My dog is sick! need advice….?
Posted by: Alan in dog flu treatment, tags: advice, need, sick
Question by Sarah: My dog is sick! need advice….?
I have an 11 y/o Corgi/Shepard mix. He had senior blood test panel done 8 months ago and I was told he had no health problems and was “very strong.”
On Wednesday evening, my dog started not to feel good. He threw up and wouldn’t eat. By Thursday, he didn’t have much energy and so I took him to the vet. He had a lot more energy at the vets. lol He didn’t even ‘look sick’.
He drank a normal amount of water on Thursday (without getting sick).
The vet felt his stomach and said it just seemed like he had an upset stomach (didn’t feel any lumps or anything). I was sent home with some pills to give him.
That night he ate a whole can of Tuna with one of the pills. But Friday, he wouldn’t eat at all. I don’t know what happened. He still drinks a lot of water (the normal ammount).
I am worried because the vet is closed over the weekend (although there is an emergency one).
To me it seems like he has the flu, and like people, he can’t eat for a few days afterwards. He IS keeping water down and there’s no more throwing up.
What should I do? How long can he go without food?
Best answer:
Answer by bulldawg
you need to stop feeding him whole cans of tuna. get him on a good dog food and leave it at that. are you giving him the pills your vet gave you? he can go for a few days without eating, if he’s drinking, but it’s not good for him. if he doesn’t eat by Sunday morning at the very least call the ER vet
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September 7th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
As you mentioned, he could just have a virus. Much like when people are sick, there will be little appetite.
Over the weekend, take his temperature regularly and feed him ice-cubes (as if they were treats). Even though he’s drinking ‘the normal’ amount, if he’s feverish, he’ll need more hydration.
Don’t worry too much if he’s eating less over the weekend. If he turns his nose up at his dog bowl, I bet he’ll be happy to get treats. That will give him enough nutrition to see him through the weekend.
If he’s not showing improvement by Sunday evening, take him back to the vet asap and don’t let the doctor judge the dog by it’s suddenly rebounded good health. Explain the specific symptoms that you observed.
But, at this point, it sounds like he just has the flu. However, he is 11 so you can’t be too careful at that age and beyond.
September 7th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Keep giving him the medicine as best you can. But, try mixing it with dog food, not canned tuna.
He’ll be fine not eating a couple days, but if he starts throwing up don’t hesitate to take him in to the e-vet. It’s really important that he stay hydrated while he’s not eating. Don’t expect him to have much energy until he starts eating again.
If you are over-much worried DO NOT feel bad about taking him to the E-Vet. They are there for a REASON. Even if that reason just so happens to be telling you that you are just being overly nervous and he’s fine. Having a professional tell you that you need not worry is a lot better than just sitting on your hands embarrased that you may be.
Best of luck honey.
September 7th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I would just keep watching him, keeping track just as you are doing… Water is VERY important, food is second on the list, just might not be of interest, you can try spicing it up with bits of chicken, mild soft food or plain yogurt. touch basis with your vet on Monday if nothing drastic arises in his condition. It something big/ condition change happens over the weekend, take to the e-vet. Another consideration for the e-vet is watch hydration/ vomit/ diarrhea, might need fluids but at this point, he seems stable.
September 7th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
i think about a week and a half maybe but he will eventually eat tell you what try this puts some white fish into a pan put some rice in just put the normal amount of water in because im 14 and i don’t cook that kind( don’t underestimate me for my age) cook it up for him try to feed it to him if not just crush some white fish in with its normal food trust my dog gotten better and he was pooing out blood yeah so just try some of this.
hope it helps oh hope the dog gets well soon he will not die though it may just be miner
September 7th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
call/take him to the vet again and try sum different kinds of dog food.
September 7th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
I would get ahold of an on call vet and get x ray done of abdomen just in case. My vet didnt feel a lump in my dogs belly either and then I had to go back with my dog half dead just for him to do an xray and tell me my dog had a blockage.
September 7th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I don’t normally believe in tempting a dog to eat, however with an old dog it’s different. I think that you should cook something very tasty for him and feed him TINY amounts by hand. Regardless of whether he wants to eat more, don’t let him do so, just feed him TINY amounts about six times a day.
I think that you should cook chicken or fish, remove the skin and bones and mix this with overcooked rice and serve it warm. If he refuses this or vomits after the first tiny feed, don’t do anything else to tempt him. If he is still lethargic, take him to the vets and ask for an “ultra sound scan”. I think that you should also keep a close eye on his stools, if they become very dark, take him to the vets ASAP and take a sample with you.