Please I need help
 

HI, I am not new to yorkie talk but have been away for some time. My yorkie has diarrhea .. First it was occasional vomiting with brown diarrhea covered with a little slime. It then got darker and finally she defecated a pool of bright red blood, jam like... and this all happened in the matter of 2 1/2 days. I am in NY and temperatures dropped so I thought she initially caught a cold from me. I keep the heat on 70 to 73 degrees at all times just for her. I brought her to ER on Sunday and they gave me antibiotic which does not appear to be working because she still has diarrhea....very dark [but not bright red blood like before]. The vet took 632 dollars and has not gotten back to me. I cannot afford to take her somewhere else. She is active, eating plain chicken and rice and drinking a bit. She has not vomited in 2 days. Can anyone please tell me what this can be from? They did NOT to an xray to see if she swallowed something. They told me if she swallowed something she would have pain in her tummy.... Need help .... please get back to me ..please. She is only 4 years old and is a rescue. I have only had her 6 months and she needs a dental , shots, etc... but I am afraid to do anything else right now until I find out what is wrong with her. The vet wants to take a 'wait and see' attitude. thanks .. Lynn

This could really be so many things....gastritis, IBD/IBS, ate something funny, pancreatitis (though prob would've been worse). What did the bloodwork present as?

Did you change food, treats, or anything? Has she had the "occasional vomiting w/ diarrhea" since you got her, or is this new?

I'd probably wait a bit to see if it resolves, indicating it was probably a bug/gastritis...and slowly introduce her food again. If it persists, she really does need bloodwork if it wasn't done, and may need a GI specialist.

If you truly cannot afford the vet, then I'd perhaps contact the rescue and see if there is any way they can help and/or whether they have any previous record of her having GI issues.

Continue to give the meds....if it is stress and she has coccidia, it takes a while for the meds to work....usually they are on a Flagyl and Albon, sometimes adding Amoxicillin for that, and it is given anywhere from 5-10 days....make absolutely certain pup is drinking enough water....diarrhea can dehydrate her quickly....dont let her over eat...feed small meals four or five times a day....how old is pup? How long have you had her?

You might want to add something like pedialyte or Gatorade if she's not drinking enough. It might be a simple case of tummy ache. How big/small is she? My Zoey is about 5.5 lbs and she tends to get tummy aches once in a while. She'd vomit, and have bloody diarrhea sometimes but it settles down after few days sometime w/wo medication.

As posters above me suggested, I'd keep a close eye on her the next day or so. If her condition doesn't improve, contact the vet again or call up local rescues/shelters to see if they can help you.

I hope she get better soon. Good luck and please keep us an update when you can!

With my little girl if she has an upset stomach I give a spoonful of pumpkin seems to help within a few hours. Can pumpkin just not pie filling. Hope it helps

I had a little yorkie boy who would have bouts of bloody poop. The vet said was ibs type issues. I hope it is something as simple as that for your little one as well. Good wishes to you both.

Hi Lynn sorry your going through this. I went through something like this with my bella when she was very young. I was beside my self with fear, she was not able to keep water down so if your baby is drinking and eating thats a really good sign so make sure she is getting water.

What did work for bella after all the vetting and a huge bill..... Pepto it coated her tummy and intestine .

If you ever watch Dr Pole he swears by it.

I hope all goes well.

thanks. How much pepto bismol did you give her?
 

How much pepto bismol did you give her? I also heard using the herb slippery elm bark helps... have you heard that? thanks again , Lynn

OH.... and how do you get her to drink more water?
 

I notice my yorkie Peeing on her wee wee pad but I never see her drinking much water. How do I get her to drink more? I put ice cubes in it and even tried to get her to lick ice cubes... Nothing is working but I do see her peeing

Did you notice the color? I think like humans, if they're dehydrated, the yellower the urine is. If they're hydrated, color would be more clear.

What food are you giving her? Canned or kibbles? If you're giving her kibbles, you can add some chicken broth (no salt added) for the kibbles to soak up the moisture.

If you have to use a dropper to make sure water is going in , but keep her close to you and her water dish so you can see when she drinks. After Bella was so sick I keep pedialite on the shelf.
As for the pepto the pink stuff, Bella was about 4lb and I gave her about a 1/4 tsp. If you google the subject you will find vet suggestions and then I went a little less to be safe.
Some vets will use pepto and some will say things like ( they didnt teach us that in vet school ) and yes that has been said to me lol But I felt better when dr Pole talked about it. I guess pepto isnt a bit money maker.
Do some research on it and make up your own mind.
Hope this helps, lot of hugs its so hard when they are sick.

thanks ... She tested pos. for Anaplasma but vet said this is not the current problem
 

I did see her drink yesterday. She ate well too. I am giving her a palm full of plain chicken and a tiny bit of rice. She usually eats small wellness kibble. No stool yesterday.
The vet said blood test came back indicating she has a tick borne disease called anaplasma. She only had one dog tick on her last year and I brought her to vet to have it taken off and had it tested with the county and it tested clean. It was a dog tick. So I am dumbfounded how she got this. I hardly ever take her out and when I do I certainly do not walk her on grass and usually just let her walk in the stores with me. But the anaplasma is not what is causing what she has now. Hmmm... They want to treat her with some antibiotic that starts with a dioxy....? I am afraid of all these antibiotics.

Is it doxycycline? I would not be afraid of antibiotics, though they are often over used we are very lucky to have them when we need them and I'm glad your little girl is getting the care that she needs! My first thought was coccidia too until I thought about it a little more and the blood in the stool was bright red and not dark red. But i suppose they would find cocci in her bloodwork when they found her tick Bourne illness? Bright blood is usually a sign of an external injury but that she is clearly having additional symptoms like the runny stool makes me wonder- did they have any ideas of what they are treating that they shared with you?

thanks for your ideas
 

No they did not tell me what the blood was from but gave her an antibiotic Metronidazole for 7 days and then they want to start doxycycline for 30 days for anaplasma. No blood but also no stool in over 24 hours

What part is f my are you I. Honey?

What part of. New York?

I am in Mt. Pleasant area [Hawthorne] but used the vet hospital in Bedford. I am a bit upset. My Yorkie has not had a bowel movement in 2 days! I feel the vet should have diagnosed the problem prior to giving the dog antibiotics. I have been sick with flu and wonder if I got it from her or gave it to her.

How is the pup now?

Well, there is the Flagyl (Metronidazole) that is also used for treating coccidia....effective against anerobic bacteria and parasites as well....is she getting Albon too, for the diarrhea? Once her gut gets "right" and is not violently (as in diarrhea) evacuating everything that passes into it, and the flora is re-established in a calm gut, the diarrhea will stop, the bloody stools will stop, and her gut will establish a norm and she will start having normal stools....usually takes about 2 weeks to get it right....you have the bloody diarrhea part successfully treated, give the gut time to re-establish a balance in flora, and the normal bowel movements will resume. Benebac was also suggested as a probiotic to help establish a calm, balanced gut....is she getting that?

thanks... she did have a bowel movement and the stool was very very soft
 

Hi, Yes... she was on .25ml twice a day of Metronidazole for 7 days and she had her LAST DOSE last evening. She is a 4.5 lbs to 5 lb. dog. Her stool sample came back showing NO parasites. She had no stool for 3 days then early this morning she went small very very soft pits and one large very very soft stool that were a bit liquidy. I bagged the stool so I could examine it and it seemed dark brown in color with SMALL WHITE DOTS in it. I am going a bit crazy because after spending $270 on her eye and then $632 on this last bill I don't think I can afford to bring her back. I have been feeding what vet recommended ... plain chicken and rice. Although I gave a bit of kibble last evening. All in all she has had diarrhea/loose stool for about 2 weeks. Vomiting stopped and she remains active, alert an drinking. She has a small cough and occasional sneeze. I am sick with the flu myself and wonder if that has something to do with it. THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL FOR YOUR CONCERN AND SUGGESTIONS.

Hi... still having problems
 

Hi everyone... I spoke to the vet again at the animal hospital where I originally brought my yorkie because after I stopped the medication, my yorkie had diarrhea again. She gave me peptic pills to give the dog and I asked about a probiotic [thanks for this suggestion]. I am to give the pills for 5 days and keep her on the probiotic, which I have been doing for 3 days now. She still is going 'soft'. I still have her on plain chicken cutlet with rice. The vet wanted to try a 'de-wormer' medication even though the stool sample came back negative for parasites if the diarrhea does not clear up. BUT ISN'T BAD TO GIVE A MEDICATION WITHOUT A TEST SHOWING IT IS NEEDED? My dog needs (1) updated shots (2) needs a dental cleaning bad (3) needs to start her heartworm meds again---- but Vet said not to do anything until diarrhea resolves... NO VOMITING AND MY DARLING IS ACTIVE AND ALERT AND EATING WELL.

She was on the flagyl [metronidazole] for 7 days and diarrhea got better but then when she went off it, diarrhea got worse. Now she is on famotidine [peptic] 1/4 of a pill at night for 5 nights and probiotics. Still on chicken with rice but this morning I did chicken with grated carrots for a bit of fiber. She had a formed soft stool yesterday and this morning diarrhea again. Since I started her on probiotics she is having lighter color stools - [brown instead of black]. She is drinking and eating and very active. Her stool sample came back negative for parasites. I don't know what to do. The vet said next to try deworming medication but stool does not show she has a parasite and she has no contact with other dogs. She has been off heartworm med for 1 1/2 months [I live in northeast - NY] but she tested negative for heartworm.
Any other suggestions. Should I give her a dewormer her stool tested negative for parasites? I have had her a few months but her stool was always pretty good... well formed and I never had this problem with her and she has no history of it.

Not good. Ask your vet for an ultrasound. Please!

Ticks no matter dog or the kind that carry lyme desease carry all sorts of things from mice deer etc. doxy kills that stuff. I know i had a sever case of lyme desease for probably 12 years. From a tick on my juggler vein.

Hi,

I am so sorry that your baby isn't feeling well.

I am surprised that they didn't take a stool sample to check for parasites (Giardia or Coccidia)?

We take our little guy to the AMC (Animal Medical Center) in Manhattan, and when he has had diarrhea in the past, they usually prescribe Flagyl (Metronidazole) and Panacur.

I would say continue the medication and see if you can add some rice to bulk up the stool. If you see that the diarrhea isn't clearing, I would call the vet ASAP.

I hope she feels better soon.

Sorry, I just read this now. I think you should consider getting a second opinion from another vet if you find she isn't improving.

Best wishes and I hope she recovers very soon.

Hi Angel, I am in NY too. Many of the Vets here charge outrageous prices. However, if you take your baby to the Humane Society on W59St betw 1st and 2nd Ave. There prices are extremely reasonable. I hope your baby is feeling much better.

thank you, thank you, thanks you!!
 

Words alone cannot express how much me and my Angel appreciate all of your imput, concern and advice. I did have a stool sample and it came back negative. I did give her Metronidazole for 7 days and Famtidine. But diarrhea persisted. However vomiting stopped and no more bloody stool. What stopped the diarrhea? I added a little sweet potato and probiotics to her chicken and rice. Then when she was a bit better, I added a little raw grated carrot. I am now getting normal looking stools. The vet has kept in close contact with me and advised me that I can start Heartworm meds soon but to hold off on other things right now. She said my dog is very delicate. I heard the 2lb and 3lb yorkies were very delicate. I thought the 5lb - 6lb yorkies were healhier. I once had a 5 1/2lb boy yorkie... many years ago. His name was Carlen's Sonny Dae. He was from a show breeder and sturdier and very healthy most of his life. I never had this problem with him. He ate mostly homecooked food. I don't know if the wellness kibble was the problem or the organic cooked soft boiled egg I gave her. I am just happy I can breathe a bit and am praying her stools stay normal. The vet told me not to give her a vitamin supplement due to her sensitive stomach and to continue with the home cooked diet for a bit.