Errol has been lethargic and trembling - advice?
 

Errol, one of our two yorkies, hasn't been doing so well lately. He's not quite 4 years old, and is a large framed 8 lbs (he's not quite a pound overweight for his size).

Last Wednesday he vomited while we were at work, and did so again overnight and again Thursday. He went to the vet Thursday afternoon, and they gave him an anti-nausea shot (Centrine). He also got a few days of an antibiotic pill (Baytril) and an anti-nausea pill (Cerinia) sent home.

He was fine Thursday night and most of Friday. He didn't eat anything until Friday dinner, which he ate normally with appearance of appetite. Saturday morning, he wouldn't eat again, and was being very clingy (atypical for him). After a while, he started trembling, and wanted to be picked up and held and carried everywhere all the time. He might have been doing this (trembling) before, but we didn't notice. Thinking it could have been low blood sugar from not eating for a couple of days, we gave him some corn syrup. That didn't help anything.

So we went back to the vet Saturday morning. This time they did blood work, which came back normal for whatever they can check at the office without sending it out to a lab. At the vet, Errol naturally acted normal. Once we got home, he returned to being quiet and clingy all day, and didn't eat.

Sunday morning, he was acting the same, though we did get him to eat a breakfast of canned Merrick food (with pills). We went for a walk with the dogs, and Errol didn't want to run ahead like he usually does, and wanted to be picked up all the time. After a while, he pooed for the first time in a couple of days, and then perked up for a while, and even played with his brother with near normal energy and interest. He ate dinner of kibble (Innova Evo) with the aid of a few Charlie Bear treats crumbled in.

Today, he ate breakfast and lunch, but not dinner, and he's back to sitting in a corner trembling. Even when he lies down, I see a little quiver now and then. His tongue is rather pale in the middle, I just noticed.

This kind of behavior is so unlike him that I'm sure something is still not quite right, but I have no idea what it might be. Today is the last day of the anti-nausea pill, so we'll see if that's been keeping tummy distress under wraps tomorrow.

Any advice? Things I should ask the vet if we go back? Ideas as to what might be wrong?

Thanks!
Jeff J

I would get him back to the vet. Did they do a fecal on him? How do his gums look now, are they pink or pale looking? If they are pale you should give him some nutrical. Hope your baby is better soon!

I wish I could help and felt so bad reading your thread....poor little guy - I want to send some get well wishes & I hope this is nothing serious - but the not eating and trembling would bother me enough to go back to the vet if it doesn't stop. Good luck !!

I am not an expert and I hope Errol gets better soon. However being lethargic and trembling, were two of many symptoms I saw in Piccolo in back in November. I took her to the vet for 8 weeks straight, before she was sent to a Dog Dermotologist. She was finally diagnosed with a delayed vaccine reaction. So, I have two questions. Has he had any vaccines in the last six months? Does he have any scabs in his ears? Those can both be hints. Hope he is doing better and we will keep you both in our thoughts.

Nope, no vaccines lately and no scabs in the ears. His gums are tongue are pinkish. Not white, and not red. I don't think it's a blood sugar thing because he is eating some meals (maybe half to 2/3 of the time). And he has plenty of energy to bounce around if he wants to (like if company comes over, or it's time to go outside).

It's just rather odd the way he's been acting. I know this isn't a true emergency situation, so this board might not have been the right place to post. I just wasn't sure where else would have been a better place...

We'll see how he does over the next day or so.

I am thinking that perhaps the the 4rth of July has got him all out of sorts? Or he might have gotten into something and ate it? I would follow up on the bloodwork, and take a fecal sample in to the vet. :aimeeyork I hope he starts feeling better. :aimeeyork

They usually shake because of stress or fever. Something is definately wrong and I'd scoop up a fecal sample and take him back to the Vet. I'm sorry this is happening to you and your baby.

The first three things that come to mind are:
He ate something he shouldn't have and now it is lodged in his stomach but isn't obstructing things, so he can still have bowels movements.
Pancreatitis issues
Liver problems.

Not really sure though.

My Tad was this way 2 weeks ago, the very same way. Would tremble, sometimes act fine , later just lay around and tremble. Took to the vet 1st visit, x-rays, no blockage ,she said he had alot of gas. 3 days later no better, 2nd visit He said his stomach was very very sore, did blood tests, urine test and thought his kidneys,blood work showed infection somewhere. Gave him a shot and gave me amoxicilian to give him . Next day he vomited meds up everytime i gave them , 3 rd trip to vet, they put him on IV and antibiotics for a day and half, hes back to his old self. Pancreatitis

How is Errol doing today? Does he seem to be feeling better?

Just seeing this and hoping your baby is doing better today.
Any ticks on him? Bug bites, at least some, can cause fever and
infection in the bite area. Just a thought.
Hoping all is much better for your little guy today.

(Jeff's wife writing back)

Thanks for all the advice and concern!

He's about the same today. He refused breakfast this morning, but ate lunch (the second time it was offered). He was lethargic and clingy and wouldn't go anywhere unless we carried him this morning, but was active and happy at lunchtime.

We've been checking his tummy for sensitivity each night, and he doesn't mind us pressing on it at all, so I don't think it's hurting him. He still trembles off and on, and has developed an intermittent shudder in his left front shoulder that seems to happen when he's sleeping or very restful.

Jeff made another appointment with the vet for later this afternoon. We're seeing the head vet in charge of the whole operation this time, so perhaps he'll have some insight the others haven't had. We'll keep you informed!

Poor baby. Cali was acting similar and she had some back problems and they gave her some pain meds and was much better an a couple of days. Hope Errol feels better soon

Today's visit to the vet resulted in much poking and prodding from the doc, as well as an x-ray. Everything looked normal, except he's slightly dehydrated and he apparently is full of poo. His intestine showed poo all the way up into the small intestine and back almost to the stomach. So, he was given a shot of something that's supposed to jump start his digestive system and clear things out.

Four hours later, he's had one BM, but of smaller than normal quantity. I was expecting frequent large volumes of poo, but that just hasn't happened. Hopefully he'll be able to clear himself out soon.

We don't know that this is the cause of his trouble, but being that backed up would certainly make me feel bad...

Hope Errol is feeling better today.