CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: sarah phillips on February 22, 2013, 08:02:33 PM
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Pebble has spent the last three days in the vets with a very nasty tummy bug. He's been on drip etc. We agreed with my vet to bring him home tonight to see if he would start eating again as he is making slow progress. He seems very sorry for himself and I can't tempt him to eat. So any ideas on foods to try. Chicken isn't working.
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The only other thing I would try is some white fish cooked in a little milk?? He might just start by lapping up the flavoured milk. It is difficult when their stomach is sensitive to know what to give to kick start them wanting to eat.
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Plain white fish would be my first thought too, or a tiny bit of dcrambled egg?
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Poor Pebble :bigarmhug:
What about scrambled egg?
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Well Pebble is still refusing food. Although will drink water.
He's now been without food for 6 days and despite trying his favourites will either refuse to eat or if we place a tiny amount in his mouth spits it out. He still has an upset tummy (bloody and watery) and was sick a few times yesterday although not been sick today. The vet has rung daily and said she will readmit him tomorrow if still not improved but feels dogs usually do better at home - I think I agree he'll be happier here. However, had hoped to see some improvement by now.
I wondered if any of you have had a similar experience with your dog and if so can advise me on what else I might do to help him? The vet seems happy that with this type of serious stomach bug is can take this long to eat again?
He is mostly sleeping as understandably has no energy and has lost a lot of weight.
Any ideas or reassurance would be welcome.
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Soory to hear Pebble is so unwell. You could try chicken stock. Just boil some bony chicken (wings/thighs/drumsticks) up in water. Give him a little bit to drink. If he likes that, gradually add in very small chopped up bits of the chicken.
When Barney isn't well I also make him rice pudding but use puppy milk cartons and plain white rice. He loves it and can't resist but I don't know if that's because his breeder weaned him partially on tins of Ambrosia creamed rice pudding and condensed milk ph34r.
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Oh no i am sorry to hear this Sarah....poor Pebbles :'( That is an extremely long time for Pebbles to be off his food :'(
Have the vets done any tests? I don't want to worry you but Pancreatitis crossed my mind :shades:
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Poor Pebbles, you must be so worried. I know you want him to eat on his own but could you not try syringing some of the Hill's a/d or recovery tins into him? Even if it was just a little bit? Is he drinking at all?
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Oh no i am sorry to hear this Sarah....poor Pebbles :'( That is an extremely long time for Pebbles to be off his food :'(
Have the vets done any tests? I don't want to worry you but Pancreatitis crossed my mind :shades:
Crossed my mind too. They have done Liver and Kidney tests when he was first taken in last Wednesday and all clear at that point.
Just hoping they didn't miss something. Any of you who know Pebble appreciate what a lively and 'strong' character he is usually so it is very hard to watch the quiet adn lifeless soul who is currently sleeping on my sofa - bless him.
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Poor Pebbles, you must be so worried. I know you want him to eat on his own but could you not try syringing some of the Hill's a/d or recovery tins into him? Even if it was just a little bit? Is he drinking at all?
Worth a try. Just worried that doing that would make him sick again.
He is drinking.
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How incredibly worrying for you. Poor Pebbles. :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: Has the vet taken a stool sample to confirm what bug he is fighting? Or considered a scan/X-ray to make sure there is no blockage? I'm afraid I would be pushing for more tests at this stage. Really hope he feels better soon.
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Oh no i am sorry to hear this Sarah....poor Pebbles :'( That is an extremely long time for Pebbles to be off his food :'(
Have the vets done any tests? I don't want to worry you but Pancreatitis crossed my mind :shades:
Crossed my mind too. They have done Liver and Kidney tests when he was first taken in last Wednesday and all clear at that point.
Just hoping they didn't miss something. Any of you who know Pebble appreciate what a lively and 'strong' character he is usually so it is very hard to watch the quiet adn lifeless soul who is currently sleeping on my sofa - bless him.
I would ask your vets to do further tests Sarah :shades:
It just doesn't seem 'right' for any dog to be off their food for such a long period :-\
Sending lots of positive, healing thoughts for him :luv: :bigarmhug:
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Hi Sarah, when my pebbles had pancreatitis she was off her food :luv: but when the bout was over she still wouldn't eat :'( both me and my vet said that she associated eating with pain IYSWIM ? I had to sit with her and try and hand feed her which did work eventually. I really hope you find an answer to your Pebble problem.
Love to you both Dianne x x x :luv:
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Hope Pebbles is feeling a little better today :luv:
Vet told us to try Pasta, rice and scrambled egg :dunno:
Mel.
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what about a watery weetabix? nice and easy to drink for him
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Sorry no advice to add but, hope Pebbles starts to eat soon.
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This may sound very old fashioned but boiled oxtail has always tempted my dogs. Buy it from butcher then cook in water until the meat falls off the bone. Save the stock and pick the meat off the bones, then wait to cool and see what he thinks. Hope he gets better soon x
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Lovely advice sounds good, but have you tried a small bit of cheese.?
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Thanks for all the great suggestions.
We tried syringing a little dilute meat juice into his mouth but while he swallowed it hasn't got him anymore interested and poor boy then had an accident on my sofa an hour later! Oh well I'll try the other suggestions as time goes on and will keep offering alternatives.
Will also have a conversation at the vets about options tomorrow.
Thanks for the kind words everyone - it's so hard to watch poorly dogs.
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Poor Pebble, you must be so worried.
Honey has worked for us when my dog would not eat.
I had to smear it on his lips for him to get the taste and then he licked it off my finger, then I mixed a bit with some scrambled egg and he eat it out of my hand.
Good luck
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Poor Pebbles, you must be so worried. I know you want him to eat on his own but could you not try syringing some of the Hill's a/d or recovery tins into him? Even if it was just a little bit? Is he drinking at all?
Worth a try. Just worried that doing that would make him sick again.
He is drinking.
the hills ad or whatever will have what's needed for nutrition plus you can water it down so its practically liquid or whatever consistency you want - so while he may not have an appetite he will still get what's needed nutritionally
when you say meat juice is this just what's been boiled up with chicken or similar - as long as it doesn't have any salt in it though
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No advice just sending you both big hugs xx
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How is Pebble today?
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How is Pebble today?
I wondered too :shades: :luv:
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Okay - I think there is a small glimmer of hope.
At 4pm he finally accepted two very small pieces of stewing beef. Not much but he did take them himself so I think this is a step in the right direction.
Saw vet this evening and she is happy his temperature, tummy sounds are fine. He has stopped being sick and is well hydrated. She wants to see us again Wednesday as agrees that he has made a slow recovery but hopes today represents a turning point.
It's amazing how different you can feel after two tiny pieces of meat but I hope this is the start of a faster recovery for him. He's lost a lot of weight - so much so - my husband even agreed to put Pebble's winter coat on when he starts to have walks again (usually this is just too much of an embarrassment!) We have taken him out a few metres today in an attempt to perk him up but I think it will be a while before he wants his full walks.
Thanks again for your kind words - I hope on Wednesday to confirm this is indeed the start of better health for my boy. :luv:
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Thanks for the update Sarah :shades:
I will be hoping too that this is the start of Pebble feeling better :luv:
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That's great news, hopefully more tomorrow. :luv:
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Good news, really hope he continues with progress tomorrow x
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Good news, continuing to send healing thoughts to Pebble :bigarmhug:
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Lovely news - hope Pebble continues to improve xx
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I couldnt for the life of me think of the name of this stuff, but Boots used to sell a product called Brands Essence. It was a tiny jar, and quite expensive, but it was a very high protein food for invalids. 1 teaspoon equalled something like a large steak. You could get beef or chicken, and it was made for very sick human invalids, who couldnt eat.
I used it for my father in law, and i also used it on a very sick puppy that couldnt keep anything down. I administered it via a small syringe.
Ive just googled it, and it does appear to still be available in the chicken version.
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BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken is formulated using top quality chicken and is specially formulated for easy absorption and digestion by the human body. This product contains no preservatives and is free from fats.
this is some information taken from a website
http://www.brandsessence.co.uk/productsinfo_original.asp
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Pleased to read that Pebbles is improving :D
What about trying him with something like this - though check with your vet first :D
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-supplements-cat-supplements-multi-vitamin-and-mineral-c-5_222/nutri-cal-caloric-supplement-120g-tube-p-1372
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Thanks for the recommendations and I will look into both.
He has continued to eat today. Appetite more like a sparrow than a spaniel but improving each hour :luv:
We've had to get his harness from 2 years ago back out as skinny doesn't fit his at the moment :005: He enjoyed a short walk this evening so all a lot more positive.
Will need to start the process of building him back up over the next few weeks. I'll take advice from the vet tomorrow on approch to this and also your recommendations.
What a week I have no wish to go through that again!
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Keep getting better Pebbles :luv:
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Very pleased to hear that Pebble is making progress :luv:
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So glad Pebbles ate a little bit of meat, hope this encourages him to try a bit more.
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Sorry to hear about Pebble, only just catching up - to try and tempt him you could try roasting some chicken with garlic, then remove the garlic and purée the chicken, that way he can just lick it off the spoon, plus you can water it down and put down in addition to his water.
Really hope he's feeling better soon.