Fletch has GHE!

[Yorkiemom1]

I am worried about this baby....you must keep him hydrated and I do not think you will be able to get enough fluid in him with a dropper....did your vet tell you how much pedialyte you need to get into you baby, according to his size, every couple of hours? Heallthy dogs drink about 1 oz/pound of body weight/per day.... This issue needs to be treated with sub-q fluids.... It would be great if your vet would teach you how to do this , and tell you how much to give him so you may be better able to avoid a hospitalization....1 oz. = 30cc, so that will be 30cc/pound of weight/24hours... Calculate how many cc's (do you have a syringe like they give shots with?) you need to be giving your baby over 24 hours....and you will know how much you need to give him every 2 hours, in order to keep him hydrated. 150cc/5lb dog/24 hours, 6.25cc/hour, needed, by mouth, at least......You might be able to get that much down him.....I am praying for a speedy recovery for Fletch....if you see any changes in his condition, for the worse, you need to get him to the ER, ASAP....

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by celstu1

If the vet said to do that I'd be glad to.... But the vet didn't say that, I asked him if that was best. He said he was borderline with his bloodwork so he wants him for more fluids tomorrow. Tonight we are giving him pedialyte
every hour, 20 ml s of it. He's alert and acting normal for the most part. A bit lethargic but the vet saw that and said he was not confused or out of it, so it's not alarming. For now we will give more fluids tonight and take him in tomorrow for more sub q fluids.

This is great!! You are certainly getting way over the minimal amount of fluid into him by mouth...so that is great! Hopefully he wont vomit it up....he can also get very anemic if he is loosing alot of blood.....watch that also....

[lisaly]

HGE is very serious, but I am sure that your vet knows what he is doing. If his levels hadn't been borderline, I would imagine that Fletch would have been hospitalized. However, if he can be maintained at home, I believe our babies do better in the security of their own home with our loving attention. For a regular case of HGE, I know I would have no choice to leave Katie with a veterinarian overnight, but for a borderline case, I would do exactly what you are doing. I really hope Fletch gets better quickly. I have never had any experience with HGE, but my dear friend Jackie's (JacquelineBabco) baby, Wyatt, was hospitalized with it. It came on so suddenly, and she rushed to the ER in the middle of the night. He was able to come home later the next day, but it was so scary. He is a very healthy little boy, which is usually the norm with HGE. I'm sure that, with the fluids tomorrow, Fletch will get better. You both are in my thoughts and prayers. Please give your little boy a hug from Katie and me.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I am worried about this baby....you must keep him hydrated and I do not think you will be able to get enough fluid in him with a dropper....did your vet tell you how much pedialyte you need to get into you baby, according to his size, every couple of hours? Heallthy dogs drink about 1 oz/pound of body weight/per day.... This issue needs to be treated with sub-q fluids.... It would be great if your vet would teach you how to do this , and tell you how much to give him so you may be better able to avoid a hospitalization....1 oz. = 30cc, so that will be 30cc/pound of weight/24hours... Calculate how many cc's (do you have a syringe like they give shots with?) you need to be giving your baby over 24 hours....and you will know how much you need to give him every 2 hours, in order to keep him hydrated. 150cc/5lb dog/24 hours, 6.25cc/hour, needed, by mouth, at least......You might be able to get that much down him.....I am praying for a speedy recovery for Fletch....if you see any changes in his condition, for the worse, you need to get him to the ER, ASAP....

Thanks so much for your info and concern! It really helps! I promise you my baby is in no danger of not getting proper care. He got appropriate sub q fluids at the vets today. He is going again tomorrow for more. We are giving him fluids on top of that. He is alert and more active tonight than today. He sleeps with me and the ER vet is 2 mins away from me. He has not vomitted since 730 am this morning.
The vet said to give him a small amount of the hills science diet G/I food if he's interested. Up to a 1/3 of the can. Well in 6 hours he's eaten about a third of the can. We just let him out again and no bloody stools at all. No stool at all, but a nice healthy pee, so I know he's hydrated. He's got me and I'm his biggest champion, I just wanted to make sure I am doing the right thing. If he has a temp tomorrow, he will be admitted to the hospital. But right now he's seems to be better than today and we start the diarrhea meds tomorrow.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I am worried about this baby....you must keep him hydrated and I do not think you will be able to get enough fluid in him with a dropper....did your vet tell you how much pedialyte you need to get into you baby, according to his size, every couple of hours? Heallthy dogs drink about 1 oz/pound of body weight/per day.... This issue needs to be treated with sub-q fluids.... It would be great if your vet would teach you how to do this , and tell you how much to give him so you may be better able to avoid a hospitalization....1 oz. = 30cc, so that will be 30cc/pound of weight/24hours... Calculate how many cc's (do you have a syringe like they give shots with?) you need to be giving your baby over 24 hours....and you will know how much you need to give him every 2 hours, in order to keep him hydrated. 150cc/5lb dog/24 hours, 6.25cc/hour, needed, by mouth, at least......You might be able to get that much down him.....I am praying for a speedy recovery for Fletch....if you see any changes in his condition, for the worse, you need to get him to the ER, ASAP....

Originally Posted by lisaly

HGE is very serious, but I am sure that your vet knows what he is doing. If his levels hadn't been borderline, I would imagine that Fletch would have been hospitalized. However, if he can be maintained at home, I believe our babies do better in the security of their own home with our loving attention. For a regular case of HGE, I know I would have no choice to leave Katie with a veterinarian overnight, but for a borderline case, I would do exactly what you are doing. I really hope Fletch gets better quickly. I have never had any experience with HGE, but my dear friend Jackie's (JacquelineBabco) baby, Wyatt, was hospitalized with it. It came on so suddenly, and she rushed to the ER in the middle of the night. He was able to come home later the next day, but it was so scary. He is a very healthy little boy, which is usually the norm with HGE. I'm sure that, with the fluids tomorrow, Fletch will get better. You both are in my thoughts and prayers. Please give your little boy a hug from Katie and me.

Thank you!!! Hugs are underway! Fletch is usually so healthy too! This is scary. I have to go back to work tomorrow, but hubby is home. Fletch is spoiled! Lol. Not left alone for 1 min since this started yesterday morn!

[Britster]

((hugs)) to you and Fletch! Poor little man. Get better!

[jadabug]

Sending prayers that Fletch is feeling better tomorrow. What a scary thing for you all

[My lil friend]

I am so sorry that your baby is ill. I will keep you in my prayers. One of my babys has had this and yes it was very scary. I truely hope that your little one will recover.

[kjc]

Praying Fletcher continues to improve...

[mugwee1]

Keeping Fletcher in my thought's and prayers' Get well soon Little Man

[roseslevi]

Hoping Fletch is better this morning.

[TxVicki]

I pray that Fletch is doing better this morning. Prayers still continue for him.

[celstu1]

Thanks so much!!!
Fletcher had an eventful morning! I woke up to find him soaking wet. Realized he peed the bed (all the fluid we gave him yesterday). I guess this is good for him (bad for me at 6am!) so we went out and he peed again and he pooped. His poop was soft, but formed, and no blood at all in it. He was a lot more alert this morning, even chasing a bird off the lawn. Then he had a bath and got to snuggle with us in a towel until he was dry. I don't think he minded that too much! Today he goes back to the vet for more fluids and a temp check. He also starts his antibiotic and anti-diarrhea meds today. We are hoping to see his appetite start to return today. He has not thrown up in over 24 hours now.

I would like to think we are out of the woods at this point with him, but you never know. I would like to see a more solid poop and just more often with no blood to feel more comfortable.

Here is the kicker.... tomorrow we leave on a 4 day vacation. I hate to leave him, even though he'll be in completely capable hands, if I think he's still even remotely sick. The girl who watches the dogs has been watching them since they were pups. They know and love her and she loves them like her own. She has the vets number and her mom will watch them when shes at work. My only other option is to put him in the hospital, but I just don't think he needs that, I think we are doing well with him and with someone watching him all the time at least, we'll see any symptoms right away and get him to the hospital. I told her if she has to take him to the vet at all, just call me and I'll give them my CC# over the phone and I'll just admit him for the remainder of our trip in the hospital. Then he'll be where he needs to be and I'll feel comfortable knowing hes in the best place he can be while I'm away.

The timing could have been worse, but not by much. I'm grateful he didn't get sick on a day we were away at least.

[Yorkiemom1]

Very relieved Fletch is doing so well! Great job mom!

[celstu1]

Hubby is at the vet with him. Vet said good job with giving him fluids on our own last night. Hubby says he's acting more himself this morning and once he gets back from the vet he'll try to give him food with his meds. YAY! We might be out of the woods now! **PHEW**