My dog is very sick....

[WillParkinson]

Heidi had diarreha the other day. She would hunch like she was trying to go and walk around the yard like that.

I told Paul to call the vet. He took her in that morning and they found that her temperature was 104 degrees.

She wouldn't eat, drank a lot of water, and just wanted to sleep.

When Paul got home he said they took bloodwork and gave her some antibiotics. They called later that night and said that she had pancreatitis.

In order to get her to drink some water I splashed it on her legs. She lay there licking it off. Eventually she drank some water, but now she's just laying there unwilling to move. The one time we did get her to go outside she walked as though she was in a good deal of pain.

I'm stressing over this a lot because almost a year ago we lost Misty and this one is just very hard.

Does anyone have any insight on pancreatitis in dogs? Is her behavior normal?

[nightbloomer]

1. pancreatitis

My sheltie has had this 3 times. He has had to be hospitalized all three times for fluid and supportive treatment. Your dog needs IV fluids quickly - this is the first thing that you should insist on. Your vet should monitor her and give her antibiotics and pain relief if necessary. She should not be eating just now, hence more of a reason to get her on IV fluids NOW. This is a very dangerous disease, but it can be resolved with good, aggressive and prompt care.

Good luck. My sheltie is 13 years old now and had his last encounter with this 5 years ago. You will need to be very careful about the diet as well, no more fatty treats and such.

[Vektor]

2. Get her back to the vet.

Antibiotics, IV fluids, pain/anti-nausea medicine. Also, something to bring down the fever.

She needs to be at the vet, hospitalized. She is probably in a lot of pain.

[WillParkinson]

4. We called the vet...

He says that the pills he gave us are for that purpose (anti-biotics and pain meds). He said if she would not drink to use a turkey baster to give her some water. I went into the bedroom (where she's sleeping away from the other dogs) and lay down next to her. There was a bowl of water near her and some rice. I moved the water closer to her and she started drinking. The rice she ate, too.

I'm hopeful and optimistic after this, but still guarded. The vet said to give them a call tomorrow for an update.

Thank you for your replies.

[Vektor]

6. You're welcome...

If you see any decline in her condition, please call the vet back pronto. Will someone from the family be home with her for the duration?

I'll have my fingers crossed for your sweet pup.

[WillParkinson]

8. Yeah, we were supposed to go on a trip...

But that got cancelled until she's feeling better.

[Vektor]

10. My dog always manages to get sick when we are trying to leave for a trip.

I don't know how they do it.

Last time, we were trying to leave town to go to my dad's 70th b-day party. The dog managed to find a cluster of toxic mushrooms in the yard that we never saw (they were hidden behind some bushes) and eat them. He started hyper salivating, and throwing up all over the place. This happened while we were packing up the car.

We got him to the vet right away, and he got activated charcoal, IV fluids, and anti-nausea meds.

He was fine, but our trip was delayed. Just like kids, they are - so unpredictable!

I hope she makes a full recovery very soon!

:hug:

[Dangerously Amused]

5. Seconded.

Had a dog w pancreatitis, with proper and prompt treatment (including initial hospitalization) she pulled through.

On Edit: I see that the vet thinks she is okay at home. That's a relief, I know you will keep her close until she recovers.

Good luck. Please let us know how it turns out.

[marzipanni]

3. I hope you took Heidi to the vet

I did a DU search because I remembered other threads about dogs with pancreatitis or similar symptoms, and the dogs needed some treatment to recover.
Here's one, for example-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2626335

[flvegan]

7. Wait..."the other day"?

How long has she been suffering this now?

[WillParkinson]

9. Heidi...

Had diarreha on Friday evening/Saturday morning. We called the vet on Saturday when they opened. They had no available spots. They told us to sit tight for a bit and then called us back shortly after and got her in that same day.

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. Will, please ask your vet about food....

I was in the hospital with this disease.

You mentioned that you fed her some rice.

I do not know if it is different with dogs than for humans, but they kept me away from even the SMELL of food because eating or the smell of food causes your body to naturally release pancreatic enzymes which will aggravate this disease. Please double check with your vet.

Good luck to you and your puppy.

[WillParkinson]

13. The vet...

Said to give her a bland diet with rice. The first day and a half she had no appetite. I rolled her pills up in a piece of veggie lunch meat and she at that (with odd gusto). Today she at the rice.

[LisaM]

12. Here's hoping for the best

Dog's temperatures are naturally a few degrees higher than human's, so 104 isn't as bad as it would be for a child.