My Shelby-Dale is Sick :(

[lisaly]

I'm sorry Shelby is so sick. I'm sure Pepcid would help him, but I'd be concerned with the underlying reasons why this is happening. I hope he gets better soon.

[MandiesMom]

Thank you all so much for your help and support! I'm still leary of what is going on with him. He did not throw up at all yesterday but his appetite wasn't "normal" still. For example, he sort of reluctantly took a piece of cheese..that is WAY not normal for him. He lives for cheese.

He didn't poop before I left this morning. BUT, hubby took the poop sample to them yesterday and they said it was fine. I hate not being the one at the vet because I feel like my messages aren't coming and going the way they need to via hubby.

I'm watching him tonight and taking him up there in the morning if anything is amiss.

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Ten days with vomiting and possible loss of appetite would get him bloods and xrays here. After that long my vet would probably only try medication first if there was a money issue.

I would do testing, esp. with loss of appetite, immediately.

See? That's what I thought. I badgered my hubby to make sure he DID say it's been everyday for 10 days and he said he did. Money was not an issue...I would've found whatever money we needed.

Originally Posted by kjc

What kibble does he normally eat?

His dog food is and has always been for his whole life, Pedigree. Yeah, I know it's not the best but he's always loved it and never had problems (well, until now if it is the food causing it...)...

[kjc]

Predigree dry contains BHA and BHT and food colorings. Maybe he's developed a sensitivity to them, IDK.

[MandiesMom]

hmmmm...that is a thought. i also wondered if we might have somehow gotten a bad bag.

he started a new bag 2 days ago. he hasnt thrown up since Weds night but i am monitoring as i know he is still on the meds

[yorkietalkjilly]

Sorry Shelby is still feeling punk. Hoping the vet can give you some help and Shelby is feeling better very soon. It's so hard to see them sick and not feeling their best. Hang in there and hopefully some answers are on the way for Shelby.

[Ellie May]

He probably won't vomit on an antiemetic but it could just be suppressing the problem.

I would not be happy if no tests were offered. Inappetance is one of those things that makes my non panicky vet get worried.

A GI bug is possible, but your yorkie isn't sick.... It could be something picked up from a chew bone but I'd be expecting diarrhea.

?metro or whatever may clear this up, but not if it is organ dysfunction, intestinal disease, a little piece of something not passing from the stomach to the intestines, etc.

[MandiesMom]

This isn't the best pic but I wanted to show it to you guys because I just caught Shelby licking a lot at his male area. I turned him over and there is a scab in his white hair around his penis.

The blotchy spots are normal...that is his coloring, but you can see above the penis, a roundish red rash. And, under it - if you look close - a couple of more dots that are a red rash. What do you think?

Shelbysores.jpg

Since I have been typing this, he licked that scab raw and now looks like two raw, very pink (not bleeding bleeding but raw bloody) spots. I cant tell if it is the white hair making it look like what I'm about to say, but it looks like blisters.

Anyway, I am taking him in the morning myself. The vet is gonna be so unhappy to see me. Just sayin.

[MandiesMom]

Originally Posted by Marhcarter

Ok; a possible cause of these symptoms in people (which can often translate to the same disorder in dogs)
could be celiac disease-intolerance of glutens
-try a gluten free diet?

Test: IgA (for autoimmune disorder)

And do a skin biopsy of the rash to check for this:
Dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin rash caused by gluten consumption, is usually (but not always) one of the itchiest rashes you'll ever experience, and lesions can sting and burn as well as itch.

Please let us know what you find out!

Marilyn, I'm writing everything down that you put here and what Crystal and Kat and everyone suggested. I'm going to confront the vet in the morning.

I'm really sticking on the gluten thing. What you wrote feels "familiar". Definitely going to check for that.

What can I feed him that doesn't have gluten? anyone? Does blue buffalo have it? I will have to investigate tonight.

Again, thanks to everyone. I just can't stand seeing my big strong boy not himself.

[baileyz]

I do know that Four Health and Diamond have non-grain dog foods.

[Ellie May]

Hard to say if the rash is related.

They can be sensitive to any ingredient and allergic to protein sources. If it is the food you would need to do an elimination diet to have a starting place on what to feed. because he has always done well on his foid it may not be the problem.

So the vet didn't give you a bland rx diet or tell you to feed chicken and rice for a few days??

[MandiesMom]

no, Crystal. However, i know that i should do that so i am at fault, too.

it just gets so frustrating with this vet. i was in the middle of switching vets when this happened. i knew we could just walk in at the old vet so i sent hubby there.

i am taking him in the morning but when he gets well, he will never see this vet again.

as i type this, he finally ate for the first time. starting bland tomorrow.

[Tessa327]

I am so sorry Terri. Just now seeing this. Poor Shelby-Dale! I'm happy to hear he's eating again. Let us know what the old vet says!

Ps. I snuck a laugh at his tattoo.

[Marhcarter]

BB freedom is grain free, as is one of the BB wilderness flavors. Sorry he is still puny. Looking forward to what the vet has to say.

[dawn27]

Thinking of your guy and keeping him in my prayers. Keep us posted !

[MandiesMom]

Thanks everyone.

So I took him back up there this morning. The vet said he kind of thinks the rash and the tummy issues are unrelated. I don't know, but I told him to run blood work. He did and showed me the printout and every single thing was in the middle/normal range area. He said that it doesn't rule out things but that it is good to see.

He said the antibiotics could possibly be affecting Shelby's appetite. He still won't eat well, but he did eat a few treats today so I was happy about that. I'm going to give him some chicken and rice tonight and see if he will eat. I didn't tell the vet or hubby, but I am not giving him the anti nausea medicine anymore (he was on it for 2 day). I don't want to be masking an issue.

For the skin thing, I asked the vet if it could be ringworm and he said it could be or it could be any fungal infection. He gave me a lotion that is anti-fungal and told me to just put it on him every other day.

We are monitoring his eating, his activity (which for the most part has been normal), and his vomiting or lack of (hopefully). He said give it a few days and if he is still not eating right, we will go further with possible xrays. He's been pooping fine (as long as he was eating anyway) so the vet doesn't think there is a blockage, but it could be something foreign in the tummy that hasn't traveled to the intestines quite yet.

So we wait and see...