Willie has colitis

[barneysmommmy]

And I feel helpless. Last night was a long one. I pretty much stayed up all night checking to make sure he was still breathing. He woke up this morning and was straining to poop but producing little to no results. I took him back to the vet. She gave him more fluids. He pooped a small drop of blood while we were there. She said she is quite certain its colitis and I am to call her this afternoon to let her know how he's doing.

He drank a pretty decent amount of water about an hour ago. I have been putting little drops of yogurt on his nose so he'll lick it off. I'm not sure if I should or not.

How long does it take them to recover? Other than making sure he's hydrated, what should I be doing?

He is definitely not his perky self, but the vet felt comfortable with his alertness.

[Maximo]

Poor Willie. I have never dealt with colitis. Did the vet recommend a diet change or medication, diagnostics to determine the cause of the colitis?

Canine Colitis - An Inflammation of the Colon in Dogs

Sending best wishes for your little guy.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Poor Willie. I have never dealt with colitis. Did the vet recommend a diet change or medication, diagnostics to determine the cause of the colitis?

Canine Colitis - An Inflammation of the Colon in Dogs

Sending best wishes for your little guy.

She said there were no parasites or bacteria in his stool sample. She thinks either stress or the dog food change (I had started mixing his food with blue buffalo when this started.) Right now she just wants us to keep him calm. She said to try to give him a small amount of yogurt or baby food. He drank some today on his own. He is peeing on his own. But he strains to poop pretty often still. Small drops of blood in his poop. He hasn't thrown up since yesterday.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by barneysmommmy

She said there were no parasites or bacteria in his stool sample. She thinks either stress or the dog food change (I had started mixing his food with blue buffalo when this started.) Right now she just wants us to keep him calm. She said to try to give him a small amount of yogurt or baby food. He drank some today on his own. He is peeing on his own. But he strains to poop pretty often still. Small drops of blood in his poop. He hasn't thrown up since yesterday.

Good news about the stool sample. Sounds like maybe it was the food change.

I'm glad he hasn't thrown up. Sometimes the bowels can take a few days to recover. Not sure if this would be the same or advisable with colitis: my Teddy has had a few bouts of unexplained diarrhea and he required a chicken/rice diet to return to normal.

With probiotics to help the intestines, some sources say that yogurt doesn't supply enough to make a difference in dogs since they cannot eat enough of it (too much yogurt would make a dog sick). The sources think a powdered probiotic supplement is more effective. Might be something to consider if he continues having problems.

Definitely hold all other treats and watch for dehydration. I hope he recovers soon because I understand worrying.

[barneysmommmy]

I think she said she mixed probiotics in one of the meds she gave him. She gave him an antibiotic and another med for upset stomach. The yogurt was just to try to get him to eat something. He only licked a few drops off his nose. I bought some baby food today, chicken and rice, and sweet potatoes. I am hoping that he will be interested in trying some tomorrow.

The vet has been great. She called to check on him before her office closed a few minutes ago. She would rather do a phone consult than stress him out with another office visit. She did xrays also and said there was no obstruction.

He is still peeing. I hope that's a good sign. But he only drank twice today. She said he should be fine on fluids since she put some under his skin.

[Maximo]

Sounds like your vet has all bases covered. I would think too that with fluids under the skin that you would see less drinking. Hopefully someone with experience in that dept can confirm.

Still peeing sounds good.

[buddybear]

I'm so sorry to hear he has this!!! I hope for a fast recovery. Please keep us updated.

[Wylie's Mom]

I'm so sorry he is sick . Poor little feller.

Can you add some coconut oil to his diet? What does she think about a laxative of some sort?

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by buddybear

I'm so sorry to hear he has this!!! I hope for a fast recovery. Please keep us updated.

Thanks so much, Buddybear. After reading some of your past posts, I am wondering if maybe this is HGE instead. I spent last night with him on my chest just feeling for him to breathe. He still gets up and walks around, but he is not active at all. Still no desire to eat or drink. I am taking him back to the vet this morning and going to ask her to please admit him and put him on an iv. I'm not sure how dire his situation is, but my nerves are torn to pieces. I accidentally dozed off during the night and woke up terrified that I had lost him. However, as soon as I rubbed his tummy, he flipped over for a belly rub. So he definitely has some kick left in him.

I don't know if this is good or bad, but he is still peeing. He peed quite a bit at 330 this morning. He pooped a small puddle of dark colored poop. His medicine is purple so I am hoping that it is causing the color. But in the back of my head, I know that there are other possibilities.

I feel so guilty. Saturday night we were watching the football game and it was a wild one. He was on my lap and I was acting like an idiot. I wonder if I didn't cause this by upsetting him. On top of that, I changed his food. I begged God all night to please let him make it through this.

He's resting peacefully beside me now. 730 cannot come soon enough.

[KairaPup]

This sounds worse than colitis...my heeler got that and there were minimal symptoms, except urgency and frequency increase (she acted as though it just fell out of her like it was a surprise, poor darling).

I hope your little guy gets better soon.

[Maximo]

I am very sorry to hear that Willie has not improved. How was you trip to the vet today?

Keeping Willie and you in my thoughts.

[barneysmommmy]

Just got back with Willie. She kept him there on an iv all day. She wanted him to come home tonight because he would be alone there. He ate one teaspoon of food at their office and has kept it inside all day. He is doing pretty good right now. When we walked in the door, he was wiggling to get down and ran up to my son. Then, he ran to my husband. He has peed quite a bit. Still no poop. He seems to be hungry. He sniffs at our food. But I can't get him interested in his food. I bought baby food sweet potatoes and chicken and rice. I am not pushing anything. He is much more alert than he was.

She said all of his blood work was normal. He was mildly dehydrated and his sugar was borderline low.

No idea what caused this other than food change and stress. I am one terrified mommy right now. I'm scared to let him do anything and I am trying to keep things quiet and "normal."

I will feel better when he is drinking again. But I know he has plenty of fluids in him.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm so sorry he is sick . Poor little feller.

Can you add some coconut oil to his diet? What does she think about a laxative of some sort?

Unfortunately, he had no problem pooping. He just couldn't quit pooping. I am praying we are out of the woods. I know one thing, I am not cut out to be in the medical profession.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by barneysmommmy

Just got back with Willie. She kept him there on an iv all day. She wanted him to come home tonight because he would be alone there. He ate one teaspoon of food at their office and has kept it inside all day. He is doing pretty good right now. When we walked in the door, he was wiggling to get down and ran up to my son. Then, he ran to my husband. He has peed quite a bit. Still no poop. He seems to be hungry. He sniffs at our food. But I can't get him interested in his food. I bought baby food sweet potatoes and chicken and rice. I am not pushing anything. He is much more alert than he was.

She said all of his blood work was normal. He was mildly dehydrated and his sugar was borderline low.

No idea what caused this other than food change and stress. I am one terrified mommy right now. I'm scared to let him do anything and I am trying to keep things quiet and "normal."

I will feel better when he is drinking again. But I know he has plenty of fluids in him.

Happy to hear he is alert and happy to see your husband and son.

I'm guessing that he won't drink much after having the IV. Pooping -- if he isn't eating much, he won't produce. Teddy has gone 48 hours without pooping after a bout of diarrhea. Takes awhile for the system to fill up again.

You are a great mom to Willie. Hoping he will recover quickly now and put your mind at ease.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Happy to hear he is alert and happy to see your husband and son.

I'm guessing that he won't drink much after having the IV. Pooping -- if he isn't eating much, he won't produce. Teddy has gone 48 hours without pooping after a bout of diarrhea. Takes awhile for the system to fill up again.

You are a great mom to Willie. Hoping he will recover quickly now and put your mind at ease.

Thank you so much. I have been second guessing my every instinct. I am actually very happy that he isn't pooping. Hoping that he will produce something a little less scary next time.