My Frazier is sick

caruse · #1 29th April 2012, 09:17 AM

Frazier has been eating more grass over the past 2 weeks and then seemed to be drinking more water than normal....the past 3 days he has vomited twice the grass ate but the water drinking has significantly increased! He has had a couple of accidents in the house when I have been out and the last three nights he has had an accident in his sleep, I think because he has to urinate so much! I have limited his water intake but he sits at the empty bowl for more! Now I give him ice cubes to lick to slow him down, I took him to the vet yesterday and they ruled out diabetes, no sugar in his urine, but started him on antibiotics pending the urine culture and a lot of blood tests to rule out liver, kidney and hormone disorders like Cushings....he also has started to shed a lot and his coat that I always loved is now dull and he has lost weight....But his appetite is still great...I am sorry for the length of this but wanted to know if anyone had experienced this and surprisingly that it came on so suddenly!

Barbara

srennie · #2 29th April 2012, 10:12 AM

Check to see if they are testing his thyroid as well. If they aren't, request it. I"d be surprised if they weren't though as that is a common issue with boxers and a very simple fix.

johann · #3 29th April 2012, 04:50 PM

Does he still pee just as much with limited water intake? If so, consider diabetes insipidus

caruse · #4 29th April 2012, 06:54 PM

Hi Katy! Thanks I have thought of that as well...it does seem that today he hasn't had to pee so often with the limited water but still goes a good amount when he does...and he doesn't seem to go looking for the water as often as he did the last two days, he's not sitting in front of the area I put the bowl for them waiting for water...maybe the antibiotics are helping?? we should have the tests results back tomorrow..

Barbara

Cami · #5 29th April 2012, 06:56 PM

Whatever you do don't limit his water. You can offer him less at any one time so he doesn't drink too much and get sick but don't keep him from getting to water (if that makes sense)?
My inlaws Boston Terrier was drinking astronomical amounts of water and then wanting outside all the time. This irritated my inlaws. They decided to take his water away for 1/2 a day EVERY DAY.
Poor dog was found seeking dirty water outside and even water they kept in a container for watering plants.
I kept telling them something was wrong and he needed to be seen by a vet ASAP but they didn't bother.
After about a week of this the dog was pretty much lifeless, finally taken to the vet and was in a diabetic coma. He died at the vets office and all because they couldn't be bothered to give him water....understand his body was trying to compensate for something and he needed treatment. Poor guy would still be alive today if they had realized the problem.
Not trying to beat you up but their experience peeves me to no end!!!
Also not saying you are dealing with a diabetic dog but the increased water consumption is more than likely a sign of something going on medically.

caruse · #6 29th April 2012, 07:39 PM

Hi Susi!!! Was hoping to hear from you and glad I did!! I haven't been on in a while and miss your posts! I agree with what you say..i haven't taken away all water just limited his amounts through day by not filling the bowl and that way giving him enough for normal hydration but not so much that he is drinking bowlfuls at a time...I am a nurse I understand the importance that with his increased urine output with no replacement he could go into renal failure...I will get tests results back tomorrow but with the weight loss and dull coat and increased shedding I am not expecting the results to be UTI....I will let you know...it's been a long weekend waiting
How's Raine...again I am happy to hear from you!

Barbara

Cami · #7 30th April 2012, 06:25 AM

Quote:

How's Raine...again I am happy to hear from you!

That is a loaded question! Raine is Raine.

Can't wait to hear what the results say. Hopefully nothing but good news in that whatever might be going on can be easily eliminated and or treated.

caruse · #8 2nd May 2012, 09:03 PM

Well my vet got back to me today and told me that his kidney values were off slightly, by about a point or two...that he had e-coli in his urine...which should have responded to the amoxacillin (day 5 and no improvement)...I have not seen any improvement in his condition...he still wants to drink a lot and still has increased urine output with incontinence at night...the past two days I have noticed a slight raspy cough like someone trying to clear their throat...and still eating grass, but appetite is still good...the concern of my vet was the high calcium level and now he wants to do xrays and r/o a tumor...I have a really bad feeling about my baby now that isn't even 4 years old yet! I am thinking he has a lymphoma or tumor somewhere...any one have any ideas??

Barbara

Noey · #9 3rd May 2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caruse

Well my vet got back to me today and told me that his kidney values were off slightly, by about a point or two...that he had e-coli in his urine...which should have responded to the amoxacillin (day 5 and no improvement)...I have not seen any improvement in his condition...he still wants to drink a lot and still has increased urine output with incontinence at night...the past two days I have noticed a slight raspy cough like someone trying to clear their throat...and still eating grass, but appetite is still good...the concern of my vet was the high calcium level and now he wants to do xrays and r/o a tumor...I have a really bad feeling about my baby now that isn't even 4 years old yet! I am thinking he has a lymphoma or tumor somewhere...any one have any ideas??

Barbara

I'm curious, because my good friend's dog is having the exact issues, if your vet did a test for Cushings?

caruse · #10 3rd May 2012, 06:53 PM

my vet did test for Cushings and it wasn't back yet...probably will be back tomorrow...did your friend get any definitive diagnosis...it's driving me crazy not knowing!!

Barbara

Noey · #11 4th May 2012, 09:26 AM

Barbara[/QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by caruse

my vet did test for Cushings and it wasn't back yet...probably will be back tomorrow...did your friend get any definitive diagnosis...it's driving me crazy not knowing!!

Barbara

I know how you feel. Our vet took 24 hours to get results for cushings (we share the same vet). Cushings is treatable, so that would be great news. I'll send you all my positive energy for a quick response and favorable outcome.

caruse · #12 4th May 2012, 11:14 AM

..the Cushings came back negative this morning, so my vet wanted to see him again today...his exam was worse today.. he has a cough now like someone with congested heart failure...he lost another 1/2 pound since last saturday even though his appetite is good and I have been giving him more...his lymph nodes today are enlarged and we got the diagnosis of lymphoma...my vet said that even with treatment he thinks he has 4 to 8 months left but not healthy months so my 4 kids and I have decided to put him down and not have him suffer...we got Frazier from a breeder when he was 4 months old and he was the one in the litter that didn't get adopted ...I feel that we rescued him and took him when no one else wanted him and gave him 3 1/2 years of a happy life that he wouldn't have had... we love him but now I have to say goodbye to my baby boy....

thanks for all your support

Barbara