Sick Doodle --- Advice welcomed

My Charley is a little over a year and a half old. He is up to date on all shots and gets groomed regularly. Last week I noticed he wasn't his normal self, sleeping a lot and not eating well. So I took him to the vet. He had a temp of 103.6 (that was last Thursday), so she ran some blood work and an urine analysis. The blood work shows an elevated white blood count (infection??) and the urine analysis shows he has a UTI. The other infection is respiratory he has a slight cough especially after he tries to bark, and he is producing some clear creamy mucus. The Vet gave him a shot of penicillin and a shot of anti nausea meds as well as a prescription of antibiotics. He has been taking the antibiotics since Friday and today is Monday; while I do see a slight improvement I am so worried because I can't get him to drink on his own (for the last two days). He will take ice, and I have been using a syringe to get fluids into him (although I worry about choking him so I don't give him much). Other things I have tried to increase his fluid intake are...1) no sodium chicken broth 2) fruit juice in his water (cranberry) 3) gatorade none of these things have enticed him. The one thing that he likes is the frosty paws "ice cream" treat, but I am not sure if that is a good source of fluid for him.

I am feeding him a bland diet and mixing in some canned dog food, and he is eating a decent amount. And he is still producing urine. We go back to the vet on Wednesday, but I am so worried about his fluid intake...does anyone have any advice on other ways to get his fluid intake up?

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Lynne on July 22, 2013 at 2:10pm

What you've described is what I have been feeding him; rice, boiled Chicken and some sweet potatoes with added water and the vet said that was why he wasn't drinking. She also said that he is hydrated (thankfully). I am new to all of this...Charley is my first "puppy" and this is his first round of illness...it has been scary for me not knowing what to expect.

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Permalink Reply by Debb, Lucy & Oscar on July 22, 2013 at 2:58pm

I'm glad you got it checked out and know that he's hydrated. That first illness of Lucy's we went back repeatedly for sub-q fluids, when it really wasn't all that necessary (her gums didn't indicate dehydration, but the vet was more than happy to oblige us with the fluids). Chalk it all up to experience, so next time you'll know what to expect. Thanks for the update!

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Permalink Reply by Debb, Lucy & Oscar on July 22, 2013 at 3:07pm

Oh, btw, Lucy's 1st illness was vomiting and diarrhea and once we had her on the bland food diet she didn't have a poo for 7 days! That was another source of worry beside her not drinking. Turned out she had been thoroughly cleaned out before the bland food diet, and she just didn't have to go (plus she was on medication to firm things up, adding to the slow intestinal movement). There's always something new to learn with dog ownership!

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Permalink Reply by Lynne on July 22, 2013 at 3:36pm

Good heads up- Charley isn't making much poo now and that would be the next thing I would worry about. He is perking up this evening...He brought me a toy and was giving me "what for" for not playing with him right away:)

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Permalink Reply by Jane, Guinness and Murphy on July 22, 2013 at 4:30pm

I think you said he's eating chicken and rice with some sweet potato. I've found with my guys that when they're only this type of diet they poop less...it's all good, fresh food and more of it is absorbed by the body. So glad to hear he's doing better....hoping he's on the mend.