My 3yr old Cocker Spaniel has had diarrhoea since yesterday and tonight has vomited once. She now looks very sorry for herself, lethargic and walking stiffly. She has been eating and drinking ok up to tonight with no change in her diet at all recently. I am worried about her but cannot see a vet until tomorrow - has anyone any advice for tonight please ???
Thank you
2006-11-06 07:36:51 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Just adding an update following some great responses - thankyou all - have contacted another vet in area who has 24 hr emergency and she has gone through all symptons with me. The dog is still drinking water tonight and doesnt appear dehydrated. I have been given number to call for a 24hr callout if she gets any worse tonight (and trust me I will take her if she does as she is our baby!!). In meantime keep her warm and quiet, and encouraging her to drink.
Thanks guys
2006-11-06 08:03:54 · update #1
hi I hope all is well with her. It sounds like one of 2 things both can be fatal if left un-treated but you do not need to worry because you are off to the vet in the morning.
1) gastro interitis. it is like what us people get sickness and the runs but it can really harm a dog (went through it with my puppy who is fine now)
or 2) touch wood but in a worst case scenario it could be parvo. Dogs can still get this even after vaccination but it is highly unlikely it is this. This if caught soon enough can and will also be treated.
all the best keep her comfy and, maybe if you are concernec about her belly being empty, try 1 scrambled egg with 1 cup of cooked oats. I fed it to my pup when she had the gastro and vet did ok it.
2006-11-06 09:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by greenhorse8179 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kepp the dog warm and quiet, and try to encourage her to drink a little bit of water to keep her body hydrated. However, when I say a little, i really do mean a little. If the dog drinks a lot on an empty stomach this will encourage her to be sick again, and then drink more, and then vomit again. etc etc.
Try and contact another local vets, or a surgery near you. Your dog may need emergency medical treatment. If your vets surgery doesn't have a 24 hour emergency im afraid to say its not a very good vets surgery!
Try not to worry, in the mean time, keep your dog warm, quiet and stay with her, if she is alone she may panic.
Good luck, hope she is ok.
2006-11-06 07:49:44 · answer #2 · answered by Little Red Riding Hood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tuck her up in her bed and keep her warm and quiet and calm. Make sure she keeps drinking (small amounts) so as not to become dehydrated as vomiting and diarrhoea are very deyhydrating.
Most towns (at least in the UK) have an emergency 24 hour Vets surgery - if you ring your local Vets they should have a recorded answerphone message giving you the number to call. Otherwise, try directory enquiries. You should be able to get your dog seen tonight without having to wait until the morning and it sounds like she might be in pain or at least need some medication to make her more comfortable until she can be treated properly.
2006-11-06 07:52:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your dog is vomiting and has diarrhea, the first thing you need to do is restrict her diet; that is, don't feed her anything for a day. This will give her tummy and bowels a chance to calm down. If the diarrhea is bad, you can also give her a child's dose of Kaopectate. Make sure she has plenty of clean water available because she can become dehydrated very easily.
Then get her to the vet, but be sure you take a sample of her poop with you (in a Ziploc bag) so the vet can do a "fecal float" exam. This will tell the vet what's upsetting the dog's insides and help him to figure out what the dog needs to get better.
2006-11-06 07:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would absolutely pick up the phone and call the vet NOW. I am not trying to alarm you, but I did this with a former pet....had a pending doctor's appointment the next day and waited and she did not make it.
I'd hate for anyone else to have to deal with that; she's been a member of your family for 3 years now. Is she or was she recently in heat (estrus cycle)? If so, she could have a blood infection.
Either way, I would atleast try to call that vet during business hours today, and describe her symptoms to a trained professional.
I wish you all the best with this and give that sweet Cocker Spaniel a kiss on the forehead for me. I had a CS as my childhood dog and loved him so much... GOOD LUCK!
2006-11-06 07:43:32 · answer #5 · answered by Bathroom Graffiti 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with those that say to call your vet now. It's just a phone call, and trust me, if any one would understand a concerned parent/pet owner, it'd be a vet clinic. Call your vet, voice your concerns, and since they know your dog's history, they can give you the advice and/or reassurance that you need. Also, if nothing else, it will put your mind at ease and that's what you and your Cocker need right now. I've got my fingers crossed that everything is okay, but it's much better to be safe than sorry. Let us know what happens! And *hugs* to you, I believe that right now you need them badly.
To your update: You sound so much less stressed! I'm so glad you were able to find someone who could help you out quickly. I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything is just fine with your furbaby. Keep us posted though :)
2006-11-06 07:59:30 · answer #6 · answered by Sithein 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call your vet and they can talk you through how to check for signs of distress or emergency. This will give you a better idea of just how sick your dog is, and when to become a doggy ambulance if you need to take her in tonight.
There should always be an emergency vet on call. A late night call may cost you, but they should also tell you how much they will charge you if you bring your dog in now instead of tomorrow.
2006-11-06 07:42:55 · answer #7 · answered by Hurricane 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Very sorry to hear about your dog, and very hard to diagnose because there can be all sorts of reasons for both conditions. She may have eaten something nasty and is trying to illuminate it from both ends so i suppose making sure she is hydrated is important. Surely there must be a vet in your area who is doing emergency tonight or a vet who may speak to you and allay your fear.
2006-11-06 07:47:27 · answer #8 · answered by gaelgal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diarreha that lasts more than 24 hours is an emergency. IMHO, you should go to an emergency clinic. Dehydration can lead to vital organs shutting down, and things decline quickly.
Hope all turns out well, get to a vet though.
2006-11-06 07:44:06 · answer #9 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My dog was like this a few weeks ago I starved her for the day but obviosly let her drink she was then fine but dont let it carry on if she seems worse during the night I would get her to out of hours vets costly I know good luck and I hope shes better soon
2006-11-06 07:41:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋