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  #1  
Old October 27th, 2013, 02:29 PM
renkma renkma is offline
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Puppy unwell? No Symptoms - at a loss

I am at a loss and would do anything for even some ideas as to what might be wrong with our puppy.
She is almost 5 months old. Chihuahua. She is just the sweetest little thing and so smart. She is as far as I can tell - potty trained as of two weeks ago. She has been so happy and playful - just perfect ... until a week ago. Last Sunday she got a bit of a punch from her big sister in the belly or side - she cried and took off, but didnt seem hurt at all. Then we had visitors that excited her greatly and she pees a bit when she is super excited. unfortunatley, she peed a great deal all day and he already has been dealing with a tiny bit of puppy vaginitis. All that peeing irritated her. By that evening she seemed very restless and was acting as though she had a lot of discomfort - she was also peeing so much that I felt a trip to the vet was needed. The Emergency vet did a urine analisys and found absolutely nothing. She did say that her belly seemed a little puffed and perhaps a bit sore, and that her vulva was very red and irritated inside, but felt that an antibiotic was not needed.
The next day she seemed not to be playing - and seemed not herself at all. We brought her into her regular vet. They checked her urine and found a slightly elevated white blood cell count. she was given an injection of Convenia. Within two days she seemed much better than she had ... but still not the puppy I knew. A little restless and strange.

It's been a week. She is eating great, drinking OK, playing ... BUT ... she now cries when she goes to get up from laying down. She doesn't limp or have any trouble walking or running - just when getting up. She is also quite constipated, but I assume that is from the antibiotic. The thing is ... aside from the crying when she gets up, she has no symptoms AT ALL!! Her urine is a nice color and smells just like very mild pup urine - her poops are fine - no blood at all (black or red) - just hard and constipated. She eats and loves every second of it. She plays like a maniac once she gets going - but it almost seems like she needs to be begged to get going. Her gums are perfectly pink. Her eyes are bright and fine. Her temp is normal. So what is wrong with her???? Am I freaking out for no reason? Could she have suffered some kind of injury when her sister punched her and no vet has found it even after examining her? Could there be an obstruction in her intestines that is big enough to cause pain, but small enough to not keep her from having somewhat normal bowel movements?
She is going back to the vet in a week for a check on her pee and I intend on asking him to check her out REEEEALLLLY good - but until then, should I be worried? She just seems ... uncomfortable and whiney. Could it be growing pains?

BTW - today I started giving her just a tiny bit of pumpkin to her food to make her poops a bit easier for her to pass - and I'm making sure she is drinking enough water. I'm also really initiating play to make sure she is active - I heard that inactivity might cause constipation. And because of the colder weather - she is not so up for playing outside for too long.

So ... any ideas? Anyone else have a Chi that whines a lot - or at least when they get up from laying down? Could the Convenia be making her feel a little unwell? I know it will be with her for another one to three weeks.

SIGH - I love my little girl so much. I just want her to be happy.
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  #2  
Old October 27th, 2013, 03:02 PM
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hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
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I think the pumpkin is a good idea for the constipation. We use it here all the time with good results.

As for the crying, could she have hurt her back? Perhaps ask the vet to manipulate her spine at her next visit...
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Old October 27th, 2013, 03:40 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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How big it the 'big sister' ? Maybe you need to have a x ray taken to made sure your dog did not get hurt internally . If you use canned pumpkin made sure it's not a 'pie filling ' this will have sugar and spices in it which will not be good for a dog. And I thought pumpkin was fed to dogs when they had loss stools.

http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Dog-Diarrhea
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  #4  
Old October 27th, 2013, 03:59 PM
Longblades Longblades is offline
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Keep after your Vet and insist on them examining her again. I can't tell you how many times I've gone because I noticed something off that only an owner can see. Sometimes it will take the Vet a little longer to see it.

It will help your Vet if you document as much as possible. What she eats, when and what she poops and pees. A video to show movement might help. Check her temperature again.

Poor wee thing, good luck.
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Old October 27th, 2013, 04:22 PM
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hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barkingdog View Post
And I thought pumpkin was fed to dogs when they had loss stools.
Because pumpkin is high in fiber it can be used to treat both loose stools and constipation. Giving a little more will soften a stool (used to treat constipation); giving a little less will add bulk to a soft stool (used to treat diarrhea).
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  #6  
Old October 27th, 2013, 05:20 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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The back is a good idea, might need a K9 chiropractor, your vet most likely would not be able to feel a misalignment.

However, that would most likely not explain the constipation. If the diet is right, that means that more water is being drawn into the urinary system and not enough into the digestive tract. (My dog has the opposite problem!)

My girl had a high WBC count and we used cipro on her, and it made a huge difference. (Turns out she had extra tissue in her vagina which causes ongoing problems that we had to remove.)

She also had inguinal hernias - lumpy areas in the groin areas, which are common in many of these small dogs it seems. They *can* cause blockage, so maybe something to look for, though I would think that the vet would have looked.

The crying is definitely communication to you that something is wrong, somewhere. You will have to be persistent to solve this mystery! I guess one thought may be whether the food is right, or if it's just causing too much bulk and dryness. Try adding some canned food maybe if you are feeding kibble?
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  #7  
Old October 27th, 2013, 06:17 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
Because pumpkin is high in fiber it can be used to treat both loose stools and constipation. Giving a little more will soften a stool (used to treat constipation); giving a little less will add bulk to a soft stool (used to treat diarrhea).
The OP has a Chihuahua , so how does a person know how much to give to small dog ?
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  #8  
Old October 28th, 2013, 07:22 AM
Longblades Longblades is offline
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If the back hurts when pooping or because of the pooping posture dogs might hold on and not poop. In my experience delayed poop ( my fault, late walk) results in loose stool but I've heard others says it results in hard poop for their dog.

I would be very leery of giving anything that might soften stool to make it loose before first being sure there is no blockage. Loose stool behind a blockage is going to give the dog agony. Pumpkin is given when poops are too loose or too hard but they are appearing, not when there is no poop.
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  #9  
Old October 28th, 2013, 08:39 AM
renkma renkma is offline
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I'm bringing her in today - in four hours.

Yesterday after I posted I noticed a very slight hobble on her. I just knew something was up with her back right leg. Then this morning - it is a limp. She is unstable and doesn't want to put her weight on it. she is still crying when she gets up and is lifted.

My guess is that the constipation might be caused by the antibiotic she is on - don't think it is related to her other problems - but that this is what could be the onset of hip dysplacia. Of course I don't internet diagnose her ... never.

I hope her vet can get to the bottom of all this. Poor little thing - so soon in life and she has all this discomfort. It's not fair.

She is sleeping comfortably right now. Wish us luck everyone.
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Old October 28th, 2013, 08:58 AM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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I hope the vet can find out want is going on with your dog.
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  #11  
Old October 29th, 2013, 09:48 AM
momoftwofuzzies momoftwofuzzies is offline
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Please update - any answers?
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  #12  
Old October 30th, 2013, 10:37 AM
renkma renkma is offline
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Well, little four and a half month old Gumdrop has been diagnosed with ...

Stage 4 Hip Dysplacia in both hips.

We have received 4 opinions - all are the same. Her radiographs were even sent to the area orthopedic specialist in the States (we're in Canada) and she said in her 25 years, she has never seen a case so severe in a puppy this young and this small.

Her sockets are so shallow they are almost non-existant. Her right femur is slipping up and out of the socket, pulling the ligament that holds in in place, which might be the cause of her current pain. there is no artheritis yet, but it is inevitable soon.

She was allergic to Metacam and is now on Tramadol - it is working. If she is having any pain now, it is very minimal. she is trying to romp around and drive me crazy again like she was two weeks ago.

The only surgery possible for her - a puppy/dog as small as her - is a FHO - but the specialist said she wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary (unmanageable pain), and she would only do one side ultimately because both sides would leave our little girl too unstable. So for now, all doctors are advising pain management, weight control, good diet, supplements for her joints, light excersise and physical therapy, as long as we can.

We are heartbroken. We have fallen in love with her. We just lost our beloved Brittany Spaniel of 12+ years Honey and I'll never be over the immeasurable grief from that. To have this happen to our pup is beyond devastating. I feel like I'm grieving her loss before she is even gone. I know we can help her for a while and she can he happy - but it is inevitable that the pain will come back and someday be unmanageable. She will someday be crippled. She will someday need us to make the horrible decision to do the most unselfish thing we can - ease her pain and let her go. Her pain will become ours for the rest of our lives.

She is just a baby - she doesn't deserve this. She was born with it and how cruel is that? I guess the only good thing to come of this is that I found her and for the kind of life she is going to have, she has the warmest most loving and caring home she could have ever come to. She will be loved every moment she is here, and loved forever after she has to go.
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Old October 30th, 2013, 10:58 AM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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I am so sorry to hear this , I was thinking it could be her hips . Would some kind of back brace help hold her hips in place or give her more support?
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Old October 30th, 2013, 11:39 AM
Longblades Longblades is offline
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I'm so sorry. It's a good thing she has you to look out for her. I'm sure we can all tell you will do your utmost for her.
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  #15  
Old October 30th, 2013, 11:43 AM
renkma renkma is offline
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Thank you

I actually just spoke to her regular doctor- he called to answer some additional questions I had. I posted a new threat about hip dysplacia at

http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread....05#post1062505

I had misunderstood about her possible surgery. She can have both hips done - just not at the same time (obviously). This changes her outlook completely. Still terribly unfortunate, but we are willing to do anything to give her a great life. If she has pain, we will deal with it. If she needs surgery - it is hers. If the qaulity of life has ceased to be good, we will not be selfish.

Whatever she needs - it is hers.

I've attached a picture of our wonderful Gummy - taken a week before her pain started. She is just such an sweet and awesome little dog. We love her so much.
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Old October 30th, 2013, 01:48 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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She is adorable and so tiny . Does she have coat to wear in cold weather, the cold air might hurt her tiny hip joints.
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Old October 30th, 2013, 01:49 PM
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hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
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She sure is a doll, renkma!
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  #18  
Old October 30th, 2013, 03:08 PM
renkma renkma is offline
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Thank you - yes, she has stolen my heart completely. And she has the sweetest demeanor.

Yes, she has an entire wardrobe, but I have to be careful dressing her these days - she is fragile. I have made her a house coat out of sherpa that slips on very easily and velcros under her belly.

She is out for only seconds to eliminate though.

No worries ... I take and always will take very good care of this little one. She will be 10 lbs fully grown - so she is a larger Chi.

She is napping in a sunpatch right now - pain is managed. I hope I can keep her comfortable for a couple of years before she needs the surgeries.
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  #19  
Old October 30th, 2013, 04:48 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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How about buying a memory foam dog bed for her, they're soft but give support at the same time. It's very hard to see a pet not being to play . Would it be OK for her play in water?
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Old October 31st, 2013, 11:45 AM
momoftwofuzzies momoftwofuzzies is offline
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Wow, she is so adorable! I'm so sorry to hear the diagnosis. I know she will still have a great life with you!
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  #21  
Old October 31st, 2013, 11:26 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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What a cutie!

So, was a consult with a specialist, an orthopedic surgeon?

I personally would think very strongly about an FHO. HD is very painful, and she is very young.

Do you have her on joint supplements? You want a good quality glucosamine and chondroitin supplement. I like to start with Cosequin, loading dose for quite awhile, and then note response. They can make a huge difference. When the HD is severe, sometimes you have to mix and match supplements, but start with this good quality one first.
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