago our pup jumped out of the car and yelped. She seemed to start walking a little weird and we kept our eye on her. The next day she started having weakness in her back legs and swaying a little. A couple days later it was a little harder for her to get up from sitting. The vet thought she had pain from her stomach as she had diarrhea and she did blood work and an xray of her abdomen and middle of spine. Because when the vet watched her walk and did pain tests and mobility, she seems fine with no pain. By the 4th day she started to really have a hard time getting up and she had a little dragging in the back feet. 5th day, she had a hard time time squatting to go to the bathroom and was losing balance. Her front left leg started to show weakness and we took her straight to emergency.
The neurologist still has not done an MRI because she said that our pup was just laying there like a log and not being supper responsive. Which makes her think it could be a brain issue. I am waiting for er phone call now but I will be asking her to just do the MRI of the spine and the brain to have a better understanding. Our dog was fully responsive when we took her to emergency 12 hours ago so I am wondering if she is completely sad because we have never left her anywhere.
Please help! This is urgent.
Thank you.
I’m so sorry about your dog! I have to ask- I am assuming your car was not moving when the dog jumped out? And are you and your vet sure that her situation right now is actually related to that incident? I’m just trying to clarify- sorry. I am hoping that you get some more definitive answers today from your vet.
Hi Sarah, No, the car wasn’t moving. She yelped a couple times coming down the sofa also, She is still at vet and is getting an MRI today and spinal fluid tap. The vet mentioned meningitis also. I am just frustrated that we had to wait 2 days for an MRI, especially if it is Meningitis and needs to be treated ASAP. I went to see her yesterday and she was excited to see me but can’t stand up or really lift her head up.
Oh my goodness. I truly feel for you. I hope that something shows in the MRI so that you can start the road to recovery and that she is ok ???????? If you fe up to it, please keep us posted.
We got the results back from MRI and spinal fluid and she has meningitis/encephalitis . They immediately put her on broad spectrum antibiotics and steroids. Today they got back the spinal fluid results and it showed no bacterial cause so they took her off all antibiotics and started an immediate 24 infusion of Cytostar, an auto suppressive medication. We now wait for another 18 hours to see how she is responding.
Thinking of you – I hope things go well????????????
Just wondering what your thoughts are on giving a 12 year old dog full round of yearly vaccines? There seems to be a lot of different opinions. Also, I just paid almsot 19.00 for 1 month HW preventative..I am waiting on 1 year shot next month, but needed 1 dose until they could do that. It seems pretty high to me, so just wondering. Thank you
Good morning-
I think that you should discuss this with your primary vet. We recently lost one of our GSDs in July. He was 14 and in failing health, so he did not receive his last round of vaccinations in April. But prior years, he was still getting all of his vaccinations as he was in fairly good health.
Hello,
I agree with Sarah. It is very much case dependent. Every vaccine should be discussed and scrutinized at every exam. Only do what is needed and only if the patient is well and has a potential risk of exposure. In some cases we split up the vaccine load. Ie we spread them out over months. Or omit if no longer necessary. But remember the old and the young are probably those who are at greatest risk of acquiring disease.
Hi! I have a 5-year-old beagle who was recently diagnosed with IVDD. 5 days ago, he woke up with pain, and things got worse when he tried jumping on my bed. He was in so much pain that I could barely move him. I took him to the vet, and they prescribed him methocarbamol, tramadol, and prednisone. I gave him his medication the first day, but it did not help at all, and he continued being in a lot of pain. The next day I took him back to the vet, and they hospitalized him for a day to administer the medication through IV. That seemed to help a lot because now his practically back to normal. I’m still giving him the medication that was prescribed, but I recently noticed he has begun to walk a little bit slower and is panting a lot. I’m worried that his reason for panting is due to him being in pain. Also, I’m scared that he will have another crisis and go back to being in the pain he was before. Can anyone give me guidance on how to care for my dog?
Good morning-
Have you relayed this information to your vet? And have they given any other advice or requested you to bring him back in? Other than medication, have you been told to do anything else? (Cage rest, etc?) I do know that Dr.Magnifico has a lot of videos on ivdd on YouTube and through her blog. It may be a good idea for you to check those out and see if any advice she has will be helpful to your pup. Perhaps talk about some alternative therapies with your vet as well to get their opinion. I hope things are ok.????????
Hello,
The first few days of this disease are so difficult. Please lean on your vet and tell them how much you appreciate their help. It gets better. But it takes time and dedication with determination. Be patient and ask loads of questions. I have a ton of information on my blog and YouTube channel. I hope it helps. I’m here too if I can help.
My dog is coughing mostly at night when we are in bed. It is kind of a cough where it sounds like she is trying to get something up. During the day she is sneezing alot and seems to have a runny nose. I am not sure if it is a cold or what. Also she still has energy wants to play and drinks water but is being very picky about her food. She strictly wants table food. Anyway the coughing is a little concerning. Is it something I should worry about she is 5 months old.
Good morning- i think that I would make an appointment to see the vet. It could be a range of things and they will be able to give her a thorough exam to rule out anything serious and probably give you something to help. I’m guessing if she is only 5 months a regular check at the vet is soon on your list of things possibly anyway? Hope your pup is ok????????
Coughing should be of concern. I agree, I would get her to the vet. Could be kennel cough, could be something else.
My dog got spayed a week or so ago. Now shes blowing snot everywhere. Ive already called the vets office but they are closed today. Do you think benadryl will help dry up the mucus until tomorrow? I feel bad for her but I dont think it’s warranted for an emergency visit.
Hi Carrie – sorry I missed this until today! I don’t tend to give benadryl for sinus stuff. I only give it if Ripley develops hives from a food formulation change which hasn’t yet hit the label.
Hope your dog’s feeling a bit better!
Hi everyone this is my grandpas furbaby hes elderly and this dog is 13 years old recently i took her to the er because she wouldnt eat and we was so shocked to find out her teeth are in horrible condition the doctor told us she needs a few pulled out but unfortunately due to financial problems my grandpa cant afford the surgery does anyone know a veterinarian hospital thata a low cost in the baltimore area im gonna post a picture of the estimate she needs this done asap we know that right now shes on tramadol and clavamox and shes eating but only wet food also not to long ago she had a tooth that fell out again this isnt my dog its my grandpa’s eldrly baby any advice would be appreciated thank you
Hello,
Thank you for visiting and asking a question. I am very open and honest when I say that this cost would be an accurate estimate from my clinic. It is a difficult surgery and it can take quite a bit of time. At our clinic we allow payment plans for our clients. There is also carecredit available. There are resources available on our website. JarrettsvilleVet.com. We list affordable options and also resource contacts to help people like you. Let me know if you find anyone so I can pass it along to the next person. Also Helping Hands in Va is affordable. But it’s a long drive.
Dr magnifico thank you so mucg for respinding i appreciate it and i will keep you posted i may just put “honey marie” my grandpa’s dog on your schedule as you already know my princess has surgery coming up at your office so ill try and book honey marie the same day and bring her for a exam i know she wont get surgery that day but atleast you can get a look in person and check her to see if surgery is a safe option especially as old as she is
Sounds good. See you soon!
Hi Can you please help me with a puppy crate question?
Our now almost 12 wk old golden puppy has been crated at night for 3 weeks and he is still up every hour crying..
I let him cry for about 20 min at most and he usually falls back to sleep but then wakes up again an hour later..
I will take him out only once a night (for a very boring and quick trip outside to potty) if the crying
lasts longer than about 25 min
Because I’m Exhausted… I finally caved and moved him into our bedroom in the crate (where our older dog sleeps on a dog bed) and he has slept through the night for the last three nights…
But….I hear him panting and moving around all night so I can’t sleep!
Is it okay to put crate in the basement where I won’t be able to hear him and just let him cry it out?
I’ve never had this problem with previous puppies…
Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!
Thx!
Sarah
Good morning- have you tried keeping the crate in your room with white noise or a fan on during the night in your room to block out any sleep disruptions? I think there are even apps for your phone that you can download for this with a Bluetooth speaker. It might make things easier for you and your puppy.????????
Are you wearing his brain out prior to bedtime? I don’t mean a run in the yard – I mean puppy push-ups (sit/down/sit/stand, rinse repeat for a good 15 minutes) or something similar at this age.
Hi i was wondering what a good dog food is for liver problems my dog was diagnosed with a high liver enzyme and she cant digest regular dog food due to severe diarrhea so ive been making her food myself everyday i boil chicken, rice, parsley, carrots, cauliflower and mash it up and she loves it and we dont have any problems with diarrhea however it gets exhausting and becomes alot of work im looking for a new food that would be good for her even if its a perscription diet im sure i can get approval i love my dog and want whats best for her shes old shes around 12 years old, but yes we dont know whats caused her liver problems i think its old age i use to have her on casars wet dog food and she kept diarrhea and i tried a few other foods for her as well and had no luck i even tried grain free and that didnt help either its frustrating cause at one point she had diareah for a few weeks and i didnt know why i took her to our local hospital a few minutes away and they ran tests and gave her metronidazole finally when i took her off the food she stopped sorry for this long post i just wanted to give all the information to figure out the best food for my baby so i can orser it for her or if you know a brand i can buy over the counter thats good please let me know
Good morning- your vet should be able to provide you with a list of foods that will be a good choice.
Our vet didnt provide a list i was told to give chicken and rice
You can feed her bland diet as it is easier to prepare and less time consuming. All you need to do is add 1 ½ cups boiled white rice and ¾ lb (400 grams) extra-lean ground chicken. You can’t use this recipe repeatedly but this one can be helpful in case you’re in hurry. You can visit here to learn everything related to dog food:
https://fastesaletter.com/dog-diet-things-to-know-about-feeding-your-pet/
My 7 month old retriver puppy has real behavior issues I cant seem to break. I cant afford a dog trainer since everyone I’ve contacted wants atleast $500 for 5 hours of basic training. The problems: she pulls on the leash…hard. she is constantly chewing on stuff. Anything in the floor. As soon as i turn my back shes into something… the trash, litter box, cat food, chasing the cats… she knows it wrong because when she sees me she looks down in shame. I have a prong collar for walking her, a shock collar for teaching her no. She’s smart and knows how to come, sit, lay, catch, drop it… However now she refuses to drop something she really wants. I cant give her chew bones or long lasting treats because she’s started growling and snaps at my kids when they come near her with it. I have a crate, that I put her in when she being bad. She refuses to calm down at all when there is something interesting like new people or another dog. I spend my entire day scolding her for doing bad things… so much to where I really dont want to be around her anymore. My kids hate her, and my husband is trying so hard to like her. Im at a complete loss as to how to train her to calm down and stop doing things she knows she isn’t supposed to do. I have a severe back injury and it is really hard for me to contain her when she’s acting a fool. Ive also tried having turkey in a treat pouch and only giving it to her when she’s being good. Which she will do till I run out then she’s right back at it. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
Hi there???? First off, thanks for caring so much about this dog. Secondly, a private trainer or personal session with a trainer is quite expensive- BUT- a group session is much more affordable. I would call around to local petsmart or other pet stores/people to try to find one. You can get somewhere between 8 and 10 sessions for around $200. You will get a wealth of knowledge there, so long as the trainer is good. Third, as tricky and difficult as it can be at times, try to remain calm. I know easier said than done in the heat of the moment, but your dog will feed off of that anxiety or stress. I know you said pulling on the leash is an issue- a trainer can definitely help with that. And once that is improving, walks will be much more beneficial. A tired dog is a well behaved dog. ???? I find that a prong collar does not help with pulling, to be honest. We have GSDs and we’re advised years ago when we first started rescuing them to use a chain collar, high on the neck where it should be just behind the ears if pulled. This has the desired effect with minimal tug and is easier for the person to maneuver. Another trick with walking…. every time the dog pulls, change direction. This makes for very silly looking (and time consuming) walks in the beginning, but does help get them to follow your lead. You have a very energetic dog, so getting your walks down is a must. Plus, walking helps establish order in your pack and lets them know you are above them. You also may need to “dog proof” your house with some baby gates for the time being until your dog learns where it can and cannot go (i.e. to eat the litter box). Continue reinforcing good behaviors with a reward- it’s great that you do that!! Correct misbehavior with a firm no and then change he situation. Guarding of bones and toys can escalate to worse very quickly. My advice on that would be to limit the amount of time (ideally when no children are going to try to take it) and then trade a treat for the bone/toy. We have a rule toys=outside, bones=inside but only on beds.(dog beds) If you have the space, a chuck it and a ball can really help tire your pup out. Also- nothing is free. Dog wants dinner? Sit and paw first.or something like that. .. down, belly, whatever payment you feel is right. Dog wants to play? Again, sit or down…. dog wants a treat? Same. Dog wants affection? Calm first then love. Again- look into a group session as they are more cost effective. Please be patient not just with your dog, but yourself as well. It is not easy, but nothing worth it ever is. Very best of luck to you! Hopefully some other Pawbly friends will have more advice. I hope you find some of this helpful. If there is anything else we can help with, please reach out again.????????
Thank you so much for the info. I had another dog in some group classes years ago, and I’ve implemented that into my training, but I will search outside of my town for some groups thats arebt so expensive. The trainers asking for $500 are group classes here and its $200 extra for private lessons on specific issues. ???? unfortunately the group i went to before is no longer there. I do ask her to sit for leash on and off, before getting a treat and before she goes out. I dont give her enough exercise I know, since I’m hurt I can’t walk her alot, especially when she’s yanking me. Ill buy a chain collar and try with that. Thank you so much for the tips. I will definitely give it a go. Currently I am working on keeping her out of her kennel except when she’s beung bad, or when she’s too wild, and maybe still sleep in it. Not sure yet.
If she’s pulling while on a prong, it’s likely not positioned correctly. It might also have a larger link size than she should have. Go with a smaller link and position it right behind the jaw. Make sure to have a backup slip lead on, just in case. Work on this in the yard before going on a walk.
I suspect she has far too much freedom and too few rules. You’ve gotta go back to square 1 with obedience. Utilize trades (not food) instead of just taking things from her. Crate her if she’s chewing something. Consider umbilical training to prevent bad behavior, and praise the heck out of good behavior. Since group classes are not a thing in most places right now, look into Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. It’s an online-only school, and they might have something that will work for you.
Beyond that, try looking here for trainers: https://www.canineprofessionals.com/find-a-professional
Hello,
It sounds like you are getting a thorough work up and moving in the direction of some answers.
I have treated quite a few Addisonians and once diagnosed and started on treatment most do very well. If you have any questions or concerns ask for an internal medicine referral and go from there. Good luck. I hope she is feeling better soon.