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Rdkj2009 · Mar 2, 2012, 07:30 PM

I have a 3 year old maltipoo that hasn't ate or drank any wage for 5 days now. It started by him eating a rawhide bone I purchased from petco 6 days ago. The next day I awoke to him vomiting up undigested dry pet food. About 10 minutes later he began to attempt to vomit 2 times but only white spot came up. That was it for that day but he didn't want anything to drink or eat. On Monday I can home from work and he vomited 1 time that day with white spit. He looked lethargic and weak so I took him to the vet. She did a exam and stomach X-ray to see if he swallowed a piece of the rawhide. The only thing she was able to see was gas and air in his intestines. They began IV fluids and we won't home. On Tuesday he still was weak and not eating so they admitted him for fluids and care the following day I sent him back to my vet and the performed a barium swallow and it showed there was a blockage. The did surgery but no object or foreign body was found. They noted he had fluid, stool and inflammation in his abdomen. They continued the fluids but he is still not wanting to eat or drink. I have tried to force feed water with a syringe but he regurgitates that soon after. My vet repeated a X-ray today and said he has inflammation in his stomach. My pet has been very healthy until eating he rawhide bone. Im just really confused to why he doesn't want any food or water. Has anyone ever experienced or seen these symptoms before?

Lucky098 · Mar 2, 2012, 09:14 PM

Did the vet give you a special food? Such as Science diet A/D? Its more tastey than regular food and can turn into a liquid food quickly.

Try and think about yourself.. When you feel sick and your stomach is rolling, you don't want to eat anything or drink anything. The only difference is that we know why we feel sick and we force ourselves to eat and drink. Dogs don't think like that. If they feel sick at the very sight of food, they won't eat and will actually associate food with nausea.

The days he stays at the vet, I'm almost certain he was force fed. And by force fed, I literally mean force fed. He will fight you, he will try and escape.. stand strong and syringe that food down his throat. He needs food in order to get better. Giving medications without food will make his stomach worse.

If you didn't get a special food for him, talk to your vet about it. Ask if you can do subq fluids at home so you don't have to worry about him staying hydrated. There is a lot of at home care you can do. Talk to your vet about it if you haven't already.

Stomach issues take time for them to get better. But to get him better, he needs food and water. There is really no way around it. You're going to have to be the "mean" owner and syringe a slurry of dog food down your dogs throat.

Rdkj2009 · Mar 2, 2012, 10:02 PM

I'm trying pedialyte small amounts at a time with a syringe. My vet didn't mention a special diet she talked about boiled chicken and rice which he want even go near or let me feed it to him. Im just so concerned about dehydration. He has bee to the vet everyday for IV fluids. I will check with her about doing fluids at home until he gets strong enough to eat. I'm just concerned about his gastric system. My vet is not sure why he had the dilation of his stomach and the slow motility of his system. He regurges his fluids about 30 minutes after I give them to him.

Rdkj2009 · Mar 2, 2012, 11:10 PM

It seems to me he has reflux. Every time I syringe him water a little while later he is spiriting it up.. I don't know what else to do

LadySam · Mar 3, 2012, 04:46 AM

Personally, I would gather my written notes and x-rays and get a second opinion. Your vet should have no objection if your pets health is foremost in her mind. While I agree that stomach issues take a little time, it sounds as if he was sent home before he was willing to voluntarily eat a meal and keep it down. Also what medications is he on, as Lucky said some can cause problems on an empty stomach. Some can cause problems even with food. Ask if there is an injectable form of the medications that you are giving.
A small breed dog doesn't have much reserve and needs lots of supportive care in order to heal, but he should be wanting to eat something at this point. If I am reading correctly his surgery was on Tuesday. Even if they had to make an incision in the intestine itself he should have been able to eat around 48 hours later which would have been Thursday.
Take his temperature also, just a good old digital thermometer will do. A normal temp is 101-102, so don't be alarmed if this is the number you get. A fever will make him not feel like eating.
Don't misunderstand I am not doubting your vets ability, I am simply saying another vets viewpoint may be helpful to get your little one back n track.
Good Luck

Rdkj2009 · Mar 3, 2012, 04:55 AM

His surgery was on Wednesday evening at 6p he has been on daily IV fluids since last Monday due to him not eating after eating a rawhide bone on last Saturday night. I feel either the rawhide was contaminated with something because he was never before this because he has been with me since birth. She ordered him to take carafate, reglan, tramadol, augmentin and flagyl. I want to take him to the vet hospital this morning for a second opinion because he is so miserable with the constant regurgitation. The vet hospital is so expensive and I have spent over 1500 this week on vet expenses, it seems as though there are no financial assistance to go to the vet. I love my dog so dearly and I hate he is so miserable.

Rdkj2009 · Mar 3, 2012, 04:56 AM

I wanted to state that I have been unable to give the meds due to him spitting them back up. Everything that goes in his stomach has come back out

LadySam · Mar 3, 2012, 05:14 AM

I do understand your concern regarding both the health of your pet and the expense. But I am confused about the daily "IV" fluids. Does he have a port or catheter in the vein or were they placing subcutaneous fluids under the skin? Bottom line, the meds will do no good if you can't get them in him. And more than one of these meds can be given in injectable and intravenous form.
Have you taken his temp yet?

Rdkj2009 · Mar 3, 2012, 05:56 AM

On my way to vet hospital. My vet leaves his I've cath in for 3 days. I will let y'all know what I find out.

LadySam · Mar 3, 2012, 06:17 AM

Best of luck, I hope you get him sorted out soon.

Lucky098 · Mar 3, 2012, 07:58 AM

I work at a vet clinic and about a week ago we had a little dog come in with some major problems.. His esophagus was burnt from liquid nicotine.

He regurgitated his food, and had a hard time eating.

We did a barium series on him, and nothing came up. No blockage and good gut motility.

We sent him up to a specialist who used an endoscope to get into the throat. His throat was completely uclerated and had a cut that never healed. He did have to be put down..

Maybe the bone that he ate cut his throat. Maybe instead of an exploratory sugery, you should see if you can afford, or are willing to, get a scope done on your dog. In my opinion, I think it would be worth the money vs a surgery. If there is nothing in the scope, than the surgery would be the second option.

That's just my opinion since your little dog is acting a lot like the dog at my clinic.

If your vet doesn't offer any special diet, than get science diet canned food. Science diet breaks down easier than any other kind of food into a slurry and try syringe feeding that. He may be regurgitating, but he'll still get something into his stomach. And a little bit is better than nothing.

Rdkj2009 · Mar 3, 2012, 09:27 AM

Well he was admitted at the vet specialty hospital for support care and meds for intestinal motility. Was told he has a ileus and they will administer motility meds and work on his appetite.

LadySam · Mar 3, 2012, 09:47 AM

Keep us updated we like to hear how things go.
I know the specialty hospital will be a little pricey, but you have already brought him too far to stop now, right?
His odds are greatly increased with the 'round the clock, supportive care that they can provide.
Let us know how he does.
Best wishes.

Lucky098 · Mar 3, 2012, 09:48 AM

Well that is a start in the right direction.

I hope he pulls through :)