URGENT! Need some advice, pretty fast! Sick dog - Page 2

He also has a compromised immune system, so this could also be something less serious than "the end" but something that requires treatment. Mucous means an irritant, generally, so he may have a parasite or protozoan that his body wasn't able to fight off because of his condition, but don't write him off just yet. I have had a "terminal" dog in kidney failure (had seizures, BUN of 265!!!) for 2 years now;-). 

I would feed him overcooked white rice and some pumpkin, personally. If he will eat, that's a good sign. 

Its the liver failure thats causing this, and there is nothing you can do but keep him comfy.

Thank you Elkoorr, that's kind of what I figured.  I didn't have time to give much history on the dog this morning.  I walk these dogs 3 days a week and they belong to a lifelong friend (actually, a teenage sweetheart... the sweetheart didn't last, but the friendship did).  He does things the natural way in pretty much every aspect of his life.  His other addiction is motorcycles, street and dirt.  He's away a lot and if it's less than a week, I keep them here.  If I'm unable for one reason or another, or if he's going to be gone for a week or more, he kennels them.  So, I know these dogs well.

Murphy is an oversize male and has always weighed over 80 lbs.  He started to lose weight and Jim took him to the vet, but they didn't find anything else amiss and his weigh loss not severe.  She told him to keep an eye on him and bring him back in a  few weeks, unless he exhibited any new symptoms.  Well, I took him out one day and when he urinated, it was foam.  The foam remained in the grass for at least 10 minutes.

I called Jim right away and told him to make sure he got him back to vet immediately.  He started to deteriorate rapidly and Jim chose to let nature take its course, because the vet told him he wouldn't be in pain, but would lose more weight and likely just go to sleep one day and not wake up.  He's hanging on and has been pretty active up to this point, but I can tell he's getting bad.

When I woke up to a garage full of bloody poop, it kind of freaked me out a bit.  Then, when I took him out and it was clear liquid mixed with blood, I didn't quite know what to do.  I can't afford to lose this job or my own dog will be at risk, as well as my home.  I won't do that... when I have to be at work, I'm at work.  This person offered to allow me to bring him, actually encouraged me to do so, but it would have been too hard on him and I didn't cherish the thought of cleaning blood and shit off of their carpets.  I know the dog is dying, but I don't want him to be in pain, he appears not to be, he's just tired and thirsty.

The vet said that he's no longer absorbing nutrients and his colon is sloughing off the build-up of fluids.  That's the reason for the clear, bloody mucous.

Jim will be back tomorrow, so I'm going to keep him comfortable until then.  I knew there's been a possibility that he'd die in my care and it's not a moment I've looked forward to, he's an absolute sweetheart and it's painful to watch.  He'll be missed. .

Thank you for the responses, they were all appreciated.


Murphy on a better day.


Murphy today.  Have to keep him crated or he's swilling water and he doesn't want to bother with Zeke, so I'm switching them every two hours.


He's wasting away.


And then there's the bad one, Zeke :)

Jim called and is on his way home.  Murphy is better today, I made sure he got Pedialyte with a bit of broth and he's chilling on the cool concrete floor.  No more diarreah, no more blood, but he hasn't eaten since yesterday, so...  Still drinking lots of water, but his spirits seem to be a bit higher too.  Don't know what Jim's decision will be, but I'll let you know.

You are a good friend, Jim is lucky to have you!   Too bad the romance part didn't work out,,,, maybe it could be sparked again....
Sadness has a way of drawing people closer together.

Glad he's feeling better today. 

My dog with failing organs was diagnosed as being at the end due to bloody diarrhea and actually, it was e.coli. He is still alive today, and though his bloodwork is horrendous, he doesn't know that. I was hoping against hope that Murphy could be similar. 

What a great looking guy and  you're a good friend to take care of him. I wouldn't bother putting him through a lot of vet stuff, either. I don't even take mine for regular bloodwork anymore. It's not as if there's anything that can be done, so I just let him enjoy life. 

 Glad the pedialyte worked and just keep him happy.

 TAKE  a deep breath and kiss Drake...ABBY said HI. ABBY killed and ate  SOMETHING WITH  grey hair last night...she would not let Heith take  it from her..HE WALKED UP ON HER GOBBLING IT DOWN..

a tiny skull part is left.. and a tuff of dark multi black grey hair???

hee hee hee. DO gophers have hair..or moles....GOT both..

  See what you are missing//lol

  YR

Thanks guys, Murphy and Zeke went home tonight, WHEW!  I hate to see him in that condition, he really is a sweetie.  I'll be seeing them Tuesday when I go over to walk them.  When Jim was putting their crates in the truck, Murphy came over and leaned against me, like he didn't want to leave.  I took that as a "Thank you!"

Red, I love Jim like a brother, but no, he's too high maintenance, LOL.

YR, I'd think it was probably a mole that Abby got, funny that she prized her kill :)  Love that bitch!  Not sure about gophers having black hair, ours are brown.  We grow them pretty big here (call them groundhogs) and there have been some rabies cases reported in the County recently, so we'll be steering clear of those!  BTW, I always kiss Drake, even though he's not much of a touchy feely kind of guy, but he puts up with me.

Jenni, I'm hoping Murphy has a few more miles, but he's 8 1/2 and is losing ground rapidly.  If anything, I hope it's not dragged out and he goes peacefully.

gsd:

 Yes I think , it was. I llooked up moles in Texas and I am sure. MY place has ruts all over the place so she waited late and it was about 3 am when Heith walked from the barn to house.

HE  put her up for the night...and  ants found the remains ..

Rosie use to lay outside and wait and come up the hill with a mole.

As long as it is not a skunk.

We have them here too.

I am glad Jim got home in time to watch  over the boy.. MAYBE he will have to stay home for a while.


I keep on kissing all the Frogs here, but no princes yet. I think I will wait on a WHITE KNIGHT>

YR

Murphy is hanging in there, but not doing well.  If he were mine, i probably would have put him down by now and I think Jim is finally understanding that it's time.  He hasn't had another bout as bad as the one last week,but he's not eating much nor enjoying much.  I'll be seeing him again tomorrow and I'll let you know.