Something is wrong with Taz, New Question Post #39

[Ginger's Mom]

My little man is not well. In the beginning of last month we had an episode where I came home from work and found Taz trembling. He would appeared to be in pain, but was willing to go for a walk and eliminated fine, but he wouldn't eat. The same thing the following morning, so I took him to the vet. She could not find anything wrong, but did give him some pain meds. After two days he was back to normal.
Okay, fast forward to Tuesday. I was off for Election day, and Taz, Ginger and I all went to the park and had a good time. We came back and Taz was very clingy. I later that afternoon I went to the store, and when I came home I found him trembling, he refused to eat. Is not real willing to go for a walk, but will go out to go potty. I started giving him his pain med, and I called his vet yesterday. We talked about the fact that it could be his heart, and that it could be congestive heart failure, we talked about the fact that it may be Lyme's disease (just based on the fact that it could cause similar symptoms, and I live in an area where it is fairly common). She will have the cardiologist call me today. She further stated that if he doesn't get better I should bring him in for fluids if nothing else. Taz is definitely not better. He is lethargic, trembling and not eating or drinking. I will call the vet in about 45 minutes to see when I can bring him in. He would not even get in bed with Ginger and I last night; he crawled under the bed. So, any prayers you can spare would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Killearn Kitties]

I'll be thinking of you and Taz today. I very much hope that they can do something to him. Please let us know.

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

oh no :( Sending prayers to you and Taz that all will be okay. Give the little guy some hugs from me and tell him that I will be thinking about him all day. Please let us know what you find out.

My Duke acts like that on occasion, have them test for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Duke has that from a tick years ago and sometimes after over exertion he will get "trembles" through his body, he does not want to eat, has trouble lying down and getting comfortable, usually paces a lot. He just gets antibiotics when he has a flare and the occasional aspirin for any joint pain, as it causes arthritis.

[Pam]

Joyce this is alarming for me just to read so I know you must be extremely worried. I will be thinking of you and Taz today and hoping that the vet can pinpoint the problem quickly and that it isn't too serious. (((hugs))) to you and gentle (((hugs))) to Taz.

[jennielynn1970]

Awe... poor little guy! I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts today. I hope it will be something easy to treat, and that Taz will be back to his normal self soon!!

[shais_mom]

Thoughts on the way for Sweet Taz and Mommy!
((hugs))

[Freedom]

Oh dear, Poor Taz, Poor You!

It is so difficult when they don't feel well, can't tell us what is wrong, and we can't seem to find any way to comfort them! Praying that the white coats find some answers. Diagnostic is half way to healing!

[Cincy'sMom]

Sorry to hear Taz-man isn't feeling well. Thoughts of thoughts and prayers coming your way that the vet can help figure out what is wrong and help him feel better.

[4 Dog Mother]

Oh that is sad to hear about Taz. I hope that the vet will be able to find out what is wrong and easily find a "fix".

[Ginger's Mom]

Thank you very much everyone. We are home (actually I am at work now). The vet tested for everything, liver, lung, thyroid, glucose, heartworm, Lyme, Rocky Mountain Fever, and one other tick borne illness that I am not familiar with, and moved pulled and palpatated every part of his little body. It was all negative. Which means it is most likely his heart, and he may have moved into congestive heart failure. I have made an appointment with a cardiologist for 2:00 on Monday, if I cannot get him to start eating or drinking before that I can take him to the emergency room at the cardiology hospital. I did insist on them giving him sub-q's this morning, hoping that it would perk him up. It hadn't as of 12:30 this afternoon. So we will see. Once I get him to the cardiologist I am hoping there is some medication they can put him on to help him.

Anyway, thank you again. :love: I will keep you informed.

[Husky_mom]

our thoughts are with you.... poor lil guy.... ((hugs))

[pomtzu]

Oh no!! Poor Taz. Prayers coming from the crew here that whatever is going on with him is treatable. Hang in there and think positive!

[Ginger's Mom]

Thank you again. :) I am actually feeling a little better. The rehydration seems to have helped. He was willing to go for a walk when I got home from work, then took a big drink when he came in and ate a small dinner (I didn't want to give him too much). At least at this point I feel like he will be alright until we get to the cardiologist on Monday. *sigh of relief*

[beeniesmom]

Oh no. :( I hope the little guy gets better.
Prayers for you and lil Taz.

[Kfamr]

Oh gosh, Joyce, how scary! :(

Here's to hoping little Taz man's issues are all fixed soon. Please keep us updated.

{{HUGS}}

[lizbud]

Thank you again. :) I am actually feeling a little better. The rehydration seems to have helped. He was willing to go for a walk when I got home from work, then took a big drink when he came in and ate a small dinner (I didn't want to give him too much). At least at this point I feel like he will be alright until we get to the cardiologist on Monday. *sigh of relief*


So sorry that Taz is feeling so poorly.:( This update does indeed sound
so much better for him. I hope he stays good through the weekend too.

[pitc9]

MANY {{{{HUGS}}}} for you both!

[Freedom]

Hang in there, and try to enjoy the weekend.

Taz, keep on feeling better dear one.

[Karen]

Yes, keep feeling better and better, Taz!

[Ginger's Mom]

:) He seems to be practically back to normal. He still will not drink anything, but he is now getting canned food with water mixed in, and is eating that with absolutely no problem. But he is moving about the way he normally does, normal walks, and he even thought about sliding in between Ginger and I when we were snuggling when I came home from work. I feel much better, and I am sure I will feel even better after getting a full cardiology work-up on Monday. I have to think about what I am going to feed him after the stuff the doctor gave us is gone. I doubt that he will go back to eating what the Merrick, because he wasn't too crazy about it from the beginning, but we will work something out.

[Karen]

Have you tried "baiting" his water with broth or something similar, just to make it more tempting to get his fluids into him?

[Taz_Zoee]

Oh dear, I am just seeing this. I hope Taz is okay and he checks out just fine at the cardiologist on Monday. I will keep him in my thoughts along with my own Taz. :)

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh Joyce, I'm sorry I didn't see this. Many prayers for Taz.

[anna_66]

I'm sorry I didn't see this before now:o

I'm so very glad to hear that he's doing better.

[wolf_Q]

I'm sorry to hear that Taz isn't feeling himself. I hope everything will be okay with him, I'll be keeping him in my thoughts.

[K9karen]

Joyce, I'm so sorry I just saw this... :o
I'll be on pins and needles waiting for the cardiologist's report.
Poor widdle guy, poor you. How nerve wracking. :(

[ramanth]

Oh dear!! I'm so sorry to hear Taz has not been well. Best of luck at the cardiologists! *hugs* :love:

[Cincy'sMom]

Good luck today. We will be thinking of you

[k9krazee]

Hoping for good news!

You guys will be in my thoughts and prayers. ((hugs))

[Katelf]

Prayers and good thoughts coming your way. Blessings :love:

[Ginger's Mom]

Well, we just got back from the cardiologist. And the news was good. By that I mean he is exactly as my regular doctor thought; he has a valve that is not working properly, but his heart is only slightly enlarged and it should really not be effecting him at all. She said he doesn't need any medications and has no restrictions on any activity or surgeries whatsoever. :D The only sort of down part of that is that I do not know what is causing him to stop eating, become lethargic, and shake. What we do know is that it isn't his heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, parasites or tick-borne illnesses. The cardiologist suggested that if he does it again, I should request that my doctor x-ray or ultrasound his stomach for a bleed. She said some sort of stomach infection (okay she said cancer) can cause a small bleed, and it could be absorbed back into the system in a few days and the symptoms would improve. But she is just sort of grabbing at straws, because we haven't found a reason for his behavior. So at this point, I am just going to be happy that I have a healthy little boy, and hope that he doesn't become ill again.

[Husky_mom]

I am just going to be happy that I have a healthy little boy, and hope that he doesn't become ill again.

so are we... let´s hope he stays healthy and doesn´t worry you again...((hugs))

[chocolatepuppy]

Good news! Stay well Taz! :)

[Cincy'sMom]

Good news!! Glad things went well and sure hope Taz will stay feeling well!

[Katelf]

Pawsitive healthy thoughts and prayers, Taz. Be well!:love:

[cloverfdx]

What a relief all Taz' test came back good. Lots of good vibes on the way for the little man, here's hoping the Vets can figure out whats going on.

{{Hugs}}

[Taz_Zoee]

Glad to hear the results were good.
Just thinking here, but I wonder if Taz might be having petit-mal seizures. That is what Zoee has and when they first started her symptoms were shaking (like she was scared), rapid heart rate and drooling. Then more symptoms began to appear each time she had one. She then began to be disoriented and this year developed a twitch of her head.
One big difference is Zoee would actually still eat during her seizures. But most of the other things are very similar. I don't want to scare you, but we go through them at least once or twice a year. There's really nothing to do about it while they are petit (I guess). If they progress I'd eventually have to put Zoee on a daily medicine.
Again, this is just my thinking. I could be totally wrong.

Anyway, hugs to you, Taz and Ginger! :)

[ramanth]

Great to hear! Lots of love for Taz. :)

[Ginger's Mom]

Okay, I know that a number of Pet Talkers have some experience with this. Could it be pancreatitis? I really think it is an abdominal related issue. I know that doctors have pressed and pushed and he hasn't reacted. But he isn't eating or drinking, and he stands hunched over and shakes. I took a look online and it looks like it should have shown up in his blood tests, and it didn't. I don't know if that means it definitely cannot be that. Also I have been doing everything possible to make him eat, but maybe I shouldn't do that and see if he feels better. I don't know. I am still trying to find ways to make him feel better. Thanks for listening fellow PTers.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad to hear that his heart is fine:) but I'm sorry to hear that he's not eating or drinking again.:( I don't know what it could be but hopefully your vet will be able to find out what's causing this and will be able to easily treat it. Taz will remain in my thoughts and prayers.

[chocolatepuppy]

Joyce, I know nothing about the symptoms you're talking about. I do know the pain and worry of having a sick pup. Both you and Taz will be in my prayers.

[chermes]

Addison's disease causes shaking and not eating as well. Our labradoodle died suddenly from it. But those were the beginning symptoms. My best to your pal.

[Cincy'sMom]

Cincy had an unconfirmed bout of pancreatitis a few years back (ER vet thought is is what is was, our vet wasn't sure based on lab results, but she was feeling better quick so we never looked into it any further). In that cse, she was vomitting a great deal, but never had the shakes.

Mom's Snoopy also had some serious bouts of pancreatitis. His was caused by high fat content in his blood. The poor boy had so many health issues it is hard to keep the symptoms of his problems staright, but I don't recall any shaking with that, just vomitting a great deal of bile.

I do remember one vet telling us the hunching and also trying to strecth the abdominal area a lot that might be an indication that there is pain.

Sure wish Taz was feeling better :(

[MoonandBean]

Awww Joyce, I'm just now seeing this. I hope Taz will be fine. No matter what, he sure is lucky that you're his mama as we all know he will get the best care there with you! :love:

[Ginger's Mom]

Thank you sooo much everyone for your continued concern and support. Okay, so from the posts above, definitely not pancreatitis, because there has been no vomitting (thank goodness). However, I am still pretty sure it is a reaction to something he ate, something I gave him to eat. I think I may now have an idea what it may have been. So I will see how he does if I keep him away from those treats anyway.

ETA: I just checked out a website on Addison's, very scary. And if Taz didn't have some of the spark back in his eyes last night I would be very scared right now. But I think for the moment, I will just keep an eye on him and see if he improves if I keep him away from the beef jerky. But thanks for bringing it to my attention Chermes, it is something to be aware of if this is a continuing problem.

[Daisy and Delilah]

OMG!!! I can't believe I'm just seeing this Joyce!! I'm so sorry. I am hoping and praying so hard that Taz will be as good as new and stay that way very very soon. Thoughts and prayers coming to you. {{{{{{{GIANT HUGS}}}}}}}:(

[lizbud]

I'm glad Taz's tests came back ok, but the not drinking would bother me.
Dogs can go without food for a few days, but not without drinking water.
It he going potty like normal? Did the Vet think it might be neurological?

Poor little guy, I hope he's back to normal quickly.

[Husky_mom]

if he barely drinks offer him pedyalite about a cap every hour...

I have no clue but I reenacted the symptom you described... hunched (sucking stomach) and shivering... and I think perhaps a tummy ache or a cramp of some sort could be causing that... well at least in human conception ;) (that would make me hunch and shiver and I would not like to eat...just like very very bad menstrual cramps)

[cloverfdx]

Still sending lots of good vibes Taz's way Joyce, and {{Hugs}} for you too. I hope you get the little man all sorted out asap.

[ramanth]

Poor Taz. :(

Addison's and Pancreatitis were both suspected in Chipper's case. Tests came back negative for Addisons and he doesn't have Pancreatitis, but his TLI/PLI tests came back showing that he could easily get it so we feed him a low fat diet, no table scraps, and organic treats.

I hope Taz feels better soon.