My Girls Are Sick

[westiemum]

Hi Liz,

Good to hear your girls are well again. I have a westie girl (9 years ) who over the last few years has had three bouts of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) - and its scarey. They literally go downhill before your eyes and usually dehyfdarte very quickly.

Like poodlefan I've learnt to recognise it early so I scoop her up and race off to the vet quick smart - no mucking around here either, given it can be fatal very quickly. The last time she had a bout before Christmas she was only there for the day on a drip - didn't even need to overnight her (by the afternoon she was having barking competitions with another SWF and obviously much better so the vet was keen for her to come home! ).

Are you sure that what you are describing was HGE? Dogs are usually very sick and miserable with HGE - and apart from the runs yours appeared well. And you're right - no-one seems to know what causes HGE as they haven't been able to isolate a bug or anything, last I read. And in my case its always has happened during summer and a burst of bot weather - so I've wondered whether there is a conncetion there somewhere. So a drip and dose of broad spectrum ABs and a couple of nights at the vet seems to be the standard HGE treatment - unless you pick it early .

Not sure I'd be giving Imodium or similar anyway - unless you were travelling with the dog. Diarrhoea in humans and I suspect in dogs is often best left to run its course under vet supervision), yucky as that is, as its happening for a reason (as long as its not accompanied by dehydration of course) Cos like in your case apart for the runny poos, your dogs were fine.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Would be interested in what others think.

Glad your girls are fine now.

It's interesting that when I asked the Vet if there was a type of "Imdoium for dogs" she said "sadly No." !!???

I have heard of people giving Imodium to a dog but I'm not game to give human medicine unless I get the intruction from a Vet.

Ah well, in any case the girls are 100% fit and well now. HURRAY!

Wish I knew what had actually caused it though.

[LizT]

Hi Liz,

Good to hear your girls are well again. I have a westie girl (9 years ) who over the last few years has had three bouts of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) - and its scarey. They literally go downhill before your eyes and usually dehyfdarte very quickly.

Like poodlefan I've learnt to recognise it early so I scoop her up and race off to the vet quick smart - no mucking around here either, given it can be fatal very quickly. The last time she had a bout before Christmas she was only there for the day on a drip - didn't even need to overnight her (by the afternoon she was having barking competitions with another SWF and obviously much better so the vet was keen for her to come home! ).

Are you sure that what you are describing was HGE? Dogs are usually very sick and miserable with HGE - and apart from the runs yours appeared well. And you're right - no-one seems to know what causes HGE as they haven't been able to isolate a bug or anything, last I read. And in my case its always has happened during summer and a burst of bot weather - so I've wondered whether there is a conncetion there somewhere. So a drip and dose of broad spectrum ABs and a couple of nights at the vet seems to be the standard HGE treatment - unless you pick it early .

That was what the Vet called it due to the runs being followed by droplets of blood in both dogs. Yes they definitely were not poorly with it although it did take the bitch who was a half day earlier in symptoms longer to get over than the one who started the night before her vet visit. It did last longer than a 'normal' bout of diahorrea though, which in my experience is usually resolved with a fast of 24 hours followed by chicken and rice for three days.

Edited December 29, 2010 by LizT