Dig Sick

[mamajo76]

My dog has not been feeling well for 6 days.  She does not want to eat and is so lethargic, just lays there most of the time.  She is only 1 year old and is normally a spaz so we know something is wrong.  I took her to the vet on the 2nd day and he did an exam and bloodwork and everything.  She had a 104 fever but everything else was normal.  He gave her IV fluids, antibiotics, an appetite stimulant and some special food.  He said if she starts vomitting to take her to the ER.  She hasn't been vomitting. She ate almost the whole can of food that night.  She did not eat the next day and only a little bit the day after.  No vomit and no diarhea though.  So on the 4rth day, she wasn't getting worse but she obviously was still not feeling well so I took her to back to the vet - a different one because my normal one was already closed.  Still 104 fever but everything else was OK.  They both had the same reaction - a non-vomitting puppy that doesn't want to eat, is lethergic, fever, normal blood work, normal stools...  what could it be?  They wanted $1300-$2500 for more tests which may or may not find anything.  Since she was turning up and not down I made the hard decision to take her home.  Yesterday she was a little better - but I mean just a little.  She has been eating more at least and does have a little more energy.  I am feeling awful - I hate to see her like this.  Has anyone ever seen these symptoms before?  Not that I am expecting a diagnosis - but I am just curious if there is any hope of recovery on her own.  

[mamajo76]

Thank you for answering - she has been getting better every day.  She was even playing yesterday like normal for a few hours and then started having these 'passing out' episodes.  Just for a few seconds but this morning it was like 3 of them within 20 minutes.  We took her back to the vet and her heart and lungs and everything was normal except still a slight fever at 103 which is at least lower than before but she has been on antibiotics for almost a week now.  More bloodwork too which we will not have back until tomorrow but the vet thinks if her blood was normal last week then he does not expect to see anything different but just to make sure.  1 vet did say maybe cancer but really, can a 1 year old have cancer?  She is going back tomorrow.    

[theshogun]

This could just be your dog having an upset stomach and not wanting to eat??. My dog also did this where he didn't eat for about 2 days and only drank water, and I noticed when I would let him outside he would eat grass. If I was you I would not feed my dog at all for about maybe a day and a half and then see if your dog wants to eat if she does then you feed her only about 2 cups of her kibble. Your dog could also maybe not like the food that you are feeding her?? . Another thing that I think might be the problem is if she ate a bone or something and it is stuck in her stomach??. It is never a good idea to feed dogs any kind of hide or bones. I would get some xrays if you recall her getting into your garbage or if you remember feeding your dog some bones.

[Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.]

A temperature of 104 in a young dog indicates some inflammatory process somewhere in the body. Blood work and supportive care are indicated to determine how to proceed. Without a diagnosis, all remains a guess.

It is likely in a younger animal that viral disease could be involved. You are right that cancer is very, very unlikely whereas infectious disease is very likely and can be serious or life threatening.

If the dog is improving, you may have been fortunate here. For all other readers, it is important to know that delaying workup is a risky strategy. The quick action by this pet's owner and treatment given on day two, may be what facilitated the recovery she describes.

Dr G