took my dog to the vet last nite as she was very lethargic and wouldnt eat. The vet was really unhelpful though and said she had a temperature and its either heat stroke, infection, or the onset of pyo.  Didnt give her antibiotics or anything just said to monitor her and take her back if she got worse.

i have her on the kitchen floor at the moment with wet towels on her and the fan on, its not particularly warm today although it was really hot yesterday and she has a very thick coat.

She isnt getting worse and has eaten small amounts this morning and is drinking ok.  Do you think i should take her back and ask for antibiotics or just wait and see how she is.

I would take her to another vet.

Most the time with vets if theirs a chance of infection the dog is given antibiotics to see if that helps.

To be honest I would be looking for another Vet too!! Any Vet that virtually dismisses a chance of a bitch having such a serious condition as Pyo, isn't worth the money or the health of a dog! Go somewhere else asap! All the best, Dawn

I would take her back for a review if you are still unhappy with her condition but I would not "ask for antibiotics".  The vet can decide if that is appropriate when they have examined her and considered all the clinical indications.  Heat stroke is obviously a possibility in a heavily coated breed in the recent weather and antibiotics is not going to help at all in that instance.  Pyometra is a very serious condition and they can deteriorate very rapidly so you obviously need to continue to be very observant but the vet will have more to go on than just the temperature ie an abdominal palpation should reveal any tenderness or guarding so I am not sure that we need dismiss this vet as incompetent when we were not actually there for the examination ;)  The fact that they have listed all the possibilities suggests they were all considered.  Eating and drinking is a good sign that she is not feeling too poorly.

I understand what you're saying Isabel, but the Vet stated it COULD be the onset of Pyo and if it were my bitch I would want a second opinion or someone more convincing!

Oh Dawn, my chum the GP loves these second opinions when he has set off on a course of one treatment to exclude something during the watchfull wait period.  Of course by the time the patient sees the next Doctor not only has that first possibility been excluded the condition has further developed and things are much clearer so voila!  Second Doctor a genius, first Doctor an idiot! :D :D

But isabel the vet said it could be an infection or pyo.....

Now if it's pyo not many vets send the dog back home untill they are more certain it's not pyo.

I think it depends on what the clinical signs indicate.  If there are no signs at all other than temperature and lethargy and there are several other possibilities sharing the present clinical signs I think it reasonable to alert the owner to possibilities and go from there.  If he does suspect heat stroke would it be reasonable to keep the dog in on the outside possibility and risk raising it's stress levels still further or send it home to recover while remaining observed?  I do think it is very hard to pass judgement on these things without knowing everything the vet has seen on examination and discussed.  Even owners are not always aware of those important bits of information that pass between them during a consultation.
I think if the owner is in any doubt they should go back for review but I think it is too early to hang the vet yet :)

Oh I don't wanna hang him Hun, just a little kick perhaps?? LOL :P

Where?????? :)

TUT TUT Take a look at my siggy then a wild guess??? :P :P :P (All I can say is, it's gonna hurt and affect his fatherhood chances!!!) :D

When my Vets have suspected a Pyo they always scan to see if they can see the state of the womb. Can't believe a Vet would treat such a life threatening illness in such a cavalier fashion.

Which is what makes me think that, given his examination of the dog and the apparent absence of any other clinical signs, the vet believes pyo is the least likely diagnosis.  He can't absolutely rule it out and has therefore mentioned it but probably feels it is such an extreme possibility that he is prepared to take the risk of allowing the dog to go home with strict instructions to continue "monitoring."

If the vet kept the dog in and it turned out to be a minor tummy upset, he would be accused of over-reacting and hospitalising the dog to pay for his new car.

I would take the dog back to the vet if you are at all worried.

Thanks for the replies.  It was late at night when i went and to be honest she was slightly perkier in the vets than she had been at home..pyo was mentioned as has been said probably as a last resort of what it could be due to her not yet being spayed.  She is alot better today..is eating dry biscuit (normally has raw) and is drinking fine..ive kept her wet and cool.  am tempted to shave all her fur off lol!! (Just kidding)

Thanks again..im such a worry wart...like an overprotective parent!

Glad she is feeling better.  I think the first hot spell of the year always takes us and the dogs by surprise and we forget how torpid it can make them.  Good job you didn't fork out for overnight observation ;)  Seriously though, it's always a worry so make sure you are happy she is continuing to improve won't you :)

Glad she is feeling a bit better today :) I was always told that double coated dogs shouldn't be clipped as what keeps them warm in winter will keep them cooler in summer :)

Remember that the coat insulates the dog, so shaving a dog canmake them hotter and their skin more likely to burn and bigger danger of heat stroke.

brackets are not a cloaking device ;) I can clearly see the words "just kidding' in Mrsdils brackets after the comment about shaving!
Pertinent point...but the poster did qualify her comment as not a serious intent.

I am sure she was (the comment was aimed at anyone reading who may think it a good idea),  I am on a breed mailing list and was horrified to find that several US owners clipped their Elkhounds each summer.  Can you imagine anything more embarrased looking than a Nordic Spitz with no fur???

What breed is she?  If she has a double coat, make sure that she is well groomed and comb out all the undercoat.