possible bloat - Page 1

Hi there I have a 9 yr old German Shepherd dog that has litteraly been thru hell since 4 yrs old it all started when she attacked a skunk in the back yard she gad gotten sprayed in the face mouth ears and body stunk for days ok then 2 days later while I was petting her I heard something pop and lifted my hand and it had blood on it so I puled back part of her fur and saw big blood blisters on her lower back above tail area took her to vet and was diagnosed with a skin bacterial infection that has gone mad and it did go mad indeed sores everywhere blood everywhere even behind her ears down her kneck put her on meds 2 weeks at a time cephalexin it all cleared up but 3 days later it came back even worse this time with green pus and blood in the sores again put her on cephalexin for 2 more weeks came back again and again and again this went on and off since 2005 the beggining of 2009 is when it was gone for GOOD!!!!!! thank god because I really started praying alot for her every night I think god heard my prayer finally so that is all over now about a month later she developed a big lump on her stomach and it hung down like a cows testicles about the size of a baseball the lump got bigger and bigger so I took her to the vet had it cut out surgery went fine and all is well she also got spayed all at once then about 3 weeks later she developed another lump same thing just underneath the stitches from the last surgery  grew about the same size took her to the vet had that one cut out the lumps were either mamory gland tumors or cysts the vet couldn't decide so both masses were takin to a polace to be autopsied and neither was malignant no cancer so now after all that while the second set of stitches were done healing I noticed her stomach was big and hard to the touch probably from the stretcching of the skin the skin is really tight  now she hs had not been able to eat for about a month now she won't eat on her own she just drinks water instead after drinking she pukes it all up just liquid  she was put on amoxacillin for a week for a infection the liver count was a little high and was aneomic. she has lost so much weight it is hard for her to walk because of her big stomach I have noticed that on the left side by her ribcage there is tissue comeing out when you look at her side you can tell only one side so here is the questionI don't think this is bloat but it might be when she throws up liquid or food does come out of her mouth she urinates just fine she doesn't make any weird noises  she doesn't pace around she was breathing pretty hard during the first 2 weeks after surgery but her breathing seems fine now while at her last check up the vet checked her stomach and said that it looked like there was fluid build up in the stomach and now her hind legs are filling up with fluid too not the front legs she went thru this same old problem when she had the skin infection go figure so I am thinking this part of it is edema swelling a fluid build up. her stomach doesn't seem to be getting bigger but she is weak and she also is unable to poop nothing seems to be comeing out in the beginning it was diahrea but not much of anything she goes out side trys to poop but can't I wonder if all this is backing up into her system and having a lot of gas issues she burps every once and a while and farts  once and a while but she has always been lean and skinny 65 ponds she has never had a litter of pups  so I am really confused because if this bloat she has  it a whole month till this day she stil doesn't eat on her own I am starting to feed her myself sometimes it stays down and sometimes it doesn't so I have no idea what is going anymore.but her stomack is really big and her spine is atarting to show and her ribs show she has lost alot of weight everywhere else except her stomach can anyone help with suggestions please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy...what a mess! Sorry too here of all the bad health this pup and you have had to endure. I think you have a whole slew of issues going on. The latest one sounds like  pancreitis. It comes on and theres not a whole lot that can be done. The dog just wastes away. Does sound like the quality of life is not good for this pup.It also sounds as if you have done alot to try to correct it.  It may be time.

Heidi,

Take her to another Vet.  Now!  This dog is starving to death and if it can't be fixed she needs to be put down to end her suffering.  I have no clue what is causing this unless she has some kind of tumor that is blocking off her organs or she may have ingested something that has perforated her bowel and her gut is filling with pus.  It's time to stop the torment unless another Vet has a new approach and you have loads of money to invest in the treatment.  This dog's immune system is on overload and she is dying before your eyes.  I can't say it enough...GET HER TO ANOTHER VET, NOW! 

You both have been through hell.  I wish you the best of luck with her.  Please let us know how it turns out, please.  You are in my prayers!

Deb

is one of those lumps growing in her rib cage or stomach?

 

is this an auto-immune issue?

Sounds like cancer to me. There may be a tumor blocking her bowel. Frequently there is fluid build up as well, because the tumor keeps the lymphatic fluid from draining from the abdomen the way it should.

I agree with the other posters: VET>>>NOW!!  And if your regular vet won't do anything, go to another vet!

Please see your vet and ask for an internal medicine specialist. I am sorry but this does not sound very good.
Always,
Cee

1) What was the given dosage for Cephalexin and why have a repeat drug use when obviously it was not working?
     Usually, if the drug is not working, one follows-up with a Culture and Sensitivity test for the infection. If no Culture and
     Sensitivity Test is available, one shifts to a stronger anti-biotic.
2)  What was the most probable diagnosis for her lumps that were biopsied?
3)  What kind of Anemia does she have and most probable cause?
4) Leg edema may be due to Heart problems with Pulmonary effects depending on severity.
     What causes this signs and symptoms?
5) What do you mean by Liver Count? Do you mean Liver Enzyme Test?
6) Any endoscopy or stoole exam given?

I think most of the advices given to are correct.
GET A COMPETENT VET. THAT HANDLE THINGS BETTER AND EXPLAIN THE  SITUATIONS  TO YOU  WELL .