Mabel is off colour ?

[ownedbyaconnie]

Having not had a female dog before, do they get a bit poorly prior to a season like us humans can?

first season was September so about 7 months ago now. Her bits aren’t swollen yet but she is maybe paying them a little more attention than usual. With her first season her bits were normal then she started bleeding and they were really swollen basically simultaneously.

Started yesterday where she was sick 3 times. All normal looking, well digested with bits of a new treat we had bought so I put it down to that maybe being a bit strong or just not agreeing with her. Boiled some chicken which she wolfed down and she perked up the rest of the day.

Today OH felt she was a bit reserved and I then caught her eating grass and then throwing up white foamy vile. She hasn’t touched dinner which isn’t massively unusual, she’s more of a grazer however she then showed no interest in our dinner which is a red flag. But she is happily taking treats. Gums are nice and pink and she’s not tender if I manipulate her tummy area. I did have a play with her earlier which she enjoyed but I think she’s the kind of dog that will put on a show to keep her humans happy. She is drinking water, weeing and pooing as normal (maybe slightly on the looser side but not diarrhoea and no blood).

My plan is continue monitoring her, make her another boiled chicken breast in the morning and if she is sick again/no improvement then give vet a ring. Is that a good plan?

 

[Kat_Bath]

I don't think I can help but having had a poorly dog recently, I know what it feels like to worry.

I've no idea about seasons etc as I've never had a female dog either, but I would keep up with the plain diet for a couple of days, yes. When Harvey had colitis, the vet said 5-6 small meals a day of either plain cooked chicken, plain cooked white fish or plain cooked scrambled egg. It helped massively and I think it sort of reset him.

Hope she's on the mend ASAP - fingers crossed. Normal wees and poos are a good sign. Definitely ring the vet if you're still worried.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Maybe the new treat? I stick to pigs ears and those hedgehog /toothbrush treats or super bland biscuits. My lot graze for ages, but they're raw fed and that's apparently very common. Hope she's perkier soon.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

We’ve ended up at the emergency vets as she kept being sick and then wouldn’t touch chicken which is a big red flag. She had bloods done (came back normal) and an anti nausea jab so as long as she stops being sick then all good. If she carries on being sick then concern is there is an obstruction (she hasn’t pooed for a while now but then she hasn’t eaten so maybe a bit of a circle there!).

I then popped in on pony on the way home as I wormed her today and I always panic she’ll be a bit colicky. She was very annoyed I interrupted her beauty sleep and then didn’t provide any treats.

Animals eh!

 

[PurBee]

How old is she?

my female gsd at age 9 last year, after having seasons pretty much around springtime - last year was different. She bled for normal 2 weeks ish....but then she didnt stop bleeding, just little spots. I thought it was unusual for it to go on so long. She was eating etc all normal in herself.

Then, like yours - she stopped eating and was vomiting. She was still playful and energetic, like you say, more to keep up with the day to day normal activities which she loves. But she went off food. So i got her raw liver, which she loves. Just a mouthful, nothing. She stopped eating and on the 3rd day called the vet. (first lockdown this happened - over the weekend)

Was told to call in monday for antibiotics - sounds like infection they said, called on monday, tried antiB’s - still not eating. Drinking plenty. Day 5 no eating at all...call vets very concerned, she’s losing weight yet still running loopy around the farm. Take her in the vets and she had a rectal temp and vet said, considering other symptoms its a Pyometra - infection of the womb, and as antibiotics didnt change anything he concluded it was serious. He kept her in overnight to do early morning surgery for full hysterectomy (as i wasnt interested in breeding from her).

She had stopped pooping due to not eating too. Drinking lots though and weeing Plenty.

Immediately she was so much better - very thin after 7 full days no food including surgery day - but she began eating happily when vet said to feed after op.

Pyometra normally occurs in older female dogs - having researched after the incident. Yet its not outside the realms of possibility for young females to get uterine infections. It can be a mild infection which anti-B’s clear up - or can get very severe and cause a full body infection, leading to death, so its wise to keep a close eye on her accepting food. Mine never shunned food - eats anything, hence why i get very concerned quite quickly when she goes off food.

She recovered so quickly it was astonishing. Had to keep her in for 7 days as all she wanted to do was run after deer across the fields, which would have tore her stitches.

As yours has coincided with her season i’d highly suspect inflammation and slight infection. Basically external dirt can get into the vagina from sitting outside, licking themselves etc - my dog being gsd has loads of genital hair/fluff - but i think all the licking they do when they come into season introduces more bacteria into the vagina than normal, which then infects uterus/cervix/womb and spreads.

Take her rectal temp if you can. See if she’s running a fever.
Get to the vet if day 5 without food has rolled around. Pyometra isnt something to wait and see with.
Fingers crossed for you!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

One of those moments you wish you could ask them what's wrong/how serious they feel it is. Since some years all my 3 current bitches is spayed, so their last seasons was a few years ago, but as far as I recall, none of the 7 bitches I've owned/owns, has shown such symptoms before a season as you describe, with the exception of starting to lick their neither regions more. I think I've maybe heard about that it can happen awhile after the season, but it's late, and I'm not sure.

However, some of my bitches has had/have such symptoms in various degrees when it is coat changing time/they sense that it's changing from either colder to warmer, or warmer to colder weather outdoors. All my current 3 starts to eat grass in various degrees, and might need to go out to be sick some times, when they decide Winter/Summer is over, and it's soon time to shed their coat.
Especially Beata, and on rare occasions Blomma, might lose interest in her food when this happens. Beata sometimes to the point that no matter what I put in her food bowl she doesn't want to eat it. At least 3 of my previous bitches also had this Winter/Summer is changing reaction, to various degrees.

And every year when it happens, I worry that this time maybe it isn't the usual seasons are changing outdoors reaction, without what if it's a sign of something being wrong with them?
So I don't know. Perhaps Mabel is doing the same as my bitches, but a bit more dramatically, and it just happen to coincide with that her season is about to start?

At least you've been to the vets, and the blood test came back normal. Hope the anti nausea jab helped, and Mabel is more herself again tomorrow.
{{{{{{Vibes}}}}}} to Mabel.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Thanks both, I was worried about Pyo but she’s only 1.5 and this would be her second season so I think chances are v low? She is going to be booked in for spay after this season! Also would an infection show up on bloods as that all came back clear?

She managed a few little plain treats (still didn’t want chicken) but going to stick to chicken and rice for a few days. Hasn’t been sick again (touch wood).

OH bless him has been beside himself with worry, she is his little princess.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I've heard that pyometras shows up as an elevation of white blood cells. So I presume they should have noticed something being a bit off in the blood test.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I've heard that pyometras shows up as an elevation of white blood cells. So I presume they should have noticed something being a bit off in the blood test.

That’s reassuring. I’m not writing it off as a possibility yet but I am more of the shes eaten something/virus way of thinking whereas OH is the slightly more dramatic variety ?

 

[ycbm]

Needless to say, I have every finger and toe crossed for Mabel.
.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Needless to say, I have every finger and toe crossed for Mabel.
.

She (and I) appreciate that!

she slept in her bed all night which is unlike her, especially as it was so cold so she definitely is still feeling under the weather. OH had to lift her into bed with us now for cuddles. Poor pony is going to be wondering where I am but I cant quite bring myself to stop cuddles yet. She normally comes to the yard with me on a morning and I feel really sad at going by myself!

OH has taken her outside this morning and she has done a poo but zero interest in any food. She did have some water though which is good.

Why can’t they talk ?

 

[SAujla]

Fingers crossed for Mabel. Will you try for a urine test if bloods are normal?

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Fingers crossed for Mabel. Will you try for a urine test if bloods are normal?

yes I think so depending how next 24 hours go. If she isn’t sick again then think vet is less concerened about an obstruction and atm that is my worst fear.

99% of me says it’s a bit of a tummy bug or a reaction to a new treat. Then OH starts panicking in my ear and the doubt creeps in ?

it’s just so hard when one min she is down in the dumps then next minute OH opens the back door and she’s zooming out and barking letting every dog, cat and human in the vicinity know that this is her patch and no one is to so much as breathe too loudly without her knowing about it like her normal self. Then refuses chicken which is one of her favourites. Plus a bit torn between do I try and get her to eat any food just so she is eating but run the risk of it upsetting her tummy, or stick to plain but her potentially not eat it.

She has now just kicked me out of bed and is lying horizontally across my side of the bed with her head and paw possessively on OH. I know my place ?

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Teddy on the other hand can’t believe his luck. He keeps finding chicken in Mabel’s food bowl and helping himself.

He came and gave her a cuddle last night and hasn’t come pestering me for breakfast yet so he knows something is up.

Or he’s full up on chicken...

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would say too long after her season for it to be pyo. What was the new treat , could it have caused a blockage ? I wouldn't offer her any food for now, just make sure she is drinking okay.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I would say too long after her season for it to be pyo. What was the new treat , could it have caused a blockage ? I wouldn't offer her any food for now, just make sure she is drinking okay.

Almost looked like a chorizo sausage but tougher (and not chorizo). I watched her whilst she had it and she was chewing off small bits. That was Saturday evening. When she was sick Sunday morning there were digested bits of it in her sick. She hasn’t had it again since.

Just weird that she then picked up and was eating normal all day Sunday until Monday evening. Maybe the two aren’t related and it’s a weird coincidence.

 

[conniegirl]

fingers crossed for Mabel.

We never got to the bottom of what made Jezza so ill but he is back to his normal self now so try not to worry.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

fingers crossed for Mabel.

We never got to the bottom of what made Jezza so ill but he is back to his normal self now so try not to worry.

Thanks, I was thinking of him last night actually whilst we were waiting at the vets and saying to OH sometimes they can just be poorly and we never know! It’s the not knowing that is the worst though.

Glad to hear he is back to his normal self.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I really hope Mabel is ok. Hopefully she's just picked up a bug and it'll pass. I eventually gave up on dog treats and chews completely with my two. They can have biscuits of various kinds, their kibble, chappie tins and some of our left overs but all other bought treats just seem to set one or other of them off! If not throwing up, then colitis.

In my experience the not eating is more bug like than treat upset like but it takes a LOT to put my two off food. However, definitely right to consult vet as blockages are a worry. I think she'd be a lot sicker with a blockage though.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I really hope Mabel is ok. Hopefully she's just picked up a bug and it'll pass. I eventually gave up on dog treats and chews completely with my two. They can have biscuits of various kinds, their kibble, chappie tins and some of our left overs but all other bought treats just seem to set one or other of them off! If not throwing up, then colitis.

In my experience the not eating is more bug like than treat upset like but it takes a LOT to put my two off food. However, definitely right to consult vet as blockages are a worry. I think she'd be a lot sicker with a blockage though.

Yeah glad we went for piece of mind (plus who needs money). Mabel is the same, she’s not food obsessed like a lab but she never turns a treat down, especially human food treat like chicken or my yoghurt pot lid. Both of which she has just done ? she’s sleeping now but still no more sick so definitely a step in the right direction.

I think tbh this has put me off treats and chews although agree for her to be poorly still 2 days after I’m edging more towards bug related. She’s more than happy with a carrot to gnaw on or a bit of pate in her Kong so will stick with what we know from now on!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd query a blockage

 

[Bellasophia]

Pancreitis. it sounds like this to me.

The poodles here have done well with chicken,loved eating it,then had repeat flares such as this .
I’ve stopped giving it..we’ve converted to rabbit ,or boiled turkey as a sprinkle addition on a lower protein kibble...no pigs ears..very few treats,just plain biscuit bones if given for a treat.
My current two are very healthy,but the former poodles had issues as above...I’d give tinned hills ad when the dog had a flare,with flagyl and ranitidine as meds..
later, a probiotic to get the gut flora reestablished

re pyometriosis..it can occur at any age...eg my mastiff had it at one year old..had to undergo an emergency spay. my first vet said it was a vaginitis..often seen on the first season.Not satisfied,I took her to a specialist who spayed her the next day...she had a “ bucket full “ of pus,he said ,and was at extreme risk if she had not come to be spayed.( closed pyometra,doesn’t present with dripping discharge etc..but dog is often lethargic,drinks more,often has raised temp,and is lethargic)

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

She has eaten! Small bit of chicken and a dry bland biscuit. Going to keep it small and see how she reacts to that and go from there but she definitely seems perkier.

 

[SAujla]

She has eaten! Small bit of chicken and a dry bland biscuit. Going to keep it small and see how she reacts to that and go from there but she definitely seems perkier.

Really hope it's just a stomach bug she's trying to shake off. I can sympathise with your OH being an extremely paranoid and worrying type myself.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Really hope it's just a stomach bug she's trying to shake off. I can sympathise with your OH being an extremely paranoid and worrying type myself.

So do I!

I know, I tease him as he's the complete opposite if it's him or me that is poorly, a proper tough Yorkshireman. But soon as it's Mabel he comes over all soft and squidgy. I'm then the same with our cat Teddy. I was beside myself and crying a few months ago when he came in looking really sorry for himself and acting very out of character, I bugged and bugged the vets to let me bring him in and it turns out he'd come off worse in a fight and had a bruised ego...

 

[FinnishLapphund]

More {{{{{{Vibes}}}}}} to Mabel, hope she gets to keep down what she's eaten, and that it eventually comes out the other end without problem.

Sounds like Teddy must have thought he'd won the lottery, though. No wonder he didn't pester you for breakfast.

I can understand why you're hesitant about the thought on giving her gnaw bones again. At the same time, if she's eaten other gnaw bones before this without problems, it seems a pity to choose to completely stop.
But that's from my viewpoint. Even though they don't get it every day, most days I try to give my 3 bitches a daily gnaw bone. I used to always prefer if the majority of their daily gnaw bones was some type of natural chew, from pig ears, to Chicken feet, Duck feet, Turkey necks, and other such things. But now when Jonna's liver is starting to show her 15,5 years of age, I've tried to switch so that more of their daily gnaw bones is vegetarian.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

More {{{{{{Vibes}}}}}} to Mabel, hope she gets to keep down what she's eaten, and that it eventually comes out the other end without problem.

Sounds like Teddy must have thought he'd won the lottery, though. No wonder he didn't pester you for breakfast.

I can understand why you're hesitant about the thought on giving her gnaw bones again. At the same time, if she's eaten other gnaw bones before this without problems, it seems a pity to choose to completely stop.
But that's from my viewpoint. Even though they don't get it every day, most days I try to give my 3 bitches a daily gnaw bone. I used to always prefer if the majority of their daily gnaw bones was some type of natural chew, from pig ears, to Chicken feet, Duck feet, Turkey necks, and other such things. But now when Jonna's liver is starting to show her 15,5 years of age, I've tried to switch so that more of their daily gnaw bones is vegetarian.

OH has taken her on a tiny walk down the woods at the end of our garden and she has done two poos, one a little runnier but still no blood and tbh just very relieved we have food going in and poo coming out!

I think tbh I will stick with things she's already had and just avoid anything new. She has had pigs ears (which she loves to bury under my pillow, always my pillow), rabbit feet, antlers etc so I will stick with them. I think the new treat is maybe a bit of a red herring as the funny tummy has just lasted too long. She's always going in gross stagnant puddle/lake type things and likes to sniff around bushes etc.

Amazing really when you compare her to Ted who eats a whole mouse in two bites almost daily (and god knows what he eats and doesn't bring back) and yet he's fit as a fiddle.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

OH has taken her on a tiny walk down the woods at the end of our garden and she has done two poos, one a little runnier but still no blood and tbh just very relieved we have food going in and poo coming out!

I think tbh I will stick with things she's already had and just avoid anything new. She has had pigs ears (which she loves to bury under my pillow, always my pillow), rabbit feet, antlers etc so I will stick with them. I think the new treat is maybe a bit of a red herring as the funny tummy has just lasted too long. She's always going in gross stagnant puddle/lake type things and likes to sniff around bushes etc.

Amazing really when you compare her to Ted who eats a whole mouse in two bites almost daily (and god knows what he eats and doesn't bring back) and yet he's fit as a fiddle.

Woohoo for the little walk, with two poops! The small, simple things which makes you happy after that they've made you so worried.

If Mabel is anything like most of the bitches I've owned/owns, there's probably a bit of hare/rabbit poop, and other similar natural treats, which slinks down without you/your OH noticing it while she's sniffing around in bushes.

 

[SAujla]

Before getting a dog I never thought I'd be happy to hear about a poo! Maybe she's just developed an allergy to something in the treat. I know if my pup even thinks about chicken it gives her diarrhoea

 

[ycbm]

Multiple poop, hooray ????