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Eleanor is sick! Advice please

3806 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Betsy Iole, 
A
It is 5 in the morning of a sleepless night with Eleanor. She is generally a gorgeous, puppylike, agile, active, loveydovey, sweet 7 year old basset.

About 2 weeks ago, my daughter commented while watching TV on the dogbed that Eleanor was shaking. When I looked at her a bit later, she seemed to be okay. Time passed. Eleanor was fine.

Now about 1 week ago our family went through a foreclosure crisis in addition to my having septal recontruction and being bedridden. I was only able to go downstairs a couple of times and when I did, I noticed the shaking whenever I said hello to Eleanor. I figured she was just stressed out or extremely happy to see me. I also took a good look at her, top to bottom, and she is getting a bit thin all of the sudden. I'd say maybe 5 pounds in 2 weeks? She's usually about a perfect 50 pounds. Again, we just switched our dogs over to a prescription dog food (well Franklin fat basset and Marmalade fat great dane); Eleanor gets active senior iams/eukanuba. Of course sometimes Franklin or Marma eat her food and she is the omega. So I figured it was all related to the new feeding schedule and diet.

The next couple of days, I took notice that she is not really eating and spends lots of time under the desk alone (she is always extremely social).

Yesterday, I made an appointment with the vet for 8:30 this morning.

Late last evening, she was trembling and weak In her hind legs. She was also drooling (she is dry mouthed)and very lethargic/depressed. Wouldn't eat at all. She did manage to jump up on the couch and go to sleep for a bit and I spoon fed her some cold water. I went upstairs to change into dry clothes and heard the dog door open and a quiet "oomph" noise from Eleanor. I ran downstairs to watch her pee/poop only to find her sitting pathetically in the middle of the yard, drooling and almost asking me to come get her. Since I have just had nose surgery and can't lift, ran to get my husband (by now it's 3:00 in the morning), yanked his butt out of bed, and Eleanor was in same spot, but laying down. We called to her (she always comes immediately) and she just stared at us. So my husband carried her in and placed her on the dogbed. Next thing, the dog is back on the couch.

What is going on with my baby???? Anyone have any similar experiences? Well, I'll know something in 3 hours or so.

Today, the kicker
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A
Just one note, and sorry for all my lovely grammatical errors...no sleep will do that...

this is a very sudden change in a very healthy dog.

Someone mentioned their dog getting a bacterial infection from eating bird poop. we also have lots of crab grass growing and the dogs all eat it.

I forgot to add that about 1 weeks ago, 1 of the 3 dogs puked all over the living room. My son said it was marmalade (likely candidate), but I am wondering if it might have been Eleanor?
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A
I must be manic by now?

I think I have Eleanor figured out, but of course the vet will let me know in the next couple of hours. I believe she has sympathy sinusitis in celebration of Mommy's new sinus-alleviating nose infrastructure. I'm serious.

She has just in the last couple of hours developed a new symptom and that's a head jerk when i pet her on the head, as if she is saying, "Uh, Mommy...would you like me to perhaps BITE your butt next time you touch my achey head???" She jerks her head back every couple of minutes, which I think might be some kind of drainage or equilibrium issue. Poor Elly-Belly!

I am wondering if she had some kind of dogcold that has developed into a yucky infection? My 3 furless kids have developed many spring colds that lead to bronchitis/ear infections ...hmmmm.

Bassets are such troopers; it takes a very intuned parent to know when these babies aren't feeling well. I feel guilty because I didn't notice sooner...This has been a couple of weeks from hell... chase mortgage legal battle, surgery, packed up swollen face, bedrest (with no bassets)with no sleep...who wants to lend me their tropical island paradise getaway???
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C
I really don't know what could be the matter with her, but it sounds serious! Please let us know what the vet says! I wonder if she swallowed something she shouldn't have, but truthfully just don't know. Keep us posted, and prayers and healing drool coming Eleanor's way from all of us here...
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Basset Momma
Keeping the sweet dear in my prayers! Please let us know how she is doing. We went through some major dog health issues in February- We adopted a pound puppy that became ill the first week at home. It quickly spread to our other dogs and they thought at first it was distemper- Our Sami almost didn't make it- turned out to be a very virulent kennel cough... I did learn that dogs can catch "people" germs- something I'd only scoffed at before! Take care- And hope you are feeling better soon- Wendy
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A
Eleanor couldn't get out of the van by herself, so the vet and 2 vet techs came out to my vehicle, rolled her up like a soft taco and the vet saw us right away.

The vet observed: lymph nodes are not swollen, gums are slightly red and she seems to have gunked up molars, she has lost 4 pounds, her chest is clear; she is not dehydrated, her hind leg area is really hurting, and she cannot stand up without someone lifting her butt. She can walk though.

Eleanor is getting a complete metabolic/blood panel as well as leg/spine ex-rays. So she is going to have a sleepy day off at the vet's kennel, and the vet will be observing her. They are also going to try to feed her.

Xrays and lab results come back this evening. We pick Eleanor up at 5, so I don't think she is on death row. Keep you posted, going to nap now.
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Buttercup
So sorry to hear you're all going through this, as if you didn't have enough to deal with right now! I sure hope Eleanor has a full and speedy recovery, please keep us posted.

Cindy
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C
Sorry to hear about Eleanor's health. Please keep the Board informed. My prayers go out to Eleanor.

Angel's Mom
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H
Oh dear.....Thinking of you and praying for your sweet pup. Keep us posted.

Heather :(
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S
Ahh, we send lots of healing slobber! Please let us know whats going on with Eleanor,we'll be thinking of you!
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A
Eleanor is finally back home from the emergency pet center. she totally crashed on friday and had i not taken her in that day, she would be dead. she was diagnosed with addison's disease and was in the process of crashing. I am happy to report that 2 days on IV plus steroids has turned her back into a happy elno!!!!! she is so so so sleepy right now and sound asleep in the kitchen on the orthopedic dog bed. she ate YAY a half can of A/D and drank a cup of water. my little love, is home....now i know how to keep her sweet little self from getting sick. addison's is rough to recognize the first time a crash happens. most owners don't know enough about what to look for. the clue in for her was a ratio of sodium to potassium of over 1:27. that and the depression, nausea, dizziness, withdrawal, barfing, shaking/trembling (due to intolerance of cold). i am so glad it is a controllable disease, and eleanor can expect to live a long and happy life. whew!!!!
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R
We are so glad you are all ok. We have only had Ruby for 6 weeks and i worry so much about not knowing all we should, you are obviously a great mum to Eleanor and spotted a change immediately, thank goodness. Hope you all have a good rest with lots of snuggles.
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C
Oh, wow. I'm so thankful Eleanor is home and doing better. And thanks for the heads-up on the symptoms. You and Eleanor get some much needed rest, and let us know how she gets along!!!
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Betsy Iole
Sorry to hear about Eleanor's Addison's :)

For anyone who is interested, here are some links for more reading.

From VetCentric's discussion of Canine hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's Disease)
AffectedAnimals:
Female dogs are more likely to develop Addison's disease.  Younger dogs of an average age of four to five years are more commonly affected than older dogs. Any breed of dog can develop Addison's disease, although in some studies, the majority of affected dogs were of mixed breeding. Veterinarians have observed that Labrador retrievers, Rottweilers, and West Highland white terriers seem to be diagnosed with Addison's disease at a higher frequency than other breeds.

Overview:
Clinically known as canine hypoadrenocorticism, Addison’s disease results from the decreased production of steroid hormones by the adrenal glands. The common symptoms of Addison’s disease are not very specific, and can include lethargy, weakness, gastrointestinal upset, and poor appetite. Often these symptoms appear intermittently during an extended period of time.

Although some dogs may be diagnosed while in a relatively stable condition, most are diagnosed when an Addisonian crisis develops—a severe stage of the disease in which shock and collapse can occur. If a dog is treated successfully for an Addisonian crisis, however, the long-term outlook is excellent, as most dogs can be controlled with oral or injectable medications to replace the deficient hormones.
Click to expand...
Here is a link to the full version of the VetCentric discussion.

Other links:

Addison's Disease (Mar Vista Animal Medical Center)
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's Disease) (PetPlace.com)

One more thought--because Addison's is suspected of being inherited in some breeds, it might a be good idea to let Eleanor's breeder know about her diagnosis.

[ April 03, 2005, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: Betsy Iole ]
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