Dog lovers.....I need some help

[radiokaos]

Hey Guys,

My buddy for the last 9 1/2 years is not doing well. His name is Thor and lately its been a battle with the trips to the vet and no sleep for me.



He is a Chihuahua 7.5 lbs and up to a few months ago was healthy. We went out of town and left him with the neighbor. (I suspect he got into something over there). After we came back from a 2 day trip he was not right and expressed some bizarre health issues.

Fast forward a few weeks and several tests we were told his liver levels 5 times higher then normal. We started him on some Demavarin (Milk thistle), and his levels came back to normal.

About 2 weeks ago he had a real bad cough...so we took him in to our back up vet only to hear the vet say his heart is enlarged and pushing on his wind pipe. Started him on some steroids with a cough suppressant and it seemed to do the trick. Took him to another vet and he said he heart was fine.

Then about 2 days ago he was stretching and not doing well. He is barely eating or drinking, and we are waiting on test results tomorrow. He is hiding and doing nothing...he is listless and has no desire to eat food and only drank a little bit of water.

This is breaking my heart and I need some input or suggestions on others who have owned a dog.

The wifey is telling me she thinks its his liver. I don't know what to do and need some input from others who might have had a similar experience with their dog.

 

[snork]

I know I asked you before, but have they definitely ruled out heartworms? Reason I ask is my OKC friend has a Doberman who had similar symptoms and it was heartworms. Took awhile of scary treatment but the pooch is fine now.

 

[homeprogreen]

I had a bull dog that had sypmthoms like that. His kidneys had failed. It's rough when a pet gets sick. I feel for you Jerry

 

[Charlie C]

I wish I had experience in this area but I do not.
I sit here reading this and find myself chocking up. Our pets are our children too and my heart goes out to you.

Seriously Jerry............I would find a veterinary teaching hospital ASAP as opposed to a regular vet.
Please keep us updated and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[hittman]

Jerry I'm sorry Thor isn't doing well. I haven't experienced anything like that but my thinking is along the same line as Charlie. Either a teaching hospital or a specialist rather than a vet that's used to doing check ups and normal stuff. There are links to specialists on the AKC website. Here's a link.

http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/resources/veterinary-specialist.html

 

[Kookie]

It sounds like you need (desperately) a good reliable vet. I will have that information for you within the hour. My friend in Glendale has an excellent vet. Glendale should be what, 30 minutes from you?

You're not going to those chain vets are you? I made that mistake with my first dog. Fortunately for me I have a really really good vet in Dearborn Mi. He is exspensive but I trust him completely. (He is getting old and it worries me.) You need that. Possibly talk to the Nieghbor and explain you won't get mad, wink, but investigate what may have happened. That could help a lot in diagnosis if he did ingest something.

Hope this will turn out for Thor.

 

[Kookie]

PS. I am at work and I'm still waiting on my last 2 flights. Both CRJ200's, so it will be quick. Both late as usual too. But will get this info ASAP.

 

[Kookie]

Have to wait for my planes to push before I leave the AOA and drive back to my FBO in case they want an uplift. Anyway, Dr. Montana / West Olive Animal Hospital @ 91st & Olive, Glendale, AZ. 623/334.4121. She has been using Dr Montana for about 10 years. She does rescue too, my friend that is. She said there aren't that many emergency places around and that is all I got when my planes came in. Will maybe get the skinny on some specialist when I get home. Within the hour here. Hope that might help.

 

[Kookie]

Still waiting for push back. Grrrr! DAMN... 500 more lbs. Hold on.

 

[Kookie]

Sorry a little longer than I said and sorry not any more info. My friend in PHX has no real expience with a specialist.

 

[Kookie]

Please let us know how little Thor made out. I am worried.

I will tell you about the best dog I ever had. Digger was an Australian Cattle dog / Border Collie. He was a once in a lifetime type of dog. I still miss him after about four years. I took him to the specialist here in Michigan several times. Had to practically mortgage the house every time. However, the place was the best there is. I suppose were lucky to have such a place nearby.

Here are some pics:

A close up of my handsome friend Digger

Digger in a Virgina cow pasture. Cows seem to fascinate him.

Digger riding the waves at the beech in Milwaukee. He loves the water.

The fabulous DIGGER. Action shot. Loves his frisbee. Aus Cattle/Boarder Collie mix. My buddy!

Digger traveled with me through all states east of the Mississippi including a few across the river. Along I-80 through to Nebraska. The funniest thing across the river there was at a Sinclair gas station. They often have the green dinosaur in front. He saw that and made a B line to attack it, and thunk, suprise suprise. LOL. Actually I have several pictures of him pooping on famous places. I was going to make a website about that when he was alive, but never did.

I currently have 4 dogs. Just routine vet care is quite a burden, but I love them all.

 

[GaryInTexas]

That made me laugh. I have several cow dogs I use and we went to a neighbors place to help him gather some cattle. They had a couple of small cement statues of cows in the yard and my dogs bayed them statues solid. Actually a little embarrassing.

 

[Kookie]

That made me laugh. I have several cow dogs I use and we went to a neighbors place to help him gather some cattle. They had a couple of small cement statues of cows in the yard and my dogs bayed them statues solid. Actually a little embarrassing.

That is awesome. Digger would have loved a job like that. Even the keeping the statue bayed job. There is another one. Went to a place often in Pennsylvania. They had an iron statue of a horse up front. I let Digger out to pee not thinking about it. I swear I heard the hollow iron thunk when he went to nip its tail. I had a hard time calling him back I was laughing so hard.

 

[tnt56]

You and Thor have my thoughts and prayers Jerry. It brings back memories of my beloved Katie. She was 13 yrs old when she passed. She was a 90 lb German Shepard that was the best friend I ever had.

 

[Charlie C]

FYI everyone-
Just spoke with Jerry and Thor is doing better; he should be fine

 

[hittman]

What was the diagnosis?

 

[Kookie]

FYI everyone-
Just spoke with Jerry and Thor is doing better; he should be fine

Oh good. I was very worried. I thought about calling, but I didn't want to intrude just to find out about Thor. Yes, I would like to know what happened too please.

 

[It's Only Me]

FYI everyone-
Just spoke with Jerry and Thor is doing better; he should be fine

Yea!
I know how it feels brother.

 

[radiokaos]

You guys are great and thanks for you thoughts and suggestions.

Thor is getting better and it was most likely pancreatitus.

His liver is also a concern but that has been a issue for a year or two and his levels are better.

Here is a little something from Thor ...... What do you think he is telling me? (this video was shot about 2 months ago)

 

[David Bruno]

Hi,
Glad your dog is doing better. I have 2 Labs and a Beagle. We have them on a wireless dog fence. They are able to travel around a acre free as a bird. I had another Beagle a few years back that got real sick. We took her to the vet quite a few times and she was given antibiotics thinking she picked up something nasty in the wooded area. We have 10 acres of woods up in the North woods. It's common for dogs to get weird diseases. My dog finally did pass away from it. We never knew what made her sick. It seemed like her liver failed. If dogs pick up a dropped over the counter pain pill like advil, it can cause problems. My dog did live a long life of 13 years though.Our dogs are like our kids to my wife and I. They are all raised to be indoor/ outdoor pets. It's hard to see them sick. It feels like when one of my sons got sick as a baby. They really can't tell you what ails them. Good luck with Thor!
Dave