[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Franceen

A few days ago, my yorkie started to have an upset tummy. My husband and I were both ill with flu and decided to starve her for a day and keep her on fluids. The following day we tried some chicken and rice and after a few hours she vomited, bringing up undigested food. I tried to give her small amounts of food, but she was very reluctant to eat it. Raw lean minced beef was the only thing that she could tolerate. She was drinking her water. We took her to the vet yesterday and he said that she has a stomach virus, which is going around, and to keep offering her the chicken and not the beef.

Yesterday she had not eaten at all and I was so concerned. I had tried to get her to eat some chicken, which she was very reluctant to eat, but she ate a little. Her diarrhea started again.

Eventually I had to go back to the beef, as we were getting so concerned. The beef has stayed down well, I feel that it was the chicken, that I did get her to take earlier on in the day, that caused this, as the beef has not upset her before. She is passing a few very wet blobs of feaces - about a teaspoon at a time. The vomiting has stopped. She is just sleeping all the time.

I could take her to the vet again, but if it is a virus, what can he do, apart from keeping up her fluids? She is able to do this at home. My husband feels that if she is going to pass away, he wants her with us and not in a cage at the vet, both of which frighten her and cause her great stress.

We are both so upset and confused about what to do for the best.

It's a good sign that the vomiting has stopped, and that she is eating a little and holding down fluids. I would at least call the vet and tell them what you are feeding her and what is going on. Also, vets can do more than just keep fluids up. Sometimes nutrients can be given to a sick dog intravenously (parenteral nutrition). It's not desirable, but it might help get your dog through a bad patch. Or there might be secondary infections that can be treated. Please keep us posted on what happens.