Vet Visits begin...

[wot_racing]

Tomorrow is the first visit to the vet for a problem, and I am worried about it... It started monday... When Duke was on the walking trail, he stepped off the track into the grass to use the bathroom.. He stood there squatted, and appeared to be straigning.. Nothing came out.. I noticed, but didnt think much about it.. When we got back to the house, I noticed that his food from Sunday was still in the dish.. Odd...

Today, I take him a ham bone, with lots of ham still on it.. He loves these... But today, he didnt really touch it... There is some food, but not as much as monday, so he has to have eaten some... I get him, run through the commands he knows, sit, down, stand, get in, get out... And we load up in the car and go to the walking trail.. We walk/run about a half mile, and he is in the grass straigning to use the bathroom again... Still nothing.. As we continue the walk, I notice a trail of blood running down the light patch on his backside.. TIME TO GET BACK TO THE CAR NOW! We get back, and I wipe his rear before putting him in the car.. The blood is extremely bright red, with no stool in it..

I get him home and put him in hit lot to decide the next move.. Then it hits me... I shoveled a few small piles friday before we left, and now there is still nothing in the lot.. I think back, and can only remember one SMALL bowl movement on the trip saturday.... I call the vets emergency number, and tell him what has happened, he tells me to bring him in tomorrow morning.. Said there is nothign he can do until then.. (Real emergency line huh??) I cant take him to lexington tonight to a 24 hour clinic, and I cant take work off tomorrow.. So I gave him some beef stew, and fresh water in hopes that he will eat it... And until I can get him to my "vet" tomorrow, im just left wondering and worrying what is wrong..

I didnt understand how someone can become attatched to a dog until now.. This is like my own child being sick..... I am spending the night up here with him tonight, and will more than likely bring him in the house to sleep on the floor with me....

[frontierrots]

This IS an emergency and you do either need to take him to the emergency clinic NOW or if you feel YOU must chance his health and wait you DO need to take work off tomorrow (or at least a few ours) and get him to the vet ASAP

This is a real emergency and part of being responsible for a living being

If he has not pooped since Fri, not eaten since Sat/sun and your just noticing..... well lets just say it's a REAL emergency. emergency as in needs immediate attention

[wot_racing]

He is going to the vet tomorrow morning.. I should have specified that I meant i couldnt take off work to take him to an out of town vet..

He is going to the local vet tomorrow... I dont like this vet, duke doesnt like him, and the vet didnt seem to like duke.... But it is the only available option.....

The same vet that when i called the emergency line told me to bring him in tomorrow....

[Burnsway]

This is not a wait and see thing hun......Blood, no eating, straining........etc.......some things you just can not wait on......yes you could go, and all checks out ok, but these sort of signs also go side in side with many things that could bring death before sun up...........


:sigh:

[frontierrots]

If you have a 24 our clinic within a couple hours drive, I'd be on my way with your dog right now if it were my dog

He could turn out ok, but if he dies overnight you'll feel like crap won't you

I repeat you've described the very worst symptoms possible aside from puking/vomiting blood repeatedly or hit by car or non stop seizures

[moondog]

I'm with Diane and Burnsway. He needs to see a vet now! I would not take no for an answer from the vet on this, and if the vet refuses I would be looking for a vet who will see him on an emergency call.

Try this link to find other vet hospitals in your area:

http://www.healthypet.com/HP_Findahospital.htm

[eva247]

I'd definitely take the advice already recommended. Upsetting your employers is a small price to pay compared to the worst case scenario. Just think, if it was your child you wouldn't hesitate.
My thoughts are with you and please let us know the outcome.
Love, Eva

[Judy Chrusch]

I definately agree with the others, this CANNOT wait till tomorrow. All these symptoms are very serious and require immediate attention. Please let us know as soon as you hear something and in the meantime he will be in my prayers. PLEASE GET HIM TO AN ER ASAP.

Judy

[austin]

Originally Posted by Judy Chrusch

I definately agree with the others, this CANNOT wait till tomorrow. All these symptoms are very serious and require immediate attention. Please let us know as soon as you hear something and in the meantime he will be in my prayers. PLEASE GET HIM TO AN ER ASAP.

Judy

I think he was taking the dog in this morning.

Please update us on Duke's vet visit as soon as possible.

[wot_racing]

Well Im back.... Luckily it wasn the same vet that I saw previously.. The vet I saw today was GREAT... I explained everthing, and he said unfortunatly it sounded like parvo... The parvo test was negative... So he took blood and a worm check and found the problem... It turns out Duke had worms BAD, and he had a coliform(sp?) infection.. While he was there, he also got a heartworm check, and got put on Interceptor for worms and heartworm..

He asked me why I didnt call his emergency pager, and I told him that I did page the number in the phone book and talked to a vet.. He gave me his personal pager, and said to page HIM if I ever had any more problems...

I have:

Trimeth-Sulfa for the coliform
Panacur for the worms
Endosorb Suspension for the diareah the panacur will give him
and Interceptor for heartworm

So 123 dollars later, I have a healthy dog again, and access now to a 24 hour emergency vet...

[babybluetx23]

THANK GOD you caught this soon enough and I am SO GLAD to see you have another vet who LISTENS and CARES about you and your dog!
In the mean time give Duke get well rubs from us!

[frontierrots]

Thanks goodness is right.

I am so glad is wasn't anything more severe.

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when he talks to his associate!!

Sounds like this vet you saw today is the one you should try to always see and I'm glad he gave you his personal pager!

[wot_racing]

He is a really good vet.. He petted on Duke, and commented on how well behaved he was.. They did muzzle him, when they were taking blood and stuff, but after the previous encounter, I can immagine why...

The associate was his dad... They run the hospital together.. The older one is gettign pretty old, and isnt really well liked as a vet anymore.. I totally understand why now...

[pbach]

Originally Posted by wot_racing

... I have a healthy dog again, and access now to a 24 hour emergency vet...

This is the most important - So glad to hear that Duke was seen by a vet that your happy with.

Patty

[flyballmom]

Oh thank God...thank you for updating. I agree, glad it was nothing life threatening, which it sounded like it could be. I LIKE the sound of the vet you saw today! He seemed to truly care.