TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 11/05/2009 1:05 PM |
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[Sigh]
Tessa has bloody diarrhea again, I think it's only been a few months, it's kinda scary, also threw up once this morning (of the yellow frothy type, not meal related), so I am taking her in this afternoon.
She just had a fecal a few weeks ago - well, she just about had EVERYthing within the last few weeks - $ 750 worth of vetting up.
Post-spay (October 19) she was put on antibiotics and they caused loose stools. I was hoping that would clear up when the meds were stopped, and I added a little yogurt and pumpkin to the food, but no, it just got worse, yesterday it was pretty bad, and today, there was quite a bit of blood, which always unsettles me.
Other than that she is fine and her mischievous energetic self.
I am pretty sure they checked her for coccidia a few weeks ago (part of routine), but I guess will ask about giardia? Which is hard to detect? Any suggestions? |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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everbell
Kanata, ON
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Posts:3166
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| 11/05/2009 1:12 PM |
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Poor Tessa! Doesn't sound like she (or you) have been having a good time lately. Hugs and kisses to my favourite super-model!
Joce |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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MOOSE1
Fruitport, MI
MH
Posts:1789
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| 11/05/2009 1:20 PM |
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| I can't remember what we used for Giardia but it wasn't anything right from the vet.....not that I can recall. Keep us posted. I think it is just our time to all be tested with our dogs. 3 of our 5 are down and out with a pretty bad strain of kennel cough. Even though they are vaccinated against it ever 6 months. You are in my thoughts. It is so frustrating and mentally draining! |
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Rajah-APBT- USUV UMJCH Flying High Rajah-TDI Certified
Phoenix-GSP- USJCH UWP GRCH BNJ Shooters Rising Phoenix-CGC Tested
Cody- GSP- AKC/CKC CH UKC UWP GRCH Legacyk n Estate Sunray Minor FDJ CGC Tested
Tucson-UJJ CH Legacyk FlwrCrk The Old Peublo
Rumor-UMJ URO1 GRCH BNJ Rumor Has It-RN RD CGC NA II
www.ezydog.com |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4452
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| 11/05/2009 1:42 PM |
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Bloody stool can't be good.
When I switched to raw meat last week the dogs got the runs this week - not pretty.
Keep us informed.
Francine
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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JCK
SH
Posts:44
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| 11/05/2009 1:44 PM |
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I'm sorry to hear. It's very upsetting when they get sick, especially because they can't explain what's bothering them.
Ours had a bout of bloody diarrhea a few months ago. I think she ate some poop, got herself nice and sick, and then recovered. I think if they get sick from something, that alone can cause bloody diarrhea, even without a parasite.
I don't know how long to wait, but I'd give it 24 hours to pass before bringing her in. I might call the vet to see what they suggest in the meantime.
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:7862
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| 11/05/2009 1:51 PM |
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Poor Tessa. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys. Let us know how she is doing. I have a friend who has Great Danes and one of her Danes does this periodically for no reason (at least no reason the vets have ever determined.) The have to take her off food and then slowly build her diet back up. I think they put her on rice and hamburger or something like that. I wonder if it is triggered by stress and maybe the antibiotics upsetting her digestive track. Was she on antibiotics prior to the last episode? Sometimes a digestive track will get messed up and just get worse and worse and you have to take animal (or person for that matter) off of their normal diet and put them on a bland diet that will allow the digestive track to heal and then gradually build them back up to the normal diet. I wonder if this is something that Tessa may be going through. It can be pretty bad too when this cycle happens. I had it happen to me many years ago. I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks and the docs were ready to put me in the hospital, but they couldn't find anything wrong with me. I hadn't even been sick except that I had gotten an upset stomach for a day prior to all this happening. I couldn't keep anything down. It either came up or went through liquid. It was really bad. They tested me for everything. My family doc finally put me on a clear liquid diet for 48 hours and then we built my diet slowly back to normal over a week. The problem was gone and I was fine. They never figured it out and I have not had a recurrence.
Good luck to you and Tessa. Lots of hugs and kisses and good thoughts coming her way. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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MurfsMa
Orange County, CA
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Posts:280
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| 11/05/2009 2:30 PM |
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Poor Tessa! Murphy has bouts of diarrhea occasionally but never bloody..but I can imagine how panicky that would make me. Hopefully it is something that will pass like everyone mentioned... if there is anything I've learned in the past year and half of living with a GSP (in addition to the MANY stories I've heard/read), it's that they just might be one of the most sensitive stomached (??) breeds out there. The tiniest things/changes can cause vomiting and diarrhea that can last for days on these guys... I've had other dogs, large and small breeds, that have eaten all kinds of garbage (literally and figuratively) and never once did it make a difference in what came out.
Good luck with the vet and keep us posted! |
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escampbell
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Posts:213
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| 11/05/2009 3:27 PM |
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I owned a German Shepherd with a fussy stomach. If he was not fed almsot exactly when he expected it, he would invariably throw up yellow frothy bile, just a sign his stomach was empty and thus irritated.
He also had chronic giardia. While most dogs tolerate giardia, he did not. He would break with bloody diahrrea, loose stool, etc. Dogs can so easily reinfect themselves, even after being treated. You may want to look into a course of Flagyl, just to be sure. Giardia can also be very hard to diagnose. Even stool samples sent to labs can come back negative. I just treated one dog who was negative, but having lots of loose stool. He is much, much better. Irionically, the dog who tested positive had no symptoms whatsoever! |
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Eleanor Campbell
New Jersey
Sydney, Presto, Price, Ozma and Soleil |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 11/05/2009 5:23 PM |
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Thanks for all your concern and best wishes!
Gee, what a day! Just as I was taking her in, someone had shot dead his girlfriend in the parking lot next to the vet clinic and the place was a mess with cops and helicopters on a manhunt. UGA was on alert but not locked down...stuff like that gives ME diarrhea!
Anyway...vet examined her and found her healthy as a clam! Said her heart sounds really strong, slow heart beat, he marveled at how athletic she is ...
The vet could not pinpoint the cause of her diarrhea/vomiting. He said it's good she is on Interceptor (his preferred choice of heartworm med) and K9 Advantix, both of which kill worms. Ran a fecal anyway but they have not called back so I assume it was clear. In absence of any other symptoms (no fever, lethargy, loss of appetite) the diagnosis once again was dietary indiscretion...so no food until tomorrow, and then the bland diet, prescription canned food mixed with rice, cottage cheese, pumpkin, etc, the usual. I am familiar with it by now. He gave her as shot for nausea, and sent us home with a bottle of Flagyl (metronidazole) which he says is prescribed for Giardia mainly (right on, Eleanor!) but often also given in her situation because it soothes the digestive tract.
Like JKC suggested, I probably could have waited 24 hours and taken her in tomorrow, but I always get so nervous when there's blood involved. Plus going into the weekend...emergency clinic fees are horrendous! |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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snips
n.ga.
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Posts:413
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| 11/05/2009 5:36 PM |
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Keep Flagyl onhand..Works wonders. I have it in the kennel and on all trips Would not leave home without it! |
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brenda |
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escampbell
MH
Posts:213
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| 11/05/2009 5:38 PM |
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I am glad you have the metronidazole. It will clear up her symptoms very fast. Just be sure to keep her on for the full week - 10 days, since it is an antibiotic, so you don't want to just give it to her here and there and build up any resistance to its effectiveness. And a full course will treat giardia, if she has it.
My Shepherd threw up simply because he did. He had a fussy digestive system! |
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Eleanor Campbell
New Jersey
Sydney, Presto, Price, Ozma and Soleil |
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bravepoint
North Gower, ON Canada
MH
Posts:894
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| 11/05/2009 6:08 PM |
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Glad to hear Tessa is OK. Hopefully, the diarrhea will clear with the bland diet and meds.
Gail |
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Gail, Moka, Avery, Terra & Rayne
Bravepoint GSPs
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MegC
Ellensburg, WA
MH
Posts:989
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| 11/05/2009 6:51 PM |
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We've been through our bloody bouts w/ metronidazole, rice, and worry... I'm sorry. Getting watery pink stuff shooting out the tail end is NEVER a good sign. 
But keep in mind that Pepcid trick I mentioned a while back if this keeps recurring and everything else fails. It's very cheap, very easy, and for us has been very effective. We had pretty much ran out of other options so I was thrilled to discover something that actually worked. |
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Megan
+ Dulcie (Lehmschlog's The Right Spot) + Rogan (Lehmschlog's BR Rogan) + Anya (Lehmschlog's Anya O Conchobar)
Intro to harness sport/mushing- start here! |
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JLKShorthairs
Westport,wa
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Posts:143
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| 11/05/2009 7:52 PM |
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| Glad to hear tessa is ok hope she feels better tomorrow. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7862
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| 11/05/2009 9:50 PM |
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| Glad Tessa got a clean bill of health. It is just scary any time you see blood. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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unowhoandwhy
Middleofnowhere, NH
MH
Posts:1805
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| 11/06/2009 9:08 AM |
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| Poor you & Tessa! I hope she recovers completely soon! |
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Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002
Lady Layla - 1/2006 |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3166
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| 11/06/2009 9:10 AM |
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| Poor little monster ... could it be a dog equivalent of a hemorrhoid? |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 11/06/2009 9:52 AM |
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Still diarrhea this a.m. - where exactly does it come from? No food since Wednesday p.m. - but no blood that I could see.
The flagyl kinda knocked her out a little yesterday, or maybe it was coincidence. Other than that, all systems go
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 11/06/2009 10:16 AM |
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| I hope she gets better soon! I know when my son (not dog, lol) got sick when he was a baby he got the rota virus which is bad diarrhea cause by a bacteria/virus that feeds off of foods you eat so to starve it I could only feed him rice cereal....if you are worried about not being able to feed her maybe you could feed her plain rice....Good luck! |
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