My little dog is sick.

[Rhiannon12866]

He is all snuffly and has discharge coming from his nose. My immediate response would be to get him to the vet, ASAP, but my local vet is away, so I tried to get him to his other animal hospital, 40 minutes away, but the snow was relentless. I called them on Friday, and put off his appointment until this afternoon. He got worse, and I felt terribly guilty, but I learned that they had five major road accidents, between there and here, yesterday afternoon, and it would have been worse if I had been forced off the road, standing with a sick dog in the snow, and I know that traffic was totally stopped. I thought I could make it, today, but the snow is pouring down, yet again. What am I supposed to do?! My dog needs to see the vet! I hate winter!!!:shrug:

FYI, here's my little dog::-(

[joeybee12]

1. Aw! Hope he gets better soon!

BTW, that scraf is almost bigger than he is!

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Thanks, I know. He is nine pounds, such a little guy.

I am used to cockers, so he seems really small to me and it's scary that he's sick. That photo was taken aster he was groomed. That bandana didn't last long on him.:-)

[cornermouse]

2. Do you know someone who would drive you there?

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Thank you, cornermouse! Yes, I found someone!

He was not happy, but he did it, for the dogs. Actually, my Freeper mother offered, which I maybe could have stood, but I feared that she was going to bring along my hostile Freeper brother, and if he drove, I'd just have to jump out. We probably would have been fine, since the day got much better before we left, but it was great to have help, since I brought along my other dog, who I brought for an ear infection, last week. It's always something, but both guys are on the mend. Thanks!:D

[Demit]

3. Can you call the animal hospital and ask for advice over the phone?

For anything you can do while you're waiting till you can get out? It's so scary with animals because they can't tell you how they're feeling. I have Scotties and they're such stoics that they just put up with whatever, and never whimper or complain. Maybe the hospital can help put your mind at ease, even if just a little bit it will help.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Well, I called them on Friday, and there wasn't much that they could tell

Me. He needed medication. But I did try that, thanks. I have done that before, but the snow has just been so bad, this year, that I've been stuck with both dogs for a couple of days when I needed to bring them in. My little guy had a runny nose and tummy problems, so really needed to see someone. They medicated him and gave him fluids, and he has eaten twice, since he's been home. I cooked him liver, which my vet has suggested before for a dog who's reluctant to eat. We're both feeling much better.:-)

And I know how frustrating it is, when you don't know if it's serious or not. They can tell you if there's reason to worry, and it seemed, in his case, that there was. My dog is also a terrier, but he's far from stoic. I love Scotties! He's still snoring really loudly, but he did that, anyway! Thanks!:D

[xchrom]

4. if he needs the vet -- he needs the vet.

is there someone to go with you so you're not out alone?

that is the proverbial rock and a hard place.

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Yes, he really did. He was so congested that I couldn't handle this on my

Own. But my local vet was away and the one 40 minutes away was totally inaccessible because the weather was so bad. But I took him the next day, driven by a friend, and he is doing much better, I was just scared, as he continued to get worse, but I know now that I made the right decision, since there were five major accidents, because of bad weather, between here and there, so, at least, he was warm and safe, and not standing by the side of the road in a snowstorm. I hate winter. And thanks.:-)

[BikeWriter]

5. Oh, Dear! I hope he'll get well soon! I know you're worried... :-(

[Rhiannon12866]

17. Thank you, my friend. I know you understand, since you are attached

To your dogs, as well. I just never envisioned having such a little one, and I worry. My breed is cockers, nice dogs, and small enough for me to carry, if I have to, and I sure have. I called about a cocker up for adoption, after I lost my beloved Barney, and ended up with this tiny lost soul. His owner had died and he was separated from his biological sister, who was his leader, at age nine. He totally bonded with my remaining cocker, and she loved him, as well. But I also lost her, six months later. So this little guy has had a rough time. My local vet's wife, who has been very kind, told me that you tend to get attached to very small dogs, and this one sleeps on my pillow, his choice and, obviously, what he was used to. He's much better, but is still sneezing. My other vet is back this week, so he'll be in for a re-check. In the meantime, I am fighting him like the devil, just trying to get his medication into such a small mouth that I can barely find it!:-(

[Mary in KC]

6. Go over to the Dr. Weil.com site and go into the Pets Forum.

There are a couple of vet techs that seem to be there most of the time. They will be able to give you some advice on what to do until you can get to the vet.

[tcfrogs]

8. Sorry, Rhiannon!

Hope the baby feels better!!!!!!

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Thank you, tcfrogs! He is much better, after having seen the vet!

They did blood work, which was normal, and he had no fever or congestion in his chest. He just has a head cold, tough for such a small dog with a pushed in face! But I brought him home, cooked him some liver, and he ate two meals before he went to bed, so he must feel much better.:-)

[tcfrogs]

19. I'm glad

Sorry for the late response :)

[Rhiannon12866]

22. No problem. I am just grateful for any response!

Today, my little guy is still sneezing, and fighting his medicine like the devil, but he seems to be on the mend, since he's eating, which is what they were most worried about. Thanks so much.:-)

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Thanks, everybody. We made it to the vet this afternoon.

The snow finally stopped, and it was actually pretty nice out, once we made it there. But we still did find someone to drive us, which made it far easier, since I brought my other dog, as well. I brought her there, exactly a week ago, for a bad ear infection. This hasn't been a good week for us.:-(

But they examined him and found that the congestion was only in his nose, did blood work (again, since they also did it last week, as part of his routine exam), and he was fine. He has antibiotics and an antihistamine and was given sub-cutaneous fluids, since he was somewhat dehydrated, despite having been drinking more. He also has tummy troubles, which he has had before. They said if he didn't eat by Monday, he'd have to be hospitalized. But my vet has often had me cook for my dogs, so I stopped and got liver on the way home, since this is something both tempting and good for him, and, so far, he's had it twice, with a little food. He was, obviously, hungry, so that's good news, since he hasn't eaten much since Wednesday. Plus, he took his meds. Thanks to all. He still has a runny nose, and is snoring up a storm, but I'm no longer scared, since he does seem a lot better.:-)

[Bzzzz]

11. Glad to hear...

the little guy is better. :-)

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Thanks so much! I was scared, especially if the snow continued!

But he is really so much better, after just that one visit. He's now asleep, and snoring very loudly, but he already did that, anyway!:D

[China_cat]

14. If he was having trouble breathing

it would have interfered with his ability to eat. Clear that up and you solve both problems.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. Thanks. You're probably right. Though I was grateful to be sure

That his congestion was only in his nose, but he had none in his chest. So we caught it in time. And, even though he's still sneezing and has nasal congestion, he's been eating since I brought him home, so he improved just with the treatment he received at the vet. And I'm sure that it didn't hurt that I cooked liver for him. He's still sneezing, even though he's now on medication, but eating well. And this little kind of dog tends to snuffle, anyway, with his tiny pushed-in face, but I knew that this was more than was normal for the poor little guy.:-(

[non sociopath skin]

21. Glad to hear your Best Buddy is doing better, Rhiannon.

Hang on in there, both of you!

The Skin

[Rhiannon12866]

24. Thank you, so much.

He fights me like the devil when I try to squirt his medicine into his mouth, but, otherwise is doing better. He just still has a lot of nasal congestion, but is eating and snoring more loudly than usual.:-)

[imenja]

18. is this the dog that swallowed the rag with bug spray?

Or was that someone else's dog?
Boy he's a cutie. What kind is he? I hope he feels better soon.

[Rhiannon12866]

26. No, this little guy is too little to swallow much of anything.

That must have been another dog. Though he did have a choking incident and I had to rush him to the Emergency Clinic. For my little guy, I cooked up some liver, which the vet suggested, to encourage him to eat, but it has to be in such tiny pieces!:o

Thanks, he is a cute little guy. It's always amazing to me that, when his previous owner died, no one would take him. It was just a miracle that I happened to hear about him. He is a Brussels Griffon, a very rare breed. And he attracts attention wherever he goes. He's better, but not eating, again, today, but we have another vet appointment on Friday, and they will check him. My other dog has surgery.

[xultar]

20. I am praying for you lil buddy, Do you have kids benadryl?

They can take a little of that. It may help to dry up the discharge so it doesn't hurt his breathing.

I my puppy got sick 2 weeks ago. I wasn't home and I flew back early to see her @ the hospital. She is feeling better but I knot the guilt and I also know how much we care and love our babies.

I'll be thinking of you and your pup. Please PM me if you need to talk.


O8)

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

My little guy was much better after having seen the vet, but now he's not eating again, which makes it difficult to administer meds. *sigh* And his nose is still running. Fortunately, I have another vet appointment on Friday morning, so they will check him, and his regular vet, who knows him, will be back. Unfortunately, the appointment is because my other dog has surgery, to remove a small growth from her back. I took her in for an ear infection, which she's prone to, but the vet was more concerned about the growth on her back, which had been a tiny thing that must have been irritated when she was groomed. It's always something, isn't it? And I am worried, since this is the first time my little guy's ever had this, which is tough for him, since he already has such a tiny pushed-in little nose.

And, yes, I do have Benadryl, which was suggested for my other dog, but they each are already on three different meds.:shrug:

I am so sorry to hear about your dog! How is she? It sounds serious. And, yes, I know, how it is. You don't want to be an alarmist, which I am prone to, since I've been through much with my guys, but I felt terribly guilty at having to wait to bring him to the vet. I will let you know how this turns out.:hug:

[ffm172]

23. how is he doing?

[Rhiannon12866]

28. He was doing so much better after the vet appointment, but wouldn't eat,

Again, today. And I cooked him more liver. My other dog has an appointment on Friday morning, and I know that his regular vet, who was away, will check him out thoroughly, and I have every faith in him. He is the one to come up with miracles, things you never would have thought of. Unfortunately, the appointment is because my bigger dog is scheduled for surgery to remove a small growth from her back. It's alway something, but I know that they are in good hands and *knock on wood* the weather is supposed to be decent, so we won't have to reschedule.

[ffm172]

29. I wish you good luck with both dogs

hope everything will be fine.

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Thank you so much.

All my pets are rescue, so have had their share of problems, but these two aren't that old, so I was hoping for a reprieve. But whatever they need, they will get. If this thread still going, I'll post on how they do. I was worried about Sara's surgery, but am now more worried about my little pis. His name is Meneken, named after the famous statue, the Manneken Pis, in Brussels. His original owner must have had a sense of humor, but couldn't spell.:-)

[Rhiannon12866]

31. My little dog won't eat, again, today.

I called the vet's office, and I'm bringing him in, tomorrow morning (Yikes!) with my other dog, who is scheduled for surgery, but I always bring him with me, anyway. This was supposed to be about my Sara, who has had an ear infection and has to have a growth removed from her back, but she seems just fine. It's this little guy who I'm worried about. Thanks for all the kind thoughts and advice. I had better get to bed, if I'm driving them anywhere. Why is all surgery scheduled for the morning, anyway?:shrug:

[Lavender Brown]

32. I'm sorry!

Poor little pup :hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

33. Thank you. It's been a rough day.

My Sara had major surgery on her back, to remove a growth, and my tiny little guy had X-Rays (as did Sara *sigh*) to determine if there was fluid in his lungs. There was, so he is on a diuretic, and I am forced to put a diaper on him, for the duration. How humiliating! But, as long as he's better. He ate well tonight, and I got more liver to cook for him, today. I just hope that he eats, or he'll have to be hospitalized.
:scared:

[non sociopath skin]

35. An anxious time for you, Rhiannon.

Glad, at least, that the prognosis for both is hopeful.

Positive vibes coming your way.

The Skin.

[Rhiannon12866]

37. Thank you so much. You're right, I am anxious.

My little guy means so much to me. I lost my most beloved dog, my cocker spaniel, Barney, two years ago. I thought that my other dog was lonely, so I called about another male cocker, up for adoption, but he'd already been placed. But I found out from this young woman in dog rescue, who has become my friend, about another little dog that was in real trouble. It was this rare little Brussels Griffon, who now sleeps on my pillow. And I also am worried about my Sara, but her pain meds have made a difference, tonight. *sigh* They have both been through enough, and don't deserve this, but, you're right, the prognosis is hopeful. My brilliant vet is back, and I can call on him, anytime. Thanks for the kind thoughts.:-)

[B Calm]

34. Cook him a ribeye steak, he'll feel better..

[B Calm]

36. If that don't work, bring in a female dog. That'll perk him up.

He's a cute little guy, what kind of dog is he?

[Rhiannon12866]

39. My other dog, who had surgery on Friday, is female.

My little guy spent his first nine years with his biological sister, but his owner died, so they were separated. He immediately bonded with my female cocker spaniel, but I lost her six months after I adopted him. That was really rough. I adopted Sara six months later, and he looks to her for leadership, but it's not the same. According to my vet, male-female is the best combination for dogs getting along, but not in the way you mean. Both my dogs were neutered long ago. And my tiny Meneken is a Brussels Griffon, a very rare breed. He may have been unwanted, but he attracts attention wherever I take him, since he is so unusual, and, I agree, very cute, IMHO. I just wish he'd eat. I'll try anything.:shrug:

on edit: Meneken and my cocker, Sheena, who was the sister he lost:;(

[Rhiannon12866]

40. My little dog ate, tonight, and Sara seems better.

That's not all I'm hoping for, but at least this gives me some hope. I lost both of my cocker spaniels within six months of each other and my kitty last year. I cannot lose another pet.;(

[Rhiannon12866]

41. My little dog accompanied me to the dentist, today.

It was not his first choice, but I had to go and he is so good, wherever I take him, plus, my dentist really likes him. But I had to take him, since I knew he'd still have to go out, often, since he's still on the diuretic. I cooked him chicken, tonight. I just hope it helps me get his meds into him. *sigh* My Sara, who had surgery, is now back to jumping up three feet into the air when I pick up her leash, so I'm ready to ask the animal hospital if I can discontinue her pain meds. I will be out of the woods when My little guy will eat. Thanks for listening. I have been so worried, since I lost both of my beloved cocker spaniels within six months of each other.:-(

[Rhiannon12866]

38. I cooked him liver, on my vet's recommendation.

That worked this afternoon, but not this morning. I still have three pills to get into him before I go to bed. *sigh* Maybe I should try steak, but I thought that liver, since my vet recommended it, would be more nourishing and more attractive to a dog. I have cooked most everything, at one time or another, for my dogs. Usually cheese works with this little one, but not this time. My next choice was chicken, which I know he loves, but you may be right. Thanks.:shrug:

[Skittles]

42. that pic doesn't look like a real dog

it looks like a stuffed animal; too freaking cute. Yeah, it's hard to watch a sick pet. :(

[Rhiannon12866]

44. My Dad's cousin had the same reaction. But he is real.:-)

My Christmas card, this year, was a photo of my little dog sitting next to a Furby. The day that I adopted him, my friend accompanied me to PetsMart, where my vet has his second practice, so I got him examined and was also able to pickup a leash and harness and food. My friend said she thought he looked like an Ewok. I said he looked more like a Furby, so, when we got him home, I took his picture with one. And, at Christmas, my Dad's cousin thought I was sending her a photo of my two dogs! Just the little guy was real! My other dog is a terrier mix, rescued from a very bad place in Ohio. And, thanks, I agree, having dealt with many sick pets, it is so hard to deal with. I am lucky to have found a brilliant vet who uses both traditional, and alternative treatments, but this is not always enough.;(

[Rocinante]

43. I hope your little dog is better soon

We traded stories about our dogs being freeper haters a while back. Here's a photo of my dog in case you don't remember.



I hope everything works out for the best. :hug: