Need help, very sick!!

[collinz8]

My Yorkie is a female that is 5 years old. She weighs 7lbs. I have had her now for 2 years. Her original owner past away. She is a very important part of my family. For the last year she has had problems where she would take an episode and start throwing up blood clots. This would last a day or so and the vet would treat her for pancritis. The has happened several times and they keep treating her for the same thing. The have also treated her for parasites. Today she awoke this mourning vomiting up blood clots and also passing blood clots through her colon. She did not have any diareaha just bright red clots. I am really concerned about my dog and I am wondering if there is something out there they should be looking for. Today they said they were going to look for ADDISON'S disease. My dog is at the vet now getting rehydrated. It is odd she can go a month or two perfectly fine and then all of a sudden start bleeding very sick. My dog is on a strict diet, getting only science diet.
Any ideas??

Rob

[Higgin's Dad]

Oh Rob, I am so sorry to hear she is so sick. If you don't feel that your vet is doing all they can for her, I urge you to contact a bigger animal hospital, depending on where you live. You may benefit from call a major vet center. Angell Memorial in Boston, or Cornell Veterinary school, or one near you. They may be of more help.

In the meantime, I'll sure put your little one in my prayers.

Keep us posted.

[collinz8]

The University of TN vet hospital would not see me. They said they were too full before the holidays. My local vet tried to get me in there today.

Rob

[Babbie]

I am so sorry to hear that ur yorkie is sick. I can't do anything else but pray she gets better soon!

[DMorgan]

My dog went through two bouts of what it sounds like yours is.

My girl had canine hemoragic gastroenteritis (spelling"). There isn't a known cause for it, but they say it's more common in smaller nervous type dogs.

I came home from work and my exhusband said to me "Delilah is throwing up grape jelly." Hm.. as I was never aware the dog could open the fridge door and bottles... I didn't think this was the case lol. Outside sure enough it looked like grape jelly but it was clotted blood. Emergency vet time and within a few minutes of being there blood just started pouring, and I MEAN pouring out of her bottom. I went friggin ballistic.

When they spun down her blood, it was almost all red cells and no plasma - so like your baby she was extremely dehydrated and on an IV, amongst other things for a week. You might ask about HG, it hit Lilah very fast, was very expensive and the scariest thing I've ever gone through.

Hope she feels better soon.

Jeni

[collinz8]

Jeni,

How did they treat it and how do you prevent it from coming back??

Rob

[DMorgan]

Well.... because it's one of those things that have no explanation - as in, the dog didn't eat anything, didn't seem stressed etc, I and the vets have no clue how to keep it from coming back.

If I recall correctly, I was told some dogs get it once and never again but some have several bouts of it. What I've learned to do is watch very closely anything she starts to act up (eating grass, changes in appetite and drinking). I remember she had been eating grass a for a few days before it got very bad, but I figured all dogs eat grass. I also check her poops and pinkness of gums because there HAD to be a few day duration before she started hemorgging alll over the place.

She had this a second time, but because I caught it quick it was much much less severe. The first time my god, she went from seeming down and not feeling good to lethargic and drooling within 8 hours. It probably varies dog to dog, so when your girl begins to act different maybe that's the time to monitor. But for sure, talk to your vet first, it may not even be HG.

As for treatment... the first episode being so severe she was on IV for fluids, with added potassium because her heart was eeking out and lots of antibiotics. She had to be transported to a facility that was open at night after the normal vet closed so they could watch her. They were fabulous, kept hourly progress notes and everything. I did that hoopla for about a week and two grand later (cringe!)

The second time only antibiotics and a bland rice diet.

I sure hope it's nothing like what Delilah went though, I have never seen so much blood just come oozing out for no good reason.

Please let us know how she gets along.

Jeni

[fasteddie]

I'm sorry to hear about your Yorkie's ordeal, Rob. Besides seeing another doc, or perhaps a specialist in this kind of area, I don't know what else to suggest.

Here's some stuff on Addison's Disease:

Some of the most common signs a pet owner may observe in a dog with Canine Addison's Disease include:

Anorexia
Lack of energy
Weakness
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Dehydration
Less frequent signs include:
Bloody vomit or stool
Excessive thirst or urination
Loss of appetite
Hair loss
Shaking and tremors

Most veterinarians will treat Canine Addison's Disease with a medication that replaces the hormones that the adrenal glands can no longer produce. Today, the only medication approved by the FDA* for treating Canine Addison's Disease is PERCORTEN®-V (desoxycorticosterone pivalate).


http://www.petwellness.com/daddisons.asp

[mmyorkies]

I have some information about HGE on my site that you can read about, but I don't think your pup has that. HGE is usually accompanied by severe bloody diarrhea. Here is the link for it http://yorkieviews.com/hge.htm

[DMorgan]

Yes exactly what mmyorkies said. The start of the second time my girl had it though it began quite mild. I was just throwing out a "just in case"

EXCELLENT website, that describes what happened to Lilah to a T!

Very curious to hear what the docs say...

Jeni

[Maddie-Rudy-Mom]

Rob I am very sorry your yorkie girl is sick, she is in my prayers. She is very lucky to have found a caring family that will do what ever it takes to make her well. Take care.......Cindy

[bettyeanne]

Rob, so sorry about your yorkie baby! I hope the doctors can discover the cause and treat it quickly! There is an excellent facility at Auburn University ... don't know exactly where you are, but if you could get her to them, she couldn't be in better hands. [That recommendation comes from an old fan of the Alabama Crimison Tide!!! You gotta know that if I would recomment them ...they are good!! May not like their football but their veterinary school is excellent!] Please keep us updated on your baby! We will certainly keep her in our prayers!

[collinz8]

Molly is much better. After 3 days of getting fluids through an IV she is back to normal. The vet thinks it is HGE but we do not know what triggered it. We are putting her on Science Diet ID and looking at having her scoped to see what is going on. Thans for all the information and support!

Rob

[fasteddie]

Good to hear, hope she's all okay now Rob!

[Maddie-Rudy-Mom]

Glad to hear Molly is doing better.............Cindy