DOGANGEL Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 (edited) Hi all great forum was wondering if anyone has experienced having an ill dog on an iv drip and later the dog appears to be bloated thanks all ...My little 4 year old shepherd x is sick and I am so sad..... Initially she had her teeth cleaned and a cyst removed. After being rested at home for 6 days she was well then suddenly she vomited and went downhill. She was lethargic and weak and would not eat but drank water and kept it down. She bounced back somewhat and eating and drinking after the drip but now is bloated and her leg is swollen on the same side where her cyst was removed. She has been back and forth at vets and blood test shows slight anemia and slightly low protein. All temperature and vital signs are good. She is very very tired. I will take her tomorrow to get a ultra sound to make sure there is no underlying problems. The swelling hasn't changed for 2 days now. Everything else are all normal. I have been trying to get an ultrasound for a couple of days now but either the vet isn't there that can understand it or they don't have one. The vet suggested she may need an operation tomorrow to remove what might be a tumour r on the spleen. She is so weak I am sure the operation itself can kill her. I know they have a hard job but I am beginning to be very cynical towards vets. I have been bounced around 4 times now and they keep saying she is ok and now an operation which will fix something they don't even know what's happening. Edited March 25, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 I think you should speak to the vet about this. It is not normal. There may be some other problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 By the way thankyou for your thoughts and any advice given. Much appreciated and a woolf woolf from her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 I have no idea on what could be wrong ..... but as a "non-vet" something certainly doesn't sound right. Have you thought about going to a specialist for a second opinion? What is it that makes your Vet believe there might be a tumour on your dog's spleen? Ultrasound? Can a reaction to general anaesthetic cause the problems you are having? I'm not much use, I know. But like you, I don't like the thought of our dogs undergoing the knife unless the Vet has investigated as thoroughly as is possible and has some idea of a feasible 'plan'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 Her blood test showed on friday/saturday showed very slight case of enemia and slight case of low protien......so he seems to think might be a tumour ... Before the operation 10 days ago she had blood in her mouth and after the vet had seen her it was diagnosed as bad gums and the bleeding was from that, so i needed her teeth cleaned, i said to him before you operate i want a full urine and blood screen done he said she is well and healthy and will be fine, to be quite honest another vet that had seen her after said the stitching was very rough where she had a cyst removed antibiotics were prescribed she didn't seem to have much trouble with them but seemed spaced out and was panting quite heavily on occasions, i went back to the vet and he said she is dehydrated give fluids slowly which i did ..Then she got worse then its off to 24 hour emergency clinic for the drip.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shihzoo Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Where are you Dogangel? Maybe you need to get a referral to an animal specialist?? I know a great one in Sydney but other than that I'm sure someone on here could recommend one in your area?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Dogangel - I'm sorry. I'm not sure if I have the sequence of events right. Still - it's not as though I can help you, but it might be good if it is clarified for someone else more wise in the Veterinary field should they care to comment. So, 10 days ago, bleeding gums was what was presented to your GP Vet. There was also a Cyst (where?). Vet prescribes teeth cleaning under GA. Remove cyst at the same time. 6 days following this procedure your dog's health declines, showing signs of vomiting, lethargy and weakness. Off her food but drinking ok. I think it is then that you took your dog to the emergency vet who diagnosed dehydration and put her on an IV drip? Also took bloods and results indicate low protein and anemia. There is swelling that has not gone down. From the Cyst removal site? (Where?) The emergency vet has commented on the roughness of the stitching of the wound site. Antibiotics were prescribed. At what point did she begin the heavy panting and appear "spaced out"? Was this once the antibiotics were prescribed and administered? You returned to the Vet (which vet ...... the emergency vet?) and it is here that you are informed your dog is dehydrated. What form of administration was advised for the fluids that YOU gave? I'm sorry - I'm lost. You're probably worried about your dog and not concentrating on the posts (and I don't blame you), but the order of events and symptoms becoming apparent are confusing to me. Some full stops to indicate the end of your sentences would be helpful too. As I mentioned above, I am certainly NOT in a position nor qualified to advise. I would like to presume that your dog's temperature has been checked to ensure that it is normal, because what is going though my mind is some sort of blood disorder (infection?) - as a result of the surgical operation??????? I really don't know and I think your first port of call is as you suggest you are doing ...................... that is to consult with a Vet qualified to deal with more complicated issues, and quickly. In my own experience I have found the emergency Vets to be very good. I guess they have to be as they need to be sufficiently knowledgeable to deal with emergencies of all and any contingency. Please let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 (edited) I am sorry i am not well myself and very tired watching my dog through the night , friday teeth cleaned cheesy cyst removed left hip, antibiotics prescribed, saturday thru till thursday recovering well except for slight panting and spaced out look, thursday evening suddenly vomits becomes weak, and more spaced out rejects food,restless and moaning alot , friday take her back to my vet but as he wasn't there someone else sees her and says dehydration,at MY OWN suggestion he does blood test and urine test ,tells me results will be in afternoon and to stop antibiotics, he never suggested a drip there and then . !!! We went home waited and waited then no results of blood test till tomorrow grrrr, this vet is the one that said who did the rough job on her stitches.... That night she gets much worse could not even walk 3 4 steps at a time head down cant eat drinking thru a 20 ml syringe , go to emergency clinic to put her on drip and more blood tests and general check up...Everything seemed ok except for severe weakness we left her there arpox 12 hours .... . At the emergency clinic they noticed her leg was swollen, but never told us when we picked her up, and we didn't notice it till last night, we rang the emergency clinic and asked why they didn't tell us as we could of dealt with the problem there and then as its an emergency clinic she said i don' know and apologised 3 times but then said you can bring her in now at a cost of another 300 to 700 dollars . Today my dog has picked up allot except for the bloating of her tummy and swollen leg , my regular vet rang me today and said going by her blood testing results could be her spleen and a tumour on it and she might of had a bad reaction to antibiotics so wants to change to a different antibiotic to fight off a probable infection from her surgical wound . Then he suggests an ultrasound and casually tells me if the utrasound tomorrow reveals a tumour we will operate immediately, was dumbstruck she hasn't recovered from the first op, i really think another op will end her .I will never operate on her again at least not this soon and not at my regular vet clinic, if its a life and death situation i will go elsewhere....They are trying to tell me she had this problem with her blood for ages, i said you and all the vets i see on a regular basis said she is a very healthy dog and to me she was as well. I am angry as I asked for a blood test to be done before the operation and he said no need she is fine !!!! if her tooth wasn't bleeding i would of walked out and never would of done the OPERATION at all i was at a cross roads now feel guilty. Her SURGICAL WOUND WAS SO ROUGH AND oozing blood NON STOP TILL THURSDAY my vet said its ok its normal to bleed .. I am in Victoria ... All of her vital signs have been good temp was normal....thanx all Edited March 25, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Sounds like you, or more particularly your dog, has definately had (and is having) a rough trot. I know what that is like - I had a series of unfortunate and bad experiences with a string of Vets when my girl was very ill. I don't know where you are located, but if you post here with that detail, perhaps some people can recommend a specialist Vet that you can take your dog to. I can only say that I believe my girl was under good care when she was at the Melbourne University (Werribee) Vet Hospital here in Melbourne. Also, the Vets we had cause to consult with at our local emergency vet clinic here in Hallam were also very good. Mind you, it took me some time to admit this as due to my very bad run with wrong and/or bad advice and treatment (at the expense of my dog's health as well as my pocket), I was very cynical and slow to trust when it came to Vets. There are some good ones around. Still sounds to me like some sort of blood infection to me - but I reiterate, this is only my layperson, unqualified thought. My girl ended up with peritinitis following one of her surgeries. I'm not suggesting this is what your girl has, but certain things you mention sound familiar. Watery blood oozing ..... increasing to running like a tap, from her wound site was one of her symptoms. Not eating. Lethargic. Weak. Is her temperature normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 Hi i am in Melbourne THANXXX its a worry isnt it with loving animals ( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Dogangel ...... what is your plan? I am concerned about your girl. Have you had her temperature checked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 (edited) Dogangel ...... what is your plan? I am concerned about your girl. Have you had her temperature checked? So very kind of you to be concerned , but the ultrasound sadly has found her spleen has doubled and she is bleeding if the original vet would of done what i asked him a blood test before she had her teeth cleaned i would of been able to of not gone ahead with teeth cleaning and cyst removal instead we could of operated and removed the mass growng in her spleen instead putting her thru a :cry:surgery 10 days ago which has nearly killed her because of the mass and weakened her severely :D my little baby is only 4 and a half and such a fighter and clever girl ...Temperature is good ....Now what do i do to weak to operate and if we dont she can die if i do operate she can die and not have long anyway i dont want to put her to sleep and i dont want to see her suffer I AM IN MELBOURNE IF ANY ONE KNOWS A GOOD HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS PLEASE LET ME KNOW ......DESPERATE Edited March 26, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 (edited) I know the state of mind you must be in. My girl had a tumour on the adrenal gland. The surgery was going to be extremely tricky with a 35% mortality rate. Not to mention very expensive ($6-7,000.00), but that was a secondary concern to me at the time. My attitude to it was that without the surgery she would not survive. With the surgery she stood a chance of complete cure, if she could survive it at all. All other things were pointing in favour of the surgery being successful, so I had her booked in for the procedure. She had to be administered with a certain medication for a minimum of 21 days prior to surgery, to improve survival chances. Seven days prior to surgery she began having nose bleeds and four days prior she began having Grand Mal seizures. After consultation with her Vet specialists at Werribee, we concurred that brain tumour was most likely involved as well. This being the case I cancelled surgery and kept her on palitive care for the next number of months. Sadly, I needed to intervene last July as it would seem that the adrenal gland tumour was worsening. If it helps you any, I first consulted with Dr. Russell Mitten at Werribee but was then transferred to Dr. Guy Yates (who was very patient, informative, sympathetic, understanding and sensible when it came to what was best for the dog), also at Werribee, when it became a surgical matter. Edited March 26, 2007 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Well depending on where you are- you have Melbourne Vet Referral Centre in Mt Waverly, or Southern Animal Referral Centre in Highett. If you can get down to Highett Dr Charles Kuntz is an excellent specialist surgeon :D , both those Referral Centres have specialist surgeons. You will need to get a referral and history from your regular Vet who has been treating your girl though. Best of luck, Mel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shihzoo Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Oh Dogangel, I'm so sorry - I am praying for you both. I went through similar late last year and it is heart breaking. I wish you all the best and send lots of hugs and kisses to your little shep :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 Oh Dogangel, I'm so sorry - I am praying for you both. I went through similar late last year and it is heart breaking. I wish you all the best and send lots of hugs and kisses to your little shep :D Thank you so much everyone is so understanding how did everything turn out for you was is positive???? I am in the western suburbs ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 (edited) Well depending on where you are- you have Melbourne Vet Referral Centre in Mt Waverly, or Southern Animal Referral Centre in Highett. If you can get down to Highett Dr Charles Kuntz is an excellent specialist surgeon :D , both those Referral Centres have specialist surgeons. You will need to get a referral and history from your regular Vet who has been treating your girl though. Best of luck, Mel. Thanx for your kindness i am in western suburbs ...... Any one know of any good pet ambulances thanx.... Edited March 27, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 After investigating this serious problem of spleen cancer have come to understand that annual vaccines could be a source of the problem including yearly pro hart injections .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 Yep - that's a frequently discussed possibility and the reason why many people are resorting to titre tests (to check antibody levels are adequate) rather than the stock standard yearly "let them have it" routine. Hope all goes well for your dog, DA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 (edited) Well depending on where you are- you have Melbourne Vet Referral Centre in Mt Waverly, or Southern Animal Referral Centre in Highett. If you can get down to Highett Dr Charles Kuntz is an excellent specialist surgeon , both those Referral Centres have specialist surgeons. You will need to get a referral and history from your regular Vet who has been treating your girl though. Best of luck, Mel. Thanx for your kindness i am in western suburbs ...... Any one know of any good pet ambulances thanx.... Um a taxi..?? Obviously you got your dog to the Vet before so what's changed? If you are choosing to go with a specialist then you absolutely need to be there for the initial consultation! What is going on with your dog today? ETA: Go to Werribee University Hospital!!! Edited March 27, 2007 by Staff'n'Toller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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