For those who have asked about Speck . . it’s kinda gross. So, if you don’t want to hear about gross stuff or if you aren’t worried about Speck . . please skip the rest of this post.
I’ve been trying for 2 days to get a picture of him but he won’t be still long enough so this is the best I can get.
Several times before April, 2009, Speck had bloody poop. It was like red jello . . same texture and color. It mostly lasted a couple of days and he was fine and it might have happened in late 2008 and then in February, 2009 — it definitely wasn’t happening often or lasting long. But in April, 2009, it happened again and went on for maybe 3 weeks. He would hardly eat and got down to skin and bones. He was throwing up quite often too . . mostly I think from all the different meds he was on. His electrolytes and everything got so far off that he began having seizures. The vet didn’t tell me at the time but he didn’t think Speck was going to make it. He told us the only thing he could recommend was a vet in Kansas City who would do something similar to a colonoscopy but that was about $2,500 and it would only tell us if he had cancer or a tumor or what . . it wouldn’t fix him. Speck was almost 9 years old at the time and not that his age had a whole lot to do with it, but we just don’t have $2,500 to spend just to find out what’s wrong with him. If $2,500 would be guaranteed to save his life . . maybe (but maybe not!).
In April, when he was so sick, I began making his dog food. He mostly eats brown rice, chicken broth with no seasonings, a tiny bit of chicken and sometimes I add stewed carrots or spinach. On weekends he gets a cooked egg white because we all sit down to a big breakfast and for some reason, years ago, we began giving him an egg white on weekends and he expects it now. He doesn’t know his days of the week really . . he just knows when we sit down to a big breakfast so whatever days we do it, he demands an egg. We don’t have family sit down big breakfasts except on weekends mostly. He does take a daily doggy vitamin just to be sure he’s getting everything he needs.
He got over it in April, 2009 and has been fine til a few weeks ago. I saw just a bit of blood in his poop and began watching him. He would feel bad one day and feel good for 3 or 4 days but then last weekend, he got worse and has been having tummy pain, cramps, lots of tummy rumblings and the very bloody poop. I took him to the vet Monday and he’s again a a loss as to wha might be wrong. We are using a different vet from the first time when it happened but I took all Speck’s records.
They’ve checked him for worms, parasites, the vet can’t feel any masses in his tummy. The vet is hoping it’s an allergy but not really convinced. When I had Speck in on Monday, the pads on his paws were really red and the vet said that’s a sign of allergies so he wanted me to watch and see if his pads are pink when he feels good and then red when he feels bad. Have you ever tried looking at a dachshund’s feet? Not easy! This one is a hard headed little darling and he does not like his feet being messed with.
He had a rough night last night. He woke me up about 2:30 this morning with a tummy ache. I didn’t want to keep Vince up so I got up and tried sleeping on the sofa with Speck and between 2:30 and 6:00, he had been outside four times. This afternoon Speck is feeling better but hasn’t eaten all day.
So, that’s where we stand with Speck. We don’t have a clue what’s wrong; it’s weird that he was so sick 16 months ago and then got ok and stayed ok all this time and is now sick again.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so sorry, Judy…I have no clue either, but will ask my vet friend.
I hope Speck gets to feeling better. I know what it is like to have a furry child. We have Bichon and he is the light of our world. He is very spoiled but I don’t know what we would do without him. I call him our cheap entertainment.
it does sound like allergies…something that comes out this time of the year…has Vince used anything different on the lawn lately? just a thought..
That’s really rough! I hope he gets to feeling better soon.
Poor Speck! Get well Soon…. I hope your vet can figure it all out. I’m sure you’ve already thought of this, but use the Internet to do a little reasearch on your own if you haven’t. We did:
For the past two months we’ve been dealing with a sick pet. We’ve spent over a $1000 figuring out what is wrong, including her having an Ultrasound to check for tumors or a blockage, and we’re still dealing with the situation. I’m sad that medicine for people and animals is such an inexact science sometimes. The vet even suggested we get Ginger spayed, which we did, to see if that would help. She has some type of Diabetes that the vet thought might be almost Gestational. She is on insulin now, but she still looks like we’re starving her. She’s my dh’s baby, though, and he’s going to do just about anything. It’s hard to bring up the subject of how much is too much with him, but we’ve also got four kids……
We also have Dachshund named Marvin and so I always love to hear about Speck. Marvin is 16 years old. He had back surgery to when he was around 4 years old. We thought long and hard over that one…. It was successful thank God and his mobility was hardly affected. He pretty much sleeps all day and has bathroom issues. We have to carry him just about everywhere. You’d think he was a puppy when it’s dinner time, though.
I have an elderly Australian Shepherd that occasionally goes through what we call “digestive issues.” It usually starts with bloody diarrhea. My vet has (several times) given us the canine equivalent of Flagyl, and an antibiotic. He is now permanently on dog food for “sensitive stomach.” We have managed to switch him over to the Purina dog food for sensitive stomach from the Science Diet formula (had to travel to buy that one, and the Purina one has kept him stable longer). Don’t know if any of that will help poor Speck, but I adore the name, and the pictures you post of him. We have four furry canine babies, and lots of feline ones; I can certainly sympathize with strong feelings for canine family members.
I’m so sorry Speck isn’t feeling well. His symptoms sound a little scary for sure. Did they consider diverticulitis? There also a condition people get that causes bloody, jelly like stool (that’s the hallmark of this condition). It’s called Volvulous where part of the intestine telescopes inside another part. It’s called bloat in animals.
Take a look at this page. Dachshunds are one of the susceptible breeds:
http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm
I do hope he gets better soon. I know you love him. Pets are family too.
HOPE HE FEELS BETTER, I KNOW IT’S SCARY. MY CHIHAUHAU HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. IT WAS RIGHT AFTER HE HAD GOTTEN A SERIES OF VACINATIONS. THE VET SAID HE HAD GASTRITIS. WE TREATED HIM WITH OTC PRILOSEC, AND FLAGYL. (AN ANTIBIOTIC). HE WOULD NOT EAT HIS DOG FOOD, SO AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NOT EATING, HE TRIED TO SNITCH THE SCRAMBLED EGGS I WAS EATING. I FED HIM SCRAMBLED EGGS 2X PER DAY FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND THEN SLOWLY WEANED HIM OFF THE EGGS AND BACK TO HIS DOG FOOD. HE HAS BEEN FINE EVER SINCE. MAYBE THIS WILL HELP.
Judy
I sure hope Speck gets feeling better soon. You have had a rough week or so haven’t you? Hope you are getting some rest. I know how hard it is, between kids, dogs, bees, and heat. Sure hope it gets better soon. Take care.
Sibyl
Judy, thanks for the update, I’ve been wondering about him. I hope he gets better soon. It’s so hard when pets get sick. Keep us posted, Karen
Judy, years ago (maybe 20-25 years ago) I had a small dog who had similar symptoms – the bloody runny poop. I don’t remember the vomiting but she might have had that. Anyway, my vet determined she had pancreatitis. She was dehydrated from all the runny poops and she was kept at the vet over a weekend on IVs and then was given some meds. After she recovered, she was fine and lived a very long time. I remember having some enzyme powder which I purchased from the vet to sprinkle over her food which helped her digest her food. She did great.
Have your vet check for pancreatitis.
Sue
Pancreatitis is SERIOUS business. We just lost our Archer to that back in December. He stopped eating, and was losing weight so fast – within two weeks he looked like a different dog. He died in his sleep one night – despite all of the medication.
if it’s allergies, then it would be to something in his diet that has changed or a new cleaning product you’re using on the floors or a chemical on the lawn. hope vet can find out what’s going on with Speck. I hate seeing an animal hurt. gentle hug for Speck.
Has Speck been tested for Giardia? Brandi had it when she was a pup and same symptoms, bloody diarrhea. Treated her with meds and she’s been fine ever since.
This is what I was going to suggest, too. My dog sitter’s German Shepherd caught it from rainwater. It can “encyst” in the intestines and re-infect the body (human or canine) much later; 16 months would be very credible.
I had my own experience with giardia; it re-ignited over a year later without a new exposure.
The vet will need to send a fecal sample to a lab if he/she doesn’t do in-house lab work. Shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg for this lab work, really! (If it does, ask why, for sure.)
Sounds like Giardia to me. Did they check for that? When we brought our puppy home that’s what she had, sounds just like Speck. We put her on a white rice and chicken broth (with some canned chicken bits) diet for a week, and the vet gave her some sort of medicine that was squirted in her mouth. Second week, same med. Sounds like your bland diet might help her tummy. Hope this coming week helps her feel better!
Judy,
I will keep Speck in my prayers – yes, animals need prayer too. I love his name. Here in Springfield, years ago, we had a dear friend named Speck Jordan. He was a farmer and owned one of the commision companies at the sale barn – and a good bit of the yards themselves – IIRC. Speck was one of a kind. Wore overalls everywhere. He wore starched overalls and a white starched shirt to church. He and his wife were good friends with my folks. Anyway, whenever you talk about your Speck, I think about the Speck I knew. Great memories.
I do hope he gets to feeling better quickly.
My 10 lb poodle did the same. Poop bloody and like jello. Vomited blood also. Our vet had us stop all food with red or yellow dye in it. We feed him only natural treats and Physician Formula, rice,white meat of chicken. No more problems since then.Rosetta
Have you given him any flea treatments, whether they be oral or topical? My guess is that he might very well be allergic to something, but what? What do you clean your floors with…he might be sensitive to a cleaning detergent as well, and licking his paws (say after you mop) would be enough to send his system into overdrive. Just some thoughts, hope your pooch is better soon! Nichole
keep up with the rice diet. I used Uncle Ben’s long grain and mixed it with Purina dog food . when my dog [ lab mix] got a bit slugish and other simular issues, that is what my vet told me to do.. he lasted another 2 years, lived to the ripe old age of 14 1/2 .. I miss that guy.
Katie
Judy, I’m so sorry to hear about what a rough time Speck is having. It’s so hard when our furbabies are sick, especially when the experts can’t figure out what is wrong. I will keep all of you in my prayers and hope that Speck recovers soon.
Judy, I’m so sorry to hear Speck’s so sick. I know it hurts your heart terribly to see him like that. I pray y’all find out soon what the problem is. {{{{HUGS}}}} Eve
Our ShihTzu had something like this recently and the vet thought she might have walked in geese poop when we were by the river and then ingested it. It was exhausting and so stressful. Thankfully medication stopped the vomiting and then the diarrhea and she got a little better every day. I sure can appreciate what you are going through. I hope he gets better soon.
Judy & Vince, i wish I had the answers…….glad you shared the info. I agree that it sounds like an allergic reaction to something put on the ground, that he has licked into his system. does he wander the yard, neighbors when you let him out? are there wild grasses he could have consumed? thread he could have consumed?
Chronic occurances like this are enough for any caregiver to pull out their hair and worry. So many chemicals poured out into the ground, in the air. one of my cats is allergic to mold, weather related to where he doesnt eat, cant smell & i have to feed him by hand with one of those baskin robbin sample spoons. every 2 hours.
We love them.
Food allergies are horrible in dogs. Remember Daisy? We did the allergy panel and she was allergic to chicken and some veggies. So I spent the rest of her life reading dog food labels. I hope he’s better soon. I’ve been praying so hard for him. Please keep us posted. ILY.
Hi, Judy –
I’m so sorry to hear about Speck. I don’t have a lot of dog experience, but I have *years* of cat experience…and it sounds like IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). You might ask the vet about treating Speck with Flagyl (metronidazole) and a steroid (prednisone or prednisolone). The only other thing I would test for is tritrichomonas foetus – it’s very hard to diagnose with out a special pouch test. Feel free to contact me if you think I can be of any help.
While he’s still in the active phase of whatever’s bedeviling him, maybe use white rice vs. brown rice in Speck’s diet. My 10-year-old female recently developed difficulties with barley in the grain mix I make for my dogs; I removed barley from the mix, and her…ah…digestive problems went away. The grain mix now contains rolled oats, quinoa, and basmati rice (it’s what I have on hand all the time and can be sure about being consistent).
Maybe a spoonful or two of cooked pumpkin added to his dinner will help; it’s sometimes recommended for dogs who are having digestive upset. It’s helped mine (I’ve had four Bernese Mtn Dogs since 1998) many times; so has plain yogurt, either alone or with rice/chicken/cottage cheese. But I don’t know whether Speck tolerates dairy food.
Good luck!
I hope you find a quick solution to Speck’s problem. We been down this road with one of our cats. She was treated for irritable bowl disease with long-acting steroid injections and canned cat food with either duck or venison which are easier to digest that chicken.
I hope Speck gets better. I know how I would feel if my Kaia got sick!
Oops. Had my conditions mixed up. Intussusception is the one that where intestines telescope. Volvulous is twisting. Sorry for my confusion!
Judy, we have one german shepherd that has periodic bouts with this. I agree that Giardia is a likely culprit, but also food allergies. She clears up beautifully on raw meat, espeically rabbit as it’s considered hypo allergenic.
You might try some raw chicken (raw bones are fine, only cooked bones are harmful) but with a small dog like Speck I’d probably only let him have tiny bones. Rice is great, make sure he’s getting some greens for chlorophyl as well. When I cook food for ours, I use brown rice, chicken, peas and sweet potatoes, but they do best on a raw food diet.
My Boykin Spaniel, Millie, sends her wishes for quick relief. She had similar symptoms and didn’t understand the “gas”. She knows how Speck feels.
Hugs to all of you.
Judy, since we just lost our Nakia in April, I really really hope your Speck pulls through. It’s so hard not knowing how to make them feel better. If the vet is suggesting allergies, I’m sure you have thought about this already, but do you live near any fields? When the farmers spray their fields, my dad’s dog gets sick. Could Speck be going onto someone’s yard that has been chemically treated? Or maybe have you used something on the floors inside? I’m just throwing things out there, and I really hope you can figure it out. Good luck!
Tammy
Judy,
I agree with the vet… allergies (environmental), could be ragweed/goldenrod this time of year, or maybe a crop… seed corn or …. but the pads of the feet will tell you lots. I have a dog that has both food and environmental allergies. Also Specks problem could be a combined problem… with colitis…. (stress activated) and based on whats been going on in your house lately… very likely. Its funny how animals can pick up on the smallest detail and turn it in to a major factor!
Beth
frontline flea treatment made my dachshund very sick. I fed her a rice and cottage cheese mix with occasional egg.
If Speck is on a Cox II inhibitor for arthritis (like Deramax or Rimadyll) then the symptoms can be caused by that medication. I lost my beloved basset hound Cara that way.
Oh, Judy I hope Speck is feeling much better really soon. Our 14-month old rescue dog has come down with an autoimmune disorder and we are having to treat her with massive doses of predisone. It’s helping, but we’ll see how she does once she is weaned from the meds.
Mary
I am so sorry to hear Speck is not well again. Pets are like children, you worry yourself silly over them. I hope he gets better.
Judy, I feel your pain. My 7-year-old golden retreiver had similar symptoms until we figured out that he’s allergic to lamb and beef. We have found a food that works for him (Science Diet Sensitive Stomach). Now, every time he has an issue-someone has given him a “treat” of some sort. We joke about putting a t-shirt on him like some little kids wear at parties, “Don’t feed me, I have food allergies”.