Shih tzu having problems

[Lou]

Our little angel, Cassie, seems to be having tummy troubles lately. She'll be nine next month and is the very soul of our household. Lately she has been vomiting in the evening after eating something cold or drinking really cold water. She seems fine afterward. Yesterday she got sick in the morning (nothing but bile) and was really shaken up by it. But she was her normal self for the rest of the day.
We haven't changed her food so that isn't the cause. She had her annual physical a month ago and I asked the vet about it and she said that it could just be that she is getting old and her stomach can't take the cold anymore.

Could that really be it? Does anyone else have any ideas about this? A friend of mine had a cat that started throwing up every night and it turned out to be stomach cancer.

Also, can anyone recommend a good message board for shih tzu owners? Compared to YT the ones I've found online are kaka.

Thanks.
Lou

[winstonw]

I am sorry Cassie is not feeling well. Is this vomiting bile new compared to food in the past? I think I would definitely call the vet if it is. Did he run any tests when she was in? I also have a 9 and 7 year old shih tzu. Packer is the one in the avatar with Winston and I will post a pic of Pokey here..it was when he was younger. I am also on the Shih Tzu Chatter for Two forum. It doesn't have near as many members, but they are all very nice and very knowledgeable. You can go to their search engine too and look for stomach problems. Pokey was having skin problems sebaceous cysts this year and I think that is when I started with that forum. I hope Cassie gets to feeling better. Please keep us posted.

[gypsyqueen]

Maybe with age shes more sensitive try a food for sensitive tummys petsmart has natures choice my sharpei uses it for her tummy

[Lou]

Called the vet and she said if the vomiting keeps up at other times other than when she eats or drinks cold in the evening I should bring her in. She reminded me that sometimes dogs throw up on purpose. (I know I had a beagle that did that). I reminded her that Cassie is in the very early stages of heart failure and asked her if it could be related but she didn't think so. Now, this vet is my friend and and I trust her with my animals so I'm going to have to believe her for now but I'm still keeping an eye on the sweetest dog alive. We are not putting cold water in the water bowl anymore and that seems to helpl

Oh, by the way a couple of nights ago my husband dropped a 1/2 link of sausage and Cassie gobbled it down before it hit the floor! I expected an upset stomach all night but she was fine even with all the grease that must have been in that meat.

[winstonw]

Cassie Cassie I'm so glad you still have a strong appetite! I am suprised she didn't get sick after eating all that! Maybe she is vomiting voluntarily like the vet said?! Does Cassie have any dos and donts concerning her early heart disease like diet exercise etc?! Please keep us posted!

[Lou]

No, there is NOTHING wrong with her appetite. And there were no special instructions for her heart. Early heart failure is really just another way of saying that she is starting to show her age. She still runs and plays like a puppy but she quits a lot earlier than she used to. But she then enjoys watching the obsessive ball chaser (Adie).

One more thing about my little love I've noticed in the past few months is that she is getting a lot (and I mean a lot) of tags all over her body. She has one bump on her cheek that is probably a tag but I'm keeping my eye on it.

I hate seeing my sweetie getting old, I don't mind telling you. I often worry if she will make it to life expectancy which is about 13 or 14 I think.
She is aging gracefully though. After rescuing her from a puppy mill and dealing with her incredible shyness all of her life she has just been so special. I know dogs trust their owners but Cassie puts ALL of her trust in me. In her mind there is nothing that can hurt her if she is in my arms. Now I'm going to cry. If anything ever happens to her ya'll get ready for one looooong crying jag.

[winstonw]

Aww she does sounds like sugh a special sweetie! I am so glad you have enjoyed each others company through the years.
I have noticed a lot of bumps on Pokey and Packer lately. The vet takes them off at teeth cleaning time. They are sebaceous cyts and she said shih tzus commonly get them as they get older. I know I dont think of Pokey as old as he is. He still gets around as good too, but he is getting more grumpy with the little one around!!

[Lou]

Yeah, they probably are cysts. I can lift them up and tell that they are attached only to the skin. She has one on her lower eye lid that is ugly but harmless. Funny, Cassie actually livened up when Adie came to live with us. That is when I really saw the little mother come our in her. She would play and discipline when necessary. It used to be so cute to see Adie testing her and pushing her as far as she could until Cassie gave her what for. She would just put her on her back and hold her there; never ever hurting her. Now we are getting another yorkie (Adie's half brother) and I am eager to see Cassie mothering him too. Hopefully she is up to the challenge.

[dixon]

How's your baby doing? I would love to hear an update.

[winstonw]

That is so good that Cassie and Adie took so well to each other!! That is wonderful news about a new yorkie too!! When is that event going to happen?! How has Cassie been doing lately?

[Lou]

Cassie still vomits if we give her something cold. I gave her a little piece of raw meat last night and it set her off. But she had had another episode of vomiting bile yesterday morning. Again she wa fine afterward. It is hard to tell if she felt bad at any time during the day since I had a migraine and Cassie doesn't leave my side if I'm not feeling well. I have really tried to find lumps in her stomach but haven't found any yet. She seems to enjoy the search though the stinker.

Skeeter, Adie's half brother, will be 12 weeks old on April 23 so we will be getting him on April 28th. I'm going to take him in for his first visit with our vet that week and get Cassie in there too if nothing comes up before then. I just don't feel comfortable not 'knowing' what is wrong with my sweetie pup.

Thanks for asking about her.

[dixon]

I will pray for Cassie. Hope she gets better soon.

[winstonw]

Thanks for the update and we will also continue to think about you all. She does sounds like the sweetest thing, staying with you all day with your migrane. It sounds like it will be pretty exciting in your household in a couple of weeks! Hope Cassie gets feeling better.

[Lou]

Cassie is doing great. No more vomiting and as I expected she has started mothering Skeeter. I found flea dirt on her last night and realized her Revolution was overdue so I put that on all of the dogs. I combed her really well with the flea comb and got a couple of groggy ones off her last night so tonight she gets a bath. I wasn't sure her stomach would take the Revolution but she didn't have any problems. The vet says she's doing great and that I am a worry wart. We are gradually switching her over to milder dog food. She hates it! Naturally. LOL.

Thanks again for all of the support.
Lou