Poor Zena, Get well soon!

As good a place to start as any, especially as it's less intrusive, thanks Chris.xx

I know, it's just so awful I've already sat with the endescopic vet for nearly ONE WHOLE HOUR, with her being a shepherd person herself, she just explained that this is all so normal with a very sensitive tum or IBD/IBS, but of course, that was a while back (6 months?) she doesn't yet know about this, although having been Googling, IBD/IBS can result in these horrendous symptoms, so an worms. I remember spending another time discussing all this with the nice young male vet I took that horrible sample to from her other end with all the pile of red goo on top of it, but again he said what the other vet had said. Quite honestly Elaine, I don't think they know where to start with something like this, unless they go in. Our biggest fear with this particular veterinary practice is, they're only too happy to experiment, coz they have many students there, it's an RCVS hospital, and I've heard many a horror story, people dropping their vomiting dog off, only to be told they had to "go in" couldn't find anything, the dog died, come and pay your bill! I don't want that, and I consider myself lucky, having spent that whole hour with that lovely endescopy vet lady, that she actually didn't WANT me to spend my money purely by examining her, and looking at her good condition.

I really don't know what to do, but if these Metronidazole tablets work, along with mountain of other medication, then I will strongly suspect that giardia again or other nasties, give her another Drontil Plus when everything has settled down and then start having some pain free non intrusive tests done. IF, however, she stays like she is, or is sick again, or diarrhea, then I'm afraid the endescope is going to be my first route, if only to rule out anything serious. She hasn't as yet, got diarrhea, but I'm sure that'll come. Thanks Elaine.xxxx


Thanks Zoe, and funny you should mention kidneys, because the very first thing I noticed since Saturday, is the fact that she's drinking a lot more water for HER. In no way is it excessive, but it is a lot more than she is normally drinking, and I should have mentioned that to the vet, and now you've got me off Googling again!!!xx

Thanks angelmist, she woke up quite perky just now, wanted to play with her ball outside, but I don't want to do any of that today, I want her quiet, and now she's back to how she was, but I'm sure if I picked that ballie up! I will play with her in the lounge in a minute just to make sure she's on the right road.

Something that may have a bearing on this most recent episode is the extra stress of having lost her friend and her family being upset.

If only they could talk and tell us where, when and how much it hurts.

So sorry to hear Zena isn't well. Hope the vet gets to the bottom of it soon.

Our Jake did vomit blood, just before Christmas at 4am, very scary - but he was diagnosed with Lungworm. Most likely not relevant to your Zena, though.

Old bean - I actually swore when I noticed this thread, and I never swear. The only thing that I can offer is my heartfelt sympathy that once again you are going through all this worry, and I forever wonder why it is always the nice people who seem to suffer so dreadfully with things such as this.

It is so strange that Zena only has these horrible symptoms intermittently - although the bloody vomit with prawns is new isn't it? Brierley has voiced something of what I was thinking myself, i.e. that this problem has cropped up after all the stress and upset of dear Georgie.

I really really hope that from what you have said this afternoon, Zena is on the mend once more....but then the temptation is to put off any investigations isn't it, and after all, if the condition has subsided will there actually be anything to see? I do feel for you so much, it just seems to be endless worry and decisions lately doesn't it.

As for food........many may jump on me for saying this, but I think that potato with that fish is the kindest thing for tummies; rice can be a problem with some doglets.

Poor Zena, I hope she is feeling better and that you can find some sort of reason for what has happened to her.

Thanks old bean, and that's just it isn't it, they investigate as far as they see fit, she's already over it all, a picture of health, then I think to myself do I want to put her through it all, with how very stressed out and upset she gets at the vets, especially having to leave her with them, even for bloods, they take them downstairs there and go in at the neck, shave the area, I know she'd get totally stressed out with it all. However, my mind is made up now, if she's like this tomorrow, then I'm afraid I will want bloods, possibly the allergy testing, and what about a specialist who actually specialises in this type of thing, that might be a good idea???

My friend works in a boarding school, and she rang me today, telling me that this kid had been having diarrhea on and off and was vomiting, and the doctors kept fobbing him off with this that and t'other, and it wasn't until he started vomiting up blood, that they sent him off to a specialist. It turns out, that he has some kind of weird parasite (coz he lives abroad back home during the holidays, it's a very posh boarding school!) and he's now having to take a very long course of parasite ridding medication, and perhaps that's the kind of thing Zena has, i.e. we get rid of it with the worming or the ab's, but not for long enough, back it comes, slowly multiplying and then we end up with these kinds of problems that we're having? I'm going to check this one out, I need to speak to another vet tomorrow over the phone and discuss where we go from here, it's not fair on her, I think we need a stomach specialist now. Thanks old bean.xxxx

Thanks Gerry, she's playful tonight, she's eaten again, more medicine, more ab's, but now that I've parked me backside on here, she's taken to her bed. I cannot believe how good she is with the medicine syringing I'm doing, she sits there for me bless her heart, whilst I shove it in slowly as she swallows it all down. If only I was a vet, I'd be able to do it all coz she trusts me so much, I'm sure I could do anything, but sadly, she just doesn't trust them anymore and who can blame her with her past trauma.

my immediate thought was get her allergy tested, a wheat/gluten type allergy could really aggravate the stomach and lead to this type of illness so definitely worth a try first.

big hugs

Helena, I'd definitely include the allergy testing. A friend had a dog that was allergic to a long list of foods. Her poor dog suffered for four years before the testing was carried out - constantly ill - but once she knew what she was working with and found a food source the dog could tolerate, things settled down wonderfully and the dog could at last have a good life.

At worst, the tests will come back negative and it's cost a few quid for nowt, but at best ......................

Oh NOoooooooooooooooooooo and Zena had been doing so well, I really think it is time to investigate further... I am SO sorry to read this and will follow your thread closely!!

Hugs from us all here in Seattle - special gentle hugs from Daisy to Zena xxxx