[Abbylynn]

Around 1pm yesterday Leeo had the same symptoms of bloat and vomiting and this time you could actually see his stomach spasm ... and he was in a deal of pain and once again could not move. He laid down outside on the sidewalk and couldn't get back up. I got him to the vet as soon as they could get me in at 4:30.

I have really got to get it together because once again I got sick to my stomach watching him. This little guy is going to give me ulcers. :/

He had a re-examination and now my vet is thinking it may be pylorospasm which is a tube of the stomach that does not allow the food to empty into the intestines. It spasms. The food sits in the stomach and becomes rancid and things of the sort. Leeo is taking reglan to relax the stomach tube spasms and novox for pain. He has only taken his second dose this morning. With the drugs he can walk. Without them he is a vegetable.

My vet says he hasn't seen a case of this for quite a few years but it is a possibility and it does happen.

If this doesn't work and he is not better by Friday then we are doing a barium. If nothing shows up then it will be an endoscopy next.

It has been an hour and a half since I gave Leeo his pills and he just got up and walked to the water bowl to get a drink. At least he shouldn't dehydrate.

If only our dogs could speak! ........

EDIT: We went back in at 11 am because he could not go potty and was twisting and straining and lying down. Checked prostrate... it is ok. Bladder and bowel are not full. Did a urinalysis ... we now have antibiotics for a slight UTI . Some white cells were a little elevated but still not really an answer. Stopped the prednisone.

What a mess ...

 

[Greater Swiss]

Oh no! I hope he's ok! Keep us updated!

 

[serenityatsea]

I'm sorry! It is so hard to see your dog suffer. My thoughts go out to you and Leeo.

 

[Amaryllis]

Poor Leo! Give him a pat for me.

 

[Vicky88]

Poor Leo, hope the vet can find the answer.

 

[kathylcsw]

I am so sorry to hear that. I know how hard this must be for you. I will keep you and Leeo in my thoughts and hope they figure out what is worng and fix it soon.

 

[firefly]

Poor little guy. I hope you get him straightened out soon!

 

[sscott87]

Wish I had any sort of idea to give you, but definitely sounds like your vet is tracking and has a few ideas. I know how hard it is though to see one of your pets sick and suffering while being pretty well unable to do anything. It sucks, to put it bluntly. But just know you're doing all you can for the little guy and try not to worry too horribly much.

 

[Pawzk9]

Good thoughts to Leeo. Do you have a board certified internist in your area? Can you get a referral?

 

[Abbylynn]

Good thoughts to Leeo. Do you have a board certified internist in your area? Can you get a referral?

Thanks for the well wishes everyone ....

Pawzk9 - I am about to ask for a referral .... or do you just look one up somehow? Never been this route before. Never had a dog this ill. After being to the vet 3 times in 10 days and having to wait the weekend seems a bit much ... or maybe it is just me wanting it to hurry up and go away.I saw a different vet today and she said that I should stop the prednisone because it was almost done in four days anyways and it would interfere with the reglan and that the pain med shouldn't have been taken with the prednisone? .... the other vet said to keep giving it ... too conflicting or is this normal between vets and their diagnosis?

I have a real gut feeling the prednisone has brought this on whether it was underlying or not. I have taken and do take prednisone for copd flare-ups .... and I know how wicked that stuff is. ( Leeo is now only 18.1 pounds and he was 19.5 pounds 11 days ago before the s/d dissolusion diet started.) .......... could be wrong ..... but my gut says different. He has been on it for over a month.

If it were to get too bad ... there is always the ER ....... only this time I know the ER hours and won't have to back-track.

I was also told that the pain pill could " Possibly " slow down the process the reglin is doing. But if I see he is in more than a little pain I am giving it to him.

Right now he is sleeping comfortably on my bed after eating and taking his reglin and pain pill. I am about to join him .... it has been a long couple of days.

 

[luv mi pets]

I am sorry to hear about poor Leeo. Hope answers and recovery come quick for your little guy. You are right about pred. Great medication but does have its drawbacks. Keep us up-to-date on his progress.

 

[Pawzk9]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone ....

Pawzk9 - I am about to ask for a referral .... or do you just look one up somehow? Never been this route before. Never had a dog this ill. I have a real gut feeling the prednisone has brought this on whether it was underlying or not. I have taken and do take prednisone for copd flare-ups .... and I know how wicked that stuff is. ( Leeo is now only 18.1 pounds and he was 19.5 pounds 11 days ago before the s/d dissolusion diet started.) .......... could be wrong ..... but my gut says different. He has been on it for over a month.

.

Most board certified vets (i've use an internist and a surgeon) require a referral from your regular vet. Make sure they send all the diagnostics (or give them to you so you can deliver them) I've found that sometimes they can DX stuff much quicker - better equipment, better skills with specific stuff, and specific knowledge.

 

[Abbylynn]

Thank you Pawzk9 ......

This morning at 4:30 am Leeo had one of those what I think are spasms or pain episodes. I gave him his reglan and a pain pill. Later at 7 am he wanted food and was ravenous. I only gave him 1/3 cup of his daily intake. After he ate about 20 minutes later I took him out to potty. He urinated and then he stood there just looking at me and began to hysterically eat grass like a mad dog. He then ran over to me and pawed at me and grabbed my hand with his mouth .... something he has never done .... and then he stood stiff and hunched over and his tongue was wagging and his eyes were squinting like he was in pain and then he dropped to the ground and just lay there with his head hung and not really moving and was incoherent when I spoke to him. I thought he couldn't move ....... and he was severely bloated feeling in his belly .......

I had him back into the vet at 8:30 this morning and made it clear that I needed him checked for a blockage or partial blockage ..... and he is now in the hospital having the barium. This way we can rule blockage out for certain with no guess work. I did not want to wait until Monday.

All of these symptoms I described above .... the vet said that as of yesterday she was thinking epilepsy. She said it sounds like a seizure to her and she honestly feels he is not a blocked dog. We will see. At least I won't feel like he is in danger and if it is ruled epilepsy it can be controlled with medication.

 

[osdbmom]

We have used prednisone along with reglan (the people in this house, not the dogs).

Also only experience with people...but Id imagine dogs are much the same....its not good to just suddenly STOP prednisone, especially if he's been taking it for awhile. At this point, I would think he'd be on a slow wean down from it? "only four more days" could be the last four days of a wean, which could be a big deal if you just suddenly stop.

Im sorry he is so sick again...I was really hoping along with you it was just something simple.

I know its hard to see them hurting.

 

[kadylady]

So sorry to hear Leeo is sick again. Sending good thoughts your way and hoping for some answers soon!

 

[wvasko]

Sorry, prayers at you and leeo.

 

[Abbylynn]

Thank you for all the well wishes everyone ... sincerely.

I am just hanging out on the internet trying to keep busy for a bit ........ This is an all day process .... until around 6pm. I was told.

I forgot to mention Leeo went from 18.1 pounds two days ago to 19.8 pounds this morning? He has no fever .... still.

 

[CrazyDogLady]

I'm so sorry Leeo is sick and that you have to go through the "Let's figure out what's going on" game. Sending healing energy to Leeo and calming energy to you!

 

[Abbylynn]

I'm so sorry Leeo is sick and that you have to go through the "Let's figure out what's going on" game. Sending healing energy to Leeo and calming energy to you!

Thank you. Poor little guy knew something was happening to him this morning. He would " Never "... ever grab my hand with his mouth like that unless ... I beleive he was scared.

 

[Pawzk9]

Thank you Pawzk9 ......

I had him back into the vet at 8:30 this morning and made it clear that I needed him checked for a blockage or partial blockage ..... and he is now in the hospital having the barium. This way we can rule blockage out for certain with no guess work. I did not want to wait until Monday.

All of these symptoms I described above .... the vet said that as of yesterday she was thinking epilepsy. She said it sounds like a seizure to her and she honestly feels he is not a blocked dog. We will see. At least I won't feel like he is in danger and if it is ruled epilepsy it can be controlled with medication.

I suppose it could be a seizure, but it sounds more like pain to me. Have they ruled out pancreatitis? I had a dog who had very weird symptoms for pancreatitis, but it included the food not moving through as usual. My vet (who is very good) was stumped and sent me to the internist, who had it diagnosed as soon as she ultrasounded him. 5 days of treatment and home with never another problem til he was 15 (and then it was his back that failed him- not his gut) I can also tell you from personal experience, that being unable to move the food through you digestive system can range from dismally uncomfortable to "i'm gonna die now" painful. Been there, done that.