New Puppy Hacking - Do I go to emergency clinic?

[Jrayren]

I have Dexter who is 4 months old and this weekend I picked up our new girl Daisy. She was 7 weeks old tuesday, is almost 2 pounds. Shes been eating well and playing well and really knows how to hold her ground with Dexter. Today, she was chewing on his raw hide bone (which she took from him) and about an hour ago, she started making a couging/choking sound and threw up clear fluids. I was not home, but my husband got her up, made sure nothing was in her mouth and eventually got her to eat and drink some. Since I have been home she has had two bouts with hacking/coughing and throwing up clear fluid (a little thicker than water with bubbles). She is running and playing with Dexter but seems a little more sluggish than normal. I'm not sure if I need to take him to the emergency vet or not.

[Patti]

Since she is so young, I would take her in and have her checked out. I would want to make sure she ok. It could be from the rawhide, which I don't let mine have or she could have kennel cough. Being so young she could possibly get pneumonia if left untreated. Hopefully it is nothing serious. Please keep us posted.

[Sammy Mommy]

I would take her in to the vet just to be sure. Could be kennel cough which they can give her medicine for. Good Luck!

[kjc]

Yes, definitely take her to the vet tonight.

[Jrayren]

I am at the emergency clinic now. She had an episode while laying on me sound asleep. It started with her having what appeared to be convulsions in her stomach. Then she woke up, raised up and started hacking. She didn't throw up this time but I can't take the chance that something is wrong.

[kjc]

So glad you're at the vet's... I'm up for a while (along with many others) let us know....

[AllDogBoots]

I'm glad you are there to. Please keep is posted. Offering well wishes.

[Bitsy]

Hope all goes well...poor little thing.

[Jrayren]

Thank you so much for the well wishes. Daisy finally had an episode while the were watching so they could see it for themselves. They decided to take xrays. Basically her belly is over full and her intestines are very full. The muscle in her stomach is not strong enough at this time to push the food through the digestive system quickly. The backup has caused her to have the convulsions/gagging episodes. She left a very large present for them tonight which is a good sign. They want her to go to can food for a while (close to two months) and then ween her to hard food. They also said that they found a heart murmur which should go away as she gets older but her vet will need to keep an eye on it.
This all helps other things make sense. I believe this is the reason she doesn't sleep restfully and why her belly is so tight even though she has been dewormed. They did say that the gagging and throwing up could have lead to her taking in fluids in her lungs (I think they called it aspirating) and could have caused a whole new set of issues.

[megansmomma]

She is so young. Glad that you are at the vet with her. Please keep us posted.

[kjc]

Oh no! For some reason I thought you meant the 4 month old! (Even though my advice would have been the same!) So glad you took her in! Seven week old pups are so little and their Moms tell them what to do, when to eat and drink, how long to play, when to potty and when to sleep! It's recommended by the YTCA that they stay with their Moms till 12 weeks of age.

She may need to be stimulated to poop and pee with a cotton ball moistened with warm water till she can do it on her own. Do this with her on a pee pad as she will associate going potty on peepads quicker.

She should also have a kennel of her own with a heating pad set on 'Low' placed under 1/2 of the kennel (on the outside) to provide warmth that she would get from her littermates if she were still with them. The 4 month old may be a bit too rambunctious to be left alone with her as she's so young.

When she eats, try to entice her to drink too. They have such short attention spans she may get sidetracked and forget she may be thirsty. And watch to be sure she eats regularly, 4-5 times a days, and limit her playtime, bc they can wear themselves out and end up going hypoglycemic on you.

Let us know if you have any questions.... and good luck with both your babies!

[Jrayren]

Quick update. Saturday morning, Daisy got very bad very quick. She became lethargic. She wouldn't eat, drink, play or hardly walk if we put her down. I called the animal hospital and they said she should start eating by 12 or 1 and if she didn't to bring her back in. I told them she was still having the stomach convulsion/hacking episodes, but they said that was because her stomach was so full.

It was about 10:15 at this time, so I called my regular vet. They told me that they received the information from the emergency clinic, but that they take their last walk in at 10:30. I'm on the phone crying, they are open another 2 hours almost, but won't take her in. I am TICKED!!!! They told me to take Karo syrup and mix with water and give it to her in a syringe so she doesn't become hypoglycemic, and that I could do a baby enema on her. And if she doesn't perk up to take her back to emergency clinic.

WHAT!!! I already paid them a butt load of money the night before for just a prognosis and nothing done. So I talked to my friend who has like 11 dogs (all rescues) and she told me to take her in to her vet. He closed at 1. By the time I got there, I was watching for her to breathe she was so bad. I'm crying and a nervous wreck, I was only there a few minutes and he seen her right away. He looked at the xrays from the animal clinic and listened to her really well. He said she does still have a lot of food in her, and it was causing her severe pain. Her not eating, drinking, and becoming more and more lethargic was all from the pain. I just cried more. He gave her a shot (I can't remember what he said it was), but he said it would relieve the inflammation in her digestive system caused from being so backed up and would help get the system moving. He gave me medicine for her (Metoclopramide) to give to her 30 minutes before she eats and he put her on a chicken and rice diet for the next two days. He also said if she is still having trouble using the restroom, I could put a small amount of mineral oil in her food.

In the amount of time it took for me to listen to all instructions, check out and drive around the block, Daisy stood up on my daughters lap and looked at me like "what's up". Tongue hanging out and all. She made a dramatic turn that quick. She became playful, was drinking and all. He wanted us to wait till the evening to feed her, and said small small amounts not much bigger than a quarter 4-5 times a day. I have been on an emotional roller coaster with my baby that is for sure!!! She had a really good bowel movement about an hour after the shot, but hasn't had one since. I have been doing the warm wet cotton ball, but that hasn't stimulated anything yet. So this morning we started the mineral oil with her food. Guess I will see how that goes. Just taking it day by day, hoping she doesn't have permanent digestive issues. But we will do what we have to do for my baby girl.

[Beer Belly]

Wow !!!....I hope this clears up....gotta be nerve racking

[Patti]

I hope she feels better soon.

[chestermama]

Im so glad you took her in, hope she gets better soon