Hi guys, just a quick update. Doesn't seem to be any end in sight, diarrhea is still persistent, without the pumpkin it's just puddles of liquid. Tomorrow will be 7 days. I can no longer get him to drink water, and getting him to eat the rice chicken is becoming tricky as well. I've been mixing water in with the food tricking him just to get liquid in him.

Called the vet, they don't seem concerned or interested, I've been told to wait it out basically, "it can be up to 2 weeks", was told to do what I'm already doing or have done, without food, rice/chickrn etc. also been told to go ahead with the panacur dewormer.

I put my trust into the vet, but now I feel like I'm getting bad advice. Not sure if they are waiting till he's flopping over and require emergency care along with a huge $$ bill, or if im just overly concerned. :confused: I'm just not feeling confident. He has had diarrhea episodes one other time in his life but with holding food then giving chicken/rice I seen instant results/changes. This time I see nothing! I feel like something more might be wrong, I don't want this to progress to the point there is no help for him! Also worried about dehydration at this point because I know I can't get the amount of water into him that he usually drinks.

He began at 5.8oz, over the past few days he's been in the changing ranges of 5.2oz-5.6oz, today when I checked he's at 5lb. Will recheck later to see if it has gone up again.

I also would be very concerned. Willie went through a bout of something a few weeks ago. It started as vomiting, then diarrhea, then refusal of food and water. This happened over a period of 3 days. He's pretty small, so this may have caused his situation to escalate quickly. But I would not fool around with the not drinking part.

His did not clear up without an iv. I pray that you don't go through what we did. By the time he got his iv, I seriously did not think he was going to make it. The fact that he is refusing water is very serious. It doesn't take them very long to dehydrate. Have you told the vet he isn't drinking?

Yes I did, I'm not sure how they expect such a little dog to go another few days or a week. I haven't slept in a week since this happened, I'm up around the clock changing pee pads, wiping up floors, wiping bums! I'm exhausted! I'm two hours from the vet so if something changes suddenly 2 hours is very valuable! I'll have to monitor him over night and call again first thing in the morning. My resources are exhausted at this point.

I've done all I can! I even tried a lil Gatorade tonight, thought he'd attract to the flavour, no go!

Did you ever get a diagnosis about your pup, and what happened?

So sorry your little one is still having GI issues, and not eating and drinking normally. You both must be exhausted and this cannot go on like this.
Is the vet 2 hours away the only one you can see?
If it were me I would get a second opinion and some stool, blood and urine tests.
He needs to be hospitalized and diagnosed from exams and tests, so he can be treated for the correct ailment. It could still be a gastroenteritis bug, but also perhaps something else? As you say, it is scary just to wait for a crisis and be so far away from a vet.
I feel for you with all the clean up and monitoring you are having to do now.
Hoping you can get to see a vet soon and get some better help before your baby gets really sick.
Good luck and please keep in touch.

You need to find a vet who does testing...OR you need to ok the testing with the vet you are using. I was not clear on the reason no blood work was done. A vet prescribing the way this one is is a blindfolded vet. Lab tests are very important.

Your pup can die from this ... vomiting and diarrhea can be extremely debilitating to small pups. Being up around the clock changing pads is scary!!!!!

You say you have done all you can...I think you need to do one more thing. Take your pup to a vet ASAP. Don't call...GO. Surely there is an emergency vet somewhere. If you have to drive two hours, do it! What you are describing is EXTREMELY SERIOUS!!

LilWaffles, I would also be extremely concerned after seven days of liquid diarrhea and now not eating or drinking. Yes, dogs do pick up stomach bugs and can have diarrhea for a day or three that resolves with a bland diet and a bit of pumpkin, but seven days is way too long to allow it to continue. There is obviously some kind of bug, virus, inflammation, irritation or parasite causing the GI upset and if it were going to resolve on its own it likely would have done so by now. You must be in a very rural area for the closest vet to be two hours away. If overnight emergency care is available even two hours away, I would be on the road now. If you can't see a vet till morning, I would be on the road two hours before they open and there waiting and demanding my pup be seen immediately. A five pound dog does not have much reserve to carry through this many days of diarrhea and your pup is likely weak and dehydrated by now. He may need IV or sub q fluids, and blood work and possibly a fecal exam is warranted to get to the bottom of what's going on with your pup. I hope you take the advice that has been given and not wait any longer before having your pup seen again. Good luck and keep us posted.

Diana

Your thoughts are exactly my thoughts. I expected some type of test when I went in there. I felt they were just guessers with access to animal medicine. I used the clinic before and had good results.

Unfortunely I am in a rural area and services are limited, this is the only clinic in the area. There are certain surgeries and treatments that require flight travel. It's a huge disadvantage.

Yes I am in a rual area unfortunely I would've got that second opinion DAYS ago! 7 days is way to much, I know my dog. He poops firm twice a day at the exact same times, never miss. Something isn't right, I'm not satisfied and I will be showing up there in morning ASKING for test and a proper diagnosis.

I couldn't get him to drink water tonight, but I recalled this summer when I'd blend a small amount of seedless watermelon with water to form Popsicles(dog cook book recipe), so I did this tonight without freezing it and it worked like a charm, he drank quite a bit, than asked for food, feed him some rice/chicken/pumpkin with EXTRA water added. He cleaned his bowl out, than searched for more shortly after pushing his bowl around. He peed normally, had 1 dirrehea. Now he's sound asleep. His eyes and nose are still wet, his gums feel dry but when I push on them the color returns quickly. I think I have him situated till morning. Fingers crossed for my lil waffles!

I will keep posted! I find this forum very helpful especially for reference, someone else may find it helpful with a similar situation.

So hard... But you need another vet.
Any possibility to find someone else ?
This is very worrisome.
Blessings,
Xoxo

I so feel for you with a sick baby with such difficult access to a vet. You must be so concerned as you have done everything you could to make your baby better.
Even the 2 hour trip will be an ordeal if your boy is feeling bad.
I cannot imagine being in your situation and having to take on all that load of a pet that is so sick, with no vet help.
As it is so far will you leave him at the vet for a while for the tests and treatment? He will probably need hydration and who knows what else to return him to health.
Thinking of you and wishing you a safe trip and a healthy outcome to this misery you and your pet have been through.

I am sorry, but your pup could die while you say all of this. I know it is hard, but with a pup vomiting and having diarrhea this long you must find a vet even if you must fly or drive further.
I really think it is horrible to just sit and type this to us because it is very upsetting and we cannot do anything but advise you to get your pup to a vet.
I have seen this happen before and then the pup is dead as we all feel sick...just makes no sense to me.
Tell me where you are located and I will help you look!

I agree with the urgent need for a vet, and wanted to add:

Pumpkin may help some dogs with either diarrhea or constipation, but in my Teddy, it makes diarrhea worse. I would skip the pumpkin.

Same with watermelon. It might be a good way to get fluid, but it can also cause or make diarrhea worse.

I understand we always want our dogs to take in fluids, but it doesn't suffice for maintaining hydration when there is an underlying health issue. For instance, when my dad has had pneumonia, didn't matter how much fluid he drank. He was still dangerously dehydrated.

Praying for your little one.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Sick dog
 

Hopefully the OP is at the vet today and the poor dog is being treated? Praying that it is the case.

Sick dog
 

I do feel for the OP as well as the poor pet. I cannot imagine having to travel two hours to see a vet for my pets. Yes, for a specialist, but most of us can see a vet closer than that. She did take the pet to the vet when he was sick and was diagnosed(?), given meds and a treatment regimen. She did everything in her power to heal the dog and also came on here for advice. GI issues can take time to heal and I got the impression the vet was not too worried about the continuing symptoms. She had faith in the vet and assumed for a few days that the ailment would go away. To be fair to the OP she was prepared to travel all that distance to see her vet again and I pray she did do that or see another vet who might do more tests and treat the dog.
One has to walk in her shoes before admonishing her. She may have issues at home or bad weather to contend with and the four hour round trip may be a real burden or hazard. We just don't know! I do think she was doing the best she could for her dog and was very concerned about his welfare.
Praying the the poor baby was seen today and that he is on the mend.