Sick dog, multiple symptoms, been to vet 2 times already. Please help. - Pet forum for dogs cats and humans

Kevincal · #1 May 14th, 2006, 10:24 PM

This might be kinda long but please bare with me. I have an 8 year old American Pit Bull Terrier that we saved from the pound when he was a puppy. He was going to be euthenized the next day. He has turned out to be the sweetest dog I've ever owned, after owning 5 dogs previous to him. He seemed perfectly healthy until about a week ago. That morning he seemed very lethargic and unwilling to eat his breakfast.

I also noticed what I thought was a small lump on the back of his head. He even yelped when I touched his head firmly. But, I tried to get him to repeat it and 90% of the time I could touch his head and he wouldn't yelp. We took him to the vet that afternoon and they poked and prodded and took a urine sample as well as a blood sample. They noticed his urine was dillute and claimed a possible kidney infection. They didn't say anything about his head. They prescribed ant-biotics, two 500 mg capsules 3 times a day. So we started him on that.

The next day he seemed about the same. He had an obvious look of being ill including a sad face and his tail between his legs. I also noticed that it seems to pain him to open his mouth. We managed to get him to eat a little and start his anti-biotics. The next day his face started to swell up. We took him to the vet again and his vitals seemed to be ok and they said his blood was ok...They gave him shots of anti-biotics, antihistamine and a pain killer. The next morning his face was really swollen now, but he did manage to eat a bit. Overall he seems a bit confused and walking aimlessly at times. Also unhappy. Finally, on thursday, day 3, the swelling has gone down in his face and he seems to be improving. He still seems to have trouble opening his mouth fully, however. When he yawns, he does so cautiously instead of taking a nice big open mouth yawn that he usally does.

Friday and Saturday he seems to be still on his improving track. Eating pretty well and going to the bathroom normally. He does still seem a bit disoriented and lathargic, although it is getting pretty warm (in the 80's) and also the seasonal allergies are bad right now. Now today, Sunday, he seemed ok in the morning, but in the afternoon it got over 90 degrees and he seems to have gotten worse all of a sudden. Walking around aimlessly and also he is foaming at the mouth a bit. When we went to feed him at 6 pm. he looked at his food and cried and then held his head very low and walked around in circles. Now he is curled up in the corner of his dog house looking very sad and even not making eye contact with us.

In ending, I would like to summarize his symptoms. A week ago he became lathargic and unwilling to eat with a small bump on his head. Took him to vette, generally he seems ok and blood ok and urine dillute. Possible kidney infection. The next day and the day after that his face swells considerably and he continues to be sad and seems to have pain or discomfort opening his mouth. Fast forward a few days to this past Saturday (yesterday) and he has shown improvement including most noticeable the swelling in his face going down pretty much all the way. By now he has been on 2000-3000 mg of anti-biotics a day for the past 4 days. Now this evening he is foaming at the mouth a bit and looking quite unhappy including holding his head low and walking around aimlessly. He also wimpers when trying to be fed.

Some serious things I think he might have include a brain tumor, brain swelling, twisted stomach disease, tooth infection, or rabies. Some minor things I think he could have are seasonal allergies or a bite from an insect, possibly a poisonous spieder. Any opinions would be great.

doriankellly · #2 May 14th, 2006, 10:37 PM

Im am so sorry about your pups health. But if you are able, take him to see another vet asap.
Do you have a humane society in your area? In 1997, my spitz became ill, we suffered the greed of a private vet.
Our next child was adopted from the humane society and cared for by thier non-profit vets.
Although he most recently passed, he recd. great care from the humane society.

kaytris · #3 May 14th, 2006, 10:44 PM

Time for a second opinion. Are you close to a teaching college at all?

Kevincal · #4 May 14th, 2006, 11:04 PM

Well we actually did take him to 2 different vets. The 2nd one contacted the first one about the blood sample etc. Now it is 9 pm and it has cooled considerably to the 70's and we just got done feeding him about 10 minutes ago. He ate like he would if he wasn't sick at all...I'll have to look into that non profit humane society because we've already spent $500 at the vet already...It really sucks though because we were so stressed out last week about him and I was even sick myself last week as well. Now I'm feeling a bit better and he has this episode after being ok the past few days....ugh.

What do you mean by teaching college? We have a community college nearby.