Tinkerbell has gastroenteritis
 

My Tinkerbell has been sick since Wednesday night. She started with runny poops and then vomiting. I took her in to the vet yesterday afternoon and she recieved sub-q fluids and a shot for nausea. My vet took exrays, did a cbc/diff, intestinal parasite test, snap CPL for pancreatitus, and all came back good. He sent me home with cerenia for the nausea, proviable, and loperamide for diarrhea. I cooked up some chicken and rice and she still refuses to eat. She will not drink either. I spoke with the vet tech this morning and was told not to worry if she won't eat today, though I still am because she hasn't eaten anything since Wednesday morning. I will take her back later this afternoon if she still isn't drinking for more sub-q fluids. She is laying around looking pitiful, but will get up and greet me when I come in the room. I have her at work with me today so I can monitor her closely. If any of you have been through a similar illness with your dogs can you tell me when I might see some improvement with her appetite or drinking? Has my vet covered everything thus far? I feel very comfortable with my vet and trust him completely I just want to make sure I am keeping myself informed. Thanks in advance.

Sounds like your vet was pretty thorough to me. Barney had pancreatitis last year and we used antibiotics, cerenia, pepcid, and tramadol to support him at home. He also had subcutaneous fluids. He did not eat the first day, and we gave him 2 TBSP of food 4x a day the next day, gradually increasing him. He too ate 50% chicken breast and 50% rice. Barney did not drink much at all when on the fluids. It took him a couple of weeks to really be feeling good and a couple of months before he was back to himself completely. Not sure if gastroenteritis will take as long for a recovery. I will keep your little one in my prayers.

I just went through this w/Apple, but didn't have the lack of appetite issue...Actually, it seems that a 24 hr. fast is good for their system...You might want to give her 1/8 tsp. (no more) a few times a day, while she is not eating...My girl had to have fluids on two occasions, and I think I made a mistake, trying to get her back on her regular diet too soon...I ended up having to have her on RX i/d for 3 weeks...My little Apple is just fine, now, but I'm being verrrry cautious about what she eats...I don't give any treats...Sounds like you are taking very good care of your baby, and your vet seems to be onboard w/all the right tests...Hang in there, she'll be o.k. soon....
Maggie

ohh
 

I always worried about dehydration so I would syringe some water in the side of the mouth to be on the safe side. Just a bit fairly frequently.
Good Luck!

Thanks for the replies everyone. Tink still isn't making any attempst to eat or drink and had 2 runny poops since this morning despite having had 3 doses of the loperamide since late yesterday. She seems very uncomfortable. She is standing around arching her back and shaking and won't stay sitting or laying down for more than a few minutes. I spoke with the vet tech a few minutes ago and he assured me that she is probably experiencing stomach discomfort and I should just keep offering the meds and try to get her to drink. He did not seem overly concerned or worried that her condition was worsening. It is very hard for me to see her in pain and unable to get comfortable. She still seems hydrated from the sub-q she got yesterday. Now my delima is do I take her back in tonight or give her until tomorrow morning to show some improvement? Am I just over reacting and her behavior is what it should be for having gastroenteritis ? Thanks for listening.

Check her gums...If they are tacky (sticky) then she's probably dehydrated...Try using a syringe and getting a little water in her...Put the syringe in the side of her mouth (not the center) and just give her a cc or two at a time...Have you tried letting her lick chipped ice or ice cubes? Sometimes they like to do that, instead of drink water...

The arching of the back and shaking are signs of pain.
If it was me I would take her back in.

Yes, I syringed some sugar water in all my Yorkie's mouths when they weren't eating or drinking as dehydration worried me. Vet said the little ones can dehydate so quickly.

Did they do an xray? She does sound painful, a recheck would be good to do.... or a second opinion.....

Ringo had gastroenteritis (at least that's what the vet called it) after getting into some chicken bones last year.

He didn't eat at all for a couple of days; but I managed to get the medicine in him with some cheese and to drink some water out of my hand.

He was then able to eat the Iams Low Residue food that the vet gave him ~ he actually liked it so that was helpful. After the first week, he was off the meds and back on regular food and he relapsed right away - so back to the vet for more medicine and more Iams. The Purina EN he got recently did NOT help at all.

Of course, he is a sturdy 15 lb Westie, so he probably can go a few more days without eating than a little Yorkie.

I hope you are having a better morning.

Thanks everyone. Tink was back at the vets this morning for a recheck. She got more fluids and a B-vitiam shot to help stimulate her appitite. The vet did another exray because he wanted to look for any changes since the last one on Thursday. Everything looked good so we are just continuing with the supportive care. He upped her doasge of the loperamide to try and stop the diarrhea. The vet is not super concerned about her not eating as he said sometimes if they eat too soon it just makes things worse especially if they still have diarrhea. He did give me some nutrical and said I could give it to her 3-4 times a day. Tink and I are are going to lay down and take a much needed nap. It sure is hard to see our babies so sick. I am praying for some improvement by later today.

Sounds like you both need some rest badly. Prayers continue.

Poor baby. Sometimes the lack of appetite is a good thing, because eating can set off the diarrhea again. When you do try feeding, try frequent, SMALL meals ( a couple teaspoons at first) of things like boiled chicken and rice. I hope she feels better soon.

Tink seems a bit more chipper this evening. She actually rolled over for a tummy rub and got excited to see my grandaughter Destiny when she came over. I am feeling very relieved. I will be trying some cooked chicken breast with white rice tomorrow morning to see how she does. She still isn't looking for water on her own so I am giving her some with a syring every couple of hours. I think the nutrical has really given her a little energy boost. Thanks for all the well wishes everyone.

Chester was sick in august when the throwing up only, he was at the emergency vet on a sun nite with iv fluids, pain meds, anti nausea meds and we took him to the vet mon, tues and iv out wed, chicken and rice for about 4 days and gradually back to his regular food but after the chicken and rice he was not real thrilled with his regular dog food, have you tried baby food, just watch out some of it has onion powder in it not good for dogs. I hope the fur baby is better soon