Diesel the Weasel Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 For the second time in 3 weeks my mini schnauzer boy (6yo) is not eating or drinking and just lays under the bed all day and night. I took him to the vet the first time and he had enlarged lymph glands to the point that he yelped in pain when the vet tried to open his mouth. He was put on antibiotics and antiinflammatories for a week. It took 4 days before he showed signs of getting his usual energy back, by the end of the week he appeared to be back to normal. He has been fine for a week then yesterday crashed again. He has not had anything to eat or drink since a small drink of water yesterday morning. I took him back to the vet yesterday (unfortunately I had to go to a different vet as my usual surgery is closed for the Christmas break). He could not find any signs of inflammation or pain anywhere on his body. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, but that is the only external sign that he is not well. He has taken bloods and I get the results back later today. Meanwhile, I am incredibly worried about him - particularly as he is not drinking. Is there anyway I can tempt him to drink? I have even tried a small amount of milk but he just turns his head away from anything I offer him. Any suggestions welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Sometimes when my dogs aren't drinking I'll make a weak chicken stock mix to entice them. Or if it gets bad, I'll syringe a hydralyte type of mix into thm if they are getting dehydrated, but if he's getting too dehydrated, take him to a vet so they can get him on a drip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 For the second time in 3 weeks my mini schnauzer boy (6yo) is not eating or drinking and just lays under the bed all day and night. I took him to the vet the first time and he had enlarged lymph glands to the point that he yelped in pain when the vet tried to open his mouth. He was put on antibiotics and antiinflammatories for a week. It took 4 days before he showed signs of getting his usual energy back, by the end of the week he appeared to be back to normal. He has been fine for a week then yesterday crashed again. He has not had anything to eat or drink since a small drink of water yesterday morning. I took him back to the vet yesterday (unfortunately I had to go to a different vet as my usual surgery is closed for the Christmas break). He could not find any signs of inflammation or pain anywhere on his body. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, but that is the only external sign that he is not well. He has taken bloods and I get the results back later today. Meanwhile, I am incredibly worried about him - particularly as he is not drinking. Is there anyway I can tempt him to drink? I have even tried a small amount of milk but he just turns his head away from anything I offer him. Any suggestions welcome! A full blood panel will help diagnose his problem. Does he have a temperature? Any Schnauzer that is unusually quiet and won't eat/drink is a worry. You could try a little chicken stock in his water to encourage drinking. I would not give milk at this stage in case he has pancreatitis. Keep a close eye on him today and if you are really concerned I would take him back to the vet/emergency vet as they may need to rehydrate him with fluids. Let us know what the bloods say - very best wishes for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raffikki Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 make a weak chicken stock mix to entice them When one of mine had a bad case of gastro, my vet suggested mixing a low salt chicken stock cube with about 2 ltrs of water and syringing aprox 50mls every hour. If she struggled to hold that down, less more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel the Weasel Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 A full blood panel will help diagnose his problem. Does he have a temperature? Any Schnauzer that is unusually quiet and won't eat/drink is a worry. You could try a little chicken stock in his water to encourage drinking. I would not give milk at this stage in case he has pancreatitis. Keep a close eye on him today and if you are really concerned I would take him back to the vet/emergency vet as they may need to rehydrate him with fluids. Let us know what the bloods say - very best wishes for him. His temperature yesterday was on the high side of normal. The vet will be calling me this afternoon with the results. How do I know if he is seriously dehydrated? How long can a dog go without a drink before it becomes serious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Is there any possibility your boy may have kidney/bladder stones? T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 His temperature yesterday was on the high side of normal. The vet will be calling me this afternoon with the results. How do I know if he is seriously dehydrated? How long can a dog go without a drink before it becomes serious? Skin pinch test, like with humans, to test dehydration. And watch how often/how much he is peeing (which won't be much if he isn't taking anything in). If it's hot he will be getting dehydrated pretty quickly. But then again, my dog was puking and pooping for 24 hours and not drinking, and she wasn't dehydrated, so sometimes they don't dehydrate as quickly as you think they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Can you take his temperature now and check the colour of his gums? Has he drunk overnight/this morning? If you are concerned about him I would take him back to the vet this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Lift up his lip and feel his gum. It should have a slippery feeling to it, if it feels sticky then he is already dehydrated. That being said any sign of dehydration (stick gums or a prolonged skin pinch) means he is already behind the 8 ball. It may be better to get in early with fluids to help him get the rest of his body into balance and get better a little quicker. Your vet will have the best idea if it worth running some fluids now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel the Weasel Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 Is there any possibility your boy may have kidney/bladder stones? T. How would I know? I guess at this stage, anything is possible! This is very unlike him.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel the Weasel Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 Can you take his temperature now and check the colour of his gums? Has he drunk overnight/this morning? If you are concerned about him I would take him back to the vet this morning. I don't have a thermometer. He has had nothing to eat or drink since yesterday morning. I just tried some weak chicken stock and he just turned his head away from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Is there any possibility your boy may have kidney/bladder stones? T. How would I know? I guess at this stage, anything is possible! This is very unlike him.... With a UTI/bladder/kidney stones the dog would be constantly trying to urinate and may have leakage/be in pain. (our latest rescue girl had both ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Schnauzers are normally very stoic dogs. If your dog is showing such unusual and out of character behaviours, I would take him to the vet this morning, they could keep him there until his tests come back and rehydrate him if required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel the Weasel Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 Is there any possibility your boy may have kidney/bladder stones? T. How would I know? I guess at this stage, anything is possible! This is very unlike him.... With a UTI/bladder/kidney stones the dog would be constantly trying to urinate and may have leakage/be in pain. (our latest rescue girl had both ) That doesn't sound like what is going on. He has not been urinating at all since yesterday and does not seem to be in any pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9angel Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Poor little guy. I'd be taking him back to the vet asap, he probably needs to go on a drip to get some fluids into him. Wishing you's all the best and hope the bloods provide some answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Might be worth getting him onto a drip and then seeing if the vet can get a urine sample - just in case... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel the Weasel Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 Have rung the vet surgery - the vet is with someone atm, but is going to call me back. His gums are definitely dry. I just hate the thought of him being away from me at Christmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I just hate the thought of him being away from me at Christmas! I know..but it is worse if he is very ill and still home . with you watching him get worse .... Ok..so no drinking or urinating since yesterday ..and dry gums, lethargy , hiding away ...I wouldn't be asking the vet..I'd just be taking him in straight away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Sounds potentially life threatening, you can't guess with this sort of thing and with everything closed on and off over the next week, you are really better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully it is something easy to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 (edited) As mentioned minis are very stoic they will stull eat even when sick so not eating is a major sign above blood shot eyes. Not drinking & peeing is a very big concern. Whilst they can suffer from stones they normally pee alot but it depends if those signs haven't been noticed?? But like others i would be at the vet,the stage your Mini is at is serious as far as the breed toughness is. We have breed/shown Minis for over 28 yrs now & only once have we had one hit that stage & it was a giant concern because they are to tough I just hate the thought of him being away from me at Christmas! I would sooner have a dog for Christmas or the very less ensure i gave it every chance no matter what the outcome is Edited December 24, 2012 by showdog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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