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Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: debbie321 on January 23, 2008, 10:57:53 PM

Title: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 23, 2008, 10:57:53 PM
I gave Ben 1/2 tin of Chappie this morning.  And no this isn't his normal food!  He has Arden Grange or raw food (natural frozen blocks) but I read that Chappie is good for poorly tums.  He's had this once before and loved it ................ couldn't believe his luck and the 'botty' results were good too ;)

Anyway he had 1/2 tin this morning (not that he was poorly, I just felt like giving him a treat) and when I got home he'd had the runs in his crate - poor lad didn't even do this as a puppy  :-\  He then ran in the garden and produced 4 or 5 amounts of loose poo  :o  He must have been desparate for me to get home  :-\

On his walk he spent a lot of time squating and just producing yellow custard if anything at all (sorry to the weak stomached) ::)

He's had very limited food ( a couple of spoonfuls of his normal food ) since then.  His last effort produced blood stained mucus which is very worrying.  He's fine in himself and I'm sure it's collitis which he's had before.  This got better over a couple of days with careful feeding and no treats + a huge bill from the vet and several tins of food that were hugely expensive  ::)

I've warned the boss that I may be in late tomorrow as a trip to the vet may be in order if he's still pooing 'custard;. 

What would you do?  Do any of you have remedies that would help Ben ............ should I leave him on limited rations ................. or take him to the vet tomorrow?

I don't want to be an overly worried dog owner (if it was my child I'd keep them on bland food and hope for the best) but this is Ben and he can't talk!
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Cazzie on January 23, 2008, 10:59:58 PM
Poor Ben  :luv: I would see how he is tomorrow and if the same id give the vet a call for advice.  :D Hope he is ok  :luv:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: wales07 on January 23, 2008, 11:05:12 PM
Poor Ben..Unfortunately just giving them a different food or changing thier diet is enough to upset them.It may be best to stick to the same food and only give something different like chicken and rice when he has an upset tummy.Get well soon ben.
Isnt it amazing that cockers can chew bits of socks,slippers etc with no tummy upsets but give them something different to eat and.......
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 23, 2008, 11:12:46 PM
Poor Ben..Unfortunately just giving them a different food or changing thier diet is enough to upset them.It may be best to stick to the same food and only give something different like chicken and rice when he has an upset tummy.Get well soon ben.
Isnt it amazing that cockers can chew bits of socks,slippers etc with no tummy upsets but give them something different to eat and.......

Tell me about it!  Ben has consumed the most revolting stuff that even the foxes ignore with no bad results!

The chappie that he had was made from Chicken and Rice - I get the feeling that chicken doesn't agree with him as the raw chicken wings made him loose too.  I have the feeling that it's more than his breakfast that's brought this on.  He seems fine in himself - right now every move I make is making him sit longingly in front of his food cupboard ............. I feel so mean  :huh:

I'll leave it till tomorrow and see how he is - the only thing that's on his mind is the missing dinner  :005:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: jann on January 24, 2008, 12:42:56 AM
 I'd recommend slippery elm powder (Tree barks) from Dorwest 
 
http://www.showdogsuk.com/dorwest/colitis.htm


Jann ;)
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: phoenix on January 24, 2008, 12:51:46 AM
Poor Ben  ,   Blood in poo  is wrong no matter what you are feeding them. I was at vet's today with Marti ( on the chappie cure) and he was saying how he approved of BARF except for the cases  he sees of sharp bone injuries and salmonella poisoning from chicken pieces that should never be sold legally. If I was you I wouldn't let it go more than 3 days . You might get away with just antibiotics. Good luck and don't panic.
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Helen on January 24, 2008, 08:02:59 AM
hope Ben's ok  :'(

If the blood continues, I would take him to the vet - just basing that on the 30 hours on the drip HGE episode we had last year.
it could well be the chicken - you could try him on bland white fish and potato after his tummy settles down.

strange thing chicken - as you know Jarv had major problems with chicken wings (raw) over the last 2 years - I have reintroduced them slowly and his adult tummy seems to tolerate them now so I'm really pleased - obviously this ain't happening with Ben tho  :-\

I would steer away from any foods dry/wet with chicken in them - lamb seems to be far better tolerated on the whole.  We put Jarv on the lamb and rice AG (pre-barf) and he seemed ok with that  ;)

phoenix - I think you'll find the dogs on COL who are fed barf chicken are fed human grade chicken (mine gets free range chicken) so if he's to get Salmonella, so am I!  I doubt whether any sharp bone injuries are from soft non-weight bearing bones like wings or neck which are the recommended bones to feed :D

It would be really interesting to compare the amount of cases of colitis or other dietary disorders from manufactured dog foods to the problems caused by Barf feeding, but as some of us can't even admit to some of our vets we feed raw this would never happen :blink:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 24, 2008, 01:56:51 PM
Ben seems a lot better today but still not completely normal.  His no.2's this morning were better formed than yesterday but still a bit odd.

Hopefully he'll stay on the mend - but don't worry - he'll be off to the vet if it returns  ;)
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Cazzie on January 24, 2008, 01:59:46 PM
Do you know that last night after reading your post during the day, Otter had the squitts and its because he stole and ate a load of those pork strips  >:( :005: It was like water  :o He still is runny today  ::)

Im glad Ben is a wee bit better today  :luv:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Hurtwood Dogs on January 24, 2008, 02:04:58 PM
Glad Ben is better, I have starved mine for 24 hours before when they've eaten something naughty and nicked that's upset them then just given them a little of their normal food the following day.. it seems to work but not sure if it's a recommended method  :huh:

Hope Ben continues to improve  :luv:

Hannah x
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Sheryl on January 24, 2008, 02:35:12 PM
I asked my vet the same question when Holly had her trouble and he said that it did a dog no harm to be starved for 24 hours.  Glad Ben is a bit better.  This poo watch is a nightmare isn't it?
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: *Jay* on January 24, 2008, 02:55:01 PM
Glad to hear Ben is a bit better today Debbie.

We had a locum in once who told us that, contrary to what many people thought, you shouldn't starve a dog with diarrhoea but put it straight onto a bland diet.  She told us why and it was a case of "ahhh, that makes sense" but I can't for the life of me remember the reason so not much point to that little story  :005:  When any of mine have the runs, I just feed them bland food and use Diarsanyl. It normally clears up in a day or two but if it persists, then I would take them to the vet.
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Hurtwood Dogs on January 24, 2008, 03:00:14 PM
Glad to hear Ben is a bit better today Debbie.

We had a locum in once who told us that, contrary to what many people thought, you shouldn't starve a dog with diarrhoea but put it straight onto a bland diet.  She told us why and it was a case of "ahhh, that makes sense" but I can't for the life of me remember the reason so not much point to that little story  :005:  When any of mine have the runs, I just feed them bland food and use Diarsanyl. It normally clears up in a day or two but if it persists, then I would take them to the vet.

Hmmmmm I was wondering, maybe it's because they need something for the stomach acid to work on rather than irritating the stomach further????? Should prob ask my vet  next time instead of making assumptions!! 

Hannah x
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 24, 2008, 09:03:16 PM
Ben still had the squits on todays walk and there was still dark red blood streaks so I cut the walk short and took him to the vet.

It is colitis and first of all the vet said to starve him for 24 hours and then feed bland food with 3 doses of Protexetin pro-Kolin (paste).  I did question the starving bit and she said that he would have re-hydrating granules in his water which gave the intestine something to work on?  She then took his temperature which was up so he had an antibiotic jab too.  She didn't think it was the Chappie that caused the problem but something he found on a walk ................ What?  My Ben eat revolting stuff ?  :005:

He did drink 1/2 the 'pink' water but promptly threw it up again - luckily on the wipe clean floor and not the carpet  :luv: Poor lad is soooo hungry as I've been pretty mean with food for a day already  :huh:  He's now in the garden desperately trying to reach grass  :'(  would that be off the menu too?
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Nicola on January 24, 2008, 09:05:06 PM
Oh poor Ben  :'(  I hope he dries up and is feeling better soon Debbie. Has he had colitis before?
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: hollyd443 on January 24, 2008, 09:09:55 PM
Hiya,

No advice sorry (apart from lots of cuddles), just to say I really hope he gets well soon.  :luv:

Holly
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 24, 2008, 09:26:20 PM
Oh poor Ben  :'(  I hope he dries up and is feeling better soon Debbie. Has he had colitis before?

Yes he has.  He'd have a bout of really bad diaroeah diawatsit but with huge tummy pains.  He'd stretch, lie down, leap up and nose his stomach.  He was in a lot of pain  :huh:

This time he's just really hungry and not in pain at all?  Last night he lay in front of the fire for the first time ever - he doesn't usually do 'warm' and lays in the coolest part of the house.  I did say to Becky that he must have a temperature as she always feels cold when her body thermostat goes wrong ;)

If only he could talk  ::)
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: beebee on January 25, 2008, 11:06:06 AM
Hi, hows Ben today?
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: LizzieD on January 25, 2008, 12:57:07 PM
Just caught up with this.

I hope the meds from the vet are helping and that Ben is better today.

 :luv:  :luv: &  :-*  :-* to Ben from Millie.  :blink:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: rebecca on January 25, 2008, 01:00:31 PM
We had this with Brewster this week and the week before christmas,we chose not to go to the vet this time as didn/'t want him full of drugs,  Hes been on steamed fish and rich and chicken and rice for 3days, just started introducing his kibble again and he's back to his usual self, i too just wish he could talk sometimes!! would make life a lot easier sometimes!!
rebecca and brewster x

where can the ?tree bark? powder be bought???
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: jann on January 25, 2008, 01:23:00 PM
 ;) Dorwest herbs Rebecca,     http://www.dorwest.com/,

If ever Flo's a bit loose I just put a teaspoon in her food, it always works !
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 26, 2008, 10:59:47 AM
Ben seems to be back to normal today.  He's been having really small amounts of food (enjoyed his scrambled eggs though)  :shades:

I didn't give him any breakfast until he'd 'been'.  He's actually done a normal one for the first time since Wednesday  ;) 

Thanks for all your good wishes  :luv:

Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 27, 2008, 10:38:25 PM
I think I spoke a bit too soon.  His poo's have been fine and back to normal - he is happy in himself but.................. tonight he's thrown up 4 times  :-\  He's also tried to do the revolting 'clean up after yourself' thing  ph34r

He's had the antibiotic injection, bland food little and often, and the kaolin paste (ran out yesterday).

We did a lovely walk in the woods today and he did the Ben thing and sampled all the woodland delights (doG knows what he ate)! What do you think?  Back to the vet again or leave it for a while?
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Smudgesmum on January 28, 2008, 10:06:59 AM
Hi

hope Ben is back to his normal self now but just one word of warning
When Oliver has his attacks the vet says its important that with colitis he doesn't eat grass which they always try to as it irritates the gut more than ever and causes a vicious circle
Liz
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 28, 2008, 07:12:30 PM
Oops! Ben helped himself to grass today  >:(

He was in pain this morning and sick again this afternoon.  He's still being starved and is off to the vets later tonight.
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: suzysu on January 28, 2008, 07:27:41 PM
...hope all goes well Debbie and the vet can give you something to help Ben x
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: spanielcrazy on January 28, 2008, 07:29:50 PM
Aw, poor Ben!  :-\ :luv:

Hope you can get it sorted!
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 28, 2008, 08:58:13 PM
Ben brought up more bile earlier and looks so unhappy.  He's not eaten properly for days (he wanted to but I kept him on light rations).

Off to the vet this evening for him to be given another antibiotic injection and strict instructions to keep starving him  :-\  He has to go back tomorrow morning and if he's no better then they'll x-ray him for blockages (she hopes it's the tail end of a nasty bug).  Just to add insult to injury she emptied his anal glands too  :o

I think the sickness is a bit to do with hunger now but I've been told not to give him anything but water  :-\ 

Fingers crossed that he's OK tomorrow and can have a bit of breakfast mid-morning  :shades:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Joelf on January 30, 2008, 09:05:59 PM
How's Ben now, Debbie? :-*
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: debbie321 on January 30, 2008, 09:45:06 PM
Thanks for asking  :luv:   He went to the vet yesterday morning to see if he was back to normal but he threw up bile just before we left  ph34r  It was clear and frothy so I did say to the vet that my gut instinct told me that he was overly hungry  :huh:  She agreed that the next step would have been aneasthetic, x-ray and full blood tests but would give more medication and see how he went.  She prodded and poked but could find no blockage or sign of pain.

He was given an injection to stop the stomach acid and issued with antibiotics and antacids.  The antacids are Zantac that I've taken in the past  ::)

I was told to leave it for an hour before offering food but I have to admit that I cooked him some scrambled egg within 30 mins!  He is now on small meals but is seriously hungry  ::)  He's also done a couple of normal poos and is sooo much happier now that he is getting some grub  :005:

£100+ later and I think he's almost back to normal  :luv:
Title: Re: Does Ben need the vet or not?
Post by: Smudgesmum on January 31, 2008, 09:14:10 AM

Do hope Ben  is well  on the road to recovery. lots of positive thiughts coming your way...Liz