Yes it is painful but didn't find that our until we returned home from the vet yesterday. She has pain meds now to help ! :(

First thing was they gave her an Epi Pen, which is like an emergency self injection that only delays an allergic reaction, so that they could look for and remove the stinger. It was in her tongue. She got a shot (can't remember the name, but basically it was a large and extra strength shot of benadryl) and steroids. Scariest thing ever! I was completely panicked and literally thought she was going to die in my arms, in the car! We have a backup epi pen just in case, and I take it with us wherever we go, but they are expensive, kinda hard to acquire, and they have an expiration date. Still totally worth it because it saved Luma's life.

Has she had any benadryl at all? I don't think it would counteract with pain meds or an antibiotic... is she breathing alright? At the least, it could help her calm down and sleep it off, or help the swelling go down....children's benadryl. Luma is 7.8 lbs and can take 3cc.

Just now saw this thread. I pray Brandi will show signs of improvement but I would not want to wait too much longer in finding out what exactly is wrong with her. Bee sting or something else. I know how much you are worried...please don't hesitate to get her to another vet if she doesn't appear to be getting better.

Dawn, I am going to say this again because your pup has me horribly concerned. This guess work worries me SO much...I don't understand why your vet has not referred Brandi to someone who might be able to diagnose what is going on.

Please consider getting her to another vet just to be SURE that a diagnosis cannot be made. I don't understand guessing that it is an infection when labs are normal. As Judy had suggested, a culture could be done. It is just so mind boggling.

I am praying that she will improve.

Maybe an xray would show something? Just a thought...

Poor Brandi. I hope she is feeling better. Sending hugs and prayers for Brandi.

Hope she gets better soon. This really upsets me, she looks miserable. I'm very concerned for your pup!

This sounds like when my Scotty has an abscessed tooth. He was given bloodwork, antibiotics, pain medication, anti-swelling medication and in a few days when his infection under better control take to surgery, the tooth removed and an I&D done. He also had developed a gunky eye and the infection spread to near to his ear canal. It was a vicious bug that the vet cultured that first day so he would know what best to give him and indeed he did change his antibiotics to a quite costly one per the culture results. He went to the vet daily for a while as the thing flared up so suddenly and was so very aggressive. I believe he kept him overnight that first night and had his vet tech stay with him just in case.

Hope that your vet can get to the bottom of this fast. Some of those bugs are very bad and hit very hard. Vet was worried Scotty's would get to his brain. Thankfully I got him to the vet ASAP and he hadn't even lost any weight as he'd been eating normally until that day I saw the blood on his muzzle and gunk in his eye! :eek: Can't imagine the pain he must have been in, though he had no running pus yet but the swelling was awful. Overnight his eye and muzzle/nose had become distorted due to swelling. It was a close call but vet acted fast and aggressively to fight the bug.

There is always debate whether to give a steroid (which will delay healing) or not. In the case of any severe allergic reaction, known or unknown cause, the injury can wait (antibiotics will fix that), but the allergic reaction needs to be stopped. Continued/increased swelling, drooling, labored breathing (due to the swelling and eventual closing off of the airway), are all signs of a severe allergic reaction. If the reaction isn't dealt with, they won't have to worry about the injury/infection.

Also Denamarin will help the liver to process out any toxins and medications, and helps the liver to regenerate new cells.

I'm keeping a close eye on her. Her breathing is ok, eyes seems to be doing a little better it just the swelling and inflamed mouth that is my main concern. Each time I went the there was a second opinion given by another vet in house. Gave her pain meds and both antibiotics and about an hour later she threw up. Not sure if that was enough time for the meds to get into her system, but hoping.

They did wonder about an abscess tooth but are dealing with the infection and the pain for now. I have the emergency vets member on hand just in case I should need it. If the meds are not working and I feel I must I will take her, no doubt.

I am sorry your gal is so un-well. I did see what I thought was a bump//abscess? in the lower right hand picture of her mouth.

But doesn't Ohio State Univ have a state of the art Teaching Hospital?

For me I would be testing the exudate, saliva, pus, etc.

And also for me vets at the same clinic, are not where I would be going for a second opinion, for obvious reasons.

why wouldn't they give the pup some Benadryl? Just in case? its not a steroid

Hope your baby is ok! I agree with lady hand, see a specialist!! Your pup is so small and that weight loss isn't good! Sending god vibes from Bailey, Bentley, Barkley & Beni! :)

That I am not sure about. We have a branch of Ohio State here in our town but unsure of the teaching there. I do believe that at least one or more of the veterinarians got their schooling from OSU.

No sure of that either, that was the last thing I asked before I walked out of the exam room. I believe they said that the second antibiotic that was subscribed would work better.


Update: I've tried can chicken and beef dog foods and she wont touch them. But I did get her to eat a small amount of scrambled eggs for dinner. Hope she can keep it down. Not sure if that will be sufficient enough to maintain her strength.

Any suggestion on what to feed her would be nice !!

Next round of meds is at 11pm. She is resting well, not restless and doesn't seem to be having any reaction to any of the meds. so far. It hasn't even been a full 24 hrs yet since she had been on them.

Poor Brandi
I will say a prayer for her and sure hope the meds start working very soon.

This is terrible. I would be freaked. Could it be a spider bite? I hope your baby improves quickly.

Update: I washed her mouth and eye before I gave her her third dose of the first antibiotic meds. with some more of the scrambled eggs and she gobbled them right up and asked for more. :) Her eye has less puss in it and swelling has gone down but still seeping. She still has drool and the thick saliva around her mouth but seems to be able to breath much better. I can still hear the gargling in her thought thou. The swelling has gone down a tad bit nothing significant and it seems to be not as inflamed as it was this morning.

It has been 24 hrs since we started her first meds and there is some progress with means the meds are working !! Looks like I will be up scrabbling eggs in the morning. :)

My heart aches for Brandi. I am glad the meds are starting to work. Sending lots of good thoughts that it will clear up real soon. Hugs

Thank you for updating. I'm so worried about your little girl. I hope she improves a great deal tomorrow and she gets some pain relief. It breaks my heart to hear of babies being sick

Still praying for a vast improvement in her condition...this is very scary stuff. Any infection of or around the face is an emergency situation, please keep that in mind, seek emergency care at the very first sign of worsening condition. I hope and pray she gets better sooner rather than later...

Update: Guess who I found waiting for me at the top of the stairs with her tail wagging this morning.

Just melted my heart to see her so cheerful ! :)

She must be feeling a little better and the meds are working. There is some considerable improvement with her eye. Its clear, no green puss. She actually tried to eat some of her regular dry kibble while waiting on me to get her breakfast ready but could not. She ate a little more of the can and wet kibble than she had before but was unable to eat any more once I got the scrambled egg done. Some of the swelling on her mouth is down and it is not as inflamed. Still hear that gargling sound but the thick saliva slimy puss is not as bad as it was. Got her pill in her and she is doing ok, not out of the woods yet but were getting there.

Thank you all for you continued prayers, advise and support.

I hope Brandi continues to improve. Have you tried a/d dog food? Once when Sammy was sick the vet gave us some and he liked it and ate it. It comes in a small can like tuna. It is a prescription dog food and it is supposed to build them up when they have been sick. Good luck, feel better Brandi!!

Glad she's doing better. I suggest chicken baby food, or a bland diet of chicken and rice (1:1). You could blend it to a mushy consistency if she has trouble eating it. This is what we fed recuperating dogs and cats in the animal hospital/ER when I worked there.

She doesn't have an upset stomach so no need for the special diet from the vet. I am trying to keep her diet as bland as I can to avoid any upset so I've got her on a chicken can food mixed with wet dry and smashed to small pieces. She doesn't like it liquidly or totally smashed, I tried. She prefers it to have some chucks to it or she wont eat it.

I am very happy to hear Brandi is improving. Praying for her to recover quickly.

I'm glad to hear she is improving. Poor little things just break your heart when they aren't well.

I am so relieved to hear that Brandi is feeling better! :)

Praying for Brandi's continued improvement!