Anyone had recurrent HGE??
 

We've just gone through our SECOND bout in three months with our 9-year-old Yorkie ... everything I've read on my own and been told by the vet is that this happens to about 10-15 percent of dogs that get HGE.

Anyone had more than one episode? Do they happen more or less frequently? And, have you had any luck with meds to stave it off? THANKS!

Nicole

and Ozzie :animal-pa

Nicole I'm so sorry to hear Ozzie has had to endure this again. Once was enough for Gizmo and thank God it hasn't happened again. It was just a nightmare. Wanted to post and offer prayer for your baby. My Gizmo is 5 yrs. and has had HGE and recuring Pancreatitis in the fast couple of years. Don't know anything about heading it off but the doc did give me some Bentyl to keep on hand. Hug that baby for us.:)

AW, THANK YOU! He's been ultra-rotten this week with all the extra loving. But that's OK. Why have them if you can't spoil 'em?

Poor, Giz. I hate to see any creature of any species go through this even once. And pancreatitis is ugly, too. Oz has dealt with that occasionally and our first Yorkie got it regularly during his last year of life.

Once I had some time to spend on the site yesterday, I DID find someone who had been down the road more than once. She said she had been given extra Flagyl or its generic, Metrinadazole, to treat when her baby has diarrhea as a precursor to an emergency visit. It's my understanding that this drug works as both an antibiotic AND an anti-inflammatory. It doesn't sound like she has had the opportunity to try it. (And for her and her baby, I hope she never has to!)

THAT made me feel loads better since our vet did the very same thing. I hope we never have to find out either.

Right now, we are holding our breath waiting for Oz to poop. He's been eating really well, so if he doesn't go today, we'll have to call the doctor. (This is day 3 since he's been home.) I remember how scared I was last time waiting for this. You know you need to get a life when you're obsessed with a dog's bowel movements. :)

Hayley had this terrible thing arond the 1st of Oct. I starting praying for her and had everyone I know doing the same and Thanks be to God she is Healed!! I choose to believe this will never happen again. I will keep you and your baby in my prayers

I'm sorry your pup is ill again...

I'm gonna sound really ignorant but what's HGE?

Yes, my neighbors must think I'm nuts inspecting his poo when we're out for a walk. After you go thru this once you kind of get paranoid and just want to make sure everythings "coming out alright". I need to inquire about the medicine you are talking about, thanks.

Waiting for poop ...
 

Thanks to everyone for all the good wishes. We're STILL waiting for poop. I called the hospital last night and the doctor said not to worry yet as long as he's eating and not throwing up. He's eating great and no vomit -- so cross fingers that by tomorrow we have a regular healthy BM. (Doc said by Saturday or he needs to get rechecked.)

It's MUCH better that you KNOW what it is, but never find out firsthand ... HGE is hermorrhagic gastroenteritis. I had never heard of this til a few months ago even though Yorkies are supposedly one of the breeds it's more common in. It's a condition with no one specific cause. That's the frustrating part because there doesn't seem to be a way then to prevent it. The vet said it essentially is an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the intestinal tract that inflames the lining and makes it bleed. He said eating a bug, the catbox, a random virus, a case of worms, a diet change, ulcers, just plain stress -- can all trigger it. (Ulcers, parasites ruled out on this one ...)

Symptoms start with steady diarrhea and/or vomiting which usually graduates very quickly to bloody stool then to straight blood INSTEAD of stool. (First time, this happened in about 2 hours. Last weekend's saga took more like 6 hours to go through all the symptoms. For a little while I even had myself convinced it wasn't happening again.) I had never heard of this til a few months ago. Every Yorkie owner, and any other small breed particularly, should be told about it though. Usually strikes age 5 or older, but can hit at any age. Nice, huh?

If you have a VERY little guy (standard size or less), don't hesitate -- go to vet immediately. They can dehydrate almost instantly, go into shock, and die. Oz:aimeeyork is over 13 pounds, so he has a little leeway, but even so, he was at the vet ASAP last Saturday. They need IV hydration and meds and they almost always fully recover with that care. He's a little on the tired side, now taking Metranodazole, Reglan and Pepcid through Tuesday and -- accept for no poop -- doing good.

Success!!!!
 

Maybe this weekend I'll get the peaceful weekend I so wanted LAST weekend ... Ozzie went! And no ER visit need follow. WHEW!

A little loose, but hey, after everything he's been through and the meds he's still on, can't expect more than that.

Keep your fingers crossed that we're back on track!

Yay! I KNOW the excitement you feel. So glad things are doing better. We haven't come out of these episodes for less than 500 a pop. Was thinking about insurance but now this is pre-existing. I was not thinking right for some reason when I said we had Bentyl, it was Reglan..dang good stuff. Your baby has really been thru a lot...hugs all around!;)

Maybe back on track ...
 

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and the encouragement. They have helped tremendously. YT really is a great bunch of folks!

I'm HOPING we're back on track now. Ozzie :aimeeyork FINALLY had another BM this morning (I was starting to get worried again after two whole days). Tomorrow is his last day on the antibiotic and the Pepcid and Reglan will end in another few days.

Emma & HGE
 

Emma just went through this not 3 weeks ago and is just tonight have some bloody, raspberry smelly diarrhea, it is the same as her last episode. I am going to be staying up all night keeping an eye on her and if it continues will take her to the vet.

Emma is 12 years old, a chihuahua mix. Last time she ended up in the hospital about 4 hours after the episode started, first the diarrhea and then vomiting, that was when I took her in, she had to stay for 2 nights. Very hard on both of us, she has horrible separation anxiety.

Hoping she doesn't end up as bad as the first time. Very worried right now.

My only experience with HGE is living through it with two of my friend's dogs. With both of them, it couldn't wait. Both are youmg Yorkies. Without treatment, her pups would not haveg pulled through. I hope your little one gets well soon.

Emma is a little doll baby.

Anyone had recurrent HGE??
 

Thank you, she is my sweetie ... she is better today, still has diarrhea but not bloody, it is turning yellowish, I am feeding her plain chicken sometimes with white rice in it. Making sure she drinks lots of water.

My Yorkie had HGE 3 times .the first 2 she was at the hospital for 3 days each time . The third time was late on Saturday night with no vet available. I gave her a syringe full of
1/2 water 1/2 Pediolyte ( the plain not flavored) every 15 minutes, all night for 10 hours.
By mid morning she was much better. I took her to the vet but she didn't have to stay.
He also put her on ( can you believe it) prescription can dog food called EN by Purina.
That was 2 years ago. She has had no issues of any kind since. I have tried to get her off that dog food , I even tried making it myself with ingredients listed on the can but to no
avail. Every time I do her stomache acts up. I looked it up on the Internet and there were pages of other pet owners that had the same experience with that dog food. At any rate if your yorkie has had HGE or pancreatitis, and it reoccurred you might try it.