Sick or Stress?

[meb0254]

Hi, everyone! I'm hoping to get some insight into what could be wrong with my girl, Twix. She's almost 2 years old, generally healthy. I posted last October about an incident in which I had to take her to the ER for vomiting and bloody diarrhea. They gave me antibiotics and sent me on my way. Last Tuesday we went back to the vet with similar symptoms. She had thrown up 3 or 4 times, each time frothy and white with no bits of food in it. Again, antibiotics and that was it. I brought her back the next day after noticing blood in her stool. They kept her there all day doing blood work and gave her IV fluids. The blood work came back fine, no evidence of blockage, no parvo, nothing. No diagnosis, just keep on the antibiotics and gave me some nausea medicine (sucralfate) and some special canned food. She seemed to be doing much better over the next few days. Last weekend I took her out of town to visit my parents, and they watched her for a few days while I was out of town for work. They kept up her medicine and said she ate fine, no puking, and was totally playful. I brought her back home last night. This morning she had diarrhea again, ate a bunch of grass, and vomited. When I take her outside she wants to run and bark and play, but inside she just lays there and seems sick. She doesn't want food or water or ice cubes (which she normally LOVES!). Her gums look fine, she's responsive, and she's all barky when cars drive by. Is it possible that all the moving around and changes this last week have just upset her tummy? I don't want to continue rushing her to the vet for no reason and stressing her out more, but I don't want to ignore something serious either.

[Ann]

I understand your worry. Recurring incidents like this probably mean something is going on.

Have the vets done anything besides giving you medicine? Blood work, etc? At this point, I'd think some testing is in order, plus a check for worms.

I hope she's better soon.

[Mignarda]

Just a wild thought, but could she be getting dysentery from drinking out of puddles of standing water, or other areas where standing water may accumulate?

[Emmasmom]

Are you and your parents on the same water source? Just wondering if the water at your place could be an issue.

[missjenneygirl]

Here is how I would deal with something like this. Granted, I am not a vet.
I just always try dealing with issues at home, until symptoms tell me otherwise.
I would take her temperature. If normal, I would give her Pepcid AC Antacid.
(generic name is Famotidine). A 20-pound dog should get about 5 to 10 mg (total dose) once to twice daily. This is an oral medication, which can be found at most pharmacies. I give for 3-5 days. If I don't see improvement, then a visit to the vet.
Also, going forward, I would give her a probiotic additive to her food, to keep her gut running smoothly, and hopefully curtail these episodes.

[JacqueZ]

Could she be getting sticks to chew on outside? Honey got one stuck in her throat once, she spent half a day with the white frothy vomit and was a little lethargic, than she passed it and was fine.