Poorly puppy

JennBags

JennBags

HHOSS Wonder Woman
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Poor Woolfie has been very ill, and she's not getting any better, I'm very worried about her.

We went camping in Dorset a couple of weeks ago, during the heatwave. Woolfie started getting very lethargic in the last couple of days, but we blamed it on the heat and being away. When we got back and she didn't improve, I took her to the vets, her temperature was 103.9 and he diagnosed her with a retro mandibular space infection, and prescribed her antibiotics. After 3 days her eye was bulging out and she still had a temperature so we took her back, and he put her under anaesthetic to delve deeper. There was no abscess so he took an ultrasound and X-rays but couldn't find anything untoward so gave her more ab's and some eye drops. She seemed to pick up a little so we were feeling positive.

Yesterday she went back for a check up, 1 week after her first visit; her temperature had gone down to 102.9, her eye had stopped bulging and she seemed to be getting better. Then last night she didn't want to eat much, today she hasn't eaten at all so back to the vets she went, and she went under anaesthetic again. He looked around and took a swab of the infected area and injected her with ab's. The drugs he wanted to prescribe aren't licensed for dogs under 12 months and can cause harm to younger dogs, so he can't give those to her, but he's given her some paracetamol to try to get the fever down, we had to sign a disclaimer for this.

Really worried about her, just keep thinking we might lose her, although the vet's not given any indication of this, maybe I'm being too sensitive, but I absolutely adore this dog.

Pic of her in Dorset just before she started showing symptoms:

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JB I am really sorry to hear Woolfie is still so poorly. As you have been camping in Dorset have the vets tested for Lymes disease from ticks? I also remember hearing about a disease that dogs are getting in the south of England but can't for the life of me remember what it is called. It was on South Today a while ago so will go and have a look. Big hugs and hope she gets better soon. Lxx

It's called Alabama rot so unlikely to be that.
 
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Lindylouanne said:
JB I am really sorry to hear Woolfie is still so poorly. As you have been camping in Dorset have the vets tested for Lymes disease from ticks? I also remember hearing about a disease that dogs are getting in the south of England but can't for the life of me remember what it is called. It was on South Today a while ago so will go and have a look. Big hugs and hope she gets better soon. Lxx

It's called Alabama rot so unlikely to be that.
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I did tell him that we'd been in Dorset, and also that she'd had a tick. He didn't seem to think it was linked but I'll look up the symptoms for Lyme's.

MotherOfChickens said:
how scary, poor Woolfie and you! paracetomol used to be more widely by vets used so dont that worry you too much, hope she's feeling on the med soon.
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Thanks MofC.
 
On looking into it, I don't think it's Lyme Disease, it says if a dog doesn't improve rapidly within 48 hrs of starting ab's then it's almost certainly not Lyme's.
 
JennBags said:
On looking into it, I don't think it's Lyme Disease, it says if a dog doesn't improve rapidly within 48 hrs of starting ab's then it's almost certainly not Lyme's.
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That's good, at least it has ruled it out.

Snake bite? Adder or grass. We had a cow and a horse bitten last year and it was two weeks before the horse was diagnosed. AB's every day and the leg very swollen with no puss and took a long time to find the puncture wound.
 
Poor Wolfie. I do hope they soon get to the bottom of it and she turns the corner. Thinking of you and her.
 
I hope this resolves quickly. Could she have eaten something unusual? Has the vet done a blood panel? The bulging sounds like a potential allergy/bite.
 
Fingers crossed for a quick recovery for wolfie! So hard when they can't tell you what's wrong, sounds like the vet is being very thorough and you are noticing any changes quickly and acting onthem, sending best wishes your way x
 
So sorry to hear this, hopefully wolfie is a little improved today.

If not have they talked about referring her to a specialist vet, where they may be more confident about administering the drugs your vet thinks she needs but is to young for. The specialist may be more knowledgeable about the side effects and how to minimise them.
 
Thanks all.

She's been vomiting overnight. I gave her the ab's and paracetamol in some cheese, which she ate fine; then Mr JB fed her some breakfast and she then threw it all up. He is going to try her with an even smaller meal a little later on.

wren123, the vet rang to the drug company that makes the drugs and they said not to give it to any dog under a year.
 
Sorry to hear your puppy is not well. I've recently been in & out of the vets with my puppy.
Can i ask how old your puppy is, what her toilet is like, what she is currently eating?
Also what was the medication the vet wouldn't give you if your recall the name of it?
I assume your dog has had all her vaccinations?
 
She's back in at the vets, on a drip to keep her hydrated and give her her meds.

QA, she's 7.5 months old. Her toilet is normal! She's on Millie's Wolfheart (kibble) and we've been giving her some wet food over the last week or so to encourage her to eat (Royal Canin Hepatic at first as that's what we feed to our Westie, then Lily's). I don't know the name of the drug the vet wanted to use; and yes she's had all her vaccs.
 
Oh so sorry to hear that she's back at the vet, though hopefully she'll feel better after being hydrated on the drip.
 
JB, sorry to hear she's in the vets but at least she is in good hands.

I only ask as a few thoughts went through my mind on possibilities but your response has cleared those out.
I'm in Dorset and there has been a lot of puppies in & out of the vets with poorly tummies but it seems to be linked to a bacterial infection.

Please do keep us updated on her progress, everything crossed for you. xx
 
This sounds like a complicated case- if might be worth considering referral to one of the big hospitals to rule out anything else going on depending on what sort of vet you normally go to. I'd be owndering about a ct scan if it wasn't improving.
 
SusieT said:
This sounds like a complicated case- if might be worth considering referral to one of the big hospitals to rule out anything else going on depending on what sort of vet you normally go to. I'd be owndering about a ct scan if it wasn't improving.
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This I think, if vets can't use the meds they want to you really need to know what is going on so it can be tackled properly.
 
I would definitely be asking for a second opinion from a specialist hospital I'm afraid - you poor thing, you must be so worried :(
 
Thank you all. The cultures from the swab will be back tomorrow I believe, so we'll have more of an idea of what's wrong. Her temp was down to normal by the time she was picked up this evening but she's still lethargic and not really eating. I was greeted at the door with a big wag when I got back earlier so she's definitely feeling better, just hope it continues.
 
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