Macie is still sick. :-(
 

Ok. A few weeks ago, I posted about Macie having bone fragments in her stomach. Heres the link. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...s-stomach.html

Well, shes been back and forth to the vet, getting blood tests etc done.

She started to get better. She was eating, her stool was normal again. Then, a few days ago, she started refusing to eat again and vomiting liquid again. Her energy dropped dramatically.

So I took her to the vet today. They ran a blood and glucose test. The doctor said all her levels were fine. He did tell me he did a Giardia test, but the results wont get back until Wednesday.

This whole time, Ive thought Macie still had fragments in her stomach, but the vet said she didnt. (He didnt do an Xray today)

The doctor sent me home with a new kind of food and she started vomiting liquid in the car. She vomited a few times, but only 2 times, did she actually spit fluid out.

Im to the point of wanting to get a second opinion. My Macie is basically lifeless. She wont even drink water. She just stands there. She wont even lay down or try to walk. I had to actually lay her down myself.

Im just not sure what the cause of this could be. Im 100% sure if her test results come back negative for Giardia, I'll be taking her to get an Xray somewhere else.

I think a second opinion is needed too. Poor baby. I worked in a shelter and they did giardia tests daily and had results right away. I would make an appointment for another vet asap. Keep us posted and keeping her in my prayers.

Praying that you can find out what's wrong and that Macie gets to feeling better soon.

Considering your description of "lifeless", I'd go right away to an ER. Tonight. Now. JMHO.

Your girl needs to go to the ER immediately. Given your description, passing overnight is a possibility without supportive care. I'm one of the last people to drag my dogs to the ER. However in this case there is no question.

A barium study should have been done. Yes, you need a second opinion but that can't wait.

Operative phrase: lifeless.....please get to an ER vet clinic asap. ?? perforated bowel ???

I think if it were giardia she would have very light greasy stools, kind of the color of beach sand and smelly too. Have you noticed that? I hope she is better soon!

Her stool was normal, but I gave her a little olive oil and rice. She licked on it yesterday. Im thinking that might be why her poop was yellow, but yea yesterday, it was a sandy color. First time I'd seen it like that.

If she got better after eating the bone and then got sick again, it could be unrelated. Doesn't matter now. She needs medical attention. Fluids have to be replaced.

She finally got up and drank almost a whole bowl of water. Shes still refusing to eat that food the vet gave her. Shes still really weak also. Ive given her Nutri-cal and supposedly her sugar levels are fine.

I could not agree w/ this more!

I truly think you need to go to the ER, asap. Something is not right. You said she is "lifeless" and not even drinking....to me, this sounds like true emergency.

I'm not sure what is wrong w/ her, but it does sound very possibly life threatening. I don't want you to lose her. Really worried for her and you.

I am sorry Macie continues to be sick. She really needs to be seen by a vet ... I would suggest that you contact Megansmomma to see if she can find someone who can help you. I believe that you commented about money being an issue.....here is a previous post from her. I encourage you to reach out to her ....

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/3851752-post33.html

I sent a PM to the OP. We will see if she contacts me back. There is at least one option that I think might work but it needs to be put into place ASAP. I've got a call in to my friends.

She started walking around more last night. She's drinking water on her own. I'm taking her to the vet again today. I'm requesting an X-ray. Then taking her to another vet.

She's still very weak, so I'm guessing the doctor might put her on an IV. The vet tech said the Giardia test wouldn't be in til either this afternoon or a couple of days.

Im glad your taking her to vet today Im concerned for her as I know you are also

I'm thinking positive thoughts for Macie. I'm glad you were able to get her into the vet and I definitely think a second opinion is a great idea.

Does anyone know what kind of fluids they give dogs when they are on IVs?

I just read this thread today..............I'm so sorry! You must be worried sick. I know when Rylee Belle is sick or even acting a little "off" I can't think about anything else. These little ones are like children to us! I'm sayinlg lots of prayers..................PLEASE keep us posted!!!!

So I'm at the vet and he did another X-ray. He seems to think it might be kidney stones or problems with her kidneys.

Can kidney stones be mistaken as bone fragments? This is what is confusing me. There's a big difference from her stomach and her kidneys.

With a lateral view (her laying on her side) her kidneys will be up by her spine (sometimes only one is visible bevause they are overlapping). Her stomach would be down lower. I would not worry about them getting the structures confused. Her bladder in further toward her tail but quite a ways below her spine. Bladder stones are usually very evident. Her large and small intestine are kinda running all around in organized chaos. Her colon is not far under her spine but above the bladder. Did the vet point everything out For you?

Yes he did. They look like little white dots.

He just told me she has kidney problems. He ran some test and the number that came bavk was 130. Not sure if it should have been lower or higher. I'm getting copies of everything. I'm not sure if she has kidney stones or there's a bigger problem with her kidneys.

The vet said he wasnt very optimistic, but Im not sure what that means. Im not sure if he means she might die or he means he wont be able to get her well himself. He did say he was probably going to have to refer me to a specialist.

He gave her fluids under her skin. Not sure what that is. I have to take her back every day this week. 9am tomorrow.

Is it her BUN that's 130?

There are many things that can make a BUN go up like that. Some pups aren't "put together right" and are born with bad kidneys. Others get into something toxic and that can damage their kidneys. Others get a bacterial infection (pyelonephritis). This can happen secondary to untreated kidney stones.

I think you should talk to the vet about what they mean by not being optimistic. Kidney problems are extremely serious, and yes, her life is in danger just from the continued vomiting/probable dehydration alone.

They gave her fluids to help her stay hydrated and to help her kidneys continue to function. Did they start her on antibiotics? Offer to hospitalize? Her best chance at getting through this is to go to a specialist.

I'm sorry. :(

I'm so sorry that you didn't get better news. The daily sub-q fluids should help to flush Macie's kidneys. One of my babies needed a heart medication that started to shut down her kidneys. I took her daily to the vet to flush them out, and it helped her. I pray that your baby gets better.

I called the vet to see if he wanted me to take her straight to a specialist, but he said he wanted me to wait a few days to see if the fluids help her at all.

He did not give me any type of antibiotic or anything else.

Im not sure if I should contact her breeder about this.

How old is she?

10 Months

I'm a bit confused by the vet saying he's "not optimistic", but then that you can wait a few days for the specialist. Does that seem odd to you?

I'd sure want to know from my vet -- that is if he said it's fine to wait, what should you be aware of while waiting that would warrant an immediate ER visit? In other words, what are you supposed to watch for in the meantime that would mean "get to the ER NOW"?

I am so sorry you are living this nightmare with your baby. I am very aggressive with my medical care of my babies (actually anybody in my family!) and I usually dont do well in a "wait and see" situation....I practice crisis prevention rather than crisis management....I have found in my experience, most "wait and see" situations, when preceeded by the statement that the docs "are not very optimistic", I usually find myself put in a situation of trying desperately facing problems that could have been averted completely, or at least had much less serious consequences, if treated in a timely manner. That being said, if a vet told me he was not optimistic, that ALONE would send me immediately to a specialist. I am praying for your baby....yes, call your breeder. She needs to know about this.

Question for everyone, do Macie's symptoms sound anything like Liver Shunt?

Ive heard of it, but not 100% sure on what it is or what the symptoms are. My friend who is a vet tech said Macie's strong odor from her mouth (Which seems to be getting stronger) could mean its liver shunt. She said LS can also cause kidney stones.

Now Im not sure how smart my friend is, so thats why Im posting this here. She also said I should go straight to a specialist. I think Im going to tomorrow.