Aunties Dog, Trembling A Lot, Fearful, Some Vomiting

[sumosmum]

My aunties little dog is currently staying at the vet and has been there since yesterday morning. She vomited on Saturday night, and was very unwell by yesterday morning. She is trembling a lot, and very miserable. The vet had her on a drip for 24 hours. She has managed to eat a little bit, but still not right. Apparently, she seems very fearful and shaking all the time.

This little girl, Daisy, is the sister of my little dog Mini. She was from a rescue litter and my mother has the mother of the litter, and another brother and sister.

The vet at first thought that she had been baited, but now is a bit unsure about what is going on. She spends most of her time in the house, so although I suppose a bait could be possible, it is unlikely. Blood tests have been taken, and awaiting the results. Has anyone else got any ideas on what could be causing this, or had a similar problem with their dog. She is vaccinated and always been very healthy. She mixes with other family members dogs, and none of them are or have been ill. :D

I hope that the vet can get to the bottom of the problem. She is a lovely little thing, and we are all very worried about her.

Edited May 25, 2010 by sumosmum

[Teebs]

oh, i hope they can find out what is going on with her and get her better and send her home, let us know how she goes

[sumosmum]

oh, i hope they can find out what is going on with her and get her better and send her home, let us know how she goes

Thanks Teebs, will let you know. Poor little thing, she is only 3yo.

[Teebs]

any news?

[sumosmum]

The blood tests have shown up Addison's. She has been sent home and has to have more comprehensive blood tests next Monday. She is still looking very ill. I hope something can be done for her. I will go and search for more information on the illness now.

[Teebs]

I pet sit a dog with Addisons!! He is happy and healthy and does very well on his medication!

[sumosmum]

I pet sit a dog with Addisons!! He is happy and healthy and does very well on his medication!

Thant's good to know Teebs, thanks for that. I just rang them and she is still very ill and looking very lethargic. They have sent her home without any medication, waiting to have the next blood test. I offered to drive them back to the vet with her, but they are going to wait and see if she brightens up a bit. If she doesn't they will take her back in the morning.

[KokiBella]

I hope she is ok and the vets can at least improve her somewhat... I couldn't imagine what your auntie must be going through, it's awful watching your dog when there is something wrong...

that they sort it out asap!

[GoldenWei]

I pet sit a dog with Addisons!! He is happy and healthy and does very well on his medication!

Thant's good to know Teebs, thanks for that. I just rang them and she is still very ill and looking very lethargic. They have sent her home without any medication, waiting to have the next blood test. I offered to drive them back to the vet with her, but they are going to wait and see if she brightens up a bit. If she doesn't they will take her back in the morning.

What the hell????? No medication??? what kind of vet sends a dog home who has addisons without medication. My old girl had addisons, if she was very lethargic it would be a sign her addisons was unstable and needed checking. IF it is Addisons, she could go into an addisson coma. Is the vet sure it is addisons or is only guessing until she has more blood tests?

[Kelly_Louise]

I pet sit a dog with Addisons!! He is happy and healthy and does very well on his medication!

Thant's good to know Teebs, thanks for that. I just rang them and she is still very ill and looking very lethargic. They have sent her home without any medication, waiting to have the next blood test. I offered to drive them back to the vet with her, but they are going to wait and see if she brightens up a bit. If she doesn't they will take her back in the morning.

What the hell????? No medication??? what kind of vet sends a dog home who has addisons without medication. My old girl had addisons, if she was very lethargic it would be a sign her addisons was unstable and needed checking. IF it is Addisons, she could go into an addisson coma. Is the vet sure it is addisons or is only guessing until she has more blood tests?

TOTALLY agree! A dog who is suspected or diagnosed with Addisons should be given prednisone ASAP. Please understand, if it is not treated - it can be fatal... very quickly. My own dog has Cushings (the opposite of Addisons) - but her cushings medication has pushed her into Addisonian levels at times, and when that happens we have to immediately give her medication and rush her in to see the specialist. Addisons is not something that can be taken lightly - and the dog should not be released (firstly) without medication, and (secondly) until they are stabilised and the levels are acceptable.

Even if it is not definite, one pred tablet will not hurt (just in case it IS Addisons). This can stabilise until further tests are done to confirm etc.

I would suggest they are referred to a specialist, or get a second opinion if possible.

[sumosmum]

Thank you GW and KL. Last night after reading up on Addisons I thought the same thing about it being strange to be sent home with no medication. I rang my Auntie and Uncle and they said the dog was still very unwell and they were very concerned. I told them to ring the vet straight away or to go straight back there.

I am at work today and will try to call them again at lunchtime to find out what is going on.

I was thinking that same thing that they should have at least been sent home with some pred. and that a small dose would not hurt, and may give the dog some relief. I will try to get a bit more information and let you know what is going on. I appreciate your imput because I had the same feelings as you, but because I have had no experience with Addisons, I thought I may have been over reacting.

[Kelly_Louise]

No, definitely not over reacting - Addisons is very dangerous. And in any case, it's better to be overly safe than sorry.

I think it's one of those things that many normal vets don't necessarily understand very well, or know the best way to treat. They know HOW to treat, but perhaps not the most effective way.

If it is Addisons, there must be a cause - so I highly doubt the little one will recover or start to heal without medication. You are very right to be concerned - and should encourage your Auntie and Uncle to keep pushing if they get fobbed off, or told to 'wait and see'.

One of the Dolers on here had a dog that went into Addisonian crisis - and luckily the specialist saved him... but not after a tough battle, thousands of dollars - and a VERY close brush with death. And it can happen in the blink of an eye.

I wish the little one all the very best - and hugs to you all.

[GoldenWei]

Definately not over-reacting. Do you know what the levels were?

[dogbesotted]

crikey! that sounds a bit sus to me.. an addisonian crisis is DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING.. immediate treatment is required. i would be looking for further veterinary advice ie a second opinion and a referral to a specialist

H

[Kelly_Louise]

Exactly... I can't believe some vets. They endanger our pets lives, when their job is to ensure their health. I guess we don't know the full story - however, if vets do not know how to best handle a particularly dangerous disease, they really need to be honest and admit it - and then refer the case to someone who IS capable of handling it, and keeping family's little ones alive.

Majority of people do not know anything about these diseases - and they can't be expected to know. Chloe has suffered with Cushings for 3 years now, and my parents still do not understand it - but they rely on me to handle it all with the specialist and they know they must follow the vets advice to a tee to ensure she stays well (and alive).

These diseases are unpredictable and a roller coaster ride. I can't imagine how I would have coped through it all without working with a vet I trusted 110%. I certainly didn't trust her original vet to handle it... and I wished they'd been honest and told me that they weren't confident in diagnosing/treating it best. It was up to ME (who knew nothing at that stage) to pull her out and take her to a specialist.

I just shake my head at some vets these days...

Hoping that Daisy is doing better today and that it is not confirmed as Addisons - may be some other less serious cause.

[sumosmum]

Thanks very much everyone for your input and advice. Very much appreciated.

I took Daisy and my uncle back to the vet today. I spoke to a different vet, and she has now been admitted again, and will be having a blood test this afternoon to confirm that she does have the disease. We should know the results by tomorrow night.

I asked why this wasn't done when she was first taken to the vet instead of being sent home being so ill, and the vet didn't really have an answer. She said she did not know the answer. ;)

So, she will now stay at the vet for another 2 or so days. She will be put on a drip again because she hasn't eaten or taken any decent amount of water since Monday. She vomited again early this morning and also had a runny poo. If the test proves she has Addisons, she will be put on medication.

I think there was a bit of a stuff up along the way, or a communication breakdown somewhere! It really isn't good enough, but thank goodness she is still with us.

The vet gave me the feeling that she didn't want to say much when she was questioned about why this wasn't all done earlier in the week when Daisy was staying there the first time, from last Sunday. At the moment, I just want them to help her feel better and get back to being the happy little dog that she usually is. By today, she was very wobbly on her feet and the back legs were collapsing underneath her. The vet said that is due to muscle weakness with Addisons. The thing is, she has been like that since being sent home on Tuesday.

Hopefully, she will feel a lot better in a couple of days, and I will then again question them on what went wrong with this whole situation. I did get the message across that I felt the treatment my Auntie and Uncle and Daisy received was very sub standard, and I had expected better. The cost was never an issue, however, they are now going to get billed for what they have already been billed for again, and then the blood test and meds. If it had all been done correctly in the first place, Daisy would not have suffered for so long. As it is they will now be billed for the same as before, couple of days hospital stay, drip, consultation fee all again.

Anyway, I will update again when we have some results, and hopefully a happier little Daisy girl.

[Kelly_Louise]

The cost was never an issue, however, they are now going to get billed for what they have already been billed for again, and then the blood test and meds. If it had all been done correctly in the first place, Daisy would not have suffered for so long. As it is they will now be billed for the same as before, couple of days hospital stay, drip, consultation fee all again.

Anyway, I will update again when we have some results, and hopefully a happier little Daisy girl.

This is what upsets me greatly too (apart from endangering lives)... at our original vet, we went through the same tests, the maybe's - maybe nots, wait and see, let's test again... and I'd just had enough. The costs for these tests really add up - so we should expect them to be done properly and the issue to be addressed. Not send people away and hope for the best, without even warning them of the potential risks.

I'm glad that you have finally got a good result and that Daisy is now being cared for properly. You may never get the answers about why from the vet - I doubt they would want to admit any errors on their part. But I find it horrific that someone has to push so hard and do much of their own research before proper action is taken by the vet. Isn't that what we pay the vets for? How could they send such a sick dog home?

Thank goodness you are aware of this now, and can monitor and make sure they are handling Daisy's situation better.

I too hope that you see a big improvement soon, and that Daisy can find some comfort.

[GoldenWei]

I'm so glad I have really good vets. When Sascha was diagnosed, she had full bloodwork done, the results came back that it could be addisons, it fitted with all her other symptons perfectly, and she was put on medication straight-away. She only had a couple of bouts of needing her medication adjusted, and she never went to a specialist in her life, she died just short of her 12th birthday after having addisons for 6 years of a totally unrelated cause.

Forgot to say, good luck with it all, and hoping your aunties dog is getting the care he needs now.

Edited May 27, 2010 by GoldenWei

[sumosmum]

After Daisy was admitted on Thursday, she was put in intensive care. The blood test was done and we were informed yesterday lunchtime that she definitely has Addisons. She was started on the medication and we were able to collect her today.

Firstly when they rang and said she was well enough to go home we were told that we would need to speak with the Vet before she was released. It was a different story when we got there and we did not get to speak to any vet.

Anyway, we have two lots of medication to give to her, Prednisolone, half a 5mg tab twice a week and the other medication is to be given every day morning and night with food.

My auntie and uncle are a bit worried about how to give her the tablets so I am going to give her the first few doses.....well, I am going to try and give her the first few doses. lol........I haven't had to give her tablets before so don't know how difficult it will be. Seriously though, it should be fine and she has to have it to keep healthy.

Today she is very happy and back to her normal self. Running around, playing and back to normal. We are all so happy to have her home.

Thanks all for the help and input into the situation.

[GoldenWei]

That's great news. When Sascha first went on medication, it was like I had a puppy again, a 6 year old dog running around like she was 6 months old I used to give the tablets in a bit of cheese, or sausage initially, you learn to give the tablets, and they learn to take them as well if your aunt doesn't want to give it in food. I stand behind them so they can't back away from me easily, put my hand under the jaw and tilt the head upwards, at the same time holding the mouth open, then with the other hand put the tablet as far back near the throat as I can, close the mouth and hold it shut until they swallow, and they have to swallow eventually. Probably not the best or most graceful way to do it, but it works.