HGE/recovery?
 

My Bodie... (1 1/2 yrs old, 7 lbs)
Yesterday started out like any normal day, stools were fine, acting normal. I came home from work early (thank goodness) to find bloody diarrhea and vomit. Observed for a short time to make sure I was comfortable it was only one dog that was sick. (I called our vet and got a recording.... she has new office hrs, closing at noon on Thurs until Mon.) Off to the ER we go. We arrived at the ER at 4:30 to find no vets on duty until 6pm, I was told to make him as comfortable as possible until then. Returned at 6pm.... Bodie was going into shock, temp extremely low, swaying, etc. Diagnosed with HGE. Bodie stayed at the ER overnight (they close at 8am). I then took him to a new vet where he is on IV and antibiotics.
This all happened so fast, that waiting "until tomorrow" to see if he was better would have cost him his life. PLEASE, take your babies to the vet, don't wait until tomorrow!! Their lives are dependent on you!!
My questions is..... what do you do different in your routine to try to prevent another occurrence? Bodie will be able to come home at 4:30 and I will take every precaution/directions from the vet but I just wondered if those that have had this experience could enlighten me on anything else I can do to try and prevent this from happening again.
I am very careful about what my babies eat, no houseplants, insecticides etc., nothing for them to get into around the house. I am certain this was not caused by something he ate...... so what would you recommend for precautions?
I cried so much to see my little boy in this condition. I want to do anything to prevent this. What would you do?

And yes, I now have a new vet for all the kids! Bodie just didn't know he wasn't suppose to get sick Thurs - Mon. Silly boy......

(Thank you to those that have posted great links to HGE for those of us that have not experienced this.)

Oh, what a scare! So glad you got him into the E.R. vet in time to save his life as that stuff can be so deadly. Have read enough here that if I ever see sudden bloody diarrhea & vomiting in Tibbe, we're just going straight into the E.R.(ours even has a vet there during the day - wish they all did.). You have likely saved your baby's life by being pro-active & getting him care as fast as you could!

I am sorry your Bodie went thru HGE. With HGE there really isn't anything you can do to prevent it. It is something that comes on suddenly without warning.

My Allie had this happen in February. The marjority of time there is no way to know what brings it on. It has been suggested that it is brought on by stress. I know my Allie wasn't under any stress.

Really nothing to do to prevent it. I thought it usually takes 3-4 days for it to clear up. If it starts again, take him right back in. Oh nevermind... I see he's still at the vet's.

That's what makes HGE so dangerous, they don't know what causes it. I was also told stress, when Peek had it we walked on eggshells, never even raised our voices or anything for 2 weeks, and it came back anyway. He's been fine since... that was 10 years ago. He was 5 when it hit him.

I'll keep Bodie in my prayers....

How scary for you and Bodie:( I'm glad you got him to the ER vet in time! Glad to see, also, that you've switched regular vets. I don't understand how they can just close for three and a half days every week, when there is no ER vet available until 6 pm on weekdays:confused: That's how our ER clinic is too, same hours.

I don't know anything about HGE, but the thought of it scares the pants off me:eek: Sending up prayers that Bodie is going to be just fine now, and that this doesn't happen again, poor baby!

Oh, thank God Bodie is ok. What a scary thing to go through. Yes, you need a vet that is open when the ECs are not. My vet closes at 5PM, but is usually around until 6PM when the EC opens. Wish you were a bit closer to me as you could use my vet. It is probably about a half hour drive for you and she is an awesome vet.

Did you use the EC on Calder Road?

Yes, I went to the one on Calder. Our new vet said she was glad Dr Palm was there, that he is a good one. Some good news anyway....

As I was driving home last night crying like a baby, I thought of you and ALL the things you deal with for these babies. Makes me straighten my spine and buck up, as we say. We got this....... prescription diet, 3 meds and all, Bodie and I will be just fine.

Thank you Jeanie, like you I'm a steady reader of YT and knew we had a serious situation on our hands. I'm always so thankful that I found YT with my first kid and have learned so much. I hate to think of what would have happened if I would not have known the symptoms.

Thank you Vicki. The doc did mention this can be brought on by stress, then chuckled and said Bodie sure didn't seem to have a stressful like - as I'm standing there making sure he is covered in his favorite blanket, he has to have it, he sleeps with it at night...... Yes, he is very stressed ;)

Thankyou Tracy,
Scared the pants off me for sure, pretty scary sight to find when returning home. Thankfully, it will turn out ok but I'm always thankful for the good thoughts and prayers.

Thank you Kathy, it's great to hear that Peek hasn't had any further problems. I hope the same for Bodie. It gives me a better outlook to know of Peek's success.

If you ever have to go there again, give me a call. I know pretty much who's who in there...and who to avoid. :eek: I always call to see who is there...and if I don't care for the one that is there, I go up to Edgebrook. It's a bit of a drive but worth it!

Oh, don't minimize your feelings! It is downright frightening to have such a sick pup!!

OMG. I'm so glad you got Brodie in fast. Thanks also for the reminder - I never wait and this is why we never should wait!

What is HGE?
 

What is HGE? Never saw this before.

HGE is Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis and it is an emergency...

Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis

I'm so glad you got Bodie quick medical attention. Cali had 2 bouts of it and it is scary. The first time she was treated daily at the vets with IV and came home at night. The second time I saw a look in her eyes and took her in. When the vet took her temp the thermometer had blood on it. She said we caught it early and she did well on meds at home. I stopped giving them cow hooves and knock on wood she hasn't had another episode in years. Keeping Bodie in my prayers for a quick recovery.

Thank you for the prayers.
Bodie had a good night and is feeling even better this morning. He had no problem with his I/D food and the pill pockets work great for the meds. He's not quite feeling his rowdy self but it's wonderful to see that tail flying high again.

That's great! Hope he is back 100% soon.

So happy to hear that Bodie is on the mend!! :)

Hi Brody's mom I am so sorry. My little Benji was just admitted to the
hospital with HGE. This morning she was fine , a few hours after eating
her chicken breast no skin or bones raw. She was throwing up bright red
blood. My son put her in her carrier and sped to the ferry to take her to
the vet on the other island( ST Maarten) She never stopped being active
and frisky. After x rays , and blood tests, the vet called me with the diagnosis
of HGE. He said her red blood cells were causing her blood to be thick. She was
also very dehydrated. He gave her antibiotics and has her on a interveinis drip. No
solid food and I can't take her home for two days. Today is Monday I can pick her up
Wednsday afternoon. There were no toxins obstruction or bacterial infections. The vet
felt it was due to stress of flying from Baltimore , with me in the cabin , and change of climate. He assured me she would be fine. I will keep you posted. Hug Brodie for me

I just googled HGE because I never heard that one before, google
canine HGE.
There is a WEALTH of info. PLEASE check out the sites

Benji still at vet on a drip. When I called at the crack of dawn today
the nurses said she was very perky and was really enjoying all the attention
she was getting. Tomorrow afternoon I take a ferry over to get her. I can't
wait. It's so quiet nd lonely without her.

I'm glad to read that Benji is on the mend. I'm sure you will be glad to have her home and feeling better.

Bodie did fine after the initial sickness and has not had another episode but I do keep an eye out since so many said that it can reoccur.

Best Wishes to you and Benji

So glad ur baby is doin good, my old man bailie took that it was horrendous, took him to emergency vet too, I caused it by feeding him a few bits of steak, off my plate, it was too rich for him, hope ur baby is improving

I think it had to do with dehydration due to our long travel. If you notice
Bodie's water isn't going down just add some water to his food. I got
a raw chicken breast and put in the food processor and then added
water so it looked like mushy chicken and fed it to my chihuhua to
make sure it didn't happen to him too. At least I know he got water and
Was well hydrated.

My vet here did x rays and every type of blood work up
available. The one that showed it was HGE was the one that
showed her blood was thicker. There was no toxicity , no bacteria
no infection or feaver. She was given antibiotics and something for
her stomach. What saved her was the intravenous that hydrated her
and thinned her blood. Tomorrow when I pick her up I will find out all
I can and report back. They don't know what causes it but if dehydration
is the biggest danger of the disease I will from now on pay more attention to
that.

My Basil, 7, has had 3 bouts with HGE in the last few years. Once a dog has the first episode, they tend to be susceptible. The first incident was the worst. His stomach was gurgling loudly and he had bad gas, so we knew something was wrong. We got him to the vet before the bloody diarrhea and vomiting started, but he had to stay for the day on IV antibiotics and fluids and came home on meds. The meds were Famotidine, another to coat his stomach and an antibiotic. My vet told me to always keep Pepcid on hand (20mg., cut into halves) and to give it to him at the first sign of stomach upset. The only way to accurately diagnose HGE for certain is an elevated level of a certain enzyme in their blood. The 2 times after that, I could hear his stomach start to gurgle loudly and his behavior just wasn't "right". He'd run around the room and not sit in the same place for more than a few seconds. I'd give him the Pepcid immediately and take him into the vet ASAP. He only needed sub-q fluids both times. I now keep Pepcid AND the stomach-coating med (my vet gave me extras), but I'm always vigilant about any out-of-the ordinary behavior.

Hi everyone. Benji is back home and on En Gadtroentric formula by Purina for 5 days
My Vet said he studied HGE intensively in veterinary school and that every theory from
bacteria, to Parasites to water bacteria and nothing could be determined to be the cause.
The only common thread , if there were one, was that a significant number of animals had been moved from their Enviroment to another. Leading to hyperactivity and dehydration that could have caused the blood to thicken. Again he said, it wasn't scientific enough to draw any conclusions. As I said that scenario did fit my Benji as we had just moved from Baltimore back to Anguilla. My Chihuhua wasn't affected. I have given Benji Pepcid AC pretty regularly for her sensitive stomach, but she had been doing real well with her raw diet. I hate giving her dog food but I'm afraid not to do what the vet said. Any thoughts on this?