The weather here has been really warm lately. How warm? Like in the mid 80’s and one day it even got up to 93 degrees outside. So, Lucy and I haven’t been out in the garden much the past 5 days and have instead been spending most of our time indoors.
Yada Yada Yada…
It all started around noon on Saturday Lucy when I couldn’t find Lucy. I knew she was inside the house, so I checked all of her usual spots but didn’t see her. She didn’t respond when I called out her named either, but eventually I found her in the downstairs bathroom hiding behind the toilet. Which, was very strange.
And then later that day I noticed she was laying under the little side table in the family room. Again, weird. But nothing else was out of whack. She was eating, maybe sleeping more than usual, but I attributed that to needing to rest because we were outdoors for most of the day on Friday.
Then later that evening it seemed like her back-end was trembling a little bit off and on. But after a little while that stopped and she seemed fine. Other than Lucy getting into a box of truffles when she was about 6 months old and having to have her stomach pumped, we’ve never had any real problems with Lucy. Learning about ticks the hard way, that was gross, but again, she’s never had any medical issues.
And honestly, she has hidden under things {or in a corner} several times over the past few years and we’d just keep an eye on her to make sure she was fine. Okay, so that was Saturday.
Sunday rolls around and she was fine. In the afternoon she played in the backyard, greeted a visitor and ate all her food. She was her regular curious self. Again, there was a little bit of trembling off and on, but other than that she seemed fine. We searched Dr. Google as to what the cause of the trembling could be, and came to the conclusion that because she didn’t have any of the other systems listed with a major problem, she probably just caught or ate something in the backyard {the same backyard she’s been playing in for 3 months now} that she shouldn’t have and things would work themselves out.
Monday morning she was fine. She ate her breakfast, checked on the chickens and made her usual rounds in the yard. And then around 2 pm I was in the basement when I thought I heard Lucy getting into something. Turns out she didn’t get into anything… but she did catch a mouse. Which I found on the floor beside her. Good times. After the mouse incident I remember her drinking a lot of water. Monday night she ate about 75% of her dinner and then drank a bunch more water. I’d probably drink a bunch of water too if I had had a mouse in my mouth. GAG.
Later that night around 8 pm there was a HUGE, and I mean HUGE thunder/wind/rain lighting storm. It totally freaked Lucy out and I noticed the trembling started back up again. So we just ended up going to bed soon afterwards. We had an appointment for the vet on Wednesday morning already scheduled so I figured I’d talk to the vet about all these seemingly tiny things that were going on then.
Tuesday morning Lucy ate her breakfast and lounged around, but was otherwise fine. When dinner time came around she only ate about half of her meal.
And then shortly after midnight I woke up and noticed Lucy was really shaking, and when I went to stroke her back, she let out a few moans, and well then, there was no mistaking it…. there was something very wrong. So into the car we went and about a half an hour later we were sitting in the emergency room at the veterinary hospital.
Lucy was absolutely miserable, and tried hiding under the chair. When we first got there and I describe everything to the nurse that had happened over the past few days and about Lucy being bit by a tick when we first moved here. The nurse observed Lucy walk, and then said “I bet it’s Lyme disease.”
3 hours and $883 in tests and medications later…. The Doctor could not pin point exactly what was wrong with Lucy but based on the x-rays, blood and urine tests, Lucy did test positive for Anaplasmosis and that she could have Addison’s disease based on her chem panel but she couldn’t say for sure.
“Lucy’s blood work revealed increased potassium and low-normal sodium values which are classic laboratory abnormalities that are commonly seen with Addison’s disease. In addition Lucy’s red blood cells and blood concentration were elevated, as well as her phosphorus and calcium. All of these blood value changes can be associated with Addison’s, however due to the presence of a positive Anaplasmosis test I cannot rule out tick borne disease as a cause for the clinical and laboratory changes.”
She gave us painkillers and meds to treat the Anaplasmosis and said that if we saw any sudden changes or don’t see any improvement in Lucy within the next 48 hours, that we should bring her back in and they will run the {$500-700!} test for Addison’s disease.
Poor, poor Lucy. She’s miserable right now. 🙁
I wanted to update this post to say that Lucy continues to drink plenty of water. She has not had any interest in eating since she last ate on Tuesday evening around 6 pm {she ate about half of her dinner at that time}. I’ve set out chicken, rice, oyster crackers, her regular dog food, a vanilla wafer…. All things she loves to eat but she doesn’t show any interest. If you have any ideas, I’d love it if you would leave a comment.
Robin says
Poor sweet Lucy! Hope this gets cleared up and she feels better soon! Always rough when a fur baby is suffering.
suzanne says
Poor Lucy. She’s so very lucky to have such wonderful parents. Good luck to you all.
Patty P says
I’m wondering (and could be totally wrong since it seems to be rare), but if she ate one mouse that possibly could have consumed poison (you might not know that there is some out there due to just moving in recently), she could have eaten other mice (dead or alive) with the poison (or maybe found some herself) and could be having side effects from that. Poison tends to cause the mice to want to drink more, which might be why Lucy was very thirsty. It could be a long shot, but might be something to look into. Sorry Lucy isn’t feeling well! It stinks when our pooches are under the weather.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve thought about that too but just like the mole’s in the backyard…. She doesn’t actually eat them, she just catches them and then totally loses interest when they won’t play with her afterwards. We’ve never actually seen her eat a critter before {or seen signs of that}.
Crystal says
Leptospirosis is another consideration, especially for dogs who are in contact with rodents and other wildlife.
Elise in the SF Bay Area says
Oh no. I knew something was up yesterday. I’m so sorry! I had thought about the Lyme disease vaccine for dogs as soon as you moved, but thought you had probably gotten it, and didn’t want to be a busy-body…
Addison’s can be treated, if that’s what it is. Good luck to all of you!!!
Lacy says
My friend just had this happen with her cat. PLEASE have her tested for bobcat fever. Mice can carry Lyme disease from ticks and it can very deadly. Had my friend asked about this bobcat fever it may have saved her Kitty’s life. Please be persistent with Lyme disease questions as she’s already been bit by a tick.
Mrs. C. says
I totally agree. I have lost track of the number of times both doctors and vets dismissed my suspicions, only to agree to certain tests just to shut me up, and it turned out I was right.
Lacy says
We should always trust our mothers intuition, be it with pets or children. Noting that tick borne diseases were on the rise right now, I don’t think Addison’s disease should be their focus. I’m no vet or animal specialist but I’ve seen too many friends lose pets over these tick borne illnesses lately. Please be persistent with your gut feelings!
Barbara T says
That was my first thought as well Patty P., a poisoned mouse. I pray for Lucy’s full and quick recovery. My Sugar had Lyme disease with no signs whatsoever and we never saw a tick. Caught it at her annual check up. Please keep us updated with Lucy.
Lori says
Concerned for Lucy. Wonder if you need a second opinion. Praying for you alll.
Mel says
Poor Lucy! When our dogs have been food resistant due to illness, plain scrambled eggs often tempt them. Pureed winter squash or pumpkin also work well and settle their stomachs. Sometimes spoon or hand feeding work better.
If it makes you feel any better about the vet bill, we trapped an injured stray cat in our yard (he’d been a regular visitor but hurt his leg and couldn’t use it) and spent almost that much getting him up to speed (treating the injury, shots, etc.). Before, he would hiss if we came near him, but now he lets us pet and hold him, and he’s quite a hugger. In short, I think animals truly appreciate the care, even if the bills are hard for us to take.
Rosaleen says
Poor Lucy, poor you, and your poor wallet! I hope everything is figured out and Lucy is better soon. Poisoned mouse crossed my mind, as well, but figured vet would have looked for that. Missed your blog yesterday and had hoped you were off having fun, but you usually plan ahead and have something ready. The world did not crash with one missing blog. I hope you catch up on sleep soon.
Anne says
Could she have gotten into rodent poison?my chihuahua found some that squirrels had hidden -she was lethargic no appetite thirsty and tender when I picked her up.vet diagnosed and now she is happy .good luck FYI your emergency vet bill a lot less than here in California.
Lisa L says
Oh my! Sending prayers for Lucy’s quick recovery.
sharon says
Call the vet and ask them to give you a script for A/D can food. No matter how sick they will normally eat that. If she doesn’t you know that she needs to go back in right away. It has been a life saver for my pets. It inst good for there liver to go too long without food. Sending hugs to Lucy.
My little one is back to the vet today.
Rita says
OMG poor Lucy. Saying a prayer for her and you and family.
Leslie J Honcoop says
I was worried yesterday when there were no posts! I’m sorry for Lucy! It’s a troubling situation when you have a collection of odd symptoms and then only vague conclusions. Hoping you get some clarity on the cause and the cure ASAP. She’s such a treasure! So sad to see her miserable!
RebekahU says
Oh no!!! I wonder if she got into poison – or something that had been consuming poison – like the mouse or a mole. Drinking lots and lots of water is a sign of poisoning. A vet probably would not suggest this, but in the past, when I have a sick pet, I offer them Gatorade to help them feel better. Could she have a bite somewhere on her body?? God bless Lucy!!
Barb Neubauer says
Many times a dog with no appetite will drink Bone Broth. It is very nutritious & can be beneficial in their healing. Go on Pinterest to find a recipe.
Carrie says
Oh no! So sorry this is happening. I read the articles and it says it could take up to 48 hours after treatment for improvement so don’t give up!
I’ve had some pet drama lately too. I should have followed through with my childhood dream of being a vet!
Gina says
Hope she is on antibiotic
Jenny says
I cannot remember which tick and flea guard you ended up giving her after asking people. I will tell you we just went through bad side effects from Nexgard flea and tick chews (it was the first time my boy had had it as we usually give Trifexis or Simparica). I looked up the facts about it/reviews AFTER I gave it! I will never give it again, and his breeder said to never give it again!!!
Julia says
Poor Lucy! We are praying for a fast full recovery!
Marie says
Hi Mavis,
I’m so sorry to hear about Lucy’s illness. Try some of the small jars of baby food. Lucy might like the beef and chicken. Good luck.
Lissa says
Nothing helpful to add, but you’re a good dog mommy. Good that she’s drinking water. Positive thoughts for all of you.
Christie says
I have my own Lucy and my heart is going out to you right now. I can’t stand to see our four legged family in pain or discomfort. My thoughts are with you guys for a speedy recovery!
Mrs. C. says
I HAVe learned through long, hard experience that pets need to see specialists, just like humans. When we get sick, we go see our GP, and if it is not something basic, we get referred to a specialist.
There are usually groups of vets who specialize. In my area, the opthalmologists, cardiologists, neurologists, etc., share office space in an emergency care facility. I can ask a friend who lives in Maine for info on where she had to take her dog after her primary care vet misdiagnosed her. Stay tuned.
Em says
Mavis and Lucy,
I’m so sorry. Three days after my dog began treatment for his tick illness, he brought me a toy, and I knew he was on the road to recovery then–hopefully Lucy will be back to herself ASAP if she is not, already.
A couple of my lessons learned, that have not been mentioned yet.
– My dog would lick ice cubes when he would not drink water. (Bone broth was a good suggestion in a previous comment.)
– The dog would eat cold food (dry food with cold broth over it) when he would not eat plain dry food. He also would NOT eat food with warm broth over it. (He did have a fever, so I’m not surprised about this, but I wish I’d tried the cold broth sooner.)
– I got very used to taking the dogs temperature. Per the vet, I used a human-grade quick-read thermometer (and it’s forever labeled for the dog’s use and no humans ever again, lol.) Temperature (fever) was a good indicator of the dog’s progress.
– A little bit of cooked calf liver, mixed with a little bit of rice and regular dry dog food, and occasionally a little cooked (no bones) chicken breast were ok’d by the vet as well.
I’m so glad you got her to the emergency vet when you did. You are a great dog mom.
Best wishes
Em says
One more comment. My dog started hiding in the closet before he stopped eating, as well, so it’s something I watch for now…
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, just heard back from my friend. The place she recommends is Pine Point Veterinary Hospital in Scarborough, Maine. If your dog is very ill, including any vision problems for those who may have that issue and are reading this, she highly recommends them.
Tami Lewis says
Praying for Lucy. I too thought poisoned mouse. Go to a different vet ( just a dog mama heart speaking) and see what they say.
Oh my gosh, I am so worried about her. Update as soon as you know anything!
Deborah says
Prayer for little Lucy. It is horrible when our babies are ill. Prayers for Lucy’s mom and dad, to. As well as sister and brother. Human ones that is.
Sara says
Pet ER’s are a wonderful option to have these days. Personally I would now be heading to a regular vet too. The latter see the day to day problems and many more animals so tend to have ‘seen it all’, especially if you find a good older vet. They will often have new ideas of the actual problem. ER Docs only see the extremes.
BTDT. Without having both the ER and my regular vet I would have lost 3 pets in the past 5 years. My regular vet was the one, in 2 cases, who identified the real problem. On the other, he was the one who sent me to ER. As in grabbed up my pet, ran to my vehicle and told me to drive. All 3 pets survived but only because I had both my regular vet and the ER team.
lynne says
prayers for your LucyPuggle. these are the times we so wish dogs could talk to us! LynneinWI
Kay Bowles says
Prayers for Lucy and her humans!!!
Indio says
My BFs dog had similar symptoms- lethargy, appetite loss, hind leg trembling only which then became not wanting or able to walk. Poor thing was dragging itself around with front paws. It was Lyme disease. Put dog on Lyme disease meds and there was huge improvement in 3 days and week later looked fine.
Barbara says
I knew something must be wrong when you didn’t post your blog yesterday. I am SO sorry to hear about Lucy!! I don’t know that much about ticks and Lyme disease or the Addison’s. I did notice on your bill that they had urinalysis w/sediment. Does that mean her urine showed sediment particles? The reason I ask this is that my dog Trixie had 20 bladder stones removed recently and her urine test showed particles or sediment which was confirmed by an ultrasound. I would suggest an ultrasound to see if it shows anything inside that might be the cause and, maybe a second opinion. I know the vet bills can be expensive. My heart goes out to you all! I hope you find the answers soon.
Terri says
I’m so sad to hear about Lucy. I know how stressful (and expensive) it is to take a pet to the emergency clinic because it’s ill. When my cats didn’t eat much, I gave them baby food. I don’t know if dogs would eat it, though. We hope Lucy will have a diagnosis and feel much better soon.
Paula says
Kisses to Lucy! Please keep us updated!
Marlena says
Special prayers to both of you! Being a pet owner and having been on countless trips to the emergency vet, it’s been my experience that as great as the emergency vets are they act on the moment. I would definitely see your regular vet ASAP and get their thoughts. The emergency vet should be able to send their results to your vet. Also remember that Lucy has a tiny body and sometimes improvement takes a little time to show. Looks like you are doing a great job keeping her comfortable and keeping a close eye. Keep us updated!
Cindi says
Praying for Lucy and all of you. It is so hard when our little loved ones are ill. I pray you’ll get to the bottom of whatever is hurting her and figure it out and that she is much better soon!
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Oh, Mavis…. poor little Lucy. She does indeed look miserable. Nothing useful to add, but please know that many, many of us are worrying with you and looking forward to seeing Miss Lucy back to her usual shenanigans soon.
Sandra says
There is a prescription-only canned pet food just for dogs and cats who won’t eat. Check with Lucy’s regular vet to see if they have it. It helped us when my mom’s cat wouldn’t eat. It does stink–a lot!–but it did work.
Diana says
Oh my gosh, come on, Lucy and beat this! *wiping tears*
Sandy says
I’m sorry to hear Lucy is so poorly. I don’t have a dog, but I do have cats. The Gabapentin that is listed on Lucy’s vet bill is also prescribed to my cats. I use it 1) if they have to go to the vet, 2) if they are excessively stressed out (thunderstorm or construction-type work on the house), or 3) they are sick. It keeps them them calm and helps them relax. (no hissing, no fighting, no biting or scratching the vet) If you’ve given that to Lucy she’s probably really chill and relaxed and might not want to eat because of that alone. If you are really worried about her not eating ask the vet if the Gabapentin can be contributing to her lack of appetite. My cats don’t eat when they are on Gapapentin. They stare out the window and watch the birds or sleep. Nothing upsets them for long. (It’s like they are really high, honestly.)
Since you’ve just moved there you may not have a regular vet. However, I agree with the others about getting a regular vet to work with your ER vet. My cats would have died at one point if I hadn’t had the ER vet in the middle of the night and the regular vet waiting for me in the morning.
Good luck and we are all waiting for updates when you can do so.
Sue says
I’m so sorry that Lucy is sick, when you didn’t post yesterday I had all of the most horrible what if’s that could be happening. Moving into a new environment with strange critters, ticks, snake and fisher cats my mind was racing. We will be waiting to hear from you and Lucy and praying the next post will be better.
Kim says
Very concerned for your little buddy! Keep us posted.
Wendy says
So sorry to hear about Lucy! I hope she gets better soon.
Debbi Atkinson says
Prayers for sweet Lucy!
Stephanie Croquez says
This may be totally off but did they check her spine/vertebrae. Our dog had the exact systems ( though our bloodwork revealed nothing) and it turned out to be disc disease that if caught early on has lots of supportive options.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, that is what the x-ray was for.
Tracy says
Mavis, please know that I respect and admire veterinarians. But just like human doctors, there are good ones and not so good ones. Typically, emergency, afterhours places are often staffed with vets that could not get a regular 9-6 type job. They are often not the cream of the crop. This advice comes from my own vet, by the way. Now, don’t get me wrong, if my dog is bleeding at 3 a.m., I am very appreciative to have anyone with a license who knows how to cauterize a blood vessel available. And I happily pay that bill, thank them and mean it. But, if you have something to diagnose that is difficult, I would suggest you run, not walk, Lucy to a larger, board certified staffed practice. Often these places take only patients refereed to by other vets. She could have been poisoned by rat poison left somewhere on your place that you don’t see, or who knows what else. The water consumption signals liver or kidney failure, etc. Anyway, that’s what I’d do.
Jillian Rose says
Mavis, I’m so sorry. Praying for Lucy, and for wisdom and a clear answer for you and the doctors.
Pam Kaufman says
So sorry to hear about Lucy’s illness. A sick pet is just as scary and stressful as a sick child. I hope all goes well and Lucy has a quick recovery.
Paula T. says
It totally sounds like Lyme disease. They should treat her for that first, in my opinion. We took our dog on Monday for similar symptoms and he has two forms of Lyme disease. He had it last summer, also, and we don’t even have what I’d call
‘woods’ around us. If he’s sensitive walking, jumping or even touching him, his joints probably hurt. I think last summer my dog had trembling, now that you say it, tho not this time. My dog was clearly feeling better after about 24-48 hours on doxycycline. Please have them test further or just give you the meds. That’s also the cheapest way to start and should be eliminated first. Best of luck!
Lynda kling says
The vet bills sure add up fast…my dogs have Anaplasmosis, Lyme, you name it. Horses and donkeys with Lyme, EPM, etc…..I could have bought a house in Europe by now! Keep us posted..it’s always a worry…
Amanda says
Sending you positive thoughts and wishes for her fast recovery. Until recently I’ve been a dog groomer at a vet for the past few years and they usually tell people to feed a little cooked rice and broth with some cottage cheese, but be very careful to avoid broths containing onions or garlic, as consuming those items can eventually lead to a form of anemia. I went through a similar experience this past weekend where over the course of a few days one of my pups almost tripled her drinking and then started having accidents and seeming depressed. I took her to the urgent care vet expecting her to have a UTI but it turns out she’s diabetic. The move might have stressed her out and pushed her into diabetic territory. But excessive drinking is a symptom, so that crossed my mind reading your post.
Just remember there’s a bunch of us out here sending her healing vibes and hoping she feels better soon, her chicken babies need her!
Amanda says
I meant my recent move stressing out my pup not yours! I didn’t reread my comment and edit it
Amanda says
Poor pupper! Gabapentin and Doxycycline can be rough on dogs. When ours had to take it for heartworm, he became pretty lethargic and not his normal self especially in regards to eating. Hopefully she starts to feeling better and perks up once the drug regimen is done.
C says
You’d think it would now be required to vaccinate pets against Lyme up there. Did you not get her vaccinated before moving?
For food, try offering ground beef, also pumpkin, yogurt.
Diane says
Prayers and good thoughts for Miss Lucy and her humans!
I agree with the previous recommendation for the A/D food. It’s highly caloric and nutrient dense. So even if you only get a little into her, she’s getting nutrients and energy. It’s very full of aroma to perhaps make it appealing. Hand feeding helps as well. Lucy may be motivated to lick your fingers!
Also agree with the bone broth suggestion. You may even find some bone broth in the grocery and/or health food store. It seems to be currently the rage. If you get commercial, Just check the label that it is low sodium and hasn’t been cooked with onions and garlic. Since she is drinking a bunch, Lucy would probably go for it. I think home made is better, it just has to cook a long time on the stovetop or crock pot. The commercial would just get you through until you can make some. Dang, I have some in my pantry. If you were still in the PNW, I’d offer to drive you some.
As for laying behind the toilet, my guess is Lucy was trying to cool herself down. They have these cooling mats that work as a heat exchange when a dog lays on them. They work, but are a bit pricey. A cheaper DIY is to fill a swimming pool type air mattress with water. Think of it as a doggie sized water bed! Keep it in the shade so the water doesnt heat up. I taped the nozzle attachment from my air pump onto the end of the garden hose, and held it at that junction to keep it from leaking. Mind the rate of water flow so that you don’t blow that connection with pressure. You can lay a towel or her blanket over it if you fear her nails making a leak. This will lessen the cooling factor a bit. Since you take her regularly to get her nails done, I don’t expect that as a problem.
Sorry to be long-winded, I just hate to hear Lucy is feeling poorly. Hoping to hear soon of a speedy recovery.
Teresa says
I am sending prayers for dear Lucy. I so enjoy you sharing her with us. Hugs to all.
Kyrie-Inn Blue, Tao Blue SD CGC CGCA CGCU, Deja Blue SD prospect says
Tao and Deja send lots of love and bone broth and yogurt to Lucy. Keep fighting it, girl! <3
Brianna says
The symptoms with the electrolyte panel seem similar to a tumor of the parathyroid gland or parathyroid disease. They get sore muscles, excessive thirst and urination, chronic fatigue, etc. We just got done with this in our house and it was missed for awhile before it was diagnosed correctly.
Nancy D says
I’m so sorry!
Linda says
We have a pom with fluids in the ear and very hard for him to eat. He will eat vanilla yogurt, cheese, mac and cheese cut up fine but Ceaser’s, a wet dog food, I hand feed. Make sure there is no artificial sweetener, it will kill a dog, just plain sugar. For liquids dry the ice cubes and popsicles. Watch out for those nasty ticks. A 4 yr old had a tick on his belly and the next day he had Rocky MT Fever! He is home and recovering. Leo says get well soon!!
Amy says
Poor Lucy. Have you tried feeding her some cooked liver? Doxycycline is the antibiotic used to treat Lyme’s. When my Weim contracted Lyme’s he would not eat and was very lethargic and weak. After a couple of days on the antibiotic he was close to 100%.
I believe Lucy had recent contact with a turtle. Did you mention this to the ER Vet? Turtles can transmit a number of bacteria such as Salmonella. The link below is to a brochure on infectious diseases caused by reptiles.
http://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/zoonotic/reptilesandrisksofinfectiousdiseases/File,14381,en.pdf
Cyn says
I am so sorry to hear about Mavis! I hope that she feels better soon!
michelle glassco says
So sorry about little Lucy, hope she feels better soon!
Gee says
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Mavis, Lucy is our dog, too. Prayers that soon we’ll see more pictures of her guarding her chicks and checking out her territory.
Joely says
Sending love, prayers and positive thoughts for Lucy!!!
MEM says
To add to what others have said, just like in humans, antibiotics can upset tummies. I know they do a number on mine and it is vital to take with some food. Will Lucy eat yogurt? My daughter works for a group of veterinary oncologists and one of the few things the nauseated dogs will eat are the Milkbone soft and chewy beef and filet mignon biscuits. I also thought, initially, that the heat was getting to Lucy – we had a Chow a long time ago and she would stuff herself between the toilet and the wall on hot days or just lay alongside the bathtub. You may need to put in a window A/C or two before the Summer is over.
Melinda says
As a former vet tech and dog rescue person, your best bet if she has no appetite and won’t willingly eat anything is honey. I have honey sticks (literally honey in a plastic straw) on hand at all times for this reason, and if you don’t have those then just a tablespoon of honey rubbed under the gums (so they have to lick it off themselves) will do just fine. The honey keeps their energy up and cannot be vomited up if they also have nausea. Once the energy level is up they usually feel a little better and may eat then, and at that point scrambled/boiled eggs do wonders. If she will drink then put a bowl of bone broth beside the water as an option. Keeping them hydrated and with some energy is how I pulled 5 pups through Parvo and helped get other dogs through cancer and heart congestion treatments. Good luck with her.
Toni says
Flea and tick meds can be very toxic and can build up in their system… I wouldn’t treat her for tick prevention for a while!
After doing some research, I decided the prevention was more dangerous then the ticks.
Hope she feels better soon!
Vicki in Birmingham says
I don’t have any concrete ideas as to what this could be, but I will say emergency clinics and a pets regular vet are simply not the same…I even experienced that in human form and the diagnosis was 180 degrees apart. So if she hasn’t been back to her vet, that is my suggestion. I know you must be worried about your sweet little friend. Hopefully all will be well and back to normal soon.
Cindy says
Please get a regular vet involved to figure out exactly what is going on. If there is a possibility she has Addison’s Disease, getting the ACTH stim test done soon so she can be treated before she goes into an Addisonian crisis would be ideal. Or even better hopefully rule out Addison’s altogether. The test should also be cheaper at a regular vet clinic.
Jaime says
Chicken or beef baby food, low-sodium broth, or boiled chicken/ground beef and rice may all be good options to get Lucy to eat.
Doxycycline does interact with high calcium foods, which will affect the drug’s efficacy. Give it with meat, peanut butter, or pop the pill straight down the hatch. Do not give it with cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products.
Lace Faerie says
It is truly heartwarming to read all of the comments by concerned readers! Our pets weave themselves so deeply into our hearts!
All my best wishes that she heals quickly and will have many more years of amusing antics to keep you company!
CT Bargain Mom says
Your poor Lucy! It’s horrible when they get sick. Good call on the Vet ER.
We did that run during thanksgiving week with our Guinea Pig. She had bloat and they got her through it when our regular vet saw her the next afternoon she suggested possibly putting her down, I called the ER vet the next night and they were so supportive the next few days if they werent 45 minutes away we would always use them. Anyhow they suggested some more things to try (infNt mylacon drops) and syringe feedings and we got her through it. We have a new regular vet now. Sometimes ER vets do this work because the hours fit their life better, not because they’re less qualified.
Have you thought about getting her seen at Tufts? Fantastic place, a friend with 2 geriatric dogs loves the care hers have received there – they’re her babies.
As for foods she might like….maybe sit with her and hand feed her bits of scrambled egg and little bits of toast – you may have to take a few bites to entice her (I’ve done that with a sick pup several times). And lots of extra snuggles may help her feel a little better too.
Tina B says
As a few folks have already mentioned, homemade bone broth is an excellent way to keep a dog hydrated when they don’t feel like eating. I just made some beef bone broth this week…and always have some in the freezer for emergencies.
I would offer bone broth (for hydration and a source of nutrition) as well as colloidal silver to address any bacteria or viral infection.
kcb says
From Mrs. HB’s MIL. From my experience, when a dog is ill and is not taking in enough fluids the organs can begin to fail. Usually the vet will keep the dog and use IV fluids and IV antibiotics if needed. I know first hand how stressful this is. Lucy, you & the family are in my thoughts for a full & speedy recovery.
MelissainVic says
How awful! Best wishes to Lucy and to you and the family!
Julie P says
How worrying, I hope your vet gets a handle on it soon. They are like our children, we just love them so much. Just as an aside and who knows if it would help but Bonnie ate something on the beach she shouldn’t have, rotten fish we thought but it may have been anything. We took her to vets, who spoke no English, thank you Mr Google Translate, they x-rayed and did all necessary tests, at a much less price than in U.K. and couldn’t put a finger on it but nothing stuck in her tubes which is what worried us, drinking loads. He asked us to feed her small raw balls of minced steak and Greek yogurt if she would eat it. Bizarre I know and the yogurt didn’t suit her, but whatever the raw minced steak did it gave her ‘system’ a reboot and he said it would take a week for everything to settle down, he was right. He gave her some pills she had to take for three days to reduce the acid in her gut and she has been fine since we’ve been home. Also when Ruby has been ill poached white fish with mashed plain potato she has IBS. I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that Lucy picks up and gets over this very soon. Best wishes.
JJ says
Praying for a quick and full recovery for sweet Lucy.
Martine Hamilton says
So sorry Lucy is unwell. Its a nightmare when our pets are ill as we can’t explain to them whats wrong and they can’t tell us where it hurts. I agree with the person who suggested you get a ‘regular’ vet to look at her, one you can register with and get to know. I think sometimes ER’s docs/vets look at worst case scenarios and overlook the more common stuff, although don’t get me wrong they are also worth their weight in gold in an emergency. I’d be going to the vet the lady above has recommended or if someone near you has a good recommendation I’d be going there too now. I wouldn’t worry too much about her lack of eating as long as she continues to drink. I hope she picks up soon and is back to her usual little funny antics. Take care. xx
Martine Hamilton says
ps. Just a thought as I looked at your photos again, aren’t turtles/tortoises very poisonous? I think I read that children and animals shouldn’t handle turtles as they are very poisonous. Could Lucy have licked your visitor? Ok Mr Google just confirmed dogs shouldn’t lick or eat turtle as they carry salmonella which can make them very ill. Just a thought. x
Mavis Butterfield says
She didn’t like or touch the turtle, and I used gloves when I picked him up to move him out of the fenced area. I guess now we will have to add checking the yard for turtles to our daily list. Sheesh…. the creatures here are plentiful, that’s for sure.
Dawn B, of DE says
So sorry Lucy is sick. They are such a big part of our lives and when they can’t tell us where is hurts it breaks our hearts even more. When our Ruby had Parvo she didn’t eat for a week. We gave her unflavored Pedialyte. Kept her alive, gave her everything she needed to get better. She had no idea, thought it was regular water. We even froze it into icecubes because she would chew the ice. Most dogs die from Parvo because they are young, but she was 8 mo old and had some weight on her when she contracted it so she made out ok. Our prayers go out for Lucy and for you guys too.
Judy says
So sorry to hear that Lucy is not feeling well. It hurts our hearts when our fur babies are sick. Sending good thoughts your way, so that Lucy can get well soon.
Teresa Young says
Lots of love from your readers for Lucy!
Our chihuahua likes the yolks of over easy eggs when he is under the weather.
Jen Ortman says
Mavis- I work as an animal communicator & vet assistant. I’d like to provide some insight as to how Lucy is feeling. Currently, she has a horrible belly ache (cranial abdomen) & complains of pain in her lumbar spine. I used her photo to connect & communicate with her. If she’s not vomiting, you may consider making a batch of boiled chicken & rice, & offering small golf ball sized portions. The doxy May be upsetting her belly if it’s not coated. Hope this helps you & Lucy.
Deb Todi says
Mavis , Our dog had the shaking and we took her to Cornell vet college, they do pets to. all they could figure was she ate something they could not identify so she spent 4 days on a valium drip and spoiled. But that took care of it. mice or rat poison they give vitiamn k our dog has that one too Though another of my dogs was not o lucky and had eaten one of those toad stools while eating grass so watch for those in your yard. Poor Lucy and you worried sick also sugar or chocolate if she got too much her being small it wouldn’t take much for her to be shaking, mine ate almost 5 lbs of semi sweet chips very large dog . also any type of pesticide she might of gotten near or in or ate in the grass you might not use it but it stays in the ground a long time and wind blows stuff that some one near you sprays on their yard fence line . Hope it helps and she gets better. Deb T.
Molly says
Poor Lucy!
Just wanted to provide some hope if it is Addison’s disease. Our dog was diagnosed with Addison’s over 5 years ago and is doing great. He has Percorten shots every 10 weeks and takes a little prednisone combined with a low-stress lifestyle (a dog’s life). Best of luck to you in solving this mystery.
Julie says
Mavis, I’m so sorry to hear about Lucy. I pray for a quick recovery for her.
Rebekah Thompson says
Oh no! Sweet little Lucy!! I LOVE seeing what that little sweetie is up to! I truly hope she feels better soon! It is the worst ever having to take your fur babies to the vet hospital and worry about what might be wrong. I don’t know if it is the same with dogs, but I have had to tempt my cats to eat when they were sick and the med techs for the rescue I help with said to try the stinkiest wet food you can find. This is because it tempts their sense of smell, especially because mine had a kitty cold. That being said I tried everything, and what worked was this canned food called Ziwipeak. They have it at healthy pet stores. It is very expensive but did the trick! They make canned dog food too. It smells so strong because it has mussels in it. Also, you could try baby food that has no spices toxic to dogs, the ones just with ham and water or turkey/water, etc! Best of luck!!
Yankeegal says
So sorry to hear that Lucy is not feeling well. Will keep you all in my prayers!
Sherry says
Hey Mavis!
Sorry to hear about Lucy! I have successfully tried beer with my chickens when everything else was unsuccessful in helping them. The probiotics in the fermented beer really seems therapeutic to animals. No need to give too much either. I’ve heard of farmers using beer for sick livestock too. Apple cider vinegar might be good too.
Good luck!