Please help me my dog is really ill

[Natassia]

Hi, my 11 y/o Bedlington Terrier Maya hasn't been well since Friday, off her food and lacking in energy. She was also sick and it had grass in it suggesting that she made herself sick. She was also moving a bit stiffly, she has had this a few times before and we assumed that it was something she had eaten, she didn't have diorrhoea/constipation but her poo was orange, and she was passing urine normally. So we gave her chicken and rice which she didn't really want but ate a small amount of.
She wasn't really getting that much better so went to the vets on Monday. The vet gave her a blood test and an antibiotic injection, we went back yesterday for another antibiotic injection, an anti-sickness injection and the results of the blood test. They showed that she was fighting an infection and that she had decreased liver functioning, which could be due to a nasty infection or a tumour, which really worried me. She hasn't got jaundice, her gums are still quite pink and she has not lost weight.
Since the first antibiotic injection her temperature came down by 1 degree but it is still raised. She has more energy and is more alert, and her walking and breathing is easier, and she is drinking more willingly. She seems interested in food but wary of it, like she doesn't want to be sick again. She will eat a very tiny amount if we're lucky and then stop, but she is sniffing around for it and when our other 2 dogs are being fed she comes to the kitchen like she wants something, but then she won't eat it. She is not underweight and is drinking normally so she isn't dehydrated. I think if it is an infection it will take her a long time to get over it, she has an antibiotic tablet twice a day and anti-sickness tablets but we haven't given her that as she isn't being sick any more.
I'm just so worried about the possibility of her having liver cancer, she hasn't been ill for long and it came on suddenly, I'm hoping she's just got a nasty infection, has anyone else got experience of this. And what can I do to tempt her to eat? She is still quite lethargic but is sleeping and lying down less.

 

[hellspells]

I'm really sorry about Maya. Heating up food can sometimes encourage eating (it smells more so more appetizing in dog/cat minds). Also feeding straight from hands can be quite useful.

Was she given any anti-inflamatory? Its quite good her temp has come down but by no means rules out the possiblity of a tumor. The only way you'll get any really answers (if she is still off colour in a week or so) is a ultrasound scan or a exploratory laporatamy.

I hope she gets better soon x

 

[CAYLA]

Has she ever suffered from copper toxicosis, it can be a common problem in bedlingtons and has a wide range of symptoms, it also effects the liver.
I board 2 bedlingtons that suffer this and are on long term meds,both diagnosed via liver biopsy.

good luck and (((vibes))) for your doggi

 

[Natassia]

Thanks for replies, she wasn't given an anti inflammatory only an anti-sickness injection (just given her another anti-sickness tablet in case she wasn't eating because she felt sick) and antibiotics. I'll try heating the food up for her, I'm offering it to her by hand as it is.
I don't think its copper toxicosis, I know what you mean but it is a genetic condition and her parents would have been screened for it. When we bred from her 7 years ago we had to screen her and the father so the puppies wouldn't get it, its quite well controlled. Also it generally presents itself in younger dogs and she's 11, so its more likely to be a tumour if it isn't a really nasty infection.
Its horrible to see her like this, but I guess its good that she's drinking properly, I'd be so relieved if she ate something though, its strange that she's quite interested in food but not actually eating it.

 

[roxy007]

have you tried her with some raw liver or if not interested in that then cooked for her and left to cool. Also if that fails try her with some of the softer treats like Smackos, Allsorts etc (you know the type i mean but not the crunchy biscuit treats). When our very old boy was very ill a few years ago and had no appetite these were the things that kept him at least eating something to keep his strength up until he could eat normally again. Also Lactol is a good source of vitamins and as its milky then that too should be tempting. Let us know how you're doing

 

[Oneofthepack]

When my old dog is picky with her food I grate a little cheddar cheese on top of it. She wolfs it down but if you are concerned about her liver only give her a little as it's very fatty.

 

[Natassia]

Thank you all so mich for replying, I haven't tried liver yet but will mention that to mum. She loves roast chicken its her absolute favourite, but she won't eat that even.
The good thing is she has started to have some milk, she will drink that quite well and today she slowly ate a digestive biscuit (I know its not great for her but its plain food and I'll give her anything that she feels like at the moment) so her appetite may be returning very slowly. I tried some rice pudding and she ate a tiny bit when I hand fed it but not really from the bowl. I mixed it with some milk and she had another tiny bit. She is coming into the kitchen for food and sniffs around for it, she seems interested but she won't actually eat it, its like she's wary of it, its really difficult. I'm going to get some Lactol so she's getting some vitamins at least.
She's quite a lot better in herself, she's standing up more and will come to the door to greet people, has more of a spring in her step and has started wagging her tail again, but she definitely isn't as energetic as she was.
The good thing is she hasn't got any worse but she's getting better so slowly, fingers crossed she will recover eventually and its just a really nasty infection. She still hasn't got jaundice and her gums are pink.
Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this infection?

 

[spaniel]

I know your vet is best placed to deal with this but to my mind if she is interested in food but then cant eat it there may be a mechanical reason why.

Has she had her mouth and teeth checked, her neck and spine or an xray to check for a swallowed/stuck foreign body??

 

[star]

not necessarily spaniel. we see a lot of animals that wont eat, but will show interest in food and it's purely due to nausea. their tummy says their hungry but when they think about eating or smell food they feel sick. have you never have that when you're feeling ill? quite oftne my stomach will be gurgling for england but the thought of actually eating something is repulsive.

infections can be picked up anywhere and anyhow. it is a good sign she is improving and i would keep going with your nursing and then get her bloods repeated so you can see if she is improving. if not, you can consider an ultrasound scan of her liver and the rest of her abdo and go from there.

 

[Natassia]

Thanks for replies and its great to hear from a vet as well! The great news is that she's pretty much better now, thank god we were so worried about losing her, she is old and she was so ill, but she's eating now and basically back to her old self. She hasn't been for a walk yet but I'm going to take her around the block tomorrow, just to get her out of the house.
I'm also going to ring the vet tomorrow to let her know, she wanted to know either way and I wanted to know if theres anything I can do to protect her liver now as it might never work as well - could that be the case? She's also going to start having cod liver oil to help her joints.