[Phoenix89]

Please someone give me help or advice.

Yesterday I took my dog out, who is 3 this month, to use the bathroom..he went for a poop but I noticed his feces are a pale grayish colour. Today, same thing but twice. I have noticed today that his one side of his stomach is HUGE, hard, and hollow sounding when I tap on it. It's bulging to the point where it's clearly noticeable. I called two different vets to get advice on what it could be, they both said to bring him in but sadly I can not afford the gas or vet bill right now. I am pulling an all nighter to closely monitor him. I am looking at him laying down as I type this and still a huge bulge. I am feeding him Kibbles 'n Bits Wholesome Medley as he was on Kibbles 'n Bits Original. I have had no problem before until now.

WHAT DO I DO! I am so scared for my baby!

He does have a hard time going poop. Eating is normal, but if he was to gulp either food or water I wouldn't really notice.

[Todd]

sounds like a liver problem. Here's an explanation I found online;

The liver has innate properties of regenerating itself and can function easily even when a major part of its mass has been affected by a disease. This is the double-edged nature of the largest organ in the body. It is advantageous in as much as it means that it keeps on working to its full potential for a long time even when it is affected by a liver disease. On the other hand, it also restricts manifestation of symptoms of liver disease in dogs while the disease continues to progress.

Liver disease in dogs presents multiple symptoms, which are often confusing as they can relate to many mild disorders. The liver being the main industrial center in the body, performing multiple functions, is connected with practically all the biochemical processes that a body needs to function at optimal levels. As such, liver disease can affect any part of the body and in turn be affected by viral or bacterial infections in other organs or body systems. Some of the main symptoms of liver diseases in dogs are discussed in detail below:

Gastrointestinal
The most common symptom is anorexia or loss of appetite. Loss of appetite is often accompanied by other gastrointestinal and abdominal upsets like diarrhea, vomiting and constipation. Lack of proper metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins and the resultant weight loss leads to further complications. Disruption of normal physiological processes leads to anemia, which in turn causes progressive depression and lethargy. The dog may refuse to go out on walks and become intolerant to exercise.

Pale gray stools
Bile is made up of electrolytes, cholesterol, bile acids, bilirubin (an orange yellow pigment in bile that forms as a product of hemoglobin), and globulins. It is produced and channeled by liver cells for storage in the gall bladder. Bile is important for drug elimination, recirculation of red blood cells and absorption of fats from intestines into the blood stream. Bilirubin, which is toxic, must be detoxified and excreted into the intestines for further break up into urobilinogen. Urobilinogen gives stool its dark brown color. Liver disease may obstruct the bile duct and hamper this excretion resulting in pale gray colored feces.

Jaundice
Once the bile duct starts obstructing secretion of bile from the gall bladder the resultant accumulation of the toxic bilirubin in the blood stream leads to jaundice. The dog may show a yellow discoloration in the skin and mucous membranes.

Bleeding disorders
Liver synthesizes proteins that initiate and maintain the complex biochemical process of clotting. A liver disease can impair the normal clotting system, which results in bleeding disorders.

Ascites (Accumulation of fluids)
Accumulation of fluids in the abdominal cavity is more common in a canine liver disease rather than a feline liver disease. It is caused when the blood flow from the portal vein is diminished. The resultant rise in blood pressure causes fluids to leaks from the portal vein into the abdomen. This manifests as external symptom of a distended stomach. A severe condition hampers breathing as pressure on the diaphragm increases. A dog’s stomach can also appear to be bloated if the liver is abnormally enlarged. An enlarged liver induces pain in the abdomen, which can be aggravated when the dog is lifted from the stomach.

Symptoms of liver disease in dogs are so varied that they are difficult to compile in a short write up. Besides physical symptoms, liver disease is also indicated through a condition known as Hepatic encephalopathy, or severe neurological signs like seizures, unnecessary pacing or circling, and other behavioral changes.

*I would seriously try to get him to a vet soon. Do whatever you can. Maybe get on a payment plan if possible. Good luck and I hope everything tuns out ok.

[CorkyMax]

I just got done looking things up in my home vet book---And Todd you pretty much covered what I just read. And like you I agree---Go to the vet now! Do you want your dog to live ? Afford it or not--You are talking about your dog's life here which you have said in previous posts that you love so much!!! If you love it so much --You will take care of him and do what you have to! This may very well be an emergency!

[OrangeDog]

I agree... your dog needs to go to a VET or you need to surrender him to a shelter if you cannot afford to care for him properly.

Also, not to be rude but you are feeding your dog the WORST food on the market, I would not be at all shocked if the kibbles and bits is causing serious health problems.

Please keep us posted on how things go.

[Phoenix89]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

I am waiting up all night till businesses open in the morning. I'm calling Petcard...it's somewhere I can get a loan and pay them off slowly.
I'm just hoping he makes it till then.

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

I just got done looking things up in my home vet book---And Todd you pretty much covered what I just read. And like you I agree---Go to the vet now! Do you want your dog to live ? Afford it or not--You are talking about your dog's life here which you have said in previous posts that you love so much!!! If you love it so much --You will take care of him and do what you have to! This may very well be an emergency!

What you need to understand is that I can't even afford to fart. I DO want my dog to live! We don't even have the money to GET to a vet.

Originally Posted by OrangeDog

I agree... your dog needs to go to a VET or you need to surrender him to a shelter if you cannot afford to care for him properly.

Also, not to be rude but you are feeding your dog the WORST food on the market, I would not be at all shocked if the kibbles and bits is causing serious health problems.

Please keep us posted on how things go.

I will not update someone with an attitude such as yours Orange. DONT EVER tell me to surrender my dog. I am downright pissed that you would say that, not even suggest it but TELL me.
I did not know Kibbles and Bits was the worst food out there till tonight. Believe me, I will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for my dog!

[OrangeDog]

Going back to read my post it did not read the way I ment to sound and for that I deeply appologize. That is the hard thing about written text, it is so cold it is hard to tell where somebody is coming from. That was not ment as an attack, just a suggestion. I see that you need help and thought I would offer that as a suggestion, it IS an option afterall. I had no intention of being rude... I can tell you love your dog and sometimes when we love someone we need to do what is best for him/her. If one of my dogs was ill and could not afford to save his life I would give him to somebody who could. How about borrowing money from a family memer or friend or opening up a fund at the vets office that people can donate to (if it's not to late).

Please keep us updated

[Yogi]

I will not update someone with an attitude such as yours Orange. DONT EVER tell me to surrender my dog. I am downright pissed that you would say that, not even suggest it but TELL me.
I did not know Kibbles and Bits was the worst food out there till tonight. Believe me, I will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for my dog![/QUOTE]

If this is the case, you would have already been in contact with a vet which you did then turned to a dog forum for help and advice. When inquiring on a dog forum you need to learn to expect to hear sometimes things you do not want to hear. This in no way is meant to be derogatory but you stated you did not have the gas money or the monies for a vet. With this it is obvious that Dog owners in general will offer suggestions beneficial to the dog for health purposes. Common sense dictates that if a dog is ill and could be life threatening than what becomes paramount is the life of the dog not ones ego. Orangedogs remarks were meant obviously as a solution to the dogs needs in conjunction to the comments you made where you could not afford to care for the dog at this time. Now you need to weigh this in an adult manner and make a decision. What is more important, the dogs life or your unwillingness to part with it even if it means saving its life.
Reality in life is not expected to be easy. It presents all with decisions that we have to make whether we like them or not. In the end, we are measured by our ability to stand up to the plate and make the decision that sometimes we wish we did not have to make.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Phoenix89

I came here merely looking for advice/help. I guess I should've wrote words like hurt....sick....gas...money...stomach...cause it seems that's the only words some look at. I did not come here to have people attack me telling me to give him up or get him to a vet NOW afford it or not, I welcome suggestions but I. personally do not and will not tolerate what I was told.
If you were suggesting it maybe word it like "how about.....?" or "what if you try....?" I don't think I'll be staying on this forum as it seems people jump right to conclusions. Here's a suggestion for all the assholes here...maybe get more info from the member who posted the thread...don't jump to conclusions...word your "suggestions" better....and read the whole post and not pick and choose words.
Problem with my dog solved thanks to my mother-in-law who has some vet training.
Oh, also I bet most people on here would be quick to tell others off if you were told to give up your dog cause you don't have money on ONE particular day to care for him. It's not like I plan for these things to happen.
BYE AND GOOD I LOVE DOGS!I LOVE DOGS!I LOVE DOGS!I LOVE DOGS!IN RIDDENS TO BAD UGLY TRASH!

Not trying to be disrespectful, but owning a dog is a PRIVILEGE not a right. If you can't afford to own the dog and take care of him if he's sick, I don't think you should necessarily own one. I understand that you love your dog and that's wonderful, but one should no what their position is and what they're getting into before deciding to own a pet. As another member said, if you can't afford to take care of your dog, it may be in the best interest of both of you to give the dog to someone who can. Would your mother in law consider caring for him until you maybe get another job and are able to correctly care for him? I understand that you may be a huge dog lover so maybe consider getting a job with pets like working at a pet store or volunteering at a local animal shelter.

[Lara's mom]

Did I not read in another post that you were planning a wedding? Perhaps, you could scale down the wedding plans and use some of that money to get your dog treated.

[OrangeDog]

that is a good idea Lara's mom...

you can also cancel your cable tv and internet accounts until you can afford to take care of your dog. Another option also is to clean houses for people, you can make some good money that way.

there are many ways to save money... often things that people never even think of.

[CorkyMax]

This person will not get to read your posts but what you said was great! Notice in her posts--under her name--She has been banned.
Hey! I prob. wouldn't of noticed either if someone hadn't told me about it!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

This person will not get to read your posts but what you said was great! Notice in her posts--under her name--She has been banned.
Hey! I prob. wouldn't of noticed either if someone hadn't told me about it!

oh, ok lol. what she said was really wrong. I can't believe she blw up like that.

[Lara's mom]

Thanks. I didn't notice it either. Maybe it's just me but, the idea of people being banned for speaking their mind, whether or not I agree with what they have to say makes me a little uncomfortable.

We may not like what someone says but, should we not respect and protect their right to say it?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Thanks. I didn't notice it either. Maybe it's just me but, the idea of people being banned for speaking their mind, whether or not I agree with what they have to say makes me a little uncomfortable.

We may not like what someone says but, should we not respect and protect their right to say it?

I agree, but I think she was banned primarily because of her explicit language.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Todd

I agree, but I think she was banned primarily because of her explicit language.

Trust me, at my age I am of the opinion that though I may not agree with what you say I will defend your right to say it. But on that note, calling people names or simply being insulting and aiming your opinion in the direction of an individual in an insulting manner will not be tolerated on this forum. The remark pertaining to the name calling in reference to the members here is what got this person banned, not for expressing an opinion but the means and words used to do so.

[Lara's mom]

Right. I understand. I don't agree with name calling to get your point across either.