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Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Rhona W on April 08, 2008, 08:59:44 PM

Title: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Rhona W on April 08, 2008, 08:59:44 PM
Thought I better start a new topic to explain rather than take over the insurance thread.  ph34r

When I got up this morning, Reuben couldn't stand up.  :'(  He just lay in the crate looking at me. He semed to try to scramble up on his back legs but couldn't move his front left leg. We lifted him out and felt him all over and he didn't react at all; no yelping or reaction to pain.  :dunno:

I took him to the vets first thing. They manipulated all his joints and spine and everything seemed fine. After several attempts at getting him to stand up, he finally did. But then his back seemed to crumple and his back legs just gave way under him.  :'(
They don't think he's had a stroke because his symptoms aren't one sided and his eyes are Ok.  :dunno:

I had to leave him there for blood tests, observations and possible X-rays. He was trembling/shaking a lot, but that could have been fear of the vets and not knowing what was happening to him.  :dunno:

I spoke to the vet this evening and he thinks the problem is a gastric one.  :dunno: Reuben had "very explosive bloody diarrhea" and they think he was just not moving or standing because of the pain in his stomach.  :'(  He is on a drip for fluids, anti-biotics and something else that I can't remember.  :-[ He also has a catheter fitted. He is settled, but still looks miserable and is very hunched up. They are going to keep him in over night and if there is no improvement in the morning they will x-ray him.

The house is very quiet without him.  :'(  :'(
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: dawnie on April 08, 2008, 09:01:15 PM
Very worrying  :huh:- I hope everything is OK.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Joules on April 08, 2008, 09:03:26 PM
Sorry to hear this Rhona - poor Reuben and poor you.  It is such a worry.  Hope the vet finds the problem quickly and sorts out whatever it is.  Do you think he might have eaten something he shouldn't?

Keep us posted.  Sending positive thoughts from here and gentle squidges for your gorgeous boy  :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: beebee on April 08, 2008, 09:04:55 PM
What a worry for you. I hope they find out whats causing it, and he starts to feel better soon.
It'll be difficult for you to sleep well tonight. Take care.
Barbara
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Nicola on April 08, 2008, 09:06:56 PM
You know I'm thinking about both of you hun  :-* :-*  I'm sure your golden boy is going to be fine  :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Ben's mum on April 08, 2008, 09:09:42 PM
Poor old Reuben
Sending him hugs and thinking of you both, hope he is a little better in the morning :luv:

Bens mum
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Rhona W on April 08, 2008, 09:14:45 PM
Do you think he might have eaten something he shouldn't?
I don't think so as he had his main off lead run in the morning yesterday, so if he had eaten anything then I would have thought that it would have affected him before this morning. He was fine at 1a.m when I put him to bed, but couldn't stand up by 7.30.  :-\

As for food at home; he shared a turkey neck and a bag of mince with Casper and he is fine. (Touch wood.  :embarassed: )

Just praying it's not a blockage or something now. Couldn't face a lecture on BARF after all this.  ph34r
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: PennyB on April 08, 2008, 09:22:30 PM
How awful, hope he gets better soon and they find out what the problem is
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Joules on April 08, 2008, 09:22:39 PM
Just praying it's not a blockage or something now. Couldn't face a lecture on BARF after all this.  ph34r
I suppose it could be a bit of turkey bone he didn't crunch up properly - at least that would be a fairly simple problem if that was it.  :-\  I am sure you can deal with the BARF lecture if you have to Rhona :shades:  ;)  Do you have to ring in the morning then?
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Annette on April 08, 2008, 09:23:36 PM
Oh, what a worry.

I am glad that they seem to be looking after him well.

Try to sleep tonight. Will Casper settle without him, do you think?

And I really hope he will be a bit brighter in the morning.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Rhona W on April 08, 2008, 09:48:10 PM
I am sure you can deal with the BARF lecture if you have to Rhona :shades:  ;)  Do you have to ring in the morning then?
Well I've already survived the 'cocker rage' lecture because Casper barked at them when he was there to be castrated.  :shades:

I'll be ringing as early as I can.  :D Unfortunately I'm at work tomorrow so I won't be able to see him until after then. If then! :'(

Try to sleep tonight. Will Casper settle without him, do you think?
 
Casper will sleep a whole lot better than I will.  ;) I don't think he's even noticed Reuben's gone.  ::) This is one case where litter mates have definitely not over bonded with each other.  :shades:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: *Jay* on April 08, 2008, 09:58:29 PM
Sorry to hear Reuben is poorly - hope he feels better soon.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Elisa on April 08, 2008, 09:59:59 PM
Hope Reuben is feeling better soon.  I know it doesn't help much, but he really is in the best place.

Keeping everything crossed you have positive news in the morning.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Countrygirl on April 08, 2008, 10:18:44 PM
Sorry Reuben is poorly and in hospital.  Hope you get good news tomorrow and he is soon back home.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Doggone Mad on April 08, 2008, 10:25:44 PM
So sorry to hear that Reuben is at the vets, what a worry for you.  Hope the wee man improves tomorrow.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: MollieMoo on April 08, 2008, 10:29:24 PM
Poor Reuben and poor you, what a worry. :'(

I hope the drip sorts him out tonight and he is on the mend.

Thinking of you both and Casper of course
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Michele on April 08, 2008, 10:29:46 PM
Just caught this Rhona, what a worry for you but I hope that Reuben is feeling a whole lot better in the morning. :bigarmhug:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Letichia on April 08, 2008, 10:34:45 PM
So sorry to hear about Reuben, hope he gets better soon.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: sal on April 08, 2008, 10:36:57 PM
Poor Reuben hope they find out quickly whats wrong.  Sending healing thoughts.

wends' Summer had an obstruction and couldn't move, it was a piece of playmobile.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Danni n Betty on April 08, 2008, 10:41:10 PM
Poor Reuben  :'(  Must of been scary for you, seeing him that way  :-\
Keeping every thing crossed for good news in the morning  :-*
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Cazzie on April 08, 2008, 10:57:05 PM
Poor baby  :luv: Sending lots of positive thoughts  :luv: :luv: :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: happydog on April 08, 2008, 11:28:46 PM
Fern sends gentle healing cocker snogs to the gorguss Reuben  :luv:  and hopes he's feeling better soon  :-* .
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Michele on April 09, 2008, 09:39:05 AM
Hope it's good news this morning Rhona :003:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: wend on April 09, 2008, 09:54:22 AM
Poor Reuben hope they find out quickly whats wrong.  Sending healing thoughts.

wends' Summer had an obstruction and couldn't move, it was a piece of playmobile.


I was just about to say could it be an obstruction. Sounds very much like Summer, we had to carry her to the car. I do think it would be a good idea to tell the vet about the turkey neck if you haven't already, just in case. Hope he's on the mend soon.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: bibathediva on April 09, 2008, 10:02:34 AM

hope things are better this morning Rhona  :huh:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: White Bryony on April 09, 2008, 10:24:30 AM
Just caught this thread.  Hope Reuben is feeling much better this morning.

Sending healing thoughts for your baby  :luv:  :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: LouiseAS on April 09, 2008, 10:30:16 AM
Just read this.  Hope Reuben is ok.

Hugs to you  :-*
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Elisa on April 09, 2008, 10:31:54 AM
Just checking in to see if there was any news  :-\
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Annette on April 09, 2008, 10:35:28 AM
Hope he is better this morning.

I am out for the day, will check in later.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Michele on April 09, 2008, 10:39:57 AM
Just checking in to see if there was any news  :-\

Don't expect we'll hear for a while as Rhona has to work this morning/today :016:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: kalem on April 09, 2008, 10:46:49 AM
 :luv: to you both, hope Reuben will soon be better :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Helen on April 09, 2008, 11:03:26 AM
Oh NO!  poor reuben - sorry I haven't seen this sooner - have been away so just catching up on everything.  I remember the explosive blood filled diawotsit when Jarv had HGE (he didn't have a blockage, just HGE), so I fully sympathise with you and Reuben.  It's awful to see them like that and in so much pain. 

If it's any consolation, if it IS only Haemorrhagic gastro enteritis than once he's re-hydrated and the anti inflam's for his tum (and the anti-b's) kick in I'm sure he will recover very quickly  ;)

Fingers crossed he's on the road to recovery today  :luv: :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Michele on April 09, 2008, 11:27:00 AM
I've just sent Rhona a text msg and as she's working at the mo she asked me to tell you all that Reuben is on his way home, they think it was just severe gastric pains. :banana: :shades:

I'm sure she'll update us further this evening.  :shades:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Helen on April 09, 2008, 11:30:17 AM
fab!!  That's great news  :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: MacTavish Boys on April 09, 2008, 11:54:14 AM
Glad to hear that Reuben is on his way home and hope he is bad to his normal self soon :luv:

Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Doggone Mad on April 09, 2008, 12:53:04 PM
That's great news, glad to hear Reuben is on the mend  :luv: :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: JaspersMum on April 09, 2008, 12:58:27 PM
Hope you've been able to concentrate at work Rhona  ;)

Look forward to hearing news of Reuben soon. Hope he's on the mend  :-*
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: sal on April 09, 2008, 02:58:08 PM
Oh thanks goodness it wasn't an obstruction and he's on his way home.  Still not very pleasant for you though Reuben  :-*
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Joules on April 09, 2008, 03:04:59 PM
Great news - though I wonder what would cause "severe gastric pains"  :huh:  Glad Reuben is coming home - make sure you spoil him tonight  ;)
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: silkstocking on April 09, 2008, 03:08:46 PM
Ya so glad he is on his way home :luv: :luv: Rhona as I have already said to you, it really sounds alot like Mich's Bailey dog symptoms which they said was a bad case of gastro do da wotist. Really hoping your lad is back on his feet soon xxxxx
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Linz13 on April 09, 2008, 04:01:05 PM
I've only just seen this!  So glad he is on the mend, and hope he gets back to normal soon x
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: *sammy* on April 09, 2008, 06:03:15 PM
hope he's home now and feeling a lot better!!! :-*
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Cath on April 09, 2008, 06:04:33 PM
Hope Reuben is back home with you now and feeling much better.
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: joanne_v on April 09, 2008, 06:36:50 PM
Phew, thats great to hear if it was just that, cant have been nice for poor reuben though (or his mum)!
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: KellyS on April 09, 2008, 08:37:00 PM
Phew glad to hear he is ok :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Rhona W on April 09, 2008, 09:25:15 PM
Thanks everyone.  :luv:

Pleased to report that Reuben is home and curled up next to me on the settee.  :luv: The vet phoned this morning to say he was well enough to come home. :cheer: He had been outside for a walk and had been sniffing for rabbits.  :005:

It does sound like Reuben's illness was similar to Bailey's and Jarv's. He had a very bad bout of bloody diarrhea (fortunately while he was at the vets  :shades: ), but after being on a drip of fluids, anti biotics and anti inflamatories for 24 hours he is his usual bouncy self.  :luv: The vet thinks that Reuben couldn't stand up yesterday because of the pain in his stomach. :-\  He has to have anti biotics and prescription food for 5 days, but then he should be absolutely fine.  :D

I can't believe how quickly Reuben became so ill.  :o And equally, how quickly he has recovered again.  :luv: Must have been all the good wishes that everyone sent him.  ;)  :-*


(Now I've just got to hope that Casper doesn't get whatever it was that Reuben had.  ::) Although it wouldn't hurt him to lose a kg in a day.  ph34r )
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Jan/Billy on April 09, 2008, 10:02:59 PM
Yey!!! That's fantastic news  :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Helen on April 09, 2008, 10:08:50 PM
sounds exactly the same Rhona, and I'm glad Reuben has bounced back so quickly...it could really have been anything - nothing conclusive ever came back in Jarv's bloods, although it was suspected it could have been something in a manky puddle (and the vet nurse *thought* it could have been the raw tripe he'd eaten 72 hours prior to him getting ill  ::) )

80% blood in his dire-wotsit (on the vets floor) scared the bejaysus out of me, and I sooooo know that feeling when they are crippled with pain and they can't tell you what's wrong  :'(  Jarv had 30 ish hours on the drip, and was sent home as he wouldn't eat a thing and they thought he would be better off with us....big sook.  He had anti-b's and that paste stuff too and was better really quickly.

I think Jarv's weakness is his tummy, and that as it's not a cast iron gut that if he does get any tummy upset it hits him harder - maybe Reuben is the same?

really glad it wasn't an obstruction and he's bouncing back so well  :luv: :luv: :luv: :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: JaspersMum on April 09, 2008, 10:44:24 PM
Glad he's back where he belongs.  :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Elisa on April 09, 2008, 11:01:46 PM
Both Bailey and Harvey have had this and had to go into the vets overnight to be put on the drip.  It is amazing how fast they go downhill, but like Reuben, picked up quite quickly once we could start treatment.

Pleased to hear he is home and on the road to recovery  :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Rhona W on April 09, 2008, 11:04:33 PM
I think Jarv's weakness is his tummy, and that as it's not a cast iron gut that if he does get any tummy upset it hits him harder - maybe Reuben is the same?
I think Reuben may have a sensitive stomach. It's certainly more sensitive than Casper's cast iron gut. :005:

Reuben's blood tests also came back 'normal' so we don't really know why he was ill. He went on the same walk as Casper, they drank from the same puddles and had exactly the same food at meal times. :dunno: Fortunately the vets never asked me what I fed him on.  ph34r  :005:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Max X 2 on April 09, 2008, 11:04:52 PM
Phew what a relief.  Glad he's home & settled  :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Annette on April 09, 2008, 11:07:23 PM
So pleased he has bounced back so well.

What a worry these mutts are!
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: jennycockerspaniel on April 09, 2008, 11:10:20 PM
Glad to hear you have him home. Dont they worry us but arnt they worth it, we think so .
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Magic Star on April 09, 2008, 11:14:15 PM
Just trying to catch up with threads, I was so worried when I read the first page, I am glad that the little guy is now home and on the mend, sending him kisses from Indie and me :-*
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: wend on April 10, 2008, 09:33:36 AM
So glad to hear he's recovering well  :luv:
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Nicola on April 10, 2008, 12:38:11 PM
I'm so glad Reubs is ok and is home again Rhona  :D :D :luv:  I had Jo giving me a text update last night as I was thinking about him yesterday while I was travelling, what a relief!  :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Neacy on April 10, 2008, 03:01:47 PM
So glad Reuben :-* is so much better, you must be so relieved, I am so glad he is back home.

Denise and Harvey x
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: *Jay* on April 10, 2008, 06:01:50 PM
Glad to hear he is home and on the road to recovery
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Doggone Mad on April 10, 2008, 06:13:31 PM
Great to hear Reuben is back home & full of beans.  Its amazing how quick they can go down & equally how quickly they can bounce back.  :D
Title: Re: Reuben is at the vets.
Post by: Sheryl on April 11, 2008, 09:03:17 AM
Glad he is back home now.  They scare the living daylights out of you don't they! :-\