Just In Case*UPDATE # 4 - Improving/Question

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Update #4 - My boy is back!  Not 100% yet but his loving, goofy self is slowly emerging.  He is still sleeping alot but has started to smile and interact with Rooney and I.  We are convinced he went into anaphylactic shock after stepping on a bee or wasp (you all were right!).  Stuart was stung once as a young puppy so here you have the first exposure, then this.  Vet thinks the next time could kill him so we are getting an Epi Pen to carry.  Stuart also went into anaphylatic shock after having Trifexis so we believe that he is allergic to some meds, we are going to have to be on lifelong alert but ANYTHING for my boy.  Finally pooed after 48 hrs - whew was that a poo I was giddy to pick up - lol.  Back to the vet tomorrow to re-check his slow heart rate - I'm betting is was the benadryl - and to re-check his paws.  Question - what is the best shoe type foot cover - I'm worried that the black top is too hot for him (maybe Rooney too).  Not sure what to use - Mutluks?  Thanks for all your advice and concern!!!

***********

Update #3 - Stuart was back at the Vets several things are going on.  The vet believes that Stuart was stung, is very allergic and is getting the correct dose so we will be carrying an Epi pen for the rest of Stuart's life.  I'll get the pen next week and until then - I'm so afraid it could happen again.  He is still very lethargic also believed from the Benadryl so at least for now - no walks - just out to potty and right back in.

After running several different tests on his diarrhea - that believe it is cause by a reaction to the Benadryl - so he is off of that as of now.  For his diarrhea he is on Proviable Cream and Pill.  Also on Flagyl.

The Vet is concerned as Stuart's heart rate is very low - we are hoping this is from the Benadryl but he is returning to the Vet's on Monday - I think if he had a problem it would have been caught before now so I'm trying not to worry too much about this - but still.  If it isn't down they want to do a chest x-ray and an Echo.

They couldn't find the stinger in his paw but they did give me a spray on medication - Vet dispense only called GenOne Spray.  Not our biggest problem at the moment but I'd like to see those paw pads clear up.

KAREN - Stuart is eating and keeping his food down but Doc says bland diet do to diarrhea - Stuart doesn't really eat many grains so is white rice and chicken broth going to upset his tummy? 

Dh is out of town for another 2 weeks and giving all these meds is hard by yourself, Stuart is afraid of me because I keep giving him meds or spraying his paws - he isn't the dog that I know at all, I'm worried him getting stung again and now the low heart rate.  Think I'm making a cocktail and going to have a good cry.  On the upside - WE HAVE INSURANCE!! 

*****************************

Stuart is slowly starting to come out of his fog.  He had one good poop and the last 2 were diarrhea - the last one has blood.  Needless to say Stuart is off to the Vet later today.  I am now convinced he was stung, that he stepped on it with his back left foot - that was the "fit" as I called it.  Last night I washed his feet and put anti-biotic creame between his inflamed paw pads.  He didn't want me touching that back left one - I wounder if the stinger could still be in there - I'll be having the vet check.  So QUESTION - DO THEY MAKE EPI PENS FOR DOGS?  He clearly has a bad allergy and I'm afraid the next time could kill him.    

 

Stuart has slept ALL day long.  He will wake up for me to take him potty - he pees, drinks some water, he is eating and did a normal b.m. but he is like a zombie.  No smiles, no playing, no interaction AT ALL.  I'm so hoping this is the effect of the meds which they said would make him "drowsy".  We are way past that.  If he doesn't start to pert up tomorrow - I'll be seeing the local vet.  The weirdness seems to be gone, no frantic licking - thank goodness!

 

    Rooney, Stuart and I have been having such a fun summer here in Michigan along the lake - until last evening when Stuart very suddenly became ill.  We went for one our evening walks along the bluff overlooking the lake - and Stuart just seemed "off".  Suddenly he had a little fit I guess I'd call it - not a seizure but his back leg wouldn't go down and he was twisting and jerking - then he plopped down in the grass panting and drooling and excessively, very frantically licking his feet and clawing at his head.  I tried not to panic - let him rest for a few minutes, got him back on his feet and then he had diarrhea.  We walked home with him "out of it".  Once home he wanted on my bed, bypassing an water (not normal).  

   I had brought up and given a copy of both the boys entire medical records & stopped in to introduce both doods to the Vet we used to use in Michigan - planning to never need him but just in case.  While I had been there I got their recommended 24 hour E.R. information once again for just in case.  Thank goodness I had done that because my just in case was coming into play.

   I, for the first time ever took Stuart's temp myself (yes I will be buying my bff a new thermometer), googled how to do it and what the results should be - in was 102.5 - high end of normal.  Entered the address of the E.R. into my GPS in the puppy hauler, packed vet records, and Orijen in my purse - just in case.  Once he again started with the licking and clawing off we went to the E.R. an hours drive on the highway.

   Long story but they believe he is having some kind of allergic reaction, white blood count normal, but his ALT - which I think is kidney function is high 280 when it should be 10-100.  He has to do follow up blood test in 2 weeks on this but they weren't concerned.  They gave him a shot of Diphenhydramine 50mg/ml and send me home with pills, he was also given a steroid shot - Dexamethasone.  I'm also putting Bitter Apple on his feet (2 have inflamed pads from licking).

  The moral of the story - Just In Case sometimes does come true.  This whole thing would have been way more stressful if I hadn't prepared for it.  Having a local vet lined up (who will handle follow up care), knowing where an E.R. was available, having complete vet records, and Stuart's PetPlan Insurance Info with me was invaluable.  So while we all travel about this summer plan for your Just in Case.

    What would cause this reaction?  My guess is that while at K9 Camp on Tuesday - they held a party for another camper and gave all the dogs treats.  When they told me I never thought to be concerned but as Orijen eaters who get almost no grains - could this be the cause.  Would it have taken 24 hrs to manifest symptoms.  Could he have gotten into something else?  Advice welcome.

A pitiful Stuart being enticed to eat breakfast while laying on the sofa, yes I'm pampering him - lol!

  

 

 

[Ginny Nightingale]

wow--good advice!! Glad it has worked out so far--my Mattie got a giant milkbone from the TDI tester when she passed her TDI exam and I stupidly let her eat the whole thing since I was giddy from passing that nerve-wracking test. The next day, she had lots of diarrhea and did not feel well at all. It could take 24 hours, I suppose. And grains could be the culprit since they have not been gradually exposed to them. It could also be something growing on the ground that he is walking on since you don't normally live there.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'm hoping Karen will read this and let me know if it could be food induced.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I guess we were all responding at the same time, lol. See below, this does not sound like a food reaction to me at all. The diarrhea, yes, but not the movements, panting, drooling, etc.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I saw that, too. Great minds think alike.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Just guessing here, but could he have been stung by a bee or something on his foot?  Other than that, I don't really know.  I wouldn't have thought eating a few grain treats would bring on that severe of a reaction, all of a sudden, from him?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I guess he could have gotten stung at Camp but he is so fluffy I'd never see a sting, he also got groomed on Monday - the 1st time with this groomer (has only had his FL one) and could she have used a product that would cause this?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, My first thought was did he step on something while you were walking? A bee perhaps?? I have no idea, but I am so glad you were prepared and hope Stuart is feeling better soon.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I has a dog who put her foot right down on a wasp, and she reacted very much like Stuart. The stinger was still in her paw when I got her to the vet's office.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh Jane, I'm so sorry poor Stuart isn't feeling well. So glad you planned ahead "just in case" and were able to get help for him quickly.

Could he have been stung by a bee or wasp? It would be pretty hard to see a sting with all that fur, but it could account for the symptoms. One of my dogs was stung years ago and behaved much like what you're describing.

The only part that sounds like it could have been a reaction to something he ate is the diarrhea, but that could also have been a physiological reaction to a sting. (Panic, pain, fear, etc) Some of it does sound like anaphylaxis, but it would be rare that food would cause an anaphylactic reaction in a dog.

At any rate, I hope Stuart is soon back to his normal happy, healthy self.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I really don't think it was a bee sting Karen - we were walking (Rooney too) and I think he would have jumped at the sting - he is a big hopper when something scares him.  Plus he just didn't seem normal at the start of the walk - very reluctant to walk, very low energy.  I doubt we will ever know but I will be informing Camp K9 no more treats for Stuart!  I was taking his "offness" to thinking he played himself into exhaustion.  Is that possible?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I still don't think it was the treats, but I'd try to find out exactly what they were and what was in them anyway. I guess it's possible that he had a very severe delayed allergic reaction to them. 

I also don't think that Stuart's symptoms were due to simple exhaustion. The drooling, panting, frantic licking and clawing, the involuntary muscle spasm in the leg, (I'm guessing that's what it was)  would not have been caused by just being tired. That does sound like an allergic reaction, I just haven't heard of that kind of thing with food. It sounds similar to what happened to JD a couple of days after he had his skin testing done.

I think the follow-up blood work is a good idea.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh, poor Stuart and poor you! What a hard day. I am so grateful that you have posted this as it is such a valuable reminder for all of us. Hoping Stuart is well and a happy romper soon.