t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Greetings everyone, so it's currently a Saturday and all the clinics are now closed in my town. I have taken my dog to the vet twice this month and as of yet he is not fully returned to his normal happy go-lucky self. I have a intact bernese mountain dog, he currently weighs roughly 48kgs and is underweight, since going to the vet he was diagnosed with a partial tear in his cruciate ligament on the left hind leg. At the time of diagnosis he was also placed on antibiotics for a suspected infection causing fever, and we left with some capreieve and amoxil, he has since been on bed rest with a maybe twice a week walk to the park across the road (literally) to sniff and pee on things. This was roughly 3 weeks ago. Prior to this diagnosis and treatment we were seen by a vet who (I was very disappointed with - no TPR, CRT and examination of the Mucous Membranes) we were sent home with some pain relief and told it was some tendon damage... So now we've reached today, he currently will not eat, unless it is small treats, I can get him to drink water (reluctantly) he is very flat in demeanour, limping a lot (which is the ligament damage I assume) He has taken his prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets and pain relief and his mood has not picked up. Over the past two months I have been struggling greatly to put weight on him, to no avail, 2 chicken frames with kibble in the morning and 2 more during the evening. Of course I am concerned with bloat, it's something I stress over every day but his abdomen is not swollen - he does dry retch constantly though. (which scares me out of my mind) He has clear discharge from his nose (just like a human with a runny nose) I do know a lot of bernese with allergies and this is a common symptom, except it is very recent. Within the past month. He is my bestfriend, and I worry so much. Bernese don't have a long life - and it's often not a natural death. They are stricken with cancers, bloat, arthritis and joint issues. I understand a veterinarian is the best and most important course of action - I am getting him in as soon as I can for some blood tests. I would just like to see what the amazing dog people of DOL forums have to contribute. I am beginning study for veterinary nursing in January (which I am very excited for, I'm just having trouble finding a possible reason for his behaviour with so many varying symptoms. Please help me shed some light until I can get him booked in. Jaimee and Bruno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Whereabouts are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 Wagga Wagga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 What a worry. if you have lactose free milk .. see if he will drink that - or chicken stock , or maybe he will play with iceblocks? try feeding him mince /things like cooked meat /roast veggies /sardines/scrambled egg with some bacon fat mixed through /bread & peanut butter / Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Maybe some cooled chicken stock. I know my dogs have always preferred stock to other stuff (make it yourself if you can, just boil up a few of your carcasses and strain to remove bones). You can add some carrot and celery and a few other veg like spinach etc while it is boiling but strain them out to. I also give turkey mince made into little tiny meatballs in the chicken stock to add a bit of bulk to the soup.. Or beat and egg and let it cook in the soup stirring, it will go stringy but that's OK. When you get to the vet ask for a full blood work up to check if he has high or low levels of anything (including thyroid).. I hope he picks up and feels better soon.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 I'll head woolies soon and pick up some turkey mince if i can and some more carcasses and just boil a big pot up for him, thank you everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Can you get him checked for intussusception? It can be hard to diagnose if the intestinal movement is sporadic, as an ultrasound really needs to be done when the telescoping is actually happening - catching it in the act so to speak. Would be separate to the leg injury of course. http://www.acvs.org/animalowners/healthconditions/smallanimaltopics/intussusception/ I do know a lady whose young Newfie had ongoing mild and on and off gastric symptoms for some time with nothing really diagnosed. Then she suddenly passed away and a post mortem found the intussusception. Very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 Thanks Alyosha, I'll put a reminder in my phone so I can mention to the vet on monday - although he's not vomiting or having diarrhoea, I'm still going to check. It could be anything, he has numerous different symptoms and I may have missed something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I hope you can get some answers, it must be very stressful indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 (edited) Just check the info sheet with the paperwork regarding the anti inflammatories being taken on an empty stomach- some need to be given with food to prevent damage to the stomach. Perhaps also try and write your concerns very precisely in point form (trying to stick to 3/4points) to make sure you and your vet are on the same page. If you dont feel that your getting anywhere with your local vet perhaps see a different one or ask them to get in contact with a specialist for more ideas? Edited December 8, 2012 by Jumabaar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 Thanks Jumabaar, I put his tablets in squares of cheese, so he is at least eating something when I give them to him. He's eaten a little bit of kibble from my hand and then a few bites from his bowl but nothing super progressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 (edited) I know everyone loves pictures, so here is my best bud on our first ever trip to the snow (mine and his) I dont know how to resize, so here is a link I guess. http://tinypic.com/r/2yw93r6/6 Edited December 8, 2012 by t a i l s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 (edited) He is beautiful....so I put the pic here for you from that link :) :) Edited December 8, 2012 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 He's just gorgeous Tails! Let us all know how you get on with the vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 Thanks so much everyone, I have his cranky "mother" ridgeback inside with me now, and she has some nasty gas! - Maybe that's why he's not himself, he smelt that!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Have you had blood tests done? I had a Dane with a shifting limp, swollen hock, episodes of fever, flatness etc and immune mediated condition was the cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t a i l s. Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 I'll be having the blood tests done Monday, the vet didn't think a CBC was necessary as his fever had gone the day after the antibiotic injection. This time I'll be sure to have it done. How did your Dane recover Danois? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Yeah mine responded to the AB injection and was fine the following day. We managed his condition for about 9 months but there was a combination of things which complicated things and I let him go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Hope he is okay- you know i loved him when i met him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 4 frames each day would seem an awful lot & i would be concerned about making the dog constipated . What else do you feed ?? That diet alone my big dogs would never keep weight on. Have you asked the breeder about the issues & weight issues ?? It may be something they can pi point via breed knowledge better than others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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