Princess is not feeling well :(

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am happy to hear that Princess is ok. I do want to suggest to you that perhaps you do some lab studies on her in the near future if you have never done any in the past. I honestly don't have a clue how your vet diagnosed her without doing any lab work...pancreatitis is not diagnosed without lab studies to my knowledge...and the fact there was no discomfort makes this even more baffling. It very well could be pancreatitis and the treatment I guess would be the same; although fluids would be in order. I don't understand how her gums could be as sticky as you described and she is not dehydrated; but I am happy she is not! I am also a bit lost on the oatmeal...something I have never heard of but not saying it is not right.
As I said, it is great that she is better. Just if she were mine, I would want to know for sure that all was ok.

I do want the panel ran, I'm hoping I'll be able to do so Friday. Though my mother spoke to his staff to assure I could use her "credit" there I don't think the vet himself knew of my financial hardship, etc. I did ask specifically about the blood work because if it wasn't too much I was going to add it in just in case. He said it was $100, I could get it now, but he's "seen panreatitis enough times to know what it is". He wasn't rude or anything, if it sounds that way.

I also asked specifically if she was dehydrated & he said no. From 6:30a til we got there her mouth was dry. Every time she'd move her mouth her lips would get stuck to her gums & she'd paw at them, etc. even after I sprinkled a few drops in there.

As for the oatmeal, I have never heard or read this either, I've always read rice/boiled chicken. Don't remember exactly, but he said the oatmeal is an alkalaide (sp) & it would absorb the acid in her belly. He said it also heals the intestines. He said feed it dry, nothing added, offer water & assured me she will eat it.

He does seem different, but it's hard not to trust him as he's helped my moms dogs for a long time, including fighting cancer, emergency injuries & overall helping to keep her dogs alive for a long time. Is he the vet I initially chose for Princess? No. I do hope to return to our normal vet asap. But it seems she is improving some & I attribute that to him. I'm glad she was able to be seen some where. If the treatment helps now that is a big relief but no, I do not want to put a bandaid on a broken leg & will try to get to the bottom of this.

Are there other things I could look into that would cause a dog to vomit sooo much? Seems like if it was gastroenteritis she'd have diarrhea as well.

Thanks.

[107barney]

I have never heard of oatmeal for a dog who is suspected to have pancreatitis. And, I think it is a poor choice due to the high fiber content.

As for the vet overall, to each their own, not one I'd ever spend my money on. Sorry but I had to say it.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Princess10

I do want the panel ran, I'm hoping I'll be able to do so Friday. Though my mother spoke to his staff to assure I could use her "credit" there I don't think the vet himself knew of my financial hardship, etc. I did ask specifically about the blood work because if it wasn't too much I was going to add it in just in case. He said it was $100, I could get it now, but he's "seen panreatitis enough times to know what it is". He wasn't rude or anything, if it sounds that way.

I also asked specifically if she was dehydrated & he said no. From 6:30a til we got there her mouth was dry. Every time she'd move her mouth her lips would get stuck to her gums & she'd paw at them, etc. even after I sprinkled a few drops in there.

As for the oatmeal, I have never heard or read this either, I've always read rice/boiled chicken. Don't remember exactly, but he said the oatmeal is an alkalaide (sp) & it would absorb the acid in her belly. He said it also heals the intestines. He said feed it dry, nothing added, offer water & assured me she will eat it.

He does seem different, but it's hard not to trust him as he's helped my moms dogs for a long time, including fighting cancer, emergency injuries & overall helping to keep her dogs alive for a long time. Is he the vet I initially chose for Princess? No. I do hope to return to our normal vet asap. But it seems she is improving some & I attribute that to him. I'm glad she was able to be seen some where. If the treatment helps now that is a big relief but no, I do not want to put a bandaid on a broken leg & will try to get to the bottom of this.

Are there other things I could look into that would cause a dog to vomit sooo much? Seems like if it was gastroenteritis she'd have diarrhea as well.

Thanks.

And to your bolded sentence, you already did. The dog was not treated with an appropriate standard of care. The proper diagnostic tests that would objectively show this pancreatitis were not run and the vet's brazen declaration of he knows it when he sees it is a little too arrogant for my blood.

I sincerely wish Princess the best and I hope you can get a job and improve your and her standards of living very soon

[gidget529]

My little Cricket had pancreatitis. My vet says in dogs it often turns into a chronic illness, which it did for her. She had chronic pancreatitis.

He advised, in his opinion, after they have a bout of it they should be maintained on a bland diet so not to trigger another episode. She was kept on a prescription I/D diet (canned) that I bought through the vet's office. It really was not badly priced, especially as little as these little guys eat. I was no longer to give cheese as a treat or anything high in fat. No ice cream or any high fat naughty treats. My vet was not a fan of the boiled chicken and rice for pancreatitis pts. He wanted me to stick to the canned food from him. This really did help her.

[gidget529]

He also did run the pancreatitis blood test and a blood panel. I think she also had an abdominal x-ray, if I'm remembering right (this was years ago).

Cricket was also put on antibiotics and anti-nausea meds, plus pain meds. He kept her to give some meds IV and fluids before sending her home later that day. He was afraid the meds would not agree w her stomach until he got some IV meds in her to help calm things down.

I know Princess is home now on the mend, but I thought I should give you this info for the future in case she has another episode (God forbid). Hopefully, she has been through the worst of it and is on the mend. Wishing you and little Princess well.

[Ellie May]

Sometimes with GI and/or pancreas issues, things can return to normal on their own (if they don't pass from dehydration first). The antiemetic injection is helping keep things down. Any vet would have done that...

Her gums were dry. She was dehydrated and may still be. As Cathy said, to each their own. This isn't a doctor that I would waste my time with because he doesn't know how to assess for dehydration, he did not give fluids and there was no excuse not to, and he made her wait overnight. Also, it is very likely pancreatitis, but "nobody" can diagnose it without labs or possibly an ultrasound.

She is probably better able to keep things down now because of the antiemetic, but if it is her pancreas, it is still very "angry" and does not want to have to process anything given by mouth right now.

[Ellie May]

I hope this doesn't become a recurring issue for her (and you). Pancreatitis is ilikely to hit again if it hit once.

Next time, if there is little money to spend and it happens during a business day, find somebody, somewhere to see her and you can try to avoid the ER that way.

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I hope this doesn't become a recurring issue for her (and you). Pancreatitis is likely to hit again if it hit once.

Next time, if there is little money to spend and it happens during a business day, find somebody, somewhere to see her and you can try to avoid the ER that way.

I hope it doesn't reoccur either, ever. I would've sought out a vet yesterday during the day but I thought that since she had settled after the first episode something had just upset her. Ignorance & stupidity alike on my part, as it could've cost the ultimate price.

I am hoping to have something lined up financially soon, that is only reserved for her. I've been looking at insurance plans but even if I'd already had it in place the premiums & deductibles wouldn't have been met these last two months.

[chachi]

Im sorry your going through a difficult time financially and hope things improve for you soon. I am glad you did get Princess in to see a vet and you have some idea what is going on with her

[Princess10]

Princess is dehydrated, it doesn't take a vet of any caliber to see it! She will not take water, she is sleeping & not interested in leaving her bed. Her mouth is DRY. Her tongue is forward over her teeth again. I am on the phone with the vet, they just said to wait until late tomorrow morning to call if she's not drinking. They said that since she did urinate she is not dehydrated, even though it was basically twice in the last 26 hours.

Calling everywhere I can find. Talked to the director at the MI. H.S. & he said he knows the vet, to follow his orders...she's not drinking because she's just not thirsty! Wth?!

So the search continues....

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Princess10

Princess is dehydrated, it doesn't take a vet of any caliber to see it! She will not take water, she is sleeping & not interested in leaving her bed. Her mouth is DRY. Her tongue is forward over her teeth again. I am on the phone with the vet, they just said to wait until late tomorrow morning to call if she's not drinking. They said that since she did urinate she is not dehydrated, even though it was basically twice in the last 26 hours.

Calling everywhere I can find. Talked to the director at the MI. H.S. & he said he knows the vet, to follow his orders...she's not drinking because she's just not thirsty! Wth?!

So the search continues....

That dog needs to be seen immediately. You are going to have a dead dog if you don't step up and get her some help and get it fast.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Princess10

Princess is dehydrated, it doesn't take a vet of any caliber to see it! She will not take water, she is sleeping & not interested in leaving her bed. Her mouth is DRY. Her tongue is forward over her teeth again. I am on the phone with the vet, they just said to wait until late tomorrow morning to call if she's not drinking. They said that since she did urinate she is not dehydrated, even though it was basically twice in the last 26 hours.

Calling everywhere I can find. Talked to the director at the MI. H.S. & he said he knows the vet, to follow his orders...she's not drinking because she's just not thirsty! Wth?!

So the search continues....

Put her in the car, take her to the vet and demand he do something now. Don't call him again, don't wait. GO!

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by 107barney

That dog needs to be seen immediately. You are going to have a dead dog if you don't step up and get her some help and get it fast.

I was just catching up on Princess and I totally agree. With this latest update I would be running to get help! This is VERY serious and needs immediate attention.

[Ellie May]

It's time to get this girl to a vet - a vet that will manage her case properly. No good vet would EVER say wait until morning under these circumstances. She is dehydrated. Now because she wasn't given fluids soon enough, subcutaneous really shouldn't even be attempted. She needs an IV right now. There is no advice anybody can give other than that. I'm sure there is a vet around there who knows how to treat pancreatitis. You WILL lose her at this rate if things don't turn around quickly.

Pancreatitis in and of itself can be fatal. Adding dehydration to it, well, her life is in extreme danger. And if her mouth is that dry, she is suffering. She is too sick to drink.

I don't know anybody's financial situation on YT, but I do know there are usually things that can be sold quickly to get some money. Time to make a choice to save her. I'm very sorry.

[AllDogBoots]

Do you have a Paypal account? I'd like to help you if possible.