Beantree Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Worth sharing this experience as it may help someone. Our short-haired terrier came back from 'hunting' (for field voles mainly) yesterday afternoon with what we thought was an injured leg. Within minutes it was two legs and she was shivering, so as she was wet we put her in a blanket. A few minutes later a large runny poo followed by being sick which apparently confirms poisoning. She then became very unsteady at which point we decided to take her to the vet. Arrived at the nearest vet and she started to have a fit; this was just 20 minutes from the start point, the injured leg. Rushed into the consulting room where the vet pumped her full of stuff, took blood and installed an electrolytes drip. She was kept there overnight and we were told that her Lactic acid levels, the measure of degree of poisoning, were extremely high and it would be touch and go. Good news is she is still with us; a bit shaky and very tired but able to walk better than we expected. Could take several days to two weeks for a full recovery but the vet is pretty confident. We have tablets to treat potential liver damage, which are administered over a week. Couple of important points. Speed was of the essence as her Lactic acid level was already over 4 and the vet said he had never saved a dog at 5. He is 95% confident it was poisoning but the cause is unknown, although a heart problem can give the same symptoms. Eating Kiwi fruit shouldn't be anything to do with it, but that's what she brought up; problem is she eats almost anything and we have a lot of toadstools this year! Perhaps pet insurance is really a good idea for her as we are now €342 lighter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 So sorry to hear that you have had this horrible experience - thanks for flagging up and sharing. Hope your girl is soon back to normal - although I suspect walkies on a lead from now on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 Thank you Soapdragon. We'll sleep well tonight: all of us as the stress is on both sides. Walkies on a lead is not possible, she is a rescued hunter and that's what she has to do. She's much better now and can jump onto her 'wine time chair'. Perhaps tomorrow and she will have forgotten all of it as she was terribly stressed earlier because she thought she had been abandoned again. She was left tied to a post box in a nearby town and taken to a cage at the 'rescue centre' which really messed her up. Confined in any space sends her loopy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I'm so sorry to hear that, but good that you acted so quickly an she's on the mend now. I too have 2 rescued working dogs: Lurchers, one from Ireland where he was a 'traveller dump', and t'other I rescued as a puppy. I used to work both of them until a couple of years back and have also had near misses with them.... Lurchers are natural scavengers and thieves, so will eat pretty anything. Also had one cat which died of poisoning. It's horrid, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 Seems she's had quite a scare, waking up in a strange place without us and now doesn't want go out of sight. We've walked the fields looking for mushrooms but it seems the frost yesterday has killed them all. Been giving insurance some thought and remembered we looked it it when we got her. The payout for emergencies was very limited, so perhaps (as suggested in an earlier thread) we'll just put money aside every month and hope there is enough in the 'pot' to cover treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 It was my thread about the latter option; if you join the Dog's Trust, you get free 3rd party insurance. I then pay into a cash ISA monthly and have just one credit card, which is reserved for that purpose - it will be used to pay any vet bills and then paid off from the ISA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Third party insurance for dogs is included in our house insurance here in France DM, so we're covered in that respect. All dogs have to be microchipped by law so that the owners can be identified because it is quite normal for guard dogs to be left to roam, just like ours. Then there is the problem of hunting dogs, which in some areas is a very big problem, fortunately not here. Postboxes are set at regulation height and positioned against the road so the Postie doesn't have to leave the safety of their van, just wind the window down. It also speeds deliveries of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 I am so sorry that your lovely dog has been extremely poorly but very glad that she is feeling better. Please give her a huge hug from me, and perhaps an extra biscuit too xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 10, 2020 Author Share Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) Just to let you all know that she is completely back to normal, so no leg trembling and digestion restored, which is a lot quicker than the vet suggested but she is a very fit dog. We have a theory that she ate something accidentally, perhaps an acorn or a toxic weed root? To catch field voles she enlarges their burrow by digging and tearing the vegetation out with her teeth and frequently returns with a mouth full of soil. Could be an orchid bulb, an acorn or some sappy root like a dandelion. This is her nature and not something we can change unfortunately. Edited January 10, 2020 by Beantree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Beantree, our neighbours dog was rushed to the vet on Wednesday with the same symptoms, turns out she had eaten walnuts that were on the ground, according to the vet it is a very common problem especially at this time of year as the walnuts are degrading and are very toxic. Glad your dog has recovered. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 Think you might have the answer there Ursula123. We have a walnut tree and she eats them as they fall, which is fine when they are fresh, but as you say, not when they have started to rot. All we can do is trim the area even shorter and set up some kind of a catch net. Problem we have is the tree blew over many years ago, but survived, however the branches are now on the ground no little room to set up a net; perhaps some pruning is required? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Just to add to this - one of my hounds was drinking more than normal last night - came down to a 'kitchen of vomit' this morning she seems OKish, but still drinking a little more than normal - saluki-based long dogs are 'dry-mouthed', which means that they drink little and don't slobber at all - she's not eaten this morning, but is warm enough, mucous membranes are pink and I have given her tree barks powder. Stools are normal. We were walking across very muddy fields yesterday, so perhaps she picked summat up there. Hounds are very resilient, so she'll probably be fine, just keeping her warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 I do hope she's fine DM. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 OK, so the vomiting relented after one day, but she was still listless and tired. It started to come out of the other end, which is good news, so just kept her hydrated and warm. Gave her Omeprazole to protect and soothe her tummy, Critical Care Formula, and she will be trying solids today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 Fingers crossed then DM. For reference the liver tablets we were given are 'milk thistle'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 8 hours ago, Beantree said: Fingers crossed then DM. For reference the liver tablets we were given are 'milk thistle'. That's good for 'cleansing' - have taken it myself after an indulgent and heavy meal! She's a bit better in herself, but not really interested in food, so she's been to my vet friend for a steroid jab to see if that will pique her appetite. It really isn't like her to not want to eat - not even her favourite raw poultry hearts! If she isn't making an effort to eat by this time tomorrow, she'll have to be admitted to be tube fed, which I'd hope to avoid. I have some puppy 'NutriDrops' and colostrum from Nettex on the way for her... packed with nutrients; will have to see if that interests her. Incidentally, it was the puppy, and the lamb 'nutridrops' which I used to base the poultry version on when I was working with that company's chemists to develop their poultry range. I'd had experience of both the dog and ovine ones and thought them excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) An update... madam is in the vets overnight for IV fluids and a barrage of blood tests, we will see how she is in the morning and if she's not taking food then, they will sedate and intubate her for feeding. Poor Rubes - this dog is built of boulders and NEVER poorly! Here are a couple of pics of them - she's the white one. The tractor photo is a few years ago - my hair is almost white now! Edited January 15, 2020 by The Dogmother 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Lovely photos! I hope she pulls through OK without too many dramas. We have had a rescued kitten for a few months now and he was only allowed out this week after various jabs, its all a bit heart in mouth time as he has already encountered the only other cat for miles around, next door's elderly dog, got stuck in the woodshed on tonnes of stacked wood (visions of squished kitty), tried to eat an aloe vera (well he won't do that again!) and then tried to climb it, and generally had us on tenterhooks. It been a great reminder of how lovely it is to have animals again and the bond with a dog must be so much stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 (edited) Sorry to hear about your kitten Daphne - they are a danger unto theirselves! I visited Ruby in the vet's tonight - she is doing really well and had 80g of boiled chicken earlier, she has drips in for IV fluids and antibiotics and the most lovely pen full of blankets. The vet still isn't happy that she is ready to go home... the 'dire-rear' persists, and they would like to see that firming up and the appetite restored. I hope to be able to collect her tomorrow after work. My lovely vet is a young Slovenian woman, who is very thorough, analytical and caring too. Rubes is in excellent hands. Apologies for hijacking the original thread! Edited January 16, 2020 by The Dogmother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Well, Ruby came home on Friday night; she is starting to gain weight again and is on small meals several times a day. She's back to her normal self personality-wise, but I need to keep an eye on her eating and poo-ing. The puppy colostrum and puppy NutriDrops arrived today, so she's on those too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Well I will keep my fingers firmly crossed for her, it sounds positive and she'll obviously be getting top notch care! After I posted about the kitten he came in with a hurt leg, whimpering, and unable to weight bear. It wasn't broken, and no sign of anything sticking in or out of his leg or paw, so we bundled him up in his bed and waited several hours till the vet was open in the evening. By then he had woken up, and although rather stiff, he could put his weight on it gingerly, so I suspect a sprain or strain or something, he has been climbing trees, perhaps he landed awkwardly. This morning he was much better, and today we kept him in until he went absolutely bananas late this afternoon, culminating in jumping off a window sill with no ill effects, so he was allowed out. I have had words with him to be more careful, but of course, being a Portuguese kitty, perhaps he doesn't understand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 19, 2020 Author Share Posted January 19, 2020 Only just picked up on this thread again. We're having problems caused by exceeding our data allowance, we think because so many sites now contain pop-up adverts. Basically if we exceed the allowance we get cut off until the following month, so if I 'disappear' for periods that's why. Sounds like it was a close thing DM. Pleased she is definitely on the mend. Try speaking Portuguese Daphne. Sounds daft I know but our girl responds far better to French so that's what we use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 Ruby is doing well thanks - doesn't like the tins of 'GI' food which the vet sent her back with, but then they've never eaten tinned food. She is eating more or less normally now, just in smaller amounts and more frequently. She's still on antibiotics and I am building her up with puppy colostrum. Still under weight, but getting there slowly... I was really worried at one stage, especially as they are almost never ill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 22 hours ago, Beantree said: Only just picked up on this thread again. We're having problems caused by exceeding our data allowance, we think because so many sites now contain pop-up adverts. Basically if we exceed the allowance we get cut off until the following month, so if I 'disappear' for periods that's why. Sounds like it was a close thing DM. Pleased she is definitely on the mend. Try speaking Portuguese Daphne. Sounds daft I know but our girl responds far better to French so that's what we use. Beantree who do you use for internet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 We have an SFR Mifi Ursula, which is just a 'data only' mobile phone. 10Gb per month for €16, which used to be perfectly adequate. The other problem now is frequent Apple upgrades, which we didn't bother with before but have since been advised to keep updated. If we had signed up for a year we could have saved the €60 purchase of the Mifi unit, but at that time we weren't sure it would work. We have a telephone line here but don't use it, just have a cheap mobile for emergencies. In the Dordogne we had an Orange box and landline phone and were basically 'ripped-off', so that went back to the shop as soon as we left. Quite useful really as no hunting for Wifi outlets when we go out and it's far cheaper than data on a fancy mobile phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
