Please Help! Veterinary Advice Desperately Needed.

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by susanandthek9s on 23 January 2010 - 20:01

A high white blood cell count and a belly full of fluid could be peritonitis.

Many cardiac problems can be treated successfully with medication for a long time.

Whatever your dog has, she is very, very sick and needs to see a better vet right away. If she does not get better medical care very soon, she will most likely die.

by Louise M. Penery on 23 January 2010 - 20:01

I agree that the symptoms sound like those of congestive heart failure, that lab work for liver enzymes should reflect them to be elevated, and that a second opinion/hospitalization is indicated.

Before trransporting the dog for further diagnostics, she needs to be stabilized with paracentesis, Lasix, and Digoxin.

by hodie on 23 January 2010 - 21:01

I agree that the signs suggest congestive heart failure, but the cause is unknown. MAny things can cause heart failure. At the moment, what is important is to treat the signs and then look for a cause. Fluids must be removed and there are a variety of medications including lasix and others that will help in that regard. The high white cell count suggests an infection and that should be vigorously treated. Whether removing fluid more aggressively is indicated is not clear. And Digoxin may or may not help, depending on the problem. But clearly, you do need to take this dog to the best vet you can find in Maylasia and quickly. There is probably little or nothing you can do for this dog yourself. I suggest this is an emergency and you need to go where you can get competent help immediately.

Good luck.

by SabrinaT on 24 January 2010 - 03:01

Thank you all the for the kind words and advice so far, especially Jenni and Sunsilver.

Jenni, you asked about the organs and what exactly is wrong;
Well, we did the blood test on Monday and got the results Tuesday, the vet told us that her White Blood Cell count was double the normal volume but her liver and kidney results were ok (a slightly above normal SGPT count). We were given liver tablets / antibiotics for the infection.

But, when she went on Friday for her x-ray which showed fluid in the abdomen, we were told this is due to leakages from her organs caused by a heart problem.

From then, he prescribed some more liver tablets and recommended we go to Kuala Lumpur to do a heart ultrasound.

So, while deciding what to do and arranging with the vet in Kuala Lumpur when to go, Sam has got worse (appetite decreased, very bloated stomach and seems to be very uncomfortable). I didn't think she was in a state to travel 5+ hours and take the tests and posted here for some advice.

I have taken Sam in again this morning and we have got some Lasix to drain the fluid in her abdomen / chest.
The vet has also given some antibiotics (Enrofloxacin) for the indicated infection and an injection to help with her high fever (Sam's temperature was 40 C this morning).

We have decided to take her to KL to do the tests and get advice from a 2nd vet (as advised here), and are currently trying to stabilize her so she is in a condition to make the journey.

We are trying to do the best we can for Sam with the very limited facilities and expertise here in Malaysia and again, any further advice is greatly appreciated and immensely helpful.

Thanks again in advance for the help.

by hodie on 24 January 2010 - 04:01

I think you are on the right track. You must get some of the fluid out of the body, an antibiotic to counter the infection she most likely has and keep, at the same time, some electrolyte balance in the body. Do you have anything like what we call Pedialyte in your country? It is for electrolyte replacement in babies with diarrhea.

When you say the vet gave her "liver pills, what are these really called? As for the fever, there are several medications that will help reduce it, but also you can try putting some cooler water soaked washcloths in her armpits and in the groin area if she will tolerate it. You don't want to chill her, but to provide some moisture on the body to help cool her. The lasix is a good idea, and the vet could probably use morphine in fact for this. But if the lasix works, good. Try to let her drink a little. Some sort of drug to help the heart pump better might also be indicated, but that may take a specialist. Here is a link to cardiac situations, including congestive heart failure. It gives you some information about the goals of treatment in a dog with such a condition and names the drugs often used. But the vet needs to see this as well to be of any real use.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/11211.htm

Best wishes. Keep us posted.

by Sunsilver on 24 January 2010 - 05:01

Thanks, Hodie! When I googled CHF in dogs I found absolutely NOTHING. All the links related to humans.

by SabrinaT on 24 January 2010 - 08:01

Hi Hodie, thanks very much for the advice.

Yes, we do have Pedialyte here in Malaysia (we are actually from England but live here).
We have some spare Pedialyte sachets, would these be suitbale to use with Sam?

And the liver medecine prescribed is hepavite.

I know you can't say exactly, but judging by the symptoms, would you say the antibiotic given (Enrofloxacin) would be suitable in this case?

And thanks for the advice regarding the fever, I will do that know and see if she allows it.

And lastly, we have given her the Lasix this morning around 10:30am (local time) and it is now 4:00pm and Sam has not gone to the toilet at all, I have been giving her plenty of water and she has ate a little bit of food around 3:00pm.

Should she not have lost some of the fluids by now?

Once again, thanks very much for the help. We really do appreciate it.

by Walt on 24 January 2010 - 11:01

Please click on link below to learn all about Tick-born Diseases.
http://blackgsd.googlepages.com/home

You should put this dog on Doxycycline −100mg tabs 4 a day for at least 30 days.
The other antibiotics will not help for this. Only the Doxycycline !

Read and learn all about tick -born Diseases before it is to late.

Good luck.

Monroehaus

by Jenni78 on 24 January 2010 - 13:01

Tick born illness? Huh? What did I miss???

by SabrinaT on 24 January 2010 - 13:01

UPDATE:

Sam has been on the stated medication today; Lasix (to drain fluid), Enrofloxacin (antibiotic for the infection), and Hepavite (for her liver).

Though she is taking Lasix (which we requested from the vet this morning after advice from some members on this forum), Sam has not been to the toilet at all today. Is this normal?

Her appetite today has also been very poor, she only ate three or four handfuls around 3:00.

We are waiting for Hodie to hopefully give some advice regarding her medecine and the Pedialyte and if anyone else has any advice / thoughts it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for all the help everyone!

-And Walt, sorry I don't get how you got to tick-born diseases? We seem to be dealing with a congenital heart problem and there hasn't been any mention of tick born diseases.

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