Urgent Help for Sick Yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

dorvill131 · 05-22-2012, 02:51 PM

Hi,

I have been searching for answers for my ill yorkie, Koda. In Oct. 2011, she started vomitting and diarrhea with bloody stools. I brought her to her vet with samples of her stools to be checked. She was prescribed anti vomitting medication. I was told that the lab results were normal. Her vomitting and diarrhea continued so the vet x-rayed her stomach area and was told that she had an enlarged heart. He then recommended and ultra-sound to be done, which revealed no enlarged heart but a thicker large intestine. We have been switching her with different kinds of dog food to no avail Meantime, she continued to lose weight to the point where she is now just skin and bones. I have tried to give her just rice and boiled chicken, which she did not eat, pumpkin and yogurt and anything else I can think of that would be good for her condition including prescribed canned dog food.

I took her to another vet at San Dimas Animal Hospital a VCA hospital with all her records, hoping they can help her out. They did an ACTH test on her which reveals a possible Cushing's Disease. She was then prescribed Vetoryl to treat this disease without any positive result. I asked for vitamins to help replace what she vomits. Now she hardly eats as she just throws up whatever she eats,which really upsets me as I know she is suffering. The vet at San Dimas Animal Hospital is telling me that they practically explored everything that could possibly be wrong with her that the only thing left to diagnose is cancer, which I refuse to accept.

Her condition started when my son, moved back in temporarily with his dog, an Lhasa Apso, who is pretty domineering. Koda is a very gentle submissive dog. I am led to believe that this condition is stress related. I am currently feeding her baby food thru a syringe and giving her Pedialyte for water. The past 2 days, she just throws up what I feed her and is getting me so concerned as I don't know what else is left for me to do. I don't want to give up. I am hoping that she is misdiagnosed as all her blood tests and stool tests are normal. She is family to us and I am distraught everytime I look at her. She is so frail. I believe strongly that it has something to do with her digestive system. I have spent so much money already which is really draining me as this is a tough time for me. Now I have made another appointment for her with a gastroenterelogist specialist in the hope that she can finally make the right diagnosis as I strongly believe it has something to do with her digestive system and stress. If anybody out there had any experience with their Yorkie, I would appreciate any feed back from you. God bless!

LunasMomma · 05-22-2012, 04:32 PM

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry that you and your baby are going through this

I think that you taking her to a specialist is a great idea and I pray that you get some answers there. I don't have any experience with this, but wanted you to know that there are prayers going up for your little one

Please let us know what the specialist has to say.

Welcome to Yorkie Talk, by the way. Wish it was under happier circumstances, but you will find so much support here!

lynzy420 · 05-22-2012, 04:37 PM

How old is your pup? What is the normal weight of your pup?

kjc · 05-22-2012, 04:45 PM

Hi and Welcome to YT...

A specialist may help or a vet school... she should have been put on IV fluids till her intestines calmed down and to help replace the fluids she was losing through all the vomiting and diarrhea. (JMHO, I am not a vet).

Was she eating any foods that have been recalled or any kind of chicken jerky treats made in China (including those made by Purina)?

Actually... I would take her to a Vet ER now. Maybe they can arrange for the specialist to come there to see her....

dorvill131 · 05-22-2012, 05:00 PM

She is 7 years old.

dorvill131 · 05-22-2012, 05:04 PM

I took her to the vet last Thursday and asked to give her a Vitamin B shot. Also bought a high calorie supplement which she is also throwing up unfortunately. I made an appointment today to bring her to an gastroenterologist/internist who I'm hoping could diagnose her correctly.

lynzy420 · 05-22-2012, 05:09 PM

Since she has worsened the last couple of days I would take her to the emergency vet. You need to get a firm diagnosis on this pup and then decide how to proceed. Its a very difficult time for sure, I know how hard, expensive and extremely difficult it is to watch her suffer. Please take this little girl to the emergency vet and get her on some fluids and a second opinion.

Please keep us posted and remember we are here for you and many of us understand what your going through, like you we want whats best for your pup.

dorvill131 · 05-22-2012, 05:09 PM

And oh, ironically she was really fat and overweight one time at 16 lbs! The last weigh in (last week) she is
now only 4 lbs. 10 oz.!

dorvill131 · 05-22-2012, 05:11 PM

Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions.

kjc · 05-22-2012, 05:11 PM

OMGosh! She really needs to be seen ASAP! Many times ER Vets are very good diagnostitians.... I'd get her in NOW!

lynzy420 · 05-22-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorvill131

And oh, ironically she was really fat and overweight one time at 16 lbs! The last weigh in (last week) she is
now only 4 lbs. 10 oz.!

This pup needs to be in an ER right now, she could very well be on the brink of death, 1/4 of her normal weight? I hope your running right now to the emergency vet.

ladyjane · 05-22-2012, 05:23 PM

I think that going to the gastroenterologist is a good idea. Hopefully this is a board certified specialist? You can check that at www.acvim.org
They saw that there was thickening of her intestinal wall, but did not do biopsies? I would think that a scope and biopsies would have been in order. The specialist may need to do that.
How soon is your appointment? I would call them and let them know how much weight she has lost and her symptoms and see if you can get her in asap.
Please keep us posted.

dorvill131 · 05-22-2012, 05:26 PM

Please understand that I have had several visits to the vet since then and the reduction in weight was since Oct. 2011. But I will bring her to the emergency vet.

ladyjane · 05-22-2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorvill131

Please understand that I have had several visits to the vet since then and the reduction in weight was since Oct. 2011. But I will bring her to the emergency vet.

Honestly, if she is not showing signs of an emergency issue right now, I would save my money and go to the specialist tomorrow if possible.
This sounds like it has been going on for some time.

Yorkiemom1 · 05-22-2012, 05:29 PM

OMG!!!! I KNOW you are absolutely beside yourself with worry....tonight, the ER vet and some fluids....tomorrow, a vet school, as fast as you can get there....I am very afraid you are going to lose this baby if they cant at the very least, get her started on some kind nutrition....if her bowels wont tolerate solid substances, I know they can feed humans on TPN....surely they can do something like that for dogs.....my gosh, that would be a stop gap measure at least until they could find out what is going on, as you still do not apparently even have a diagnosis. I am very worried about you losing this darling...please get her some fluids tonight, some electrolytes and then get her to a vet school ASAP......I am praying for you and this baby...PLEASE keep us posted on her progress.....God Speed....

05-22-2012, 02:51 PM	#1
dorvill131 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glendora, Ca. USA Posts: 9	Urgent Help for Sick Yorkie Hi, I have been searching for answers for my ill yorkie, Koda. In Oct. 2011, she started vomitting and diarrhea with bloody stools. I brought her to her vet with samples of her stools to be checked. She was prescribed anti vomitting medication. I was told that the lab results were normal. Her vomitting and diarrhea continued so the vet x-rayed her stomach area and was told that she had an enlarged heart. He then recommended and ultra-sound to be done, which revealed no enlarged heart but a thicker large intestine. We have been switching her with different kinds of dog food to no avail Meantime, she continued to lose weight to the point where she is now just skin and bones. I have tried to give her just rice and boiled chicken, which she did not eat, pumpkin and yogurt and anything else I can think of that would be good for her condition including prescribed canned dog food. I took her to another vet at San Dimas Animal Hospital a VCA hospital with all her records, hoping they can help her out. They did an ACTH test on her which reveals a possible Cushing's Disease. She was then prescribed Vetoryl to treat this disease without any positive result. I asked for vitamins to help replace what she vomits. Now she hardly eats as she just throws up whatever she eats,which really upsets me as I know she is suffering. The vet at San Dimas Animal Hospital is telling me that they practically explored everything that could possibly be wrong with her that the only thing left to diagnose is cancer, which I refuse to accept. Her condition started when my son, moved back in temporarily with his dog, an Lhasa Apso, who is pretty domineering. Koda is a very gentle submissive dog. I am led to believe that this condition is stress related. I am currently feeding her baby food thru a syringe and giving her Pedialyte for water. The past 2 days, she just throws up what I feed her and is getting me so concerned as I don't know what else is left for me to do. I don't want to give up. I am hoping that she is misdiagnosed as all her blood tests and stool tests are normal. She is family to us and I am distraught everytime I look at her. She is so frail. I believe strongly that it has something to do with her digestive system. I have spent so much money already which is really draining me as this is a tough time for me. Now I have made another appointment for her with a gastroenterelogist specialist in the hope that she can finally make the right diagnosis as I strongly believe it has something to do with her digestive system and stress. If anybody out there had any experience with their Yorkie, I would appreciate any feed back from you. God bless!

05-22-2012, 04:32 PM	#2
LunasMomma Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 8,799	Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry that you and your baby are going through this I think that you taking her to a specialist is a great idea and I pray that you get some answers there. I don't have any experience with this, but wanted you to know that there are prayers going up for your little one Please let us know what the specialist has to say. Welcome to Yorkie Talk, by the way. Wish it was under happier circumstances, but you will find so much support here! __________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna

05-22-2012, 04:37 PM	#3
lynzy420 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Posts: 7,652	How old is your pup? What is the normal weight of your pup? __________________ The Above advice/comments/reviews are my personal opinions based on my own experience/education/investigation and research and you can take them any way you want to......Or NOT!!!

05-22-2012, 04:45 PM	#4
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	Hi and Welcome to YT... A specialist may help or a vet school... she should have been put on IV fluids till her intestines calmed down and to help replace the fluids she was losing through all the vomiting and diarrhea. (JMHO, I am not a vet). Was she eating any foods that have been recalled or any kind of chicken jerky treats made in China (including those made by Purina)? Actually... I would take her to a Vet ER now. Maybe they can arrange for the specialist to come there to see her.... __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

05-22-2012, 05:09 PM	#7
lynzy420 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Posts: 7,652	Since she has worsened the last couple of days I would take her to the emergency vet. You need to get a firm diagnosis on this pup and then decide how to proceed. Its a very difficult time for sure, I know how hard, expensive and extremely difficult it is to watch her suffer. Please take this little girl to the emergency vet and get her on some fluids and a second opinion. Please keep us posted and remember we are here for you and many of us understand what your going through, like you we want whats best for your pup. __________________ The Above advice/comments/reviews are my personal opinions based on my own experience/education/investigation and research and you can take them any way you want to......Or NOT!!!

05-22-2012, 05:00 PM	#5
dorvill131 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glendora, Ca. USA Posts: 9	She is 7 years old.

05-22-2012, 05:04 PM	#6
dorvill131 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glendora, Ca. USA Posts: 9	I took her to the vet last Thursday and asked to give her a Vitamin B shot. Also bought a high calorie supplement which she is also throwing up unfortunately. I made an appointment today to bring her to an gastroenterologist/internist who I'm hoping could diagnose her correctly.

05-22-2012, 05:11 PM	#9
dorvill131 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glendora, Ca. USA Posts: 9	Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions.

05-22-2012, 05:23 PM	#12
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,450	I think that going to the gastroenterologist is a good idea. Hopefully this is a board certified specialist? You can check that at www.acvim.org They saw that there was thickening of her intestinal wall, but did not do biopsies? I would think that a scope and biopsies would have been in order. The specialist may need to do that. How soon is your appointment? I would call them and let them know how much weight she has lost and her symptoms and see if you can get her in asap. Please keep us posted. __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP Last edited by ladyjane; 05-22-2012 at 05:24 PM.

05-22-2012, 05:26 PM	#13
dorvill131 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glendora, Ca. USA Posts: 9	Please understand that I have had several visits to the vet since then and the reduction in weight was since Oct. 2011. But I will bring her to the emergency vet.

05-22-2012, 05:29 PM	#15
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	OMG!!!! I KNOW you are absolutely beside yourself with worry....tonight, the ER vet and some fluids....tomorrow, a vet school, as fast as you can get there....I am very afraid you are going to lose this baby if they cant at the very least, get her started on some kind nutrition....if her bowels wont tolerate solid substances, I know they can feed humans on TPN....surely they can do something like that for dogs.....my gosh, that would be a stop gap measure at least until they could find out what is going on, as you still do not apparently even have a diagnosis. I am very worried about you losing this darling...please get her some fluids tonight, some electrolytes and then get her to a vet school ASAP......I am praying for you and this baby...PLEASE keep us posted on her progress.....God Speed....