Do I give in?

[Jennifer and Jack]

As you know Jack broke his tail the other day and is on narcotics, NSAIDs and tummy coaters. Yesterday he got IV fluids...today he won't eat anything but a few bites if hard boiled egg and a piece of cheese........he will not eat his food.

I am most concerned about fluids...he isn't showing signs of being in pain but he won't drink...his gums are slightly tacky but I don't know if I should just let him eat eggs and nothing else.

He will not drink broth.........but will eat treats only.

Thanks for the help.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jack is not eating, I don't know if it is he is in pain, the pain medication itself or the fact that he is extremely pissed I am shoving some type of medication down his throat ......He seems to be okay.. barking at people walking by.... but today, we tried a McDonalds Ice Cream cone, he wouldn't touch it, cheese nope, eggs, nope.......

My mom went to PetCo because he will take treats, We used Pure Bites liver treats, he ate some of those, I was hoping since they were dehydrated he would take a drink, not even after his walks with my mom did he drink..

I tried making him drink Chicken Broth out of a syringe... he acted as if I was murdering him..

Finally I put some Pure Bites Liver treats in the bottom of the bowl, the only thing he is into right now and poured chicken broth over it.. He drank the broth to get to the treats.... took a treat and I would put another 10 mls of broth in and we did this a few times.. I think he drank around 30 ml's at best.

Is this enough? He seems to be breathing heavier then normal but it was also time for pain medications so I medicated  .... I don't know if I need to bring him in for fluids.... for many reasons I would like to avoid that as we are running on fumes here and my 72 mother is handling me in a wheel chair and two dogs when we go... which we will be happy to do if we need to.... just don't know

[Marcia & MoneyPenny]

Have you shared this with your vet.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I would give him water out of a syringe to help protect against dehydration.  I worry about too much of the broth because it is so salty (even reduced sodium). This sounds so much like what I have battled with Tacky, he was going through different problems then.  There is nothing worse than them not eating.  You should not have to entice him with ice cream, etc....

 

I would at least call the vet and get their opinion. Did they tell you this is to be expected from pain meds?  As we have all said here before "a healthy dog will not starve itself". I can see Jack going a day or two being like this, but if he is really refusing to eat for much longer, he needs to go to the vet.  I suggest you call the vet regardless.

 

So sorry you are going through this.

[Marcia & MoneyPenny]

I totally agree, you need to speak with your vet. Do not fool with dehydration.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Just got off the phone with the vet, she has never seen Jack as I am at my moms and we only saw the partner the other day who was amazing... She was amazing  too .. She is thinking I need to give him stress dose of steroids as he is on that for his Addison's but we didn't really keep giving him stress doses, she said in no way should a broken tail stop him from eating and if he doesn't come around by tomorrow we are to bring him in for a recheck... but for now she said Chicken broth is okay for a day or so.. and to stop the metacam which in my opinion was helping a lot but he can't be on that and the increased steroids.

She is worried he may go into a full addison's crisis from the broken bone so we are going to increase it.. if he doesn't eat tonight we will be back in there first thing in the am.... 

He just doesn't look right to me but he is running to the door when someone walks by etc...  Thanks for your input..

[Marcia & MoneyPenny]

I feel better that you have called. Keep us posted!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In all honesty, with all of Jack's health issues right now, I'm just not comfortable suggesting anything. I saw above that you talked to the vet, I would follow the vet's advice on all foods & fluids. (As long as Rx food doesn't enter into the discussion, lol)

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks I just gave him a stress dose of steroids....the vet is amazing she read his whole chart from puppy hood......we are doing exactly what she says.......

I posted this then I called the vet just to be sure......fingers crossed the extra steroids work!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes you must follow their advice for now - keep us posted.  I remember Tacky's current vet (who is a Godsend, by the way) telling me to stop doing certain things (like feeding him x and y to get him to eat) - I can't even remember everything that was involved but I will tell you that following her advice to a T saved  his life.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you! The extra steroids seem to be helping.....he in less then an hour after getting his stress dose of steroids..drank water and ate some of Grammies fresh out of the oven turkey breast...no skin....

Please let this keep up.....what a blessing this vet is........I wish this practice was close to my house.......my new vet would have amputated...jack already is putting his tail up ..someone knock wood....

Thank you all for your support......I suck at this.......

[Jennifer and Jack]

This just came in from the vet to my email ...I had no idea they could directly inject into his tail......I can't tell if he is in pain the past day or so.


Jennifer,
As per our conversation, here are my current recommendations for Jack:
Please double his prednisolone for at least 5 days.
Stop metacam while he is on the higher dose of pred.
Continue Tramadol but try ¼ tablet twice daily.
Give famotidine 10 mg tablet, ¼ once daily.
Continue sucralfate ½ 3 times daily (this is best given dissolved in a little bit of water).
If he is not eating better by tomorrow, please schedule a recheck. I may want to test his electrolytes or even try a local anesthesia directly injected into his fracture.

Stacy O'Quinn, DVM
Riverwalk animal hospital
have you checked out your pet portal lately?
987-0844

[Bob Johnston]

When we had to use sucralfate we had the vet turn it into a  oral suspension we could feed via a syringe. I think it tastes really bitter but they usually could keep it down. The tramadol will make jack feel good but I did notice it took away appetite and wanting to drink water.    

 

Have you ever had to give him a ringer before if he does stop drinking again it makes it easier then having to run to the vet daily.