Dog Distress
Posted by julie on June 20, 2007
*!*
“What was that?” I mumbled blearily, trying to identify the very wet plopping sound that dragged me out of a solid sleep.
“I think it was one of the dogs throwing up,” DH murmured, sitting up slightly and turning on his bedside lamp. I got out of bed. Sure enough, Lyra (she of the wounded ear), had gotten sick near the back door. She still stood there, not moving or looking up at me as I knelt to examine both her and the mess. She wasn’t making the face – that grimace dogs get that means they’re about to let go again – but she was very tense. When I opened the door to let her out, in case she needed to be sick again, she stood on the patio and didn’t move. I cleaned up the mess as best I could, keeping an eye on her, and after several minutes decided to take her in to the 24 hour vet.
When we got there, before going in I watched her carefully for signs of feeling better (she’s been known to act distressed, only to get excited and miraculously be just fine when she gets attention from the vet staff). Not this time, though. She made an effort to be friendly to the admitting attendant, but it was clearly an effort, and a subdued one at best. After the vet looked at her, she groaned, tried to get comfy on the floor, and commenced shuddering again, in obvious pain.
The good news is, judging by this morning’s x-rays, she doesn’t have a perforation, bloat, or pancreatitis, all urgent conditions that would probably require surgery. The bad news is, the nature of the problem is unclear for now. DH and I decided to keep her there for observation, and she’ll have another x-ray around noon, this time by the actual radiologist (who might see things the regular vet this morning may have missed), to see if anything has changed. It could be nothing – a mysterious bought of abdominal pain that will resolve itself later today, and I’m hoping and praying that’s the case – or it could be some type of intestinal obstruction (perhaps rawhide related, which wouldn’t show on an x-ray, though the effects would; no more rawhide chews, I guess. Nylabones are out, too – she used to break off huge chunks of those and eat them, which could potentially be just as dangerous. I suppose the starch bones are the only option? Any ideas on that?). It could be any number of things, unfortunately. All I know for certain is she went to bed fine, and she woke up hurting.
The most surprising thing about this morning, though, is how calm I am. The last time she seemed distressed (last summer, which turned out to be some sort of 24 hr dog stomach flu), my mind jumped to the worst conclusions and I was a wreck (I know, she’s just a dog, but she’s our dog, and the first one I’ve ever really raised and cared for; I love her almost as much as I would a child). This time, though, I’m not so worried. Concerned, of course, but not in a panic, not imagining worst-case scenarios, etc. Just concerned, calm, and glad I decided to take her in so that someone who knows more than I do can help her if she needs it.
Still, though, if you have a little room in your prayers today for a sick pooch, they’d be much appreciated.
-o.o-
*UPDATE*
Well, I heard back from the vet a little while ago. The second x-ray around noon found nothing, and she seemed to be feeling better, but they were still concerned so I authorized an ultrasound. They found something surprising (not what you want to hear when getting ultrasound results) – there are strange nodules on her liver, and there’s also some fluid in her abdomen. They’re going to test the fluid to see what it is, and tomorrow after the results are back we’ll go from there.
Honestly, right now I can’t comprehend how my parents held it together when we were sick as kids. My brother’s early childhood was spent as much in the hospital as at home, and I had a couple of serious problems as well. My mom was like a rock – calm and soothing, she always knew what to do; I rarely saw her panic. Now I realize she must have been going crazy with worry half the time. I was doing good today until I heard “nodules” and “liver,” along with “possible abscess.”
I know she’ll probably (ultimately) be all right, but it’s hard not to worry when there’s nothing you personally can do to make it better.
MizzE said
May the Creator of all things who made you steward of Lyra restore her to health and strength.
julie said
Thanks, Mizze.
robinstarfish said
I hope she is back to driving you crazy in a day or two.
My 14-year old dog could never tolerate rawhide – she’d throw up every time. Hopefully that’s all it is. Have you tried Greenies instead of Nylabones? They don’t last long and are pricey, but dogs love ‘em and they don’t get all gnarled up.
Don’t let the vets scare you. And what Mizze said.
julie said
I wish it was the rawhide; that’s a fairly easy solution. We just got back from the vets. We were torn about letting her stay overnight, but after seeing her we think it’s the best course of action right now. They had just given her morphine, so she was pretty zoned out, but she wouldn’t just relax and lay down. She was standing there, not very responsive, and her legs were ready to collapse, but then she’d catch herself and fight it. Better to have her actually sleeping under trained observation than fighting the pain and the medication at home.
In the morning, once the test results are in I’ll probably transfer her to the care of her regular vet. At this point, I’m fairly confident that whatever’s wrong they can help her, whether just via antibiotics or through surgery. She’s in for a rough couple of weeks either way, but she’ll pull through.
And thanks, Robin and Mizze and Jeff (in another post) for the kind words. It really does help.
ussben said
I hope and pray she will heal quickly, JulieC, whatever is ailing her.
Trucker said
Julie, what happened with your dog who had the nodules on its liver? What was the outcome? How was the dog?
julie said
Thanks for asking, Trucker; she’s doing just fine. The nodules, it seems, are little cysts she gets which are usually harmless. She frequently gets them under her skin, and occasionally one will start to grow and eventually pop. As we understand it, that’s most likely what happened on the inside as well. She had some pain and discomfort when it popped, but no actual harm was done to her internal organs, and no infection resulted.
She was actually almost back to normal the next day, thank goodness.
Trucker said
I’m really glad to hear she’s doing better Julie.
I ask because my 7 1/2 year old labrador just had an ultrasound that revealed nodules on the liver. He has no fluid in the abdomen; no signs of jaundiced; he had been not eating for a week and vomitted 3 times (that’ why I brought him to the vet). Blood tests revealed high liver enzymes – so we did the ultrasound, which revealed nodules. They don’t think it’s cancer, but his liver is inflamed. He is having a biopsy Friday. They have mentioned it might be chronic acute hepatitis, which I’ve been researching online, and it sounds like that can terrible or Ok depending on how badly his liver is damaged.
Before they knew your dog had cysts, did they think CAH might be the cause? I doubt my dog has the cysts b/c he hasn’t experienced any pain or anything like you described above – but I am still just wondering.
Also, can you tell me anything about what I might expect about his prognosis? He’s SO HEALTHY SEEMING otherwise – has tons of energy, wants to play, wolfs down the chicken/rice/hamburger concotions I’ve been feeding him for the last week. His urine is a good color (yellow, light) and I’m just so so so so hoping that if it is CAH we have caught it early enough to manage it, and give him years more of a healthy happy life.
He’s the light of my life, my dog, and I am just going crazy over here.
Any information you can give me would be so, so appreciated.
Thanks,
Lauri and her dog Trucker
julie said
I think they may have checked for CAH, but the blood tests all came back normal. There was a little bit of fluid in her abdomen (which was why they recommended the ultrasound), but they think it was just from the burst cyst. I know very little about CAH (I did find some good information here, though). It sounds like, if that is the diagnosis, Trucker is in a very early stage, which means that there may be much more you can do to help slow the progression of the disease and give him many more years of good health.
Given your description, though, and the fact that he seems to be eating and energetic, if it were me I’d be surprised if it’s hepatitis. Of course, I’m not a vet so I don’t know, and I tend to try to be as optimistic as possible.
You and Trucker are both in my prayers, Lauri; may he be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. There is no friend like a good dog.
Trucker said
Thank you so much for your kind words Julie. You’re obviously a really great person who loves animals.
I am hoping he is in the early stages. The only thing that makes me worried are the nodules – I’ve read that those, combined with scar tissue, indicate the liver has already reached cirrhosis. But he had a fine needle aspirate last week which indicated lots of normal liver cells, which my vet told me indicates he is “no way even near” to end stage liver failure. So. That’s good.
Also, while his urine is good and not that orange that people say to worry about, his stool is orange and sort of slimy, which I read indicates there is a problem with bile production and thus is also evidence of liver problems.
I am just hoping hoping hoping that because all of his other signs are good, and there were so many normal liver cells on the aspirate, that the biopsy will come back in good shape and we can start manageing the disease and get him on the path to health!
And, while I am stressed to the max and can’t eat, sleep or work, I feel thankful that he is a dog and doesn’t know what’s going on. He just wants to go to the beach and play like normal! If stress impedes healing in humans, than it is a dog’s blessing to never know what is going on.
Thanks for providing me with an outlet for all of these nerves; when I know more what is going on I will definitely leave a post and let you know.
julie said
Thank you, Lauri. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for both of you!