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So, first Brinkley was itchy.  Then he was itchy with hotspots and getting worse.  So I took him to the vet, he was given a steroid shot and then given Presnidone. The first day of the shot he ate and drank like a horse.  The second day, he drank a lot but eating was normal.  That's about where we left off with my previous posts.

Today, I spoke to the vet first thing in the morning.  He didn't seem alarmed at his lethargy because he was still acting like a sleepy version of himself.  He told me to monitor him and call him in a week unless things got worse.  One hour after I got off the phone with the vet, I noticed one streak of red in the second log of Brinkley's poop.  He's been having massive poops because he was eating more, so we concluded that since it was just one streak, it looked more like the hard poop scratched him.  The blood wasn't intertwined.  Sorry for TMI!!

He perked up and seemed okay so he played a bit with one of his friends. Then I dropped him off at home and went to grab dinner.  An hour later I got a call from my parents that said Brinkley was really lethargic again and that they were worried.  

I came home to find a semi-lethargic dog but not nearly as bad as I had imagined.  Then 20 minutes later he threw up... and threw up... and threw up.... five different times. 

He hadn't eaten any of his food so I was wondering what he was throwing up. Then it dawned on me.  While Brinkley and Max were playing, my friend's husband was watching them. Normally, it's my friend that watches them. She knows to pick up her dog's food because Brinkley can't eat Max's food. I think he got into Max's food which is a store brand, I believe.  But Brinkley has a very sensitive stomach and he doesn't do well on anything that has a lot of fillers. Then, it dawned on me that Brinkley was given a rawhide while at their house.  When we looked at the back, it was made in China.  Yikes!  Brinkley had a hospital stay after he ate a China bone by accident.  

I think the Prednisone already messed him up and Brinkley wasn't feeling well already and then, all these foreign foods sent him over the edge. Does this sound like it could be it?

I have a call into the vet to call me back first thing in the morning.  And if we need the appointment I have a vet appointment scheduled for 12:30.  

I'm leery to give Brinkley his dose of Prednisone tonight...especially on an empty tummy since he's vomited so much. Thoughts... on all of this??

UPDATE**

Brinkley slept through the night but then he woke me up whimpering so I rushed him outside.  I had a feeling he had to either go to the bathroom or throw up.  The latter was the case.  He threw up three times within minutes.  He hadn't had much to eat so all he was throwing up was yellow bile and BLOOD!!  I freaked!  I threw on clothes, yelled up the stairs to my dad (remember, I'm living with my parents for two years while my husband is living in Massachusetts and going to Physician Assistant school) and we all jumped in the car and headed to the vet.  While in the car, I called them to tell them that we were on our way and couldn't wait until our 12:30 vet appointment.  Instead, we'd needed to be seen ASAP because of the blood.  

They got us in right away and after three hours at the vet, tests, etc. showed that he has pancreatitis and possibly a scraped or torn esophagus.  No obstruction, thank goodness!  We reduced his Prednisone dose, he's on anti-nausea bills and an acid reducer that will help coat his esophagus so it can heal.  

He was also given a shot of meds that stops the vomiting.  It lasts for 24 hours. They only wanted to stop it for that long, because if he starts to vomit again, then there could be a larger problem which they don't want to mask with a week long dose of pills.  He vomits tomorrow morning, we go back to the vet.  If not, we will check in periodically next week by phone.  

They are 99% sure there isn't an ulcer because that would show up in poop and throw up as a coffee ground look.  This was bright red.

I'm exhausted.  I've also had a flat tire and the AC in my rental property went out-- all within in moments of Brinkley getting sick. I do events on the side and I have 48 cupcakes to make and decorate for a Saturday morning party.  My time at the vet was the time I had carved out to make the cupcakes.  It's going to be a long night.  Phew!

 

 

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I'm so sorry all of this is going on.

He needs the second dose of the prednisone, though. It's dangerous to stop it cold, you have to gradually taper it.

My concern right now would be an obstruction from the rawhide. That could account for the bloody stool, the vomiting, and the lethargy (although the lethargy was presnt before the visit). Personally, I would take him to the ER, but if you want to wait and watch, watch him closely.

Is he drinking water? With all that vomiting, he could become dehydrated.

The bloody stool was 10 hours before the rawhide as well.  He is drinking LOTS of water... he downed an entire bowl after each vomit session. It was a small rawhide and he threw up a lot of rawhide... I'm guessing all of it to be honest. I'd be more worried about an obstruction being an issue if he didn't seem to have a sour stomach, lethargy and bloody stool before the consumption of a rawhide.  

We've gone an hour without throwing up which is good (he threw up all five times within 30 minutes).

I honestly would like to avoid the ER at all costs if possible. I'd of course go if it came down to that, but I don't trust them.  They don't know Brinkley, his history, etc. and this one really goes for wallet. I never feel like I can make an educated and rational decision while there.

How in the world do you give a dog a pill that must be taken with food if he's thrown up all of his food and uninterested in eating? I'm a little overwhelmed, if you cant tell. :)

 

 

Try giving him something he like and will tolerate. It's hard for me to give a suggestion since I don't know what he can tolerate. It doesn't have to be a lot of food and the world will not end if he misses the cortisone tonight IMHO. He hasn't been on it that long, he may still be getting some from the shot. Speak to your vet. 

I am always amazed that sometimes my dogs are ready to eat right after they've thrown up--but that's always been a one time vomiting incident. 

A couple tablespoons of plain yogurt maybe?  Sounds good to me.  Less filling, small amount?  Coats the tummy

Sounds good.

I have zero advice but I can say prednisone is a tough drug for people and I can only imagine it would be worse for a dog that can't tell you how they feel :-(  Personally, prednisone always, always makes me nauseated and gives me hot flashes and just that all over tingly bug crawling on your skin feeling like some cold medicines do.  Is it possible to give him a cracker or a little piece of bread with the prednisone maybe?  Just to make it tolerable for his stomach.  Karen is right you really have to be careful and not stop it and take it when directed or you will feel way worse and it can be get pretty dangerous depending on the dose.....  You guys will be in my prayers!

Oh Heather, sorry you and Brinkley are having such a bad night. Hope it is just an upset tummy from different foods and rawhide. My Murphy just came off 15 days of Prednisone and I didn't have any problems other than he did urinate more and lost a little over a pd in 2 wks. He was very tired and slept a lot more, so I wasn't expecting the weight loss. But that's an ways fix.
Keep us posted on Brinkley and I hope you have a good night.

The only info I can offer is that I have a friend whose dog always presents with lethargy when he is given prednisone.  It really upsets her to see him in that state, but she now knows that it his reaction to the pred.  I hope Brinkley feels better soon.

Poor Brinkley and poor you.  I hope he gets through the night okay and you find some answers at the vet tomorrow :(

I have Gracie Doodle on prednisone due to an autoimmune disease.  One thing to watch out for is an acidic stomach.  Gracie threw up bile and the vet said that the prednisone can cause ulcers and worse.  So we now have her on Pepcid AC which is for humans.  She is on 15 mg a day.  That prednisone is bad stuff IMO but it is working on Gracie's problems beautifully so I guess I can't complain.  She does a lot of panting and is pretty lethargic but very active when we get the ball to go play or someone comes home!  Very hungry too!!!  If nothing else, I would put Brinkley on an anti-acid immediately. Oh, and she drinks tons of water too.  She has always drunk a lot but now even more so!!

Yes, Nancie has a good point. JD has to be on Zantac because of his steroid use as well. However, that's usually only the case with long-term steroid use. Short courses ordinarily don't require acid-reducers, but Brinkley may just have a more sensitive system.

Please let us know how Brinkley is doing. Prednisone is a nasty drug for both humans and dogs but sometimes it is the thing that is necessary to keep us or our dogs going. It was a lifesaver for my Mom for many many years. She had COPD. You just have to be aware of side effects and follow protocol. Take care.

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