Tasha is Sick

jennyr · Feb 18, 2012

Tasha is in the vet hospital with suspected hemorragic gastro-enteritis. She has not been very well for a while, and is already under vet treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. She has been lethargic, off her food and limping slightly from time to time. But no-one could say what was wrong. Then this morning I came down to black and bloody diarrhea on the floor, and before I couold get dressed or call the vet, she did more. Anyway, she is now in hospital. I thought maybe she she had been kicked by a pony as she loves to chase them, or had eaten something bad, but the vet thinks it is more likely a viral thing. And he is also going to test her for giardiA. She is trembling and obviously miserable, though shows no sign of pain when she is touched or manipulated. I was planning a trip tot he UK this week, but that is obviously off for hte time being. I can't believe h ow awful this winter has been for animals getting sick. Anyone with any experience of these symptoms, please let me know your thoughts.

AbbysMom · Feb 18, 2012

Oh no.

. Sending

for you both.

nerdrock · Feb 18, 2012

How bright was the blood in the stool? What kind of dog is she (this is mostly for size and ability to hide pain)? How old is she? Does she like to chew and eat things she shouldn't? Sticks, rocks, hay, etc.

If she's older, the limping could be arthritis and unrelated to the blood in the stool. She could have also tripped when out chasing the ponies and sprained something.

If she likes to chew on things, maybe she has a piece of something lodged in her stomach or intestines. If pieces of it are coming out when she poops, it could be scratching as it's coming out, resulting in the blood you're seeing even if you're not seeing what she actually ate in the stool. My two got into a bag of old dog bones that I was throwing away when I was moving, they both had diarrhea and bloody stool as they were pooping out the pieces (I never did see any pieces, I found one of the bones under the bed in their crate).

Both of mine also hide pain very well. When I broke Sadie's tail (accident!), she yelped initially but after that showed no signs of pain even when her tail was manipulated. She also has back problems and doesn't show any pain when her back is being manipulated, the only way I can tell is because she sticks one of her legs out a bit when she stands.

Is it possible that she was hit by a car?

In addition to whatever the vet is doing, I would also have an xray done, at least on the leg that she's limping on, to rule out a fracture/break or arthritis.

It could be something as simple as a virus and sore leg but it could also be something more serious.

jcat · Feb 18, 2012

Poor Tasha. Hopefully it's "just" a virus that the vet can easily treat. The last experience I had with a pet with bloody stool, it did turn out to be giardia. Lots of :vibes:

for her.

jennyr · Feb 18, 2012

nerdrock said:
How bright was the blood in the stool? What kind of dog is she (this is mostly for size and ability to hide pain)? How old is she? Does she like to chew and eat things she shouldn't? Sticks, rocks, hay, etc.

If she's older, the limping could be arthritis and unrelated to the blood in the stool. She could have also tripped when out chasing the ponies and sprained something.

If she likes to chew on things, maybe she has a piece of something lodged in her stomach or intestines. If pieces of it are coming out when she poops, it could be scratching as it's coming out, resulting in the blood you're seeing even if you're not seeing what she actually ate in the stool. My two got into a bag of old dog bones that I was throwing away when I was moving, they both had diarrhea and bloody stool as they were pooping out the pieces (I never did see any pieces, I found one of the bones under the bed in their crate).

Both of mine also hide pain very well. When I broke Sadie's tail (accident!), she yelped initially but after that showed no signs of pain even when her tail was manipulated. She also has back problems and doesn't show any pain when her back is being manipulated, the only way I can tell is because she sticks one of her legs out a bit when she stands.

Is it possible that she was hit by a car?

In addition to whatever the vet is doing, I would also have an xray done, at least on the leg that she's limping on, to rule out a fracture/break or arthritis.

It could be something as simple as a virus and sore leg but it could also be something more serious.

Thanks for the questions. She is a border collie cross, 2 years old, medium size (17 kg on Wed though she was only 15.6 today). She does chew on sticks, and gets things out of the rubbish occasionally. I have told the vet this, but he does not think there is an obstruction. There was certainly nothing solid in what she passed last night and htis morning - it was very black but soft, with red leaking out. Classic half-digested blood.

She was not hit by a car - we live at the end of a long traffic free lane, surrounded by fields and forest. If she has received an external injury it is almost certainly from a pony. She chases them, hanging onto a tail. I think they all see it as a game, though they do try to kick out sometimes. I cannot break her of that habit.

I had a chat to the vet tonight, and she has eaten something, which is good. He is now waiting to see what becomes of that meal - whether it comes out as diarrhea or not. That will be analysed and give them an idea as to treatment. Meanwhile she is being kept hydrated and quiet, though she is still very lethargic, he says. He may xray the leg tomorrow, depending on how she is in the morning. She will be kept in till at least Tuesday, maybe longer.

milk maid · Feb 19, 2012

Poor Tish tash sending loads of

her way and big hugs

ruthyb · Feb 19, 2012

Oh no hun,I can't offer you any advice just hope that she gets well soon.xx

jennyr · Feb 19, 2012

I spoke to the vet this afternoon who told me she is no worse, and has actually eaten a little. She has had no more diarrhea, but hasn't done anything else either, so he hopes something will appear tomorrow morning that they can test. SHe is still tired and lethargic and he wants to keep her in all week. So all I can do is wait.

ruthyb · Feb 19, 2012

jennyranson said:
I spoke to the vet this afternoon who told me she is no worse, and has actually eaten a little. She has had no more diarrhea, but hasn't done anything else either, so he hopes something will appear tomorrow morning that they can test. SHe is still tired and lethargic and he wants to keep her in all week. So all I can do is wait.

Awww hun,hopefully her being No worse means that she will now start to improve

xx

jcat · Feb 21, 2012

All week? Poor Tasha. :vibes:

for her!

nerdrock · Feb 21, 2012

Any more updates?

I hate getting a diagnosis of HGE, it's used to cover a variety of things including viruses, infections, etc when other things have been ruled out. It's also usually seen in miniature or toy breeds, but it can be found in every breed.

Is there any way that she could have gotten into some rat poison? How close are you closest neighbours and do you know if they use rat poison? It's possible that a rat or mouse ate some, ran over to your property and she ate it.

When was she last wormed? Do you have lepto there? If so, do you vaccinate her against it? Even if you do, there are different types of lepto and if she's been drinking from any puddles or ponds it's possible. Has she had any bloodwork done? If she's prone to eating sticks and things, maybe she has some ulcers? This may be a stretch, but what about Addison's disease?

I really hate to mention this one, and it does seem unlikely, but what about parvo?

Do you have ticks there? Maybe Lyme disease? It presents with limping, lethargy, loss of appetite and sometimes bloody stool.

jennyr · Feb 22, 2012

She is out of hospital tonight and staying with Lynda (Milkmaid) as I am still in the UK with a broken down car. It never rains but it pours. She is eating a little. The vet has mentioned parvo but she is vaccinated against it, so it is unlikely. I thought of various tick diseases but again they think it unlikely. I am trying to do all I can to get home tomorrow to talk to the vet, even if I have to leave my car behind. But I know she is in very good hands with Lynda.

ruthyb · Feb 22, 2012

jennyranson said:
She is out of hospital tonight and staying with Lynda (Milkmaid) as I am still in the UK with a broken down car. It never rains but it pours. She is eating a little. The vet has mentioned parvo but she is vaccinated against it, so it is unlikely. I thought of various tick diseases but again they think it unlikely. I am trying to do all I can to get home tomorrow to talk to the vet, even if I have to leave my car behind. But I know she is in very good hands with Lynda.

Oh hun,I am so,sorry,what an awful thing with your car but I am so glad that Tasha is with Lynda. Where abouts in the UK are you?Just being nosy,being from there

I send you good wishes that you can get your car sorted out and back to Tasha very soon.xx

pushylady · Feb 22, 2012

Trouble does tend to snowball sometimes! I hope your car gets fixed so you can get home easier. Poor Tasha. How wonderful of Lynda to take care of her though.

jennyr · Feb 22, 2012

Right now I am in Oxshott, Surrye, with my brother, but the car is in Berkshire, at my daughter's garage. They can't seem to get hte new shock absorbers, because it is a French car ( only a Renault though - so I don't really understand what is going on.) I came over to deal with some paperwork after my father' death and to see friends. The garage lent me a car but I don't think I can take it back to to France! I am going htere thuis morning to sort out myu options. I have tog et back today for all sorts of reasons. I am just thankful Tasha is in good hands, and another friend staying at my house looking after hte cats.

jcat · Feb 23, 2012

Just what you needed. At least Tasha is in good hands. :vibes:

That your car is fixed soon and you can get back asap.

jcat · Feb 28, 2012

How's Tasha doing now? Has there been any improvement?

jennyr · Feb 28, 2012

I returned from the UK this morning, still without my car, to find Tasha is still much the same - not eating and very lethargic, more so if anything, with a lot of shivering. I took her this afternoon to see another vet, further away from me but very good. She found her to be very constipated and managed to remove a lot of it. But she could not give an immediate diagnosis either. Tasha got an anti-inflammatory and I have some Nutri-cal gel to rub on her gums. Doing that three times a day will at least keep her from starving while we work on the problem. Tonight she ate a few turkey pieces but turned up her nose at everything else. I will take her back on Thursday. I have confidence in this vet, she is very highly regarded, and is taking the problem very seriously. So I am hoping. I still have to go back to the Uk to collect my car when it is ready, meanwhile I am driving a hire car.

ruthyb · Feb 28, 2012

Oh hun,what a terrible time you've had off it

I really hope that this vet can find out what s wrong with Tasha from what you say she sounds good. What a pain with your car aswell. Hope things start getting better soon.xx

pushylady · Feb 28, 2012

You certainly are having a bad time of it lately. I hope the new vet can help Tasha.

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