knitmehappy Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Hi there. I'm just wondering if anyone has experience with this condition. My Buddy (5yr old lab) is in hospital tonight for iv hydration for this condition its the second time this has happened, first time was just over a year ago. First time occurred a couple of weeks after we adopted him from petrescue. At the moment there is a lot of activity at home (landscaping, blokes, trucks excavators). I don't know if stress s contributing? Does anyone know if it is normal for a healthy young animal to get so sick more than once? Both times he has gone downhill pretty fast. The vet has ruled out various infections, parasites and obstruction. Is it worth seeing a gastroenterology specialist vet? Edited August 28, 2013 by knitmehappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Hey. My 1 year old at the time had it but hasn't had it since but I believe her contributor was fat. Does buddy have much fat? Ever since Ive monitored Lucys fat intake we havent had a recurrence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitmehappy Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 Hi, no he has a pretty good diet I think. Kibble plus chicken, rice and sardines. He's very lean, people always comment because they think labs are always chubby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Are the sardines in water? I just know that any sort of fat sets Lucy off or makes her vomit, I have to cut it off meats too. Stress is also a contributor they say, if he's an anxious dog what you've described may be the cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 My youngest poodle had two bouts of HGE as a youngster. The research I did at the time taught me: * its primarily a disease that affects young dogs - on average between the ages of two and four * repeat bouts aren't uncommon * it can have a bacteria, a virus or a toxin as a trigger * chronic dehydration is the most dangerous symptom of the disease In my dog's case, I'm pretty sure a dodgy pigs ear triggered one bout and something he ate out walking in the bush the second. If you've got excavation happening on the property, is there any chance your dog is unearthing old "treasures" to snack on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitmehappy Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 My youngest poodle had two bouts of HGE as a youngster. The research I did at the time taught me: * its primarily a disease that affects young dogs - on average between the ages of two and four * repeat bouts aren't uncommon * it can have a bacteria, a virus or a toxin as a trigger * chronic dehydration is the most dangerous symptom of the disease In my dog's case, I'm pretty sure a dodgy pigs ear triggered one bout and something he ate out walking in the bush the second. If you've got excavation happening on the property, is there any chance your dog is unearthing old "treasures" to snack on? I'm reasonably sure he hasn't been digging things up because I've had him inside or leashed because of the works (no fence right now) but its always possible, he is a stealthy creature when it comes to eating crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitmehappy Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 Are the sardines in water? I just know that any sort of fat sets Lucy off or makes her vomit, I have to cut it off meats too. Stress is also a contributor they say, if he's an anxious dog what you've described may be the cause. Yeah, I get the sardines in water. He splits a can with the cat a couple of times a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 I swear by raspberry cordial (must be minimum 20% juice) administered at the first sign of gastro. It has to be early or it will compound the dehydration but I think it arrested one more bout in my poodle boy. Cascade is a suitable brand and I gave it neat by syringe. Any dodgy puddles around?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitmehappy Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 I swear by raspberry cordial (must be minimum 20% juice) administered at the first sign of gastro. It has to be early or it will compound the dehydration but I think it arrested one more bout in my poodle boy. Cascade is a suitable brand and I gave it neat by syringe. Any dodgy puddles around?? He could very well have eaten or drank something. He's that kinda dog. Ill keep the cordial thing in mind, it's recommended for people too isn't it? Right now of course he's hooked ip to a drip so thats sorting out the dehydration. Actually, I'm kind of relieved he's in the hospital, I haven't had much sleep for the last couple of nights, it's as bad as having a sick kid! And I have to work tomorrow, I was getting into a state trying to work out how to pop home to check on him. Leaving him in the yard isn't an option unless I want him squashed by a digger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Yep, works on most critters. CSU did research on it after they heard of pig and dairy farmers using it on scouring piglets and calves. ETA: Second bout I got to the vet a lot quicker. I came to recognise the frequency and "style" of vomiting as more than an upset stomach and bolted there. Changed the outcome from 72 hours on a drip to overnight only. I'd certainly never allow a dog to vomit more than once or twice now before heading in for a PCV and potassium level check. Edited August 28, 2013 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ams Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 I had a young Shar Pei surrendered as the owner couldn't afford vet treatment and he had HGE. Blood tests showed he has blood cells that don't mature (not sickle cell anaema) so he can't clot as quickly as he should.. At his lowest he was 12kg and could barely stand. He looked like he had wobblers as he had no muscle to hold himself up with. He had the head shakes for months before he recovered enough to be able to walk and stand properly. I can't remember the exact drug regime he was on but I can find out if necessary. It is very rare and had a number of specialists stumped as well. He will always have tiny blood cells so will always have issues with IBD and HGE. He is now fat and healthy and can just about eat anything he wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 I had a young Shar Pei surrendered as the owner couldn't afford vet treatment and he had HGE. Blood tests showed he has blood cells that don't mature (not sickle cell anaema) so he can't clot as quickly as he should.. At his lowest he was 12kg and could barely stand. He looked like he had wobblers as he had no muscle to hold himself up with. He had the head shakes for months before he recovered enough to be able to walk and stand properly. I can't remember the exact drug regime he was on but I can find out if necessary. It is very rare and had a number of specialists stumped as well. He will always have tiny blood cells so will always have issues with IBD and HGE. He is now fat and healthy and can just about eat anything he wants. Ams was this HGE or IMHA?? Never heard of gastro being that bad before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Knitmehappy yes my girl Westie has had two bouts of HGE the first just after I got her as a five year old - she almost died. Then a little over 12 months later she had another less severe bout - but I picked up the early symptoms and raced her to the vet and got her straight on a drip so probably prevented it progressing to a severe bout. In my case no idea what caused it - and thank goodness it hasn't recurred. Quick action off to the vet and rehydration seems to be the key to recovery. Good luck with your boy. Edited August 28, 2013 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Hey. My 1 year old at the time had it but hasn't had it since but I believe her contributor was fat. Does buddy have much fat? Ever since Ive monitored Lucys fat intake we havent had a recurrence. I just know that any sort of fat sets Lucy off or makes her vomit, I have to cut it off meats too. Have to say Donatella, this sounds more like pancreatitis than anything else. Edited August 28, 2013 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ams Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 I had a young Shar Pei surrendered as the owner couldn't afford vet treatment and he had HGE. Blood tests showed he has blood cells that don't mature (not sickle cell anaema) so he can't clot as quickly as he should.. At his lowest he was 12kg and could barely stand. He looked like he had wobblers as he had no muscle to hold himself up with. He had the head shakes for months before he recovered enough to be able to walk and stand properly. I can't remember the exact drug regime he was on but I can find out if necessary. It is very rare and had a number of specialists stumped as well. He will always have tiny blood cells so will always have issues with IBD and HGE. He is now fat and healthy and can just about eat anything he wants. Ams was this HGE or IMHA?? Never heard of gastro being that bad before It was HGE. He was a very weird case and what is weirder is that we didn't really know if what we did fixed him or whether he fixed himself. He has had several blood tests since and still has the tiny blood cells (essentially his blood is very thin as the blood cells don't get bigger as they are supposed to). I don't know what started the HGE off as he wasn't in our care then. I will say that without my vet provide a LOT of pro bono care he would not have made it. She actually had him as a foster as he needed 24/7 care for ages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 It would be except she vomited and pooped which I think is where the HGE tied in. The vet at the time thought it was either fat (no coincidence she had a huge handful of chicken skin from my mun) or stress (the week Bon came home). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) 1377692193[/url]' post='6286466']It would be except she vomited and pooped which I think is where the HGE tied in. The vet at the time thought it was either fat (no coincidence she had a huge handful of chicken skin from my mun) or stress (the week Bon came home). Was the diarrhoea bloody? Darcy's was red at one stage Edited August 28, 2013 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Doh, I meant to write 'vomited and pooped blood'. Yes, it was frank blood, watery stool. I'm glad I took her when I did as she was febrile and needed fluids, this can be fatal in small breeds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Doh, I meant to write 'vomited and pooped blood'. Yes, it was frank blood, watery stool. I'm glad I took her when I did as she was febrile and needed fluids, this can be fatal in small breeds It's freakin scary isn't it. It can be fatal in ANY dog... I gather IV fluids or lack thereof are usually the deal breaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) Double post Edited August 29, 2013 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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