Keira is sick...
 

So after 2 days and 4 trips to the vet, we're unsure what's wrong with Keira.

On Saturday night, she started throwing up constantly (but no diarrhea at all). She had a raw bone for the first time in awhile so I was thinking she just wasn't used to it. I took away her kibble once she started to get sick. She seemed to do a little better around bed time so I decided to see how she was in the morning.

So in the morning, she started to throw up again so we went straight to the closest vet that was open on a Sunday. They took 2 X-rays, saw no obstruction, no fever. The vet at the clinic gave her an anti-nauseant, antacid, and SQ fluids to ward off dehydration. I was supposed to keep her off food and water until the evening and then try her with ice chips. The first one didn't stay down but the second one did. The vet had said to try food in the morning but watch out for more vomiting.

And then this morning, I took Keira out of her crate and there was a small spot of vomit, again. So I immediately called my own vet clinic and went straight there this morning. Another X-ray, again no obstruction, but she was dehydrated. She got more fluids and an anti-nauseant and she seemed ok. Started to introduce Gastro food slowly and she was eating it no problem.

And then a few hours later she's laying around, looking uncomfortable, hiding (which she never ever does). She won't even move around on her own. Just stands there shaking with her back slightly arched. My heart is totally breaking. Another call to the vet and I go pick her up some painkillers. I get home again, give them to her, and she's shaking and breathing very quickly now. We rush back to the vet and have Keira examined again. The vet feels slight tension and I ask her about pancreatitis. We've done a full blood panel to check for that, kidney function, liver function, and white blood cell count. We also increased the dosage on the pain medication. Now I'm very impatiently waiting for test results, sitting with her at home and she's still not fully comfortably resting.

I know this is a long post but I'm wondering if anyone has ever had a similar experience. Anything that I can do for her in the meantime to have her be more comfortable? She doesn't even seem to full enjoy being held right now and she's normally a little snuggle butt. I'm trying to relax a little because I'm sure Keira can feel my stress but I'm really worried. Any advice anyone has would be excellent.

Also, she hasn't taken food the last 2 times I offered it to her (she's supposed to be eating every hour). I gave her some Nutri-Cal to try to keep her blood sugar up.

When was her last BM and what was it like (color, consistancy)? Did any stool and/or gas show in the xray? Does she look bloated?

Cali has had similar symptoms with her colitis, but the medicine usually starts working within 24 hours. I hope she feels better soon.

Her last BM was yesterday afternoon and it was totally normal, firm, no blood. We just reintroduced food at noon today (about 9 hours ago and she hasn't had a BM yet).

On the X-rays, there were no abnormal gas pockets. She didn't seem bloated when all this started but right now she has fluid under her skin like a camel (she got SQ fluid injections) so I don't know if I would even be able to tell. The vet felt up Keira's stomach about 3 hours ago and did feel slight tightness. When I initially had her checked Sunday morning, there was nothing firm feeling in her stomach at all.

Please keep us updated on your baby. I am adding her and yourself to my to my prayers tonight. Hope its only a nasty bug.:aimeeyork

Has she ever had anal gland problems? Mine exhibit the arched back, shaking, hiding, lethargy and vomiting behaviors when their glands are bothering them. Just a thought as sometimes they go unchecked during an exam.

I've never had anyone tell me about her anal glands so I'm going to guess no? But I can't say that definitively.
She's refusing food or drink so I'm giving it to her by syringe. I'm trying to decide if I should take her to be monitored in hospital overnight. We don't know what's wrong with her though so I'm not sure what they can do for her.

I'm sorry your baby isn't well. I hope you figure it out soon.

You mentioned a "raw bone". Maybe her tummy really didn't like it and is reacting to that. I was in the process of changing food for Magnus and he showed similar systoms except he had diarrhea twice. I think it lasted about 1.5 days. In that entire time he didn't want to have anything to do with food/drink. The few times I tried to force some water on him to keep him from being dehydrated, he vomited more. I took him to the vet and after giving him some fluid through the IV and gave some meds for his tummy, she told me he shouldn't be vomiting anymore but he vomited rest of the day and well through the night. But after he got it all out of his system, he was a lot more like himself the next morning.

Sorry you and Keira is going through this. I remember how terrified I was when Magnus was like that. Hope she'll be running around soon.

Bailey is usually a snuggle bug and loves to eat. When she had a pancreatic attack a few months ago - she acted the same as you described - except that Bailey had a severe case of diarea (sp?)

Other than the pancreatic attack - Bailey has never been sick - so I have no other comparison. However, if it is the pancreas - then her stomach needs to rest. Its best not to feed.

Here's what happened: Bailey was sick one night - vomiting and lethargic. I took her to the vet the following morning. She had uncontrolled diarea all over the nurse as she was being carried back to the kennel. She was diagnosed quickly . They put her on IV for fluids but no food or drink for 24 hours - the stomach needed to rest. Then food was offered. Bailey couldn't come home until she voluntarily ate the food and and kept it down.

Get well soon, Keira!

I was an overnight ER/ICU tech for 4 years... pets are given available and apropriate supportive care...IV Fluids, meds, and are watched closely for any changes... I can't count the number of times I was on the phone waking up the vets for further instructions or changes in treatment plans because of new symptoms and such, or calling them in for emergency surgeries. Just make sure there are overnight techs on duty to watch and report any new or unusual behaviors, and that a vet is either on-site or available on-call.

Hope they figure it out soon.... and hope she's feeling better... keeping you all in my prayers.

I've just recently gone through something very similar with my Halo....started with vomitting, but no diarreah. Then she wouldn't take food at all. I was feeding and giving her water with a syringe. The vet tried different meds and also gave her fluids under the skin. X-rays showed no blockage. Finally, I discovered a tick :eek: embedded in her skin. It was so red around it. The vet got the tick out and changed her meds to doxycycline and a low dose cortizone. It's been about 3 days now and she's so much better. But, she hasn't had a BM :confused: Vet also did an enema last Wed. She really just started eating again over the weekend. I'm giving her pumpkin, so if there's nothing today, back to the vet we'll go. :( Anyway, I said all this to say inspect her for ticks! Hope she's better real soon.

Thinking of you and Keira. Hoping she gets progressively better soon - please keep us posted...

So she's all better! Once I let the painkillers wear off she starting eating again and today she is racing around like her usual self. Blood test came back, no problems with her liver, kidneys, or pancreas. Her protein levels are high, consistent with her gastrointestinal problems but we'll check them again in a few weeks to make sure there's nothing else going on. We just have to work on getting her weight back up again after this...
Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice :) Keira says thank you too!