Sparky has been up all night with terrible runs. I'm starving him today, hoping he'll be up to some rice by teatime, and have a vets appointment at 3.10 today as he's never been this bad with them before. There's been no change in his diet, but he has been chewing his tail a lot over the past couple of days, and is moulting (friend in work said they can upset their stomach through licking loose fair - any truth in this?) He's really lethargic, and is straining - he seems to be passing a bit of blood :( .I need to top up his Frontline next week and he is due to have his glands cleared, and on top of that I'm expecting a worming reminder from the vet any day.
Question is, I am trying my best to get him to drink, but he's not taking anything.
Any suggestions? It's a long two hours til his appointment.
Tracy

Have your tried ice cubes ? My dogs love them. You can even make flavored ones with broth :)
Good luck and I do hope he gets better :)

Hi Tracy. :)

I wouldn't worm or Frontline him until he's totally better.  Well diluted clear gravy/meat juices may tempt him to drink. I give Bess porridge made with water when she has an upset tum. Slippery Elm is good too.  :)

Hope he's better soon.
Kath.xx

Have read that canned pumkin is a good stabilizer for stomachs. If diarrhoea is the problem then it hardens the stools, and also softens stools when constipated, cool eh?
If you can get your dog to eat it it's nice and moist too, so will also help get fluids into him.

Thanks everyone,
Have taken on board what you said about Frontline and wormers - have the packets but not touching them yet. Vet took his temperature, and examined him, then gave him an injection. Wants to see him again tomorrow. He gave me some diaralyte (sp?) to mix with Sparky's water, and he has taken that, but can't seem to keep anything down (or in :()
He is still dripping blood from behind, and very lethargic. I expect it's going to be a long night - don't want to leave him on his own. He tried to get up and join the girls in the living room earlier, but peed on the carpet. Is this normal when they are off colour? Didn't have the heart to shout "no" at him. Poor lamb looks totally out of it. :(

Back to vets tomorrow - I'll let you know how we go on - thanks for the advice.
Tracy

Re the peeing on the carpet, it isn't normal for him if he doesn't usually do it, so it could be either a symptom of his illness or just that he's done it because he's feeling rough and upset. Either way you were right not to tell him off as he can't help it. I'd mention it to the vet so that he gets the full picture.

Yes, let us know how you get on. :)

Kath.

Hi Tracy, you could try mixing some honey with the water, I wouldn`t use broth while he still has diarrhoea/vomiting if he won`t drink it then syringe a small amount & gently squeeze it in the side of his mouth & give it to him say every hour to keep him hydrated. He`s probably pretty weak & feeling rotten so couldn`t make it outside to pee. Hope he`s bit better this morning, how old is he by the way?

Christine, Spain.

Thanks Christine
He's 10 months now. We had another rotten night with him - up every hour, still dripping blood :(. I rang the vet and had today's appointment brought forward to this morning. It was a different vet this time, she reckons it could be colitis, gave him a stronger injection (painful and itchy, apparently) and wants him in for xrays tomorrow if there's no improvement. She's told me to starve him for another 24 hours too. He's asleep in his crate now - fed up with me washing his bum every time he goes outside (he's so long haired that there's no choice!), and I'm really fed up as usually we're out having fun at this time of day. Feel like a new mum again.
I'll let you know how he is tomorrow.
Tracy

Oh poor thing, he must be feeling rotten!(you too as well). Keep up with the honey water & hope he`s bit better tomorrow.

Christine, Spain.

Honey is working a treat, Christine, he's starting to drink quite a bit - he even got up and found his "tuggy" toy a few minutes ago, and wanted me to play, so that's got to be a good sign, hasn't it?
Tracy

Yes I think it mihjt be Tracy :) Just go easy with it & don`t let him take to much Oh & beware because all that liquid going in means it`s gotta come out :D

Christine, Spain.

Well, at least we got a night's sleep! Sparky seems much more like himself this morning too, but is still straining when he goes out - he hasn't eaten for two days though now, so I don't expect I can expect him to "perform" - I think he must still be in some pain, too, as he keeps trying to chew his tail/hindquarters. I'm due back at the vets at 3. Hope we're coming out of it now - can't wait to give him something to eat!

Glad things are looking up.  When you are at the vets ask if they have the Waltham Recovery Diet.  It is tinned chicken and rice, usually given after an operation, but I find it very good for situations like this when the dog hasn't eaten for a while due to being unwell.

Good Luck
Sandra

Thats good news then TracyL :D

Christine, Spain.

Not happy tonight. Went back to the vets, and Sparky was effectively signed off, with some Hills I/D food, pro-kolin paste and some tablets called duphatrim. He ate a small tea - but has had the runs again since. Back to washing him every few minutes again - he must be the sweetest smelling dog in England by now. Rang the vets again, and they arranged some more tablets to be on reception for me to collect and try - called sulphasalazine - supposed to be for colitis. No vet was available to see us this time, but I am hoping that they would have insisted on doing so if they thought it was serious. I asked if I should bring him back again in the morning if there is no improvement and they said I should. So, I am still non the wiser - (what it is, what's causing it, will it get better?) :(. Thank goodness I'm insured so can insist on them carrying on until it's right -we're up to over £120 so far and don't seem to be getting anywhere. I dread to think how people go on if they're not, and find themselves in a situation like this.
Taking heart from the fact that Sparky is more energetic than he has been over the past couple of days, but as the evening is going on he's going very quiet again. :(
Really appreciate being able to ocme on here and talk about it.
Tracy

That's a shame his stomach is still upset.  The most important thing at the moment is to make sure he keeps drinking lots of fluid or he will dehydrate.  A little bio yogurt won't do him any harm either, it helps line the stomach, especially useful when taking drugs on an empty stomach.

Hope things are looking up in the morning.
Sandra

Hi Tracy, take a sample of his faeces to the vet with you & tell them to test it. I`d want to make sure he doesn`t have a bug, if he does then he can be treated with the appropriate medication. Has he been vomiting as well? If it was me I`d make up some home made chicken & rice to try him with a little later on tonight.

Christine, Spain.

Hi again,
Well, he slept all night, and I gave him chicken and rice this morning, along with the tablets and paste the vet gave me. He does seem to have turned the corner, as he did pass stools rather than liquid this morning, albeit quiet soft. I'll give him til the afternoon and see how we go, as he's full of beans, again after that good long sleep too. :)
Tracy

That sounds good then Tracy, just go easy with the food till his tum settles & keep up with the honey water :)

Christine, Spain.

Nearly there! Sparky is more or less back to normal today. Need to follow the course of tablets through but it's so good to have him bouncing about again. What a week!
Tracy

Excellent Tracy, you could try him with some live youghurt while he`s on the a/bs & for a few wks afterwards :)

Christine, Spain.

Get him to do a test for nasty bugs ie e coli. My dog got ecoli and his symptoms were very similar. Mine wouldn't drink water either , but I did try ice cubes and and they seemed to work. He has made a full recovery now but it did take a while to get him back on his feet. Good Luck

Thanks for the advice. Thankfully Sparky is now back to normal and racing round like a nutter as usual. :)
Tracy

Glad to hear he`s back to normal nutty self  :D

Christine, Spain.