Vibes please. Pup back at the vets :(

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shadowboy

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Nanook was sick again today -8 days after the last bout. So we took him to the vets and he is now there overnight. They x-rayed him and found lots of gas and a shadow of something.... if he manages not to be sick/have dodgy poo they will send him home tomorrow. Otherwise its surgery. We went through such a scary weekend last week with bloody projectile poo and constant vomitting. Poor pup hes only 16 weeks old. House is too quiet without the little monkey
 
Dobiegirl said:
Poor little chap he hasnt had very good luck lately. Hope they sort him out and its something not serious.

Why do they always wait for the weekend before going sick.
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I know bless him. He was just starting to turn into a lovely little chap- no longer needed the crate at night (sleeping at the foot of our bed); no accidents in the house and started puppy classes so socialising really nicely- now he keeps getting ill and can't go out to play... poor boy.
 
Pup now back home. Pee'ing like a horse due to the drip but he seems very bright. we are £600 lighter in the pocket but he's home and didn't have to have surgery thank goodness.
 
So glad he is back home safe albeit your much poorer. Did they say what it was and what they did? that seems an awful lot of money for one night in on a drip even allowing for weekend rates. What guarantees have you had in it not recurring again.
 
Dobiegirl said:
So glad he is back home safe albeit your much poorer. Did they say what it was and what they did? that seems an awful lot of money for one night in on a drip even allowing for weekend rates. What guarantees have you had in it not recurring again.
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He's had x-rays and referral to a specialist vet. He has also had bloods done and medicated food as well as 50 days of pro/pre biotics. That plus the overnight care over a weekend. He's had antibiotics too- but yes it is a lot £480 was for this weekend and it was £120 for last (no overnight stay or x rays last weekend!) but i'm hoping insurance pays out.

No there has been no garantee sadly- we still don't really know why. They found evidence that he had some sort of parasitic infestation - despite worming- so was re-wormed with a stronger more effective wormer. The x rays showed up some gas build up but no blockage. But he is underweight so there is something wrong with his bodies absorption of nutrients. x-rays showed up a slightly unsual section of spine (where the rib attaches) but this has no bearing on his sickness. Who knows- but I am now just super paranoid about him...
 
MissUnderstood said:
I would insist on further investigations as soon as possible :(

I am truly sorry to be the voice of doom when you are already worried, but my lurcher had diarrhoea which blood/faecal tests showed up to be a giardia infection. Whilst I am not disputing the worm infection, it turned out he also had lymphoma of the gut which was only discovered when the vet operated and took biopsies :(:(:(:(
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I think the issue was that the bloods didnt show anything specific and the x ray either- so only other option was to open him up which is quite extreme for a 16 week puppy. He's back for a check up on thursday- so we shall see.
 
You must be worried sick but I think your vet has been very thorough and now you are awaiting the results of the blood test and to see the referred vet.

Lets hope its something like not be able to absorb his food and a change in that will see a change in him for the better.
 
shadowboy said:
But he is underweight so there is something wrong with his bodies absorption of nutrients. x-rays showed up a slightly unsual section of spine (where the rib attaches) but this has no bearing on his sickness. Who knows- but I am now just super paranoid about him...
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What breed is he?
 
shadowboy said:
Alaskan Malamute
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Have you spoken to the breeders about this. Asked if there are any other of the litter, or the parents who have had these symptoms? Is his size and growth pattern normal for his age? Ie...can you compare him to his other litter mates in size and leg length, does he appear to have noticeably shorter front limbs in relation to his hind?

Blood work - red cells within normal parameters?
 
cefyl said:
Have you spoken to the breeders about this. Asked if there are any other of the litter, or the parents who have had these symptoms? Is his size and growth pattern normal for his age? Ie...can you compare him to his other litter mates in size and leg length, does he appear to have noticeably shorter front limbs in relation to his hind?

Blood work - red cells within normal parameters?
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He is underweight for his breed at this age- he's tall enough but skinny and rangy more than he should be. He was the biggest of the litter so he's taller than all the others in the litter. Front limbs dont look to much shorter. Basically he weighs 13.2kg and considering he is the size of a largish spaniel already you can see that he's too light in frame- his paws are huge but his body skinny- you just dont see it easily as he's so fluffy.
 
Take it you got it from a breeder who had health tested parents? I would speak to them and find out if any littermates are growing normally, or had any digestive / immune problems. Also what have you fed him on since getting him?
 
cefyl said:
Take it you got it from a breeder who had health tested parents? I would speak to them and find out if any littermates are growing normally, or had any digestive / immune problems. Also what have you fed him on since getting him?
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Dad was definately hip, elbow scored and eyes clear as we saw the cert. I think mum was, but cant remember if I saw the certs for this although I met grand parents and they were both tested so I'm sure mum was. I'll have to double check with KC when I get the chance. All littermates were sold. So no idea if they have experienced said problems. Breader said mum and dad were both healthy and they all looked fine- the entire family.

He was on Jameswelbeloved White Ocean Fish and Rice Kibble. In a kong once a day he was getting Natures Harvest Puppy frozen. He's now on Hill's Science Diet i/d
 
shadowboy said:
All littermates were sold. So no idea if they have experienced said problems. Breader said mum and dad were both healthy and they all looked fine- the entire family.

He was on Jameswelbeloved White Ocean Fish and Rice Kibble. In a kong once a day he was getting Natures Harvest Puppy frozen. He's now on Hill's Science Diet i/d
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I would have hoped that at 16 weeks the breeders would still be in touch with the puppy buyers and would therefore know if any other siblings had anything similar. And also they would want to know about your pup, and show interest in his recovery.

JWB ocean fish is may not be enough for him as a large breed puppy (I take it you are giving him the puppy variety and not just the adult), white fish is not noted for weight gain, and he may keep more condition with the lamb based food.
 
cefyl said:
I would have hoped that at 16 weeks the breeders would still be in touch with the puppy buyers and would therefore know if any other siblings had anything similar. And also they would want to know about your pup, and show interest in his recovery.

JWB ocean fish is may not be enough for him as a large breed puppy (I take it you are giving him the puppy variety and not just the adult), white fish is not noted for weight gain, and he may keep more condition with the lamb based food.
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The breeder range a few weeks ago- but not recently. I have not contacted them tbh as I can't see how it will help until we know the reason for the illness- as I cant even tell them to look out for anything as I have no idea what it is-vet has even suggested 'garbage sickness' i.e. bacteria from some sort of rubbish.

Re: Lamb- neither of the dogs seem to be able to cope with lamb and I have often been told this is common with northern breeds who tend to do better on fish or game based meats. He had dodgy poo on Lamb. Yes he has puppy version.
 
shadowboy said:
The breeder range a few weeks ago- but not recently. I have not contacted them tbh as I can't see how it will help until we know the reason for the illness- as I cant even tell them to look out for anything as I have no idea what it is-vet has even suggested 'garbage sickness' i.e. bacteria from some sort of rubbish.

Re: Lamb- neither of the dogs seem to be able to cope with lamb and I have often been told this is common with northern breeds who tend to do better on fish or game based meats. He had dodgy poo on Lamb. Yes he has puppy version.
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Hi Shadowboy, my labrador (3yrs now) was gradually moved from Chudleys (Breeder fed this rubbish) to James Wellbeloved at 8-9 weeks of age. At about 14-16 weeks she got violent diarrhea and sickness, including blood. Ended up on a pro-biotic diet to settle her system.
When I started to re-introduce the James Wellbeloved back into her diet, 2cm in a cup gave her an exploding bottom, vomiting, and back on the Pro-biotic diet from the vet - found the cause (James Wellbeloved Puppy)
I was very lucky as the vets receptionist recommended 'The Natural Dog Food Company', and thankfully, the trial packs they sent she was able to stomach. They were incredibly helpful too.
Needless to say, 3 years down the line and she's still on their dried food - I give her chicken and rice flavour, and moved her across to the adult version at 9 months. She can also stomach Burns.

It may be something as simple as the Dog food - hope it is..... http://naturaldogfoodcompany.com/ - I feel like a dog food pimp, but having spent every trip to the garden holding my breath on pooh watch, it was such a relief to find a food that my dog could eat, and produce solids poohs (sorry to be so graphic, but it was very stressful at the time)
 
millimoo said:
Hi Shadowboy, my labrador (3yrs now) was gradually moved from Chudleys (Breeder fed this rubbish) to James Wellbeloved at 8-9 weeks of age. At about 14-16 weeks she got violent diarrhea and sickness, including blood. Ended up on a pro-biotic diet to settle her system.
When I started to re-introduce the James Wellbeloved back into her diet, 2cm in a cup gave her an exploding bottom, vomiting, and back on the Pro-biotic diet from the vet - found the cause (James Wellbeloved Puppy)
I was very lucky as the vets receptionist recommended 'The Natural Dog Food Company', and thankfully, the trial packs they sent she was able to stomach. They were incredibly helpful too.
Needless to say, 3 years down the line and she's still on their dried food - I give her chicken and rice flavour, and moved her across to the adult version at 9 months. She can also stomach Burns.

It may be something as simple as the Dog food - hope it is..... http://naturaldogfoodcompany.com/ - I feel like a dog food pimp, but having spent every trip to the garden holding my breath on pooh watch, it was such a relief to find a food that my dog could eat, and produce solids poohs (sorry to be so graphic, but it was very stressful at the time)
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thanks for this- it's pretty much the situation we are in at the moment- a very expensive pro-biotic diet. I knew Malamutes could have sensitvie diets- but I didnt realise it could be this bad. I guess I thought JWB due to the regular ravings on here about how good it is - would be ideal plus the fact that it 'hypoallergenic'

But thanks for the link :)
 
. I have not contacted them tbh as I can't see how it will help until we know the reason for the illness
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If any of the other pups are experiencing the same problems - one of the other vets treating may have found out the answer, which in turn may be known to the breeder - who in turn could tell you. Or eventually visa versa.
 
So Sorry to hear about the pup. No real help but just wanted to say that my lab pup had the same when she was a baby on James WB and we moved her on to Hills and never looked back. The only problem she then had was having struvite crystals in her bladder so we had to go on hills C/D the prices at the vets are extortionate but I have found a lot of online places that sell it direct and a lot cheaper. Good Luck x
 
shadowboy said:
thanks for this- it's pretty much the situation we are in at the moment- a very expensive pro-biotic diet. I knew Malamutes could have sensitvie diets- but I didnt realise it could be this bad. I guess I thought JWB due to the regular ravings on here about how good it is - would be ideal plus the fact that it 'hypoallergenic'

But thanks for the link :)
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That was exactly why I went onto JWB, as I was advised it was one of the better ones - apparently the hypoallergenic dog food makers very often still use synthetic minerals & vitamins.
I wouldn't say she's got a particularily sensitive tummy either, just seemed to have an extreme reaction to JWB, and I just got lucky that the vets receptionist recommended 'The Natural Dog Food Company' and they were so helpful at the time, and even got their nutritionist to call me too.
The dog food my lab is on is recognised by the Holistic Society, and a bag lasts me 7-8 weeks so works out very cheap because it's not full of fillers etc

Good luck :-)
 
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