Please Help
 

For the last couple of days, my Yorkie has been acting very strange. She lays on the kitchen floor (hardwood), constantly whines and yaps (not bark), cries, and runs all over like she lost something. She also rubs her face on the carpet, wood floor, sofa, as if she is scratching her face. Took her to the ER Vet, who could find nothing wrong, and only stated that I should continue her benadryl doses. This morning, as her Mother was getting ready for work, she started whining, yapping, and crying at her as if she were freightened of something. She is also shivering like she is scared, but we cannot, for the life of us, find out what she is scared of.
Please, we are really at a loss, and are very worried about our baby girl. Any input or help would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you,
Sam
Please email with any info...
MIPS@live.com

I don't know if anyone can help with limited information. Perhaps if you posted her age/weight and any past medical history someone could offer suggestions.

What exactly did the ER vet do? What kind of tests?

It sounds like she is in pain or just miserable from itching. How long has she been taking benedryl? Benedryl can help but it won't cure what is causing an itch.

Have you taken her to a vet so they can possibly do a skin scrape to see what exactly is causing the itch?

Hopefully, someone else can come on here and offer other suggestions.

What bloodwork and diagnostic imaging was done at the ER?

She is going to be 3 next month, she weighs 5.5lbs.
No past medical conditions other than allergies. She was diagnosed with allergies in So-Cal, but they are not severe. The Vet said it is more like hayfever. We recently relocated to the Portland, OR area, and up until Tuesday, she was her normal bossy self. I am beginning to wonder if the brand and flavor of benadryl is the cause. We started it Monday night, and this all started Tuesday... ER Vet did not think any tests were needed as she is not vomitting or having diarrhea. Only said to keep an eye on her, and if she gets worse, return for testing...

I suppose you've tried oatmeal baths and stuff like that to help soothe the skin.

Benadryl can have a paradoxical reaction in some pets, making them hyper/jittery. I would take her to your normal vet for an exam and ask about an alternative antihistamine if he/she concurs that it's allergies.

The shivering/shaking could also be a sign of pain.

This is interesting:

What to do about itchy Yorkies!!!? - Yahoo!7 Answers

Have tried the oatmeal baths, sometimes they help, sometimes they do not.
As for the shaking shivering, the ER Vet checked all her normal functions, limbs, etc. and could not get a reaction. Am thinking about laying off the generic benadryl, and going to name brand in a few days. I want to give her a break...
I got her to eat an egg this morning, and a few tsp of canned food this afternoon as she has not touched her dry food.
As I am not working, and my Wife is only working part time, paying for Vet visits is not something we can continue to do... :(

Also, when we woke this morning, her ears were floppy... I am beginning to think depression from the generic benadryl... :(

Your financial situation cannot be the reason your pup does not receive medical care. If you cannot get immediate insurance, a pet care credit card, or come up with the money for a vet, then you may need to contact a Yorkie Rescue and turn your baby over to someone who CAN care for her. Sorry to sound blunt on this subject, but when you take on a little life, it is your responsibility to take care of them. If you can't you turn to someone who can help. The pup should not suffer.

Have you bathed her well since she started trying to scratch her face on things? Sometimes they get into something that is an irritant. Checked thoroughly for a bug bite, sting, or maybe even a tiny little bur? Her attention-getting efforts are definately trying to tell you she needs help.

You said "continue her benedryl doses" -- how long has she been getting Benadryl? It is not meant for long term use. In fact there are warnings of the effects of long term use online. In addition, long term use can build up a resistance where the med may no longer provide effective relief. Might want to google that. Most of all, I think it is important that she is a regular vet. ER vets are directed to life-saving efforts. Since that was not the issue, they usually do not do as extensive of testing and investigation as a regular vet would be willing to do.

Have you (or the vet) thoroughly checked her ears? The whining and face rubbing kind of fits an ear problem. Do both ears look the same or is one more closed than the other? Any redness, especially down in the ear canal? Any bad smell coming from the ears? Does she shake her head a lot? Do you keep the ear hair plucked?

First, WE do care for our Baby, and I WOULD sell my sole to do so... I was merely stating a fact!! Visits are expensive, and going 2 or 3 times a week is a bit expensive! Do not begin to preach to me about caring for her, I have cared for my kids, and have had many dogs in my life I cared for!!! Do not tell me what I should or should not do to care for her!! Believe me, she is and will be cared for regardless of my situation!!!
Second, YES... She has been bathed, no bites are visible or apparent. Started benadryl Monday evening, symptoms started Tuesday...

The Vet checked her ears and only stated that they were "slightly more reddish" that normal, and that the benadryl should take care of it. No bad smell, and no excesive shaking of her head... Just the rubbing of her face...
Explained everything to Vet, but she did not seem to be too extremley concerned about her condition, although I was/am... So far today, she has been less "frightened", and more coudly. Wanting to sleep right next to me instead of on the kitchen floor under the table. She has gone outside twice already with my Cousin and his Corgie, and has gotten excited to do so... I am really starting to beleive that the generic benadryl is the true cause of her discomfort, and that I should use the name brand in a few days...

That Benadryl absolutely could cause those symptoms. My George acts like a fruitcake if given Hydroxyzine. Dogs and people have differing reactions to certain anti histamines.
I would think that you should be able to call the vet who saw her to get a prescription for something different. You should not have to take her back in.

I know last summer when she had allergies, we gave her the name brand benadryl and she was fine. Never any issues, the more I think about it, the generic brand is die free, scent free, bubble gum flavor. The Benadryl we gave her was the "original" formula, pinkish in color, not sure what flavor, but like I said, never any issues with that one...

Thanks for the help!