Banshee At The Vets Again

[yellowgirl]

For those unfamiliar with my Chinese Crested dog, Banshee ...

Background story ... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...194927&st=0

Tummy bump story .... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...p;#entry4582734

I had to take Banshee to the vet again this morning. Something's been different with her the last few days. Last night she threw up about an hour after her dinner, she vomited during the night and was unsettled all night. This morning she didn't want breakfast and only had about 1 mouthful, she threw that up about half an hour later. It's obvious from her demeanour that something is wrong with her tummy.

The clinic had their 'Friday' vet there who we haven't seen before. Banshee did really well and accepted pats from the vet, even though she was a bit nervous, she didn't bite the vet... yay!

The vet took blood for a Total Health Profile (liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc). The vet nurse had to come in to help hang on to Banshee and the vet ended up having to take blood 3 times!! Naturally, Banshee lived up to her name and screamed for all she was worth.

Hopefully we'll have the results of the blood tests tomorrow.

The vet also gave her an anti-nausea injection and gave us Maxolon tablets for the next few days. Bland food for the next few days too.

One thing that concerns me is that Banshee always stands with her back hunched and her tummy tucked up. The vet we saw a while ago said that it was probably nerves and would settle down as she relaxes. Banshee is very relaxed at home now but she still stands hunched up. I've often wondered if it's a physical issue rather than emotional. The vet we saw today wasn't sure if it was related and said to wait until we get the test results.

Not sure if this is relevant to her vomiting, I've had Banshee on glucosamine/chondroitin powder since I got her as she was limping on her rear left leg. A few weeks ago the vet put her on Previcox and said that if her leg improved it was probably not a cruciate injury but more likely arthritis or something similar (Banshee is only a year and a half old). She also has quite weak patellas. She will have to have an xray at some stage to see exactly what damage there is to her hips/legs.

The Previcox worked and she stopped limping and I've increased the powder. A few times she had loose stools because I gave her too much. We've now worked out a good dose rate and her poops are really good.

She hasn't vomited until now. Is there any chance that maybe it's just the powder making her sick?

All the dogs have the same food, none of the others are sick, and Banshee hasn't had anything new or different recently.

I just have a bad feeling. This poor little girl can't seem to catch a break. I have her in the shop with me today, she's really not herself.

I need to stop worrying and do some work, thought it might help to share and get it out of my system a bit.

Thanks guys

xxx

Edited June 19, 2010 by yellowgirl

[Bjelkier]

Poor little mite, I hope she is ok.

I don't know how helpful this is but have you thought of getting her seen by a Chiro, maybe the stomach tucked, the back hunched is something they could fix?

[Loving my Oldies]

I just have a bad feeling. This poor little girl can't seem to catch a break. I have her in the shop with me today, she's really not herself.

I need to stop worrying and do some work, thought it might help to share and get it out of my system a bit.

Good idea. I am sure I'm not alone in saying we feel for this little girl, you and your gorgeous ones and hope you can find a remedy for whatever ails her.

I am really sorry to read this, Y/G. Poor Banshee and poor you. I having nothing in terms of what could be wrong, but I'd be investigating a Chiro as Wolfsong says. What I have being led to believe over the years is that hunching means pain/sick/something wrong.

Hugs and kisses to you all

[LDH]

I'm no expert at all, just speaking from an experience I had with my border collie. The vomiting and going off food can be signs of pancreatitis, as can pain in the abdomen area. The other classic sign of this is drinking excessively - you didn't mention your little one doing this so hopefully it's not quite as serious as pancreatitis. I know when I took my girl in with those symptoms they tested her on the spot for pancreatitis and she was admitted to intensive care straight away.

Hope your little one is ok.

[yellowgirl]

Thanks Wolfsong, if there are no definitive results from the tests I will definitely look into a Chiro.

Thank you Mother Moocher, I have her on my lap at the moment, trying to just love her into getting better. In spite of her past, this little girl has the most loving heart and beautiful spirit, I can't stand to see her unwell . She's looking at me now with those beautiful eyes and huge eyelashes. She's really got into my heart this little one.

Thanks LDH, the vet mentioned that she was adding the pancreatits test to the paperwork. Banshee hasn't been drinking more than usual, but interestingly, my 9 year old CC, Pepper has been recently. Poor old girl has just had an impacted anal gland and has been on antibiotics, I was hoping that her extra drinking might be related to the infection and medication. She's also been coughing a bit. She was on the list to go to the vet on Monday if she hadn't gone back to normal by then

[Bully]

Hope little Banshee is OK. Was going to mention pancreatitis, but has been already. Poor little mite sure has had a rotten start in life

to you both.

[yellowgirl]

Thanks Bully. We're about to head off home in a sec, so will update tomorrow when the test results come through.

xxx

[matilda1]

sending positive vibes and healing thoughts for banshee

[yellowgirl]

Thank you BellaDonna.

I spoke to the vet this morning and apparently there's something wrong with the testing company's equipment and they need to forward the blood to another state to complete the tests... so we won't have any results until Monday.

Banshee held down a small dinner last night and breakfast this morning (she had her Maxolon tablet before breakfast). She's just having cooked chicken at the moment. She was very unsettled during the night. She's very sooky and clingy today, and I didn't get my excited good morning cuddles this morning

[yellowgirl]

The vet just rang me, it seems she went and yelled at various people to get the test results back asap, and it's come back that Banshee has pancreatitis . It's a bit confusing because the vet said her white blood cell count was normal but the pancreatitis test came back at a level of 600 (over 400 indicates pancreatitis).

Luckily Banshee hasn't vomited since last night or she would be back at the vets on a drip now. She has to have no food for 24 hours and then painkillers and a pancreatic diet for the rest of her life.

Her hunching stance is definitely related to the discomfort that she's been in since I got her.

Poor, poor little bub

[Finnesse]

Glad you managed to get the test results back today and can get poor Banshee on the road to recovery. Hope the painkillers relieve her discomfort quickly. At least you know what you are dealing with now!

[whiskedaway]

I know it's not the best news to get that she has pancreatitis, but it must be a relief knowing what's wrong.

[persephone]

know it's not the best news to get that she has pancreatitis, but it must be a relief knowing what's wrong.

x2

poor little gremlin

[yellowgirl]

Thanks Tobster, Whiskedaway and Persephone. I must admit I had a bit of a girly cry after talking to the vet (probably more to do with worry building up), but I do agree that at least I know what's wrong and can start changing her diet straight away.

Vet says no dinner tonight and start on the pain relief and new diet tomorrow.

ah, you made me laugh with the 'gremlin' persephone

[Loving my Oldies]

Thank goodness you have a diagnosis. I know it can be scary, but really having a dog on a restricted diet is not very hard and you have all your contacts in the supply side of things, so you should be able to get a lot of assistance there.

The only problem I found was not being able to give the dogs bones and leave bones lying around. Of course, I am not down playing it, and it can be another straw on the load, but it isn't a death sentence. It does mean eternal vigilance of course - something I found out the hard way :p and worse for my dog.

I've had two dogs with pancreatitis: one who was on a very restricted diet for the rest of her life and another (Jeune - who is still with me) who has had only one episode, but they kept her in hospital on a drip for about 4 days. Aparently one of the most important things with an episode is to not have any food until the inflamation has settled down.

Good luck.

Hugs and kisses to you and the little ones and keep us informed as to Banshee's progress.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Oh no Poor baby can't seem to catch a break! Oh well, I'm glad you've got her now, yellowgirl, and I'm sure you'll give her the love and attention she requires.

[yellowgirl]

Thanks HG, she's had a tough time poor little munchkin. Hopefully things will turn around for her now.

Thanks MM, it's very helpful to hear other people's experiences. Sounds like you lost one of your dogs to pancreatitis :p . I've been reading the pancreatitis stories on DOL, and there's such a varying degree of success with treatment... from dogs recovering without any issues to actually dying! I've been crying for quite a few other DOLers today

The vet said she would have liked to have Banshee in the clinic with fluids and monitoring but was very understanding about my financial situation and said that because Banshee hasn't vomited since yesterday and can drink small amounts without vomiting that she should be okay having no food for 24 hours at home without the intravenous fluids. She also gave me her mobile number and said to ring her if there were ANY changes . If there is any vomiting she'll need to go to emergency straight away.

I have to head off home now but will check in again on Monday. Thank you all for your support and input, I really appreciate it.

xxx

[Daisys Mum]

Hi Yellowgirl sorry to hear that Banshee is going through a tough time .... but if it is any comfort to you i had a Foxie X and she got Pancreatitis and she died this year at the grand old age of 17!

She was on medication and a special diet and she was fine :p

[Trishm]

My rescue greyhound Ebony developed pancreatitus when my husband was in hospital terminally ill, I believe it was the stress caused by this that brought on her attack, (they adored one another), as she had never had a diet high in fat while she had been with us.

My Vet (also a friend) kept her at the surgery for about 2 weeks, , ( I was at the hospital all the time, so could not care for her properly),she was on fluids etc and then she introduced food very gradually, she came home on Hills I/D dry and canned food, and after about 12 months I changed her to Royal Canin Low Fat Digestive food.

She has never had another attack, I am very vigilant though, just one piece of cheese or similar could cause another attack.

She is able to tolerate a little cooked pasta or rice and some cooked veggies, and Lucky dog mini biscuits are only 3% fat, so they are Ok for her.

I hope that little Banshee will respond well to a low fat diet and will be happy with you for many years, she deserves the good life that you are giving her now.

Good luck,

Trish

[yellowgirl]

Thanks LWC, yes it is a comfort to know that others have had dogs with pancreatitis who live long, happy lives. Do you remember what medication your Foxi was on, did she take it every day or just when she was in discomfort?

Thank you Trishm, what an horrific time that would have been for you! :D . I was feeling a bit down and stressed because I can't pay all my shop rent because of Banshee and Pepper's vet bills. After hearing your story, I am counting my blessings instead. Thank you for sharing. Hugs to you and Ebony

Update.... Took Banshee and Pepper to the vet this morning. Pepper's wound from her impacted anal gland still hasn't healed up so the vet's put her on more antibiotics. She's also been drinking an excessive amount of water in the past week so I took a urine sample in as well. Urine test showed no diabetes so the vet has taken a blood test and we should get the results of those tomorrow.

Banshee is much better . I have her on kangaroo mince, pre-soaked rolled oats and grated carrot at the moment. All treats, ears, rawhide, chew sticks, etc have been removed.

The vet says her hunching should get better now, and she's prescribed pain killers to have on hand in case Banshee appears to be in pain.

She didn't throw up over the weekend and today I got my exuberant morning kisses and cuddles