Very sick 5 month old yorkie
 

Hi everyone,

I found this forum while searching the internet for information on what may be going on with my sweet 5-month old yorkie, Violet. I'm sorry my first post is such a depressing one, but everyone here seems so knowledgable about yorkies that I'm hoping someone might be able to offer some insight.

Until about 10 days ago, Violet was a healthy, hyper, sweet puppy. Ten days ago, she started throwing up so violently that I rushed her to the animal hospital here in DC. She was treated with fluids and pepcid, and some tests were done. She was also put on a special low-residue prescription food. She was sent home and I was told to bring her back right away if she had another vomiting episode. She was just fine for several days. Then, on 2/13, she had another severe vomiting episode that lasted about 2 hours. I took her back to the animal hospital. All in all, she threw up about 20 times, first her food and then foam and bile. She had been perfectly fine that morning, ate her lunch around noon, then started vomiting around 3:30. They admitted her for the night, did x-rays, did lots of blood work, etc. They could find nothing wrong with her, so concluded it was likely a virus. They told me to keep her on the prescription dog food, and gave me a liquid pepcid to give her twice a day.

She came home on the evening of Valentine's Day appearing a lot better. On Sunday, she slept a lot and wasn't very hungry, but didn't throw up at all. She would not eat the prescription dog food anymore, so I started feeding her boiled chicken with lots of water added in. Monday morning she seemed to be doing very well, and I thought we were in the clear. But Monday afternoon the vomiting started up again, pretty much just electric green and then yellow bile. She only threw up a couple of times, and was willing to drink some water and eat some nutrical and honey, so I did not take her to the vet. On Tuesday, she again was pretty good in the morning... she wanted to play a little, wanted to snuggle, seemed less tired... She ate and kept down breakfast and lunch. She had dinner (boiled chicken and rice) around 6:15, and kept it down until about 9:30, when it all came back up. She refused to eat again, but I figured we'd try again in the morning. She did drink a little water, and just wanted to go to bed. Around 3 am I woke up because I could hear her vomiting in her crate - all yellow liquid. I called the vet (they are a 24/7 animal hospital) and made an 8am appt. for that morning (Wed.). We went in and the vet was very concerned that this was still going on. We had been thinking it was a virus, but the waxing and waning and the extended time period made the vet suspect a partial bowel obstruction that hadn't shown up on the x-rays. They did some more blood work to rule out all sorts of problems. By then, they had ruled out pancreatitis, Addison's disease, liver problems, including a shunt, kidney problems... and probably some other things I'm forgetting right now.

They kept her for the day yesterday and observed her. The vet confirmed what I've already said, that she just wasn't acting like a normal puppy. She told me that because Violet is old enough to be spayed, they could perform a surgery, spay her, and then check her intestines for obstructions. This was an alternative to an expensive barium series, in an effort to save me money, since I'd be paying for her to be spayed in a few weeks anyway.

It was an agonizing decision. I didn't want to put her through surgery right now, but if she did have an obstruction, it was only going to get worse as it moved further down and her intestines narrowed. She spent last night at home and had the surgery this morning. Last night was BAD. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't lick any honey off my finger (and honey is her favorite). She didn't even want to sit with me - she just went into her crate and layed there with her eyes open. Her eyes were very glassy. This morning she threw up again, yellow bile.

The vet just called. No obstruction. The vet said her intestines are very irritated and "angry" and her lymph nodes are swollen (though Violet does not have a fever at all). So we are back to the "really bad virus" theory. They did take some biopsies of her intestines and sent them off for testing. They also put a tube down her nose and gave her some amino acids to help her intestines heal. They are keeping her at least until tomorrow morning, or until she shows some interest in food again. The vet said she feels very strongly that this is a virus that just needs to run its course, and that Violet will make a full recovery. But I am scared for her. It is going to kill me to see her with a tube down her nose when I go visit her tonight.

Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this, a mystery virus that has lasted such a long time? I am terrified for Violet - she has lost 7 oz. of body weight - she was up to 4 lb. 12 oz. and is down to 4 lb. 5 oz. as of yesterday morning. She has probably even lost more by today. I can feel all her bones when I pet her, and it's scary. I just want to know that she is going to be ok. Though it was killing me to think I had let her swallow something that caused an obstruction, it is worse to have no idea what is causing this. She is the sweetest little girl, and has brought such joy to my life over the past couple of months. I feel very helpless. And this is all taking quite a toll on me emotionally - I am going to have to miss my brother's wedding next week because I can't leave her, and I'm devastated. Between worrying about her and worrying about missing his wedding, I can hardly sleep at night.

I'm sorry this is so incredibly long. I'm hoping someone will respond that they went through something similar and their little sweetheart eventually recovered and is now healthy.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi, I'm so sorry I dont have any advise but I wanted to let you know I am thinking and praying about you and your baby. Make sure you keep us updated.

I am sorry that you are going thru all this. No advice to offer you, but sending you lots of hugs and kisses :big_hug:. pls. keep us posted on her condition.

I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers..((hugs))

I am so sorry she is sick...I don't have experience, but it sounds like your Vet is taking care of her...

Is the hospital 24 hours???

Have they put her on an Antibiotic? I know that doesn't help with a virus, but seems that it would be a good precaution. Metronidazole, is the one that is used for intestinal problems. Welcome to YT, and good luck with your puppy, keep us posted!

Here is a link that tells about the drug and what it is used for. Metronidazole For Veterinary Use

Thank you all so much. Your support means the world to me.

They did put her on metronidazole because she was having some diarrhea. She has not taken it in a couple of days because I wasn't able to force her to take it yesterday, and then she didn't get any today because of the surgery. But I wonder if they are going to put her back on it tomorrow.

I just got back from visiting her at the animal hospital (which is 24 hours, and you can visit anytime, which is nice). I can tell she's getting great care - while I was there several vets and vet techs stopped by her little area to say hi and tell me how much they adore Violet and how cute she is. She has a habit of "french kissing" people - licking their lips or teeth while their mouths are open. LOL. One of the vet techs said "oh, your baby is the one who french kissed me!" Ha. Yup, that's her!

Anyway, seeing her was awful. She was still coming off the anesthesia, so she was shaking, and she has the tube up her nose and an IV. She looked miserable. The incision on her tummy is so long! I knew it would be longer than a normal spay incision, as they had to do the spay and look at her intestines, but it was her entire little tummy! I wasn't prepared for how terrible the staples would look. I cried, especially because she just seemed so weak and out of it. I know that's mostly the anesthesia, but it was just so sad.

The are feeding her dextrose through her nose tube every 4 hours, to try to build up her strength. I just hope it stays down!

I am going to try to go back around 9 or 10 and visit her again. I have my fingers crossed that she can come home tomorrow, but if she is still not doing well, I'm going to tell them to keep her another night - I want to know that she is hydrated and getting the dextrose and everything. As much as I want her to come home, I'm afraid she'll come home and refuse to eat anything and we'll just be back at the vet in 2 days, anyway.

Thanks again for all of your well wishes. I feel so much better just knowing there are others who understand how much my little yorkie baby means to me!

:hands:I am so sorry your Yorkie baby is sick. She will be in my prayers.

My heart goes out to you. I cannot imagine your pain and pray for little Violet to come home to "french kiss" you soon. Poor sweet thing.:(

I am so sorry to hear about your poor baby. There are two YT members that I can think of that would probably be able to help you: Moses and Ellie May. Whenever I had something wrong with my pups they have always offered helpful and pretty spot on advice and tips.

I hope everything works out for you. Lots of hugs from me and my babies.

I am so sorry that little Violet is this sick :( Hopefully the great care the Vet Hospital is giving her will find out what is causing the sickness. This must be very difficult for you. I can tell how much you love your baby and your doing all you can for her. Suzi has been ill one time and bounced back though. My heart goes out to you and best wishes to Violet. :aimeeyork

I\'m so sorry about your baby. But it sounds as if you have a very good vet & clinic. Take heart in that and all the prayers coming your way. Please keep us updated.

Im so sorry your little girl is so sick :( My thoughts and prayers are with you all :hands: I pray she recovers soon.

My little Lexi is just 5 months also, and I know how quickly you can become attached to them! I tear up just reading your posts. It seems like your Violet has a great personality, even kissing the vet techs when she is so sick. Your love and the wonderful vet and techs you seem to have will pull her thru. In the meantime I will pray and send hugs also.

AWww, I feel so sorry for you and your sweet little baby. I really wish that I could help, but all that I can offer are my heartfelt prayers and positive thoughts. I\'m hoping one of our ever-so-wise YT\'ers comes along to offer some helpful advice. When you go back to see your little one, please give her a big *french kiss* from Missy and I. Sending a :big_hug: your way.