sick pups

[momto2dogs]

My pups are having a really bad week. My Sadie got loose Friday night and was gone for over an hour. She enjoys eating rabbit poo. She started vomiting on Monday morning and continued thru tues night. She also had alot of burrs in her fur which she tried to chew out before I could get to them. She is still gagging but not vomiting I have been feeding her boiled chicken and rice.She is going to the bathroom which is more like burrs and hair than poop. Now my other dog is vomiting, he also likes rabbit poo. He threw up yesterday and this morning and than tonite he thew up his rice and chicken.does anyone think it could be a virus? I am so short on money I dont know what to do. Sadie with her gagging but no more vomiting. They have not been drinking alot either. Advice please

[Karen]

I would get them to the vet - it could be anything, and it's better to be safe than sorry. How old are the pups? What shots have they had?

[momto2dogs]

Sadie is 5yrs old, she has always had a problem with vomiting if she is not fed on time. Blaze will be 6yrs old in March, they both are up to date on shots. Blaze has more of an issue with vomiting than Sadie as far as undigested food goes. I did just read that I should try fasting for 24hrs. I will see what the morning brings they both seem fine now except Sadie still keeps gagging a little, I just wonder if maybe her throat does not feel the best she did throw up about 20 times.

[applesmom]

It sounds like she may have some of those burrs stuck in her throat or tongue or even caught in her tonsils. There could even be some in her stomach, but that would be unlikely. The only way to get them out of her throat would be to anesthetize her. If the gagging continues it would be adviseable to take her to the vet.

[Karen]

Try to get them to dink some, especially Sadie - use a syringe (or baster) if you have to, as if she threw up that much, she's at risk of dehydration, which will exacerbate anything wrong. Do you know how to check for dehydration?

[momto2dogs]

No I dont. Sadie has never been one to drink alot of water, but Blaze will drink a whole bowl after eating and they have not touched the water all day. Why would they want to eat but not drink, I will call the vet in the morning.

[Karen]

Pinch a bit of skin between for finger and thumb. If it snaps back into place, all is okay, if it stays in the "pinched" shape, time to try to force her to drink.

[dragondawg]

Sounds like your dog partaked of the natural raw diet. Unclear if burrs are plant material or more likely chunks of carion possibly mixed in with fur or hide.

Regardless you could have anything from a partial intestinal obstruction, a bacterial food poisoning, or even a touch of leptospirosis. Your best course is the one you have already chosen- get the puppies to a Vet. Don't worry about force feeding water. In general if a dog is sick enough to be force fed water (never food), then they are sick enough to go to the Vet.

[lizbud]

Regardless you could have anything from a partial intestinal obstruction, a bacterial food poisoning, or even a touch of leptospirosis. Your best course is the one you have already chosen- get the puppies to a Vet. Don't worry about force feeding water. In general if a dog is sick enough to be force fed water (never food), then they are sick enough to go to the Vet.

Agreed. I was thinking obstruction or bacterial poisoning.Animals never seem
to get sick on a schedule, so it may be tough financially, but they should
be seeing a Vet who would help them.

[momto2dogs]

As I thought there was nothing the vet could do. Everything checked out fine , thank god. I am to keep them on the diet I have been feeding them adding kibble a little at atime. thank you everyone