URGENT advice needed please...

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Sarah1

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Hi

I don't know how many of your saw my post earlier in the week about my lab having a fibrosarcoma removed from her mouth? Anyway, she's home but I need a bit of advice.

She had to have all her upper front teeth out from canine to canine and seems to be finding licking/lapping hard. So much so that she's not had a proper drink of water since Monday night when we fetched her home.

I called the vet yesterday to tell them & as she's on wet food they're not too concerned at the moment as it's 80% water anyway - they also suggested adding more water to the food to make it sloppier which I did last night & she ate it but this morning we've had no chance. She wouldn't eat the sloppy stuff and I had to hand feed her to ensure she got her pain meds - she ate most of it but wouldn't eat all of it (just half a 150g tin).

I was just wondering how I might be able to encourage her to drink - the eating I'm not as concerned about at this moment? I've tried giving her warm water but she turns her nose up at that just as much.

I have a small syringe for her pain meds so was going to try syringing some water into her mouth later?

My concern is that not drinking will become a learned behaviour through it obviously being uncomfortable to do so and I don't want her to have the same hang up when she's better?

She had GA during her op & nerve blocks & really just wants to sleep, so perhaps I need to just back off a bit & let her recover the way she wants to? She is going to the toilet - hubby took her this am & said she did no. 2 and a huge wee so must be getting moisture from somewhere?

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
I'm sorry I don't have any advice but I didn't want to read and run.

Hope someone more informed will come along soon and good luck
xx
 
TBH without forcing her (and I would have thought that would put her off the syringe scenario even more) I can't see a way you can make her drink.

Does she have a favourite treat - you could drop that in water and she will lap for it and take in some water while she gets it.

However I seriously don't think she'll dehydrate herself to death, she may genuinely not be thirsty. For instance when walking my dogs I always take them to the river to drink, - do they drink? NEVER! And I personally feel like they "should" be thirsty!!
 
LHS - thanks anyway :)

Kitsune - perhaps you're right, maybe she just doesn't feel thirsty, it hasn't been scorching & she's not really done much exercise apart from a short gentle walk round the block 2/3 times per day so maybe she'll drink when she's ready?

I did think about maybe boiling her some chicken pieces, do you think this would work?
 
I'd say chicken in a bowl of water could work well, that way she'll be getting a little water up in every mouthful she goes for.

You clearly love her, which is really very sweet, just to add :)
 
Syringing water is quite common, I know a couple of people who have done it following things like strokes, because she's just had surgery and is a bit out of sorts I actually would be doing this.

You can give her plain tuna, chicken, cheese etc, make her porridge, scrambled eggs if she finds it easier to manage.
 
Kitsune said:
I'd say chicken in a bowl of water could work well, that way she'll be getting a little water up in every mouthful she goes for.

You clearly love her, which is really very sweet, just to add :)
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I'll give it a go later - thought rice might be good too but she'd have to lick it up rather than bite if you get what I mean so probably won't be too fussed about it!

I do love her, soooooo much, I feel like my heart is breaking seeing her so uncomfy! She's my pride & joy and when I found out on Monday that she'd come thro the op well I felt like I'd won the lottery! I thought the worry was over but evidently not!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your advice :)
 
CaveCanem said:
Syringing water is quite common, I know a couple of people who have done it following things like strokes, because she's just had surgery and is a bit out of sorts I actually would be doing this.

You can give her plain tuna, chicken, cheese etc, make her porridge, scrambled eggs if she finds it easier to manage.
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Thanks for the advice - I'll try the syringe later tho I don't want to make her feel any worse than she does already, poor love!

She absolutely hates the cone she has to wear - I think that's making her feel worse to be honest!
 
Aye, my fella hated the cone, but he'd have hated to gave gone back to the vets to get his willy stitched back up again after he bust his stitches, more! You have to be a tough-love Mummy, unfortunately, and don't forget, hard as it is, if you are stressy and mopey, she won't realise you are feeling sorry for her, she will just pick up 'stressy' and 'mopey' and mirror it right back at you x
 
CaveCanem said:
Aye, my fella hated the cone, but he'd have hated to gave gone back to the vets to get his willy stitched back up again after he bust his stitches, more! You have to be a tough-love Mummy, unfortunately, and don't forget, hard as it is, if you are stressy and mopey, she won't realise you are feeling sorry for her, she will just pick up 'stressy' and 'mopey' and mirror it right back at you x
Click to expand...

Yeah I know you're right! Perhaps I'll just try the syringe a couple of times & boil her a bit of chicken & then leave it at that - at least she will have gotten a bit of moisture and we're back at the vets tomorrow anyway for a check up.

I've just called my Father in Law who's looking after her today & she's slept all morning - maybe she needs that more than food or water!?!
 
With the chicken bits you could also try added abit of chick stock to the water to give it abit more flavour :)
 
No problem, and i apologise for my appauling english, you would of never of guessed it was a late night for me last night :D
 
Ha ha! :D

Don't worry about it - I've had to type & re-type most posts!!!!!! I think my little pooch is getting me ready for our new arrival in 15 weeks with these sleepless nights!!!! She's so thoughtful! :)
 
so sorry to hear about your doggie. I wonder if there is a canine version of the rehydration powders you can get for humans? It may be worth asking the vet, you could then give it to her in a syringe, I think this might make her feel better and more inclined to drink by herself.
 
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