Please Help! Veterinary Advice Desperately Needed. - Page 1

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by SabrinaT on 23 January 2010 - 15:01

Hi,

I desperately need some advice regarding my 18 month old GSD, Sam, and hope some people here would be kind enough to help.
Here is an overview of her problem:


Around two weeks ago (Saturday 9th), Sam was not interested in her food and didn't eat anything that day, and then again the following day she refused her food and was generally not doing very well (lethargic, less energetic etc).

So we took her to the vet on Monday 11th, the vet examined her and said judging by her symptoms it could be heartworm / an infection. Some antibiotics were prescribed, as well as some tablets for the liver and some Science Plan AD canned food to try and encourage her to eat.

So, we took her home and she seemed to be doing better, she ate the canned food from Monday and seemed to be slowly improving. By Wednesday / Thursday she was eating her normal food and seemed more energetic and healthy.
But then from Friday 15th she seemed to lose her appetite again and was only eating minimally when coaxed heavily, she continued like this for a few days until we took her back to the vet on Sunday 17th. She was given two vitamin booster injections and we were told to bring her again tomorrow to do a blood test for heartworm and to test her liver and kidney function.

So, on Monday 18th she had a blood test. The results came back Tuesday, and she was negative for heartworm and her liver and kidney levels were normal. The only abnormality was two times the normal volume of white blood cells which we were told indicated an infection. So, we were given some more liver tablets and antibiotics to be given for five days, if after which she wasn't better we would do an x-ray to see if there is any bloackages in her abdomen.

She continued to show the same symptoms (lack of appetite / energy, easily tired, depressed etc) though she was still eating if coaxed and hand fed, and on Friday 22nd we took her for an x-ray.

The vet said the x-ray showed her abdomen was filled with fluid, which was a result of problems with her organs caused by a congenital heart problem.

He said to know exaclty what is wrong with the heart we would need to do an ultrasound (which would mean traveling to another vet 5+hours away as there are no ultrasound facilities where we are as we live in  a small city in Malaysia).

He also said heart surgery is not an option as there is no one in Malaysia who is capable of performing heart surgery for dogs, so the only way would be if the problem is curable by medication.

Basically, I am looking for some advice as what to do. I have no problem taking her to the other vet but am not sure it is the best thing to do as Sam is very weak at the moment, and seems to be very uncomfortable (her stomach is very hard and bloated). She is not able to even really lie down properly and is not eating well at all (only eating a little when hand fed and coaxed).

So, if anyone can please take the time to read through this and offer some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.


Especially if a doctor could offer some advice, it would be a huge help to me.

Thank you very much and if you need any additional information please ask.



by SabrinaT on 23 January 2010 - 15:01

Also, if anyone prefers, please email me @ turner.sabrina@hotmail.com

Thank you in advance for the advice, it is greatly appreciated.

Dodie

by Dodie on 23 January 2010 - 16:01

SabrinaT,

Where exactly do you live?  Is in in the US?  I would definately try another vet or take her the an Emergency Animal Hospital.  I am not a vet but, but  I am not sure why her stomach swould be hart if it was her heart?   Is she an indoor dog or outdoor dog?   If she spends a lot of time outdoors byherself, then she could have eaten something that she should not have.   He is kind of young for Bloat, but I don't think impossiable.  I would call the vet and ask if it is possible because they would need to do surgery for that.  If a dog has bloat and is not treated they will die.    I hope that he is doing better soon.  Hopefully, other people will respond and offer some advise as well.  

Jenni78

by Jenni78 on 23 January 2010 - 16:01

Just to clarify- what's wrong with her heart? Yes, high whites is a sign of infection; how did the vet say these correllated (high whites/heart/fluid)? I'm confused...why did he think heartworm, then organ problems (caused by heart problems) if organ function tests came back fine?

Jenni78

by Jenni78 on 23 January 2010 - 16:01

Dodie, she said she lived in a small town in Malaysia. Bloat has not been going on for 2 weeks.

Sabrina, I'd just go ahead and start driving to the best vet less than a day's drive away. I am not very confident w/the one you already saw.

LAVK-9

by LAVK-9 on 23 January 2010 - 16:01

I agree with Jenni They should have done x rays from the start.At least the vet I worked for always did to rule things out before pumping them full of meds that might not be needed or might cause other problems.Do you mean Malaysia as in Kuala Lumpur and the South China Sea Malaysia? Are they able to drain the fluid in her abdomen? I remember having to do that to a mini schzauzer before,..just to make it comfortable. They could have taken an x ray to see if the heart was enlarged. I really hate to say what to do but get another vet.In the long run it is you that needs to deside what is best for your dog.
Here is some info that might help if this is what is wrong with your dog.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2096&aid=3584
Best of luck to you and keep us posted.
~L~

Dodie

by Dodie on 23 January 2010 - 16:01

Jernni78

GEE sorry, I was simply making some suggestions.   No real need for an attitude.  I was not sure where whe said she lived.   I  did not realize that is has been 2 weeks. Just trying to help.   However,  I agree.  I don't think that vet knows what he is doing.   Another Vet ASAP.

Sunsilver

by Sunsilver on 23 January 2010 - 16:01

When the heart is weak, due to an inherited defect, or disease, animals and humans develop congestive heart failure. What you are describing sounds very much like this condition. It causes fluid to accumulate in the body, and it does affect the liver, too. This is a very serious condition, and if it cannot be treated with medication, this dog is going to die. She certainly does not sound like she would be able to survive surgery at the moment, even if it WERE available in Malaysia. The elevated white cell count may mean that an infection is attacking the heart itself. Here's a description of how/why the liver gets damaged:
Cardiac cirrhosis. Cardiac cirrhosis occurs when prolonged, severe right-sided congestive heart failure leads to chronic liver injury and inflammation and the formation of scar tissue in the liver (fibrosis). A heart in this condition cannot handle the venous circulation, causing blood to back up in the body’s major veins. Eventually, the liver becomes engorged and swollen.

Cirrhosis may entail other complications:

Ascites. The pressure created by portal hypertension can also cause the liver and intestines to exude fluid into the abdominal cavity, which can become swollen and distended, a condition known as ascites.


www.lef.org/protocols/gastrointestinal/cirrhosis_liver_disease_01.htm
 
I'm very sorry that this is happening to your dog. Did you have her checked out by a vet when you adopted her If this is due to an inherited condition, a competent vet would have listened to the heart, and realized there was a defect.

The vet is correct in saying that an ultrasound is the only way to correctly diagnose what part of the heart is damaged. However, in the meantime, he should be prescribing medication to treat the symptoms. The fluid overload can be treated with diuretics, such as Lasix and  digitalis can help slow and strengthen the heartbeat. The fluid can be drained from the abomen by needle (paracentesis) and this will lessen the strain on the heart, and make her more comfortable.

I would take all the test results you have so far, and go to see another veterinarian. Your dog is suffering, and needs immediate help.

I do want to warn you that treatment is going to be expensive, and may not work anyway, as it sounds like your dog is already very ill. You may have a hard decision to make, as to whether to continue treatment, or have her euthanized.

Two Moons

by Two Moons on 23 January 2010 - 17:01

My leg feels like its being pulled on again.

If not,
It sounds like your dog has not received proper Veterinarian care.
Find another competent Veterinarian or face losing the dog.

If its only my leg,
very funny.


Moons.

Kalibeck

by Kalibeck on 23 January 2010 - 17:01

Sunsilver has explained to you why your dog's abdomen is hard from a heart problem, but I think that getting a second opinion would be a good idea, as long as you can afford it. Please take the films & records from the first vet along, & ask that they do another x-ray. If your poor dog has a terminal condition, it might be wise to simply get another opinion. The only reason not to do this would be if the dog is too ill, too painful to transport, -- it might be kinder in that case to let her go.....God bless you for trying. I hope you & Sam find peace. jackie harris





 


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