Help! I don't know what to do. (update 3/9)

[Missi]

Lizzie is a 13 week old goldendoodle. Because I work nights and 12 hour shifts, I set up a large, secure pen in the basement for Lizzie to stay in on the night's I'm gone. Yesterday, she had little appetite, which I attributed to the stress of a new home. (I've had her since saturday) I put her in her pen with some puppy toys, food, water, and lots of newspaper; she was fine. I just got home this morning, and something's wrong. She has water for stools, is very lethargic, and vomitted what looks like saliva 3 times.
As most of you know, she has been battling severe anemia for the last month, but it was resolved, and she never vomitted with that.




I took her to the vet immediately. I'm crying. Vet thinks it's Parvo. She's in the ICU on IV fluids and antibiotics. Parvo test came back negative, but because it's an antibody test, early tests are often negative.

I need a hug



***3/6***

Sorry for keeping everybody in in the dark, but Lizzie is doing well and is HOME!! I picked her up at 8:30 this morning. They did end up having to re-start her IV fluids yesterday, but took them off this morning. (Well she kept dumping her water bowl and not drinking, because they hadn't put any toys in the kennel with her!)
We are now on a mixture of I/d A/d food with some of her dry kibble. I know it's not the best food for her, but it seems to be working and she has eaten all three meals today. She hasn't wanted to leave my side all day, so I am a bit sleep deprived (I worked last night). She had 2 soft stools today, but no diarrhea.
Overall, the vets question whether or not it really was Parvo, because she did make such a fast recovery. So I've been pretty worried if it wasn't parvo, then what was it? She obviously had some kind of bacteria and/or viral gastroenteritis since she spiked a fever up to 105. But the antibiotics are definitely helping.

She's snoozing at my feet while I type this and says a HUGE puppy thank you to everyone for their help and support. You guys rock!!!!!!!



****update 3/9****

I have had the last 4 days off of work and Lizzie and I have had some serious bonding time! She's my little buddy. She has been doing very well. I started to introduce the new Royal Canin puppy chow yesterday mixed in with the soft diet from the vet (less than 1/4 cup per meal). She was pretty tired yesterday and woke up this morning at 4am with vomiting and diarrhea! So we're back on JUST the soft diet (science diet I/D and A/D mixed). I've been feeding her multiple small meals today and she has licked the bowl clean on ALL of them. She's also been really energetic and happy after about 9am; no more vomiting or diarrhea. So given this, I'm starting to think she's having a bad reaction to the kibble. Have any of your dogs had a reaction this bad to food before? So we're on a search for a good chicken and rice based puppy kibble. Open to suggestions!
She peed on my uncle and aunt's carpet like 5 times tonight, so housetraining isn't going quite as well as I had thought. But, she won't poop in the house; she dances by the back door! So that's a plus.
Anyway, that's my update. I should probably start publishing this in blogs, so look for those in the upcoming week!

Thanks again everybody!

[Tracey]

Yay!!! So glad she's home. You guys get some rest =).

[George & MeLinda]

sure hope she recovers fast how scary for you both

[Debbie and Thomas]

I am so happy-she is not even my dog but I was worried sick for you. I still don't think it was parvo-which is probably a good thing. But it must have been something else that was bad. How are the vet bills? The couple I mentioned last week who had a s***-zu with parvo told me today at class that their bills were 4,000 dollars!! But their puppy was in intensive care for over 2 weeks and needed two blood transfusions. Darby is her name and she was there today looking as healthy as a horse at 10 1/2 months old. No health problems now whatsoever. Perfectally normal. Let her sleep now-she must need it, the poor little thing.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Did you wash all of her toys, blankets etc. Just in case there was some kind of bacteria lingering. Also-I would wonder about her food. Maybe is was tainted. We had friends who got a bad batch of dog food and there dog became really ill-almost like food poisoning. Just thinking out loud here-because something must have caused this if it wasn't Parvo.

[Missi]

Yeah, I ran her hard toys through the dishwasher, along with her bowls and washed her linens. I also have stayed with her in the backyard the whole time thinking maybe she picked up something outside. I did just start her on a new bag of dog food that i've been mixing 50/50 with the food from the breeder's. Haven't fed it since, because she's on soft food from the vet. I hadn't thought about that as a possibility. But that wouldn't have caused a fever though, would it? She's been eating great since she's been home though, which is a first. Thank you for your brainstorming, I'm at a loss to what it could be. She did get into some cat poop (yummy), but I don't think that would do it. My cats are both vaccinated and healthy.
Vet bills weren't as bad as I had expected; about $650. But, I had told them that money was a bit tight, so they only ran all her blood work once and we'll do it again at 10 days out.
If it weren't for her bald spots on her legs you'd never know anything happened! She is doing so well! She went to the back door to ask to go out for the first time yesterday and learned how to go up and down stairs. She also learned sit and gets "lay down" about half the time. She did lose some weight through this ordeal, which we have been fighting to keep on her, but we'll get it back. At almost 14 weeks old (on tuesday) she only weighs 11.2 pounds.
Sorry to make you worry!! But thank yo for brainstorming with me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Missi, just to be on the safe side, get rid of the food from the breeder. When she's done with the soft food from the vet, just give her the new food, and you can go with what we talked about food-wise before this last illness. If it has anything to do with the food, which I doubt, it would not be from the new bag.
Just rest, relax & give Lizzie lots of love...that's the best medicine!

[Missi]

I would agree, but she won't eat the new food yet. She's still really picky and only eating the breeder's food. It did start the a day or two after I started feeding out of the new bag of food though. possible it could be the problem?

And I guess we figured out why she wasn't eating much last wednesday! (Unfortunately)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I see you will soon be joining Lizette & me in my "Whine" discussion in the Food Group, complaining about your picky eater. Lizzie is another "Junk Food Junkie", lol. I guess there could be something "off" about the new food, maybe set it aside and just let her have whatever she'll eat. I strongly believe that sick dogs, just like sick kids, should be indulged as far as food goes; the important thing is that they eat. So let her have what she likes, for now, as long as it isn't disagreeing with her.
One positive thing about this whole episode is that when you have kids, you will be so experienced with sick babies, you'll be the calmest first-time mom ever!

[Missi]

Calm is not in my nature...I will be the same overprotective human mom as I am puppy mom! But now at least I'll know how I'm going to act. And I guess you will be seeing me in the "whine" group soon. She really likes to eat poo, but I don't think i'll be indulging that whim of hers! :-)

[Debbie and Thomas]

Sound like my worries are over. People tell me that is my job-to worry, so I am sorry if I overthought this. I am happy that you are throwing out the old food though-It probably has nothing to do with it-but I am pretty sure IF the food was tainted somehow, it could cause a high fever. I had food poisoning once and I had a fever, diarrhea, vomiting. I am not a nurse, but I thought a fever was the bodies response when some sort of infection, virus or bacteria was present. You will probably never know what caused this-but it must have been so frightening. I really doubt it was the cat poopy-my old dog ate poop that a Canada goose left in our yard!! I was so mad at him and he lapped it up like it was a delicacy!! Who knows where that goose had been?? LOL (Hope you can laugh now-you probably need it)

[Missi]

Haha!!! oooh, yummy goose poop! Don't apologize for thinking, I'm really glad for the input. And as soon as I typed my response, I realized It was dumb. Of course food poisoning would cause a fever!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I have been off DK for 2 days and just read what you have been going through - I am so sorry that you went through that but am thrilled she is home and feeling better!!!!