Beanie can't chew her food and is very lethargic

[chachi]

I bet its a tooth

[sportschick]

Hi guys, I just got back from the vet. She did a COMPLETE workup, bloodwork, x-rays, another thorough mouth exam. Nothing. Everything is completely normal. On paper, she looks perfectly healthy. They gave her another fluid injection, more Pepcid and told me to give her a bland diet or plain baby food for awhile. She said that if anything was wrong with her tongue, gums, etc., they would be swollen. I again told her about the opening the mouth over and over and kind of sticking out her neck and making the noise. And she is eating very gingerly, like SOMETHING hurts. The vet is at a total loss and said they could knock her out and scope her to see if something is stuck, but that would just irritate her even more. I have to call her tomorrow and let her know how Beanie is. She also said she could send me to someone one else to see if they had any ideas.

I talked to the breeder a couple of times today and she said that maybe Beanie DOES have some kind of cut or something and it is irritating her. I mean, there is nothing else I can DO. Oh, they also did another Lyme test on her and that was negative. EVERYTHING is negative, yet something is freakin wrong. The vet said her stinky breath might be that her stomach is irritated and it is making her breath stink.

I am so upset, I mean I am really glad that nothing showed up like her kidneys, etc., but I still don't have any answers as to what is wrong with my baby. I feel like a big baby myself over this dog.

Anyway, I guess I just have to wait it out and see if she gets better, maybe whatever is bothering her WILL get better and this will all be a really bad memory!!

[Scoobstersmom]

One of my dogs just recovered from something called a retrobulbar abscess. The early symptoms were about the same. It can be caused by anything from a broken tooth to getting something stuck in the roof of the mouth. Our vet didn't see anything in the mouth, but there must have been something there because she didn't have a tooth issue. A tell tale sign is if she has pain on opening her mouth wide. Within a day or two she had swelling under and around her eye. I only thought of this because you talked about your dog running around in the yard eating leaves and stuff. Even a small piece of a leaf stuck there can cause this kind of an abscess. It's at least a direction to think about. You can read up on it. There is a lot on the net about it.

Diana and the Scoobster

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Scoobstersmom

One of my dogs just recovered from something called a retrobulbar abscess. The early symptoms were about the same. It can be caused by anything from a broken tooth to getting something stuck in the roof of the mouth. Our vet didn't see anything in the mouth, but there must have been something there because she didn't have a tooth issue. A tell tale sign is if she has pain on opening her mouth wide. Within a day or two she had swelling under and around her eye. I only thought of this because you talked about your dog running around in the yard eating leaves and stuff. Even a small piece of a leaf stuck there can cause this kind of an abscess. It's at least a direction to think about. You can read up on it. There is a lot on the net about it.

Diana and the Scoobster

I did have a beagle that was fetching and when he grabbed the stick and started running with it, he tripped and jabbed that stick down his throat....he scratched the roof of his mouth, all the way down the back of his throat with that stick...nothing broke off in there, but he had a very sore throat and roof of his mouth for aweek or so....he was acting alot like your baby is described as acting....

[sportschick]

She tried to gingerly lick my legs tonight, but just couldn't do it. I think that is why her mouth stinks. I know this will sound gross, BUT because she licks so much, all the bacteria is basically scraped off. It is just like a human that scrapes their tongues (God that word looks funny). She hasn't been licking anything like she usually does so her tongue has a ton of bacteria on it.

On a much better note, even though she was exhausted from being poked and prodded again at the vet, when I took her home, she ate the baby food and then wanted to play with her rubber ball. She was able to keep it in her mouth and not have to put it down. She ran around a bit, SO maybe whatever is going on in her mouth (and I KNOW it is something in her mouth) is getting better???

If and when (I am saying when) I swear I will NEVER complain about her being too hyper. I was so mad at her over the weekend for being such a little monster because the weather was so awful and we couldn't go out, I had to throw the ball for HOURS. I will never, ever get mad at her again. I just want my little monster back!!!

[kjc]

As long as she is able and willing to eat and drink I think it would be okay to wait, but check her mouth daily for any new signs or lumps. If she starts acting worse, I'd get her back in for the scope, or even take her to a different vet for a 2nd opinion (which I would probably do anyway as I have no patience with this kind of stuff, lol)

Glad she is acting better though... Praying for her to completely recover!

[gemy]

Originally Posted by sportschick

She tried to gingerly lick my legs tonight, but just couldn't do it. I think that is why her mouth stinks. I know this will sound gross, BUT because she licks so much, all the bacteria is basically scraped off. It is just like a human that scrapes their tongues (God that word looks funny). She hasn't been licking anything like she usually does so her tongue has a ton of bacteria on it.

On a much better note, even though she was exhausted from being poked and prodded again at the vet, when I took her home, she ate the baby food and then wanted to play with her rubber ball. She was able to keep it in her mouth and not have to put it down. She ran around a bit, SO maybe whatever is going on in her mouth (and I KNOW it is something in her mouth) is getting better???

If and when (I am saying when) I swear I will NEVER complain about her being too hyper. I was so mad at her over the weekend for being such a little monster because the weather was so awful and we couldn't go out, I had to throw the ball for HOURS. I will never, ever get mad at her again. I just want my little monster back!!!

I am not sure if she is getting better. Alright you know that air licking is a sign of "something" is wrong. Especially if this is a new action.

And one thing I want to clear up; did she actually swallow that rib bone along with her food patty? That if so, is of concern, separate from her earlier symptoms.

At this point if she is not back to her very normal self in all ways tomorrow, I would be heading to a vet hospital, or if you don't have one close, a fully equipped vet clinic with at least some specialists on staff.

Let us know how she is doing. Hoping for a good outcome tomorrow

[Yorkiemom1]

Checking up on Beanie this am......hopefully, she is returning to normal.....

[sportschick]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Checking up on Beanie this am......hopefully, she is returning to normal.....

I have really, really good news. Beanie was actually running around after her ball this a.m. I have her in work with me and I gave her a piece of ice from my boss' ice machine. It makes kind of soft ice and she loves it. I thought she would just ignore it, BUT she ate it!! And 2 more little pieces, with no problems. Oh my God, I am so happy, I think she is getting back to her self. Maybe whatever was going on her mouth is getting better.

I think I did do the right thing by taking her to the vet again and having a complete workup done. I guess if I waited another day, I could have saved myself almost $400, but I don't care, at least I know that all her blood values are normal and her x-rays as well. Now they have a good baseline of tests.

And to answer the question of Gemy, no she didn't swallow the rib bone, it was way too big and I grabbed it from her before she had a chance to even try and chew it.

Anyway I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will start to lick me again and then I will know she is fine.

Thank you all for your support, it really helped me. Unless you are a Yorkie owner, you don't know what it is like to see these tiny creatures sick and imploring you to help them with their eyes.

[Yorkiemom1]

Thrilled with your baby's improvment!! Maybe it was a scratch in her mouth/throat and it is healing and not hurting....whatever! Like you said, you have the peace of mind having all labs and xrays, within normal limits, and they are your baseline! and she is obviously getting better! Job well done!

[lexi43]

Just reading your post and was glad that Beanie is doing better. Yes I do know what it is see your baby suffering and in pain. Not being just a yorkie owner but being the owner of shih tzus, shorkies, basset hounds and one mixed breed, I know how you feel believe me. I just finished paying $3400 for my shih tzu to have a cataract operation because he was going blind. So as I said believe me I know the feeling of watching your baby suffer and in pain. Well God Bless Beanie and I'm thrilled he is feeling better.

[kjc]

Better safe than sorry... glad she's doing well!

[sportschick]

Originally Posted by lexi43

Just reading your post and was glad that Beanie is doing better. Yes I do know what it is see your baby suffering and in pain. Not being just a yorkie owner but being the owner of shih tzus, shorkies, basset hounds and one mixed breed, I know how you feel believe me. I just finished paying $3400 for my shih tzu to have a cataract operation because he was going blind. So as I said believe me I know the feeling of watching your baby suffer and in pain. Well God Bless Beanie and I'm thrilled he is feeling better.

Yes, you are right, I am sure that it is the same with any breed. They can't talk to us and they depend on us to be everything to them. It is an awesome, albeit scary responsibility, one I would not change for the world.

Wow, that is a lot of money, I take it you don't have pet insurance??