Im Devasted

[Miss B]

Any update from the OP?

[OSoSwift]

If a vet can't save ANY rait bait poisonings, I'd be worried about their competency in treating it. We give a very high dosage of Vit K and normally an injection of it before they leave. We have lost 1 in 18 months, that was due to the owner leaving it too long and brought it in when it was bleed so badly there was nothing to be done

I wouldn't be staying with that vet unless they had a better track record with this

We don't know what stage the treated dogs were at.

If people don't know the dogs have eaten the bait or only seek treatment after they start bleeding it would be quite possible for them to lose them all.

Even so, I'm surprised the vet would give such a poor prognosis to the OPs dogs who have been treated extremely early before exhibiting and clinical signs.

We've successfully treated dogs that have already started haemorrhaging.

If the animals receive a vit K injection and then daily tablets, in theory they should be ok (if they haven't lost tooo much blood in the first place). I would be keeping them crated or at least very quiet so they don't have any opportunity to start bleeding.

Anyway fingers crossed for the OPs doggies

My understanding is they can get a dose that is high enough that treatment just cannot stop the problems, but the amount of poison ingested is very high. I know of one such case in 15 years.

Dogs can and do get secondery poisoning from eating dead and dying mice and rats - the amount required would depend on the generation of poison used and wether the mouse ate enough of a dose to kill it,then ate something else, or snacked flat out on ratsack until it died.

It may take many mice or only a few????? too many variables.

[julzjc]

Hi everyone, just a quick update before I read through the posts.

Bonnie was put on a drip yesterday but is now home and trying to bounce around (keeping her extremly quiet and not letting her go outside without me). She became pretty bad yesterday morning. Really did not want to stand up and was falling asleep sitting upright, lost all colour (grey gums) and was extremly dehydrated despite drinking alot of water. Today she is acting like her usual self, she even did a play bow with Indie before changing her mind and heading back to her bed, she is so much happier today. ALOT more energy and colour. She managed to get a tiny graze to her ear this morning though and it has been bleeding a fair bit on and off all day so she is not out of the woods yet. Hoping the worst is past. Indie seems 100% fine, has actually started chasing his tail since Bonnie wont play with him so he cant be feeling that bad.

Thankyou for all our positive thoughts and posts, Im sure the DOL vibe has helped her on her way to recovery. I know it has made her owner feel alot more positive and hopeful for her, thankyou so much everyone!

[OSoSwift]

Glad you are getting somepostives. Hope Bonnie is better soon. Did they give her fluids or a blood transfusion??

[♥Baxter♥]

[julzjc]

I really thought my vet was fantasic but after talking to everyone on here, Im really not sure what to think. He deffinatly said those words, hence my OP. I was so sure that they wouldnt survive and was so distraght that there was basically no hope. I almost feel like I over reacted in my OP after reading everyones post but I was lead to belive that were was so little hope of them pulling through. Actually quite peeved if I am honest. I mean if I didnt have DOL then I would have had no idea that they had a fighting chance and would have been grieving every day in anticipation that thay would pass. Again thankyou so much for stopping me from loosing hope (and becoming a nervous wreck), its really not in my character to get so distressed, you returned me to being the calm level headed member to our family lol. Im still on tenderhooks with Bonnie, especially given this tiny graze keeps bleeding, but I am so hopeful now that she will be ok.

[julzjc]

Glad you are getting somepostives. Hope Bonnie is better soon. Did they give her fluids or a blood transfusion??

Just fluids. After 10min in the vet and her excitment at being there(stupid thing was still trying to cuddle and drown the vet in kisses) her gums actually started to pink up a little but you could still pinch her scruff and it would not go down until it was rubbed back down. Apparently she was extremly quiet and just slept the whole time, not intrested in anything, but was over the top excited this morning when they spoke to her.

[OSoSwift]

Did they check her PCV???

If her ear keeps bleeding you can bandage her ear to her head. So soft stretchy bandage, a wad of soft gauze between her head and ear, and depending on where the graze is, her outer ear and the bandage, then bandage firmly but not too tight around her head. The compression sshould help.

Out of interest do you have another vet around you that you could see?

[Leithy]

Yay glad to hear some good news

Keep gettin better pups, fingers crossed

[smooch]

Glad to hear the they are doing much better. Hope Bonnie is feeling better soon.

[persephone]

So - what was the blood clotting etc like - did the vet do any tests? I am glad your girl is much better :)

[julzjc]

They didnt do it but Im taken her back in as soon as my friend arrives to mind the kids and having it done, I need to know whats happening. She has gone backwards. Not as bad as Sunday, pale pink gums but she just isnt herself . My OH thought the worst this morning as she wouldnt get out of bed for him or for our eldest daughter. I had a check, she was freezing despite her dog coat and felt soft (?) but got up when I asked her and perked up a bit. Now she is out the front veranda with me and several neighbours have came to say hi to her, including the neighbours dog which she normally makes her over the top excited, shes basically just turning her back on them and not intrested in the slightest. She still has this soft feeling to her body and I hate it.

We found 3 dead rats(huge) today so if its taken this long to kill them(I removed all of the baits when I found out what had happend) I think she is still going to have a few rough days ahead of her yet.

Edit to add- Even the skin on her face isnt bouncing back into place when you pinch it.

Edited October 5, 2010 by julzjc

[aussielover]

I don't understand why the vet hasn't taken the dogs into the hospital for close monitoring and cage rest, especially considering your girl is showing signs of illness.

If we get any cases we transfer them to our 24 hr hospital where they will receive 24hrs care and observation and blood transfusions if neccessary.

I can understand why you wouldn't want that particular vet to do blood transfusions (given the track record), but they can be life-saving when done properly and if you are prepared for an adverese reaction.

Is there a 24 hr clinic that you have access to?

Thinking of you and your dogs

ETA: the skin not bouncing back indicates she is dehydrated. How is her gum colour? It sounds like she may be losing some blood. Maybe you should take her to the vet, she might need to go on fluids, especially if she is very flat otherwise.

How is Indi?

Edited October 5, 2010 by aussielover

[OSoSwift]

Good on you for taking her back.

It does sound like she needs more care. She should at the bare minimum have a PCV and fluids. I am guessing she may also require a blood transfusion.

If your normal vet won't do it, get a copy of her records and take her elsewhere. This could be the critical turning point.

Goodluck, sending lots of get well vibes to Bonnie and lots of hugs and Whippet kisses to all of you

[persephone]

Hopefully your vet will be able to do some more to help - or maybe it is time to go to a new vet!

:hugs:

[bridie]

Did they check her PCV???

If her ear keeps bleeding you can bandage her ear to her head. So soft stretchy bandage, a wad of soft gauze between her head and ear, and depending on where the graze is, her outer ear and the bandage, then bandage firmly but not too tight around her head. The compression sshould help.

Out of interest do you have another vet around you that you could see?

What can i say,STOP the bleeding.I would have thought vet would have advised cornflour or some remedy,exterior ear shave first,is there another vet near,get their records & go now....this vet doesn't seem to give you any idea what is going on.....if you are stuck with this vet sounds like you have to tell him what to do.I have lost confidence in this vet,if you "wait and see" it may be too late.

How is it today?

[asal]

why do i keep getting the BAD feeling this vet is not giving enough vit K?????

and fluids only when she is so dyhydrated?

surely they arent the only vet in your area?????

change vets

is the feeling im getting LOUD AND CLEAR

if they are not doing a PCV then they are NOT DOING THEIR JOB

just because they have BvSc after their name doesnt mean they automatically know what theya are doing.

remember i had one kill every pup in the litter let alone the bitch,, n all u get is... ho sorry about that.

another every kitten in a litter of 8 were either dead or unconsious the next day after vaccination. what did i get from the vet.... ho they must have had something wrong before they were vaccinated.

not in 12 months did he call me and tell me he had been notified the vaccine was contaminated and 600 died before that batch was recalled? only found that out when a friend got a job at the lab concerned.

dont trust blindly

u still get the bill though

some of em are hopeless

Edited October 5, 2010 by asal

[Aziah]

I agree, see another vet AND ensure she's kept quiet (minimal visitors and certainly no visiting dogs)...

[bridie]

why do i keep getting the BAD feeling this vet is not giving enough vit K?????

and fluids only when she is so dyhydrated?

surely they arent the only vet in your area?????

change vets

is the feeling im getting LOUD AND CLEAR

if they are not doing a PCV then they are NOT DOING THEIR JOB

just because they have BvSc after their name doesnt mean they automatically know what theya are doing.

remember i had one kill every pup in the litter let alone the bitch,, n all u get is... ho sorry about that.

another every kitten in a litter of 8 were either dead or unconsious the next day after vaccination. what did i get from the vet.... ho they must have had something wrong before they were vaccinated.

not in 12 months did he call me and tell me he had been notified the vaccine was contaminated and 600 died before that batch was recalled? only found that out when a friend got a job at the lab concerned.

dont trust blindly

u still get the bill though

some of em are hopeless

My sentiments & experience also.SORRY is not what any-one wants to hear.It is extremely hard to find a competant vet that one has confidence in.Tougher still when one is in the middle of a situation and don't know what to do for the best,you are your dogs VOICE,I'd go on my gut feeling and get another opinion.......don't wait the situation is as critical as it can be GO now.

Perhaps that is what Julz is doing now????

If not,does anyone recommend a worthy vet in her area?

[aussielover]

Hey Julz,

How is Bonnie doing?