Pip my JR is really poorly.  It all seemed to start when he ate a pigs' ear which we bought for him last Wednesday,  he had never had one before.  Later that evening he was sick and it looked like part of the pigs' ear was brought up.  Since then (Thursday) he has been really off colour,  not eating and obviously with a tummy ache.  We had to take him to the emergency vet Thursday night who gave him several injections and sent him home.  No better Friday and was admitted into the vet hospital.  He has had x-rays and blood tests and has been on a drip and has not eaten since Thursday.  I think they don't  know what do to with him and suggested I bring him home to see if he will eat anything here.

We have been to see him daily in the vets and I have taken him in chicken but he is not interested.  At the moment I am cooking some chicken for him which I will mix with some of the ID food they have given me but he is lying in his basket under his blanket looking very sorry for himself.  I noticed he has a job getting up and down the stairs so he must still be in some discomfort.  If he still has not eaten by tomorrow I have to take him back to the vets.  I am not confident though that any of them has a clue what the problem is - do you really think it could have been the pigs' ear - one of the vets thought it could have been.  He does seem to have any awful lot of wind in his tummy poor little soul.

I am  hoping he will try a bit of chicken presently - I have a lot medication to give him with it.

Snowflake

Poor little man.Bit of a long shot but have the vets mentioned a pancreatitis attack.I know it can be brought on by too much fat which a pigs ear would be.I had a dog who had suspected pancreatitis and the symptoms sound similair.Hope he picks up soon x

Yes they have mentioned it but are not sure.

He has eaten a few tiny bits of chicken I have fed him by hand, poor little soul and at the moment is lying on the landing looking though the window waiting for his "daddy" to come home"

Snowflake

I do feel for you,willing them to eat something,anything.You feel so helpless don't you.Have you got the blood test results back and did they show anything?

No not really.  I am quite fed up with the vet practice.  It is a group practice and I have seen a Polish chap,  a Spaniard and a NZ fellow.  Not a lot of continuity.  They clearly don't have a clue what is wrong with Pip.  The bill I have paid is well over £1,000 yet we are no closer to a solution. I felt that they sent  him home to see if I could solve it.

I am losing a bit of heart I have to say.  Pip has eaten hardly anything and is restless - there is pain in his eyes.  Don't know what to do do.  Feel ringing the vets is fruitless (emergency at this time of night) but wonder if he will survive the night .....

Snowflake

If i were you i'd get the yellow pages and find another vet who will see you asap for a second opinion.Ther is no going back if you leave things too long.Sorry to sound harsh,not wanting to scare you but you do need a vet who will take this very seriously x

> Yes they have mentioned it but are not sure.
>

Not sure?   Haven't they blood tested?  I use an expensive vet, but I'm appalled at what you have forked out already.  I didn't pay that when I had a girl in the veterinary hospital, on a drip, for a week.  They wanted to rest the pancreas.

Would be worth asking around for vet recommendations in your area.  I do hope that you get this sorted.

How is Pip today Snowflake?

Hello All

Well he is much the same really.  He has eaten a little chicken and I have got him to take the ABs the vet prescribed. He looks though as if he is pain still, not moving very well.  He has had no  vomiting or diarrhoea though.  I have called the vets as I am not sure what to do and am waiting for someone to call me back.  Will let you know.  His tummy is obviously full of gas and so it is a bit pheeewww if you know what I mean, poor lad.

Snowflake.

Thanks for the update Snowflake,please let us know how things go with the vet.I would insist on a chat with them about Pips blood test results.

Since the last post I had a go at the receptionists (not their fault I know) as the vet has not phoned back (must have been an hour ago I rang).  He is just a locum and I feel does not have the experience.  My husband is now going to speak to them - but I am feeling that I may have to take him somewhere else.  Will let you know the outcome of all this.

Snowflake

Just a thought but have they checked for an obstruction?
Hope he is better soon. I would be tempted to find a new vet too!
Aileen

If you find a new vet insist that the old vet fax's through the blood test results.It may help speed up diagnosis before they run their own tests.  Thinking of you and loads of get well vibes for Pip x

How are things Snowflake?

Towards the end of the afternoon Pip bucked up considerably.  I took him to see the vet (The Director of the practice who is a good vet) and she thought he looked much brighter.  She said that although the tests were not positive for pancreatitis she felt that this was still probably what it is.  He is still sore in that region.  She has sent off some blood for a different pacreas test today.

He still is not eating much but is moving better and just looks  more  himself.  (He tried to jump in the back of my car which is something I always try to not let  him do since he invariably scratches the car in so doing!! - so he must feel better!).

I am feeling more positive myself but still feel annoyed over the lack of continuity in Pip's treatment.  My regular vet is on paternity leave (unfortunately for me but not for him of course!).  I had a similar scenario with my westie last year but her treatment was very good.  Anyway hopefully it is onward and upward and the little lad will contine to improve.

Thanks all.

Snowflake

Good to hear your news about Pip,sounds like he's turned a corner.Hope he continues to improve,poor little man.Let us know the latest blood test results x

Pip is improving but it is slow.  He has never been a good eater at the best of times,   very picky.  So I have been hand feeding him boiled chicken and fish (he didn't like the fish but the others did!!).  Today was the first time he ate the chicken with a bit of gusto, eating it from his bowl without my giving it to him bit by bit.  However we took him for a bit of a walk with the others today but had to carry him back,  he seems low on energy.

We have an appointment with the vet today which I thought we may not have had to keep but we are taking him anyway.  We are a bit worried that he hasn't done a poo in ages although he is weeing as normal.  As the weekend is looming I don't want another midnght dash to the emergency vet.  I think we will keep any walks to a minimum at the moment.  This has been a very nasty "do" one way and another and seems to be taking ages to shake off.

Snowflake

> She has sent off some blood for a different pacreas test today.
>

How long before you get results?  My vets do them "in house" and I got a phone call 2 hours after I had left them, to confirm diagnosis.  If Pip does have pancreatitis he will be in excruciating pain without pancreatic enzymes put on his food. 

I do feel that your poor boy is being made to wait too long for treatment.  Once diagnosed, my girl was only ever allowed one type of food for the rest of her life (along with enzymes) but at least, by being strict, she went on for years.

I think the trouble is that the tests are sent off to an external lab so take a few days.  At least this particular test does - the first test for pancreatitis came back negative but the vet said that this happens sometimes so she has done a different test.  I don't think he is in agony though, don't worry I would have him back in the vets in a trice.  We have been worried about Pip's lack of energy for a terrier so my husband took him to see the vet this morning.  She listened to his heart for 5 minutes and said that his heart beats quite fast and then suddently slows.  She is going to arrange an ECG as maybe he needs some medication to  steady his heart rate poor boy.  (The vet thinks the heart issue is nothing to do with the pancreatitis issue).  Still he is quite bright today and I am just boiling up some more chicken.  Difficult with the other 3 dogs who are madly jealous as they munch their  JWB and Butcher's Tripe!

Reasonably  happy with the vets (normally)  by and large but they are just around the corner and are the state of the art hospital for all surrounding vets' practices.  Normally they are fine but they are short staffed at the mo which is why I had to see several locums which was awful.

Snowflake

Well, fingers crossed this end for you.  Sending positive vibes.  :-)

Hope you get some answers soon,hugs for Pip x

How is Pip Snowflake?

Pip  is much much better.  Back to his old self,  pinching the other dogs' chews and hiding them.  Appetite much better so I think we are out of the woods now.

Thank you for your kind thoughts, it certainly helped.  You feel so helpless when they are poorly - and those eyes look at you so reproachfully as if to say why can't you make me better mum?

Snowflake

That's fantastic news,been thinking of you x