Shida is not well

[Ash]

Shida, my female dog, about 12 years old, hasn't been well since last night after her dinner.

She was reluctant to go for the evening walk, walked very slowly, seemed weak, and then had diarrhea (light brown/yellowish colour). This morning she only went down for a pee and then wanted to go back inside. She ate a little bit.

She also seems to be uncomfortable lying on her side, she wimpered a couple of times when it that position.

When I noticed in the afternoon that her snout felt warm, and that her breathing is faster than that of Lassie, I called my vet. She asked me to take her temperature, which I did. It was 102.9. She advised me to give her one paracetamol tablet (500mg) after a little bit of food now, and one more tonight, to bring the fever down.

She drank a lot of water after the tablet.

If she isn't better by tomorrow morning or gets worse, she said to call again.

I'm worried because two days ago they had found something while walking at night and ate it before I got to them - I think it was chicken, and if so probably had bones.

Another possibility could be that she didn't agree with the cat food she got into. We had brought a new Whiskas variety - Seafood - and the cats didn't like it and left it. I didn't put it away, and Shida ate it (half a can). She loves fish but maybe this wasn't right for her. I don't think the fish was bad though, as the can was fresh and the food wasn't out for long before she found it.

Any thoughts?

[Ash]

Okay, now three hours after giving the tablet she looks slightly better, wags her tail and looks around, and she has eaten with obvious hunger. But I didn't give her her normal amount, only about half.

Her fever has also gone down, it's now 101.5.

But she still pants and doesn't want to lie down comfortably as she usually does.

[davet]

cats rarely get twisted bowells but just kkp it in mind...ever once in a while roll her over (in the clover--hmm) and feel her stomach for gas build up but i suspect you have no problem

[Ash]

Thanks davet, for easing my mind. She has stopped panting now. I suspect it started after she ate, made her feel too full (although it wasn't much).

We just had chicken for dinner and she didn't even look! Normally she would be right next to us, begging her little soul out. She's definitely not feeling great

Btw, davet, she's a dog

[Traci]

First of all, paracetamol shouldn't be used in dogs (and NEVER in cats) unless there is a severe situation that warrants it's use as a pain medication, it must be dosed carefully and judiciously (it is in the acetaminophen class), and I believe, as usual, your vet has prescribed a too-high dose, and I certainly would NOT give another dose of it at all. (high doses of this medication be lethal!)

For what purpose did your vet prescribe this? A temperature of 102.9 is only slightly above the dog normal temp of 102.8, so there was probably no need to give anything for a fever, since this probably wasn't a true fever.

Anytime a dog seems painful in the abdomen, and especially after the owner suspects the dog got into something, should be seen and examined by a vet right away to rule out toxins or bloating. If her abdomen is distended, and if she seems gassy in the least, do not wait, get her to your vet immediately (and do not allow your vet to give paracetamol again).

[Ash]

She said 500mg two or three times a day, depending on if the fever goes higher or down. Since it is down now I won't give another.

Her belly is not extended and I did not smell any gas. Nor has she so far had another stool. I will go out now with her, maybe she will do one then.

Funny, yesterday her belly felt hard but today it's soft again, although today she looks more lethargic.

(Btw, the vets here give paracetamol all the time. It's not the first time I've given it.)

[davet]

Hey Ash, your gith, she is a dog...sometimes, mostly , my reading brain and my thinking mind don't correlate'

incidently how is the weather where you are...are you like Australis, ie having cool weather and into like winter...I used to talk with ham operators in India, and australia and i would sey its freezing outside and they would chuckle cause it was just comfortable where they wwere.

[davet]

gith-now thats a new word, you understand, of course that it means right

[Traci]

She said 500mg two or three times a day, depending on if the fever goes higher or down. Since it is down now I won't give another.

Tell her to research paracetamol toxicity in dogs. She is prescribing TOO HIGH DOSES!

[Ash]

According to this site http://petplace.netscape.com/Articles/a ... aracetamol
she's got it just right? Shida weighs close to 30kg.

Anyway, she isn't any better this morning, and the temperature is 103.6. Calling her again now ....

Davet, we have monsoon weather now, it's warm and sticky and it rains often. I like it!