[forbiddenminni]

hello there, i have a gerrman shorthair pontier, hes about 1 1/2 years old. He has not been felling good, not sure if i should take him to the vet, Now the last 2 days he has been throwing up, day 1 not so much and yesterday allot, he starting having diarea yesterday, and hasnt ate any food in the last day, sometimes he acts fine and will run around and look perfect and then he goes back to sick mode, now i heard feed your dog ground beef and rice and that will help a upset stomic, he didnt eat anything bad, the last thing he ate was a few little peaces of deer stake, if anyone has any ideas on what i can do please help, while i was writing this he throw up again, its kinda scarring me, thanks for your help

[cigwyllt]

Is he drinking - have you seen him drink from his bowl? If he isn't drinking try dissolving some honey in his water and perhaps put some on your fingers and get him to lick it off while your fingers are in the water. Getting water into him is more important than food straight away.

I would stop all food. He will be fine to go a couple of days without eating as long as he is drinking normally. If he is drinking normally then you could try dissolving some arrowroot powder in his water too - that will help to settle his bowel.

But if he has not eaten for 24 hours and is still being sick I think you should take him to the vet. Even a dog that has had all its injections can catch Parvo and that can be very serious. Get an appointment with the vet and in the meantime encourage him to drink.

[CorkyMax]

Please take your dog to the vet NOW!!!

[forbiddenminni]

thanks for the info, he did drink some last night im not sure if he did this moring yet, but i will keep trying to get him to drink, it has been 24 hours since he ate, but he only throw up once today, so if he does continue to throw up i will take him to the vet tommorrow. Do you think the diaera has anything to do with this? And should i try to get him to eat, i heard ground beef is good for updet dtomic or should i stop all food? thanks

[cigwyllt]

No - no food at all. I am sure the diarrhoea is connected to the sickness, just as it would be with a human. Please get him checked by the vet as soon as possible.

[forbiddenminni]

making the apt

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by forbiddenminni

making the apt

Glad you are taking your dog to the vet! Hope it is nothing too serious. Please keep us posted as we will be worrying

Here is info on how to tell if your dog is dehydrated---Of course it is best not to let him get to this point ----keep him drinking 'period!'

Drinking / Dehydration

It is of utmost importance for your pet not to become
dehydrated.

The Skin

The first test for dehydration is 'tenting' the skin.
Pinch the skin between your pet's shoulder blades and
see how quickly it springs back. It should go back in
less than 5 seconds. If the skin tent is prolonged, then
your pet is dehydrated.

The Eyes

Your pet's eyes will be sunken into their head. Specifically,
the eyes recede into the eye socket. It is often seen with
dehydrated cats.

Capillary Refill
Your pet's gums are the best indicator of dehydration. Lift your
pet's lips to expose the gums (pink tissue above the teeth).
Place your index finger on the gums and press your finger flat
to the gum. This temporarily squeezes blood in that spot out of
the small blood vessels (capillaries). When you lift your finger,
the blood should return in less than 2 seconds. This response
will be delayed in a dehydrated pet.

Gum moisture
The gums often feel dry and tacky in a dehydrated pet. When you pull
your index finger away from the gums, it should feel wet, and easily
slide away. In a dehydrated pet, your finger will stick to the gums.

Possible solutions

ON THE ROCKS
Some dogs will readily lick ice cubes when they are dehydrated,
even if they are reluctant to drink water. Float the ice in their
water bowl.

SQUIRT IT IN
Pets that are more severely dehydrated will benefit from additional
electrolytes. 'Pedialyte' is an oral electrolyte re-hydration
supplement for children. A needle-less syringe or a turkey baster
works well. Insert the tip into the center of your pet's mouth.
Tilt his head back, hold his mouth closed and squirt in the fluid.
A safe rule of thumb is to give 30 ml (2 tablespoons) per 10 lbs of
weight every hour.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by forbiddenminni

thanks for the info, he did drink some last night im not sure if he did this moring yet, but i will keep trying to get him to drink, it has been 24 hours since he ate, but he only throw up once today, so if he does continue to throw up i will take him to the vet tommorrow. Do you think the diaera has anything to do with this? And should i try to get him to eat, i heard ground beef is good for updet dtomic or should i stop all food? thanks

I just came across this in a newsletter I get in an email:
For Vomiting:

FASTING TIME. A 24 hour fast is the most important thing you can do to allow your pet's inflamed stomach to heal. Allow access to controlled amounts of water, but no food. After 24 hours offer bland food such as plain cooked white rice; give equivalent amounts of rice as you do dog or cat food. After 48 hours mix their regular food with rice and don't fully go to regular food until after 72 hours.

A CUP OF TEA. Peppermint Tea is an old remedy used for upset stomachs in people. Brew up a strong cup of tea, but allow it to cool before offering it.

HOMEOPATHIC. Nux vomica is an effective homeopathic remedy for vomiting for pets.

For Diarrhea:

FIRM IT WITH FIBER. Dietary fiber absorbs water in the intestine, which helps to decrease diarrhea. Ground flax is a great source for dogs (1tsp/cup of dog food). Canned pumpkin is a great source for your cat (1tsp/day).

PROBIOTICS. Restore the natural bacteria in the intestine, to help the intestinal immune system. The most effective supplement is Lactobacillus acidophilus.

HUMAN REMEDIES. Pepto Bismol is an old standby that can be effective for dogs. Immodium (Loperamide) is the only safe over-the-counter anti-diarrhea drug for cats.

[forbiddenminni]

ok thought i would update you all, Not good, took him to the vet on wed, they gave him a penicilin shot and 2 types of pills to take the vet said not to feed him till the next day, so i did that gave him the beef n rice a little at a time, at 1st he didnt eat then he did a little later on, thought he was back to normal, he started playing with me, being a normal very active GSP, well 5 min after playing went right back to the couch. He hasnt been able to keep anything down, he was throwing up all night into this morning, i gave him his pills this morning, he has kept them down, but he's far from normal all morning he has been shaking and he wont even get up to go out, so i called the vet and im going back in at 1:45, hope we can get some fluids in him, he hasnt ate or drank and kept any of it down since monday night tuesday,

CORKY/MAX,

thanks for the info, i dont think he is dehydrated, i did all the test he seems fine with that, for the past few days i couldnt even get him to drink anything or even take a ice cube, but yesterday he did drink and eat, but it all came right back up

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by forbiddenminni

ok thought i would update you all, Not good, took him to the vet on wed, they gave him a penicilin shot and 2 types of pills to take the vet said not to feed him till the next day, so i did that gave him the beef n rice a little at a time, at 1st he didnt eat then he did a little later on, thought he was back to normal, he started playing with me, being a normal very active GSP, well 5 min after playing went right back to the couch. He hasnt been able to keep anything down, he was throwing up all night into this morning, i gave him his pills this morning, he has kept them down, but he's far from normal all morning he has been shaking and he wont even get up to go out, so i called the vet and im going back in at 1:45, hope we can get some fluids in him, he hasnt ate or drank and kept any of it down since monday night tuesday,

CORKY/MAX,

thanks for the info, i dont think he is dehydrated, i did all the test he seems fine with that, for the past few days i couldnt even get him to drink anything or even take a ice cube, but yesterday he did drink and eat, but it all came right back up

I hope you have a good vet----I don't have much faith in most of them! Can you tell me what the pills are ----I hope they are not some bad ones that can cause side effects, etc---Your dog has enough 'going on' without adding more problems because of the meds given! And did the vet give fluids (intravenously)!? Even though you did all the tests for dehydration---I would be very concerned--He must be dehydrated or darn close because of not drinking and throwing up it all for that length of time!!!! What did your vet figure was wrong or did he have any idea!? Maybe you need another vet!
Please tell me what name of meds are! I suggest you put name of each med in your browser along with side effects or adverse reactions to find out as much as you can!! Please reply when you get back from the vet! Am worrying about your poor baby!-----------------Did the vet do any blood work or take any samples?

[Lara's mom]

I have to respectfully disagree with Corky/Max. It takes time and research to find a really good vet but, it is well worth the effort. You and your vet should be partners in the health of your dog. I disagree with Corky/Max because there are a lot of excellent veterinarians out there. I think that we have become so suspicious of everything that we are harming our beloved fur kids by not finding a really good Dr. and working with him/her in order to keep our babes healthy.

Not everything one reads on the net is accurate. I will trust my kids Dr. over anything I read on the net. Who checks that information and ensures that it is accurate? Any idiot can post their "two cents" on the net. It doesn't mean that anything they say has been adequately researched. I've read so much outright insanity when it comes to dog care that I am now VERY careful.

[forbiddenminni]

The veterinarian we use has been in our family for years now! We never had any problems and they are pretty affordable. But, I was a little skeptical today from the way the veterinarian talked to me. After he took the first x-ray he seemed very concerned, almost as if this was a life or death problem. It really scared me! He then threw out some options of doing an ultrasound, which would cost anywhere between $300-$500. Another option he gave me was to do surgery which would also be costly. Neither of these suited me because I didn't feel comfortable having my dog cut open when they do not even know what's wrong with him. So they took another x-ray and this time they didn't see anything. So he sent me home with Cerenia, which is to prevent vomitting. He also mentioned that if he continues to throw up the beef and rice to bring him in Monday morning which still hasn't solved the problem! I was also given endosorb tablets and famotidine at my first visit!

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I have to respectfully disagree with Corky/Max. It takes time and research to find a really good vet but, it is well worth the effort.(Corky/Max-here--> I mentioned that maybe she needed another vet because maybe she hasn't got a "really good vet!" From the sounds of what the vet did (or didn't do!)--I have my suspicions about this one! Of course if everything wasn't mentioned in this member's last post here and he did do some blood work or stool/urine samples then that is another story--And why no fluids given??!!(<---Corky/Max)You and your vet should be partners in the health of your dog. I agree, that's the way it should be!! I disagree with Corky/Max because there are a lot of excellent veterinarians out there.(Are there a lot!!--How do you know?)You may have good vets but a lot of people don't! Which is another thing I was trying to do here--for this member to think about whether she had a good vet or not!!--Her dog needs help now and if this vet isn't doing a good job--What is going to become of this dog!? I think that we have become so suspicious of everything that we are harming our beloved fur kids by not finding a really good Dr. and working with him/her in order to keep our babes healthy.I thought that was what I was saying---Find a better vet! As far as suspicions go---Call me paranoid, but there is much truth out there as to what is going on in this world and it is not good!! I am not going to bury my head in the sand and leave everything for my vet to decide and let him do whatever he wants--They are not God and do not know everything and a lot of them don't really care, don't know and/or just plain greedy. (Sorry, I am not a meek little lamb.)

Not everything one reads on the net is accurate.That is true (lol, not everything a lot of vets try to tell you (or not tell you) is true either. I will trust my kids Dr. over anything I read on the net. Who checks that information and ensures that it is accurate? I thought you stated in this forum before that you check out all meds on the net before you will give to your dogs??--Which was what I was suggesting that this member do! Any idiot can post their "two cents" on the net.Yes they can but there is good info too---You just have to figure out which it is! I have enough books that I can check on some of this and also you can know that some of the people that put info on the net are who they say they are and you can check out these 'authors/vets too! I don't take the layman's word as gospel either!!--Esp. if they are selling something--There are ways to get a 'handle' on some of these things! And putting a med. name/adverse reactions in your browser is going to bring up a lot of sites who will be saying the same reactions, etc. Furthermore even if something was stated wrong about this subject---It is by no way doing any harm to look up this 'stuff' It doesn't mean that anything they say has been adequately researched. I've read so much outright insanity when it comes to dog care that I am now VERY careful.

As stated above --This is to look up about harmful side effects!

Originally Posted by forbiddenminni

The veterinarian we use has been in our family for years now! We never had any problems and they are pretty affordable. But, I was a little skeptical today from the way the veterinarian talked to me. After he took the first x-ray he seemed very concerned, almost as if this was a life or death problem. It really scared me! He then threw out some options of doing an ultrasound, which would cost anywhere between $300-$500. Another option he gave me was to do surgery which would also be costly. Neither of these suited me because I didn't feel comfortable having my dog cut open when they do not even know what's wrong with him. Corky/Max-->Didn't he have any ideas at all as to what might be wrong--esp. because he seemed very concerned after the 1st x-ray!!? <--Corky/MaxSo they took another x-ray and this time they didn't see anything.Did they see something the on the 1st x-ray?! So he sent me home with Cerenia, which is to prevent vomitting. He also mentioned that if he continues to throw up the beef and rice to bring him in Monday morning which still hasn't solved the problem! I was also given endosorb tablets and famotidine at my first visit!

Just posted the last post before I saw this post!

Did the vet give any fluids intravenously??
How is your dog acting now? The same--Still shaking? What the h**L is he hoping for?--a miracle? Sounds like 'bandaid ' (not even that!) medicine to me. Sorry if I sound 'mean'--The last post I just did can somewhat tell you that I am a little upset. Am going to put the names of the meds in my browser and see what I find---Have suspicions that most of this is just to stop the diarrhea and what good is that going to do if the vet has no idea what he is doing---Trying to stop the diarrhea is not stopping whatever is causing this problem.

[Lara's mom]

Cook some white rice in low sodium or homemade chicken stock. Feed him a bit every 2 - 3 hours. Don't give anyrhing else. This almost always works with my dogs within 24 hours.

[CorkyMax]

Here is one site on endosorb Which is for diarrhea.

Endosorb Suspension Veterinary Information from Drugs.com


Will be back and add to this post---My dog (1 of them) is insisting on being fed his supper---scratching the door--So will be back in about an hr. or less.

Well I am finally back --after a phone call and now I am not feeling the best--Ate something this afternoon that is not agreeing with me right now! And I can hear everybody saying ugh--because it was limburger cheese but I love it IF it is good limburger--Hard to find good kind anymore and this was not the best---wondering if there was some bad bacteria on it---Was not double-wrapped like it usually is with a thicker sheet as the inner wrap--just had the tinfoil for the wrapping and I can just see this getting tiny holes from scraping in the store, etc and bacteria getting in---throwing the rest out and contacting the company, which just happens to be about 30 miles from here.
Lol, What this all amounts to is whether I can be on the computer long enough--sorry but I keep running to the bathroom! If I don't get the rest of this info posted tonight--Will follow-up tomorrow sometime.

Lol, How ironic--just realized I have the same problem as your dog right now!!!!
Sorry if I am grossing anyone out!! And the rest of you--Quit laughing--It happens to the best of us!

[Lara's mom]

I stand by what I said. However, just as in all professions, there are good vets as well as those who don''t deserve to hold a licence. It is our responsibility as pet parents to interview a potential vet just as we'd interview a Doctor for our children.

Too many pet parents go to the vet who is the closest for the sake of convenience. They don't ask to be shown the facility. They don't ask the right questions. They place blind trust in someone who they have no idea of who he/she really is. Who's fault is that? People ask more questions when they buy a lousy computer than they do of the person who will be caring for their baby for its whole life.

Frankly, I'm tired of people who couldn't be bothered to research a good doctor for their fur babies and then are so surprised when they get sick and the vet can't figure it out.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of "flack" over this post but, frankly, I don't care. When you take an animal into your life, you are 100% responsible for it for the duration of its life. I'm tired of hearing of people who chose a vet based on the fact that he/she had the lowest prices. Would those same people choose a Doctor for their children based on the same criteria? I doubt it.

My feeling is, either give your pet the very best or don't have one.

[CorkyMax]

FAMOTIDINE
Why has my veterinarian prescribed this medicine?
Famotidine is a histamine-blocking agent. It helps reduce the amount of gastric acid secreted in the stomach. Famotidine has been used for treating or helping to manage gastric or duodenal ulcers. It has also been used to treat gastritis and reflux conditions.

How do I give this medication?

•Give this medicine to your pet as directed by your veterinarian. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.
•If the medicine is a liquid, measure the dose with reasonable care.
•Try to give this medication at about the same time each day.
•DO NOT give your pet more medicine than directed and DO NOT give the drug more often than directed.
•DO NOT stop giving this medication to your pet unless directed by your veterinarian. Call your veterinarian ahead of time if your pet needs a refill.
•Try not to miss giving any doses


What do I do if I miss giving a dose?
Give the dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, and continue with the regular schedule. Do not give the pet two doses at once.

How do I store this medicine?
•Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
•Store this medicine in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Store away from heat and direct sunlight.
•Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture.
What are the potential side effects?
•The adverse effect profile has not been fully determined for veterinary species.
•Adverse effects documented in humans include: loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dry mouth or skin. Isn't it nice that one of the side effects could be diarrhea!!?
•If symptoms are observed and they persist, contact your veterinarian.
•Other side effects may occur. If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian.
Are there any possible drug interactions?
•Make sure to tell your veterinarian what other medication you are giving to your pet.
•Quite often your veterinarian may prescribe two different medications, even if a drug interaction may occur. In this case, your veterinarian may vary the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.
•If famotidine must be given with antacids, metoclopramide, sucralfate, digoxin and/or ketoconazole, give famotidine at least 2 hours before or after the other drugs, whenever possible.
•Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.

© Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license.



Written by: petsMD Veterinary Editorial Staff
Reviewed by: petsMD Veterinary Review Board



Pfizer Animal Health Dogs Health Management

This is part of the article from the above site that is the most important--but click on the address above for the whole thing:
Does CERENIA have any side effects?

Most dogs do very well on CERENIA. But as with all medicines, some dogs may experience side effects. Side effects are rare with CERENIA, but when they do occur, the most common ones are excessive drooling, lethargy, lack of appetite, and diarrhea. A few dogs may vomit after taking the medicine. Giving CERENIA with a small amount of food will help avoid this. Remember not to wrap the tablets tightly, so they can dissolve properly.
I'd like to know how you can tell if it is the problem or the side effects as far as the vomiting and the diarrhea!

Is CERENIA right for all dogs?

The safe use of CERENIA has not been tested in female dogs that are breeding, pregnant or are nursing, dogs that have swallowed foreign objects, and dogs that have eaten poisonous substances. Caution should be used in giving CERENIA to dogs with liver problems.CERENIA is recommended for dogs 16 weeks and older. The most common side effects seen with CERENIA are excessive drooling (5-13%), lethargy (9%) and vomiting not due to motion sickness (5-9%). For more information, read the full prescribing information (package insert)

[CorkyMax]

I am allergic to penicillin and it took 9 days for it to show up--so it doesn't have to be an immediate reaction---But note--If a person/dog is allergic and---the quicker you react to it, the more potent and dangerous---If throat swells ---You would not be able to breathe! Life threatening! Itching and scratching like crazy were my 1st symptoms--then some swelling--couldn't get a shoe on at all. Forehead swelled too. The thing about it all--I went to the doctor about the 10th day--gave me a shot in the rear. Never said to come back 'soon' if the allergy wasn't 'taken care of. So I waited a couple days before going back and then HE SAYS--the shot should of taken care of it right away---So I got a more 'potent' shot! Lol!

Even though this was a shot and not a pill---The info still applies. You will note that it does mention the shot also further down. What gets me is that all these meds mention diarrhea as a possible side effect! So how do you tell for sure what is now (and near future) causing the diarrhea!

Penicillin G - PetPlace.com

I am hoping things get better for both you and the dog--I know how frustrating things must be--been there! Keep us posted or we will be worrying if we don't hear back!!

[Yogi]

Was the dog running a fever?
What was the reason the vet gave for wanting to perform surgery?
We need to know exactly what the vet did and told you. Not your interpretation as this leaves a vast gap in what is going on.
The vet had to tell you what his suspicions were and for it to appear to be life and death, why? What makes you think this? Did the vet say this too you?
Truth is, the dog has had diarrhea for some time, eaten very little. Has been vomiting and yet no liquids given via IV at the vet. A little water drinking will not suffice or counter the lack of liquids in the dogs body if it continues to have diarrhea.
The vet had to have some idea what the problem is. If not, time to check with another vet. As Corky and Lara point out. Just because one vet doesn't know does not mean another vet could not have the answer.
I would check with another vet before this gets worse.
Good luck.

[cherylmartin]

Please give us an update!
What meds are you giving?
Did your Vet provide you with a Client Information Sheet fpr each prescription, just like your pharmacist does??
Some 'prescription' drugs can be so harmful and its up to us to decide what to give and what not to give.
Please read Jasmine's story at: Jasmine's Rainbow Residency at RainbowsBridge.com
I didn't know.

Cheryl and Angel Jasmine
Jasmine was loved
Jasmine took ProIn
Jasmine is gone