sick doodle :( any suggestions?

[Carlos and Chloe]

 

Chloe's 16 months old and for the past month she has been suffering from some vomiting.  It started out with a severe case of vomiting and diarrhea.  We actually took her to an emergency clinic when it was late at night and she had some blood after her diarrhea.  They prescribed some medicine to stop the vomiting and gave her some antibiotics to prevent infection because of the diarrhea.  We thought it was something she ate over the week and we also discussed this with our vet who also gave her some bland diet to ease her stomach.  That seemed to help.  We had noticed that her appetite was no longer what it once was.  We had been feeding her twice a day and she would usually finish it all up once I put in the bowl.  Since this whole drama started her appetite seems lower she won't eat right away but she'll eventually eat some of it.  Our vet said it could be a sign of something or she could just be getting finicky.  Her tempermant hasn't changed.  She's still as happy and as playful as ever.

 

Over the course of the next few weeks we changed her dog food (natural balance) watched to make sure she didn't get any table scraps or other foods/objects.  She would still vomit on occasion maybe, once every 3-5 days.  We took her to our vet a couple more times since then for a checkup and they couldn't find anything wrong with her but suggested it could be a blockage.  Then this past weekend she vomited twice at my in-laws and then twice again this morning basically throwing up everything she ate the night before and this morning.  We got x-rays this time and for the most part it seemed normal.  There were no obvious objects but our vet said her stomach was full of something.  She couldn't say as to whether it was food or some foreign object because I guess it wasn't dense enough (possibly cloth-like material?)  I assume it was an object since the amount of vomit she had this morning appeared to be equal to the amount of food she ate this morning and last night but I"m not certain.

 

Now our options are to get ultrasound for a better idea of the possible obstruction.  Go for the exploratory surgery which may or may not uncover anything.  Of course if we get the ultrasound and discover it is something there and we'll have to get the surgery anyways.  Or perhaps try some pumpkin to try and flush whatever if anything is there.  I guess I'm wondering what my next step should be.  If it's been in her stomach all this time what hope would pumpkin have in flushing it out?  This entire process is become draining physically, mentally and financially.  My wife is hesitant on the surgery especially because of the cost and the fact that it might not uncover anything and that this may be a recurring problem with chloe.  I've never seen her eat any of her toys she usually shreds them to bits and I"m left cleaning up the mess but perhaps I missed something.  If she did eat something is it safe to assume this will be a recurring habit of hers or is this just a puppy phase ?

 

4/27: chloe having surgery today

4/28: chloe doing well in recovery

[Mustard Seed Ranch]

I dont want to be an alarmist but is it possible it is a tumor? Would that be completely visible in an X Ray or just appear as 'something"? If it could be I would opt for the surgery. Also if something IS in there chances are it will need to come OUT so it seems surgery may be in your future regardless. SO sorry to hear about this and I know how much worry it causes you!

Hoping its nothing but a stinky sock and all will be well...

[Carlos and Chloe]

We've opted for the surgery.  We tried the pumpkin diet last night and this morning she threw up 4 times.  The good news is that she threw up a couple pieces of some foreign substance.  We took her to the vet and they concluded that it's pieces of a tennis ball.  They took x-rays again and there still something there so Chloe will be going under the knife soon :( 

 

On a side note my wife's been much more sympathetic today and perhaps it was a bad day for her yesterday so we're all hoping for the best.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

My thoughts are with your family and Chloe.  Even though Chloe isn't better yet, it must be a relief to at least know what it is.  Hope Chloe starts feeling better soon.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I have been going thru something similar to this with Oliver..... he would ALWAYS inhale his food and be done in about 45 seconds..... seriously 2 1/2 cups of food in 45 seconds... I timed him.  Then all of a sudden within the past week or so he does not inhale his food had a couple spells of vomiting but not all of his food just a hand full and now I need to beg him to eat and practicaly sit there and hand feed him ????  I am at a total loss, he may just be having growing pains  he is 10 months old.  Good luck with your puppy!

[Carlos and Chloe]

That's almost exactly how chloe was.  At each meal it was like a race.  Then all of the sudden she'd just leave it alone and maybe have a bite or two later.  Then came the vomitting spells.  I dont know if oliver is suffering the same problem but you should probably get it checked out.  If there's something stuck in her stomach that could be why she acts full or not hungry.

[Jane Cramer]

I know this is a dumb question, but did you have your vet do a fecal examiniation?  There are things like giardia and coccidia (sp) that make dogs do this. Griffey had ended up having both at different times.  The medicine for one is different than from the other.  Just a thought.

 

Hope evertyning turns out okay.

[Carlos and Chloe]

For chloe my vet had considered giardia early on but chloe showed no other symptoms for it.  Her temperature was fine.  She exhibited no abdominal pain, fever or any of the other symptoms associated with it...just the vomitting and diarrhea which could come from anything.  She was always happy and playful and the diarrhea part eventually went away.  I couldn't speak for oliver but that's another thing to consider and the vet should be able to diagnose that if that's the case.

[Jane Cramer]

Griffey did not have a fever or any other symptoms in both cases.  He just would not eat and threw up.  Its a quick and easy (and cheaper test) to consider.  You might have done it already though.

[Carlos and Chloe]

Chloe is doing well in recovery.  If all goes well we might be able to take her home today.  They showed us what they took out of her stomach and it wasn't pretty.  There were a dozen or so pieces of some dark brown paper/plastic.  We're still not sure what it was.  It could be parts of a tennis ball but it had the appearance of cardboard except it was quite hard and somewhat flexible like plastic.  It didn't resemble any toy she had or anything I could think of in the house.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm so glad to hear that Chloe came through the surgery well. Hoping she will be able to stop chewing the nasty stuff. It's so hard.

[Joyce & Wilson]

Glad Chloe is in recovery and hoping for a speedy recovery!!

[Sharon & Monty]

Poor baby.  So glad that surgery was successful in finding the mystery stuff!  Hope everyone is feeling better soon.  :)