Dog with distended abdomen and "hunch" back

[Coyoteco]

This evening our Finnish Spitz started hunching her back with her tail tucked. She was walking somewhat like a raccoon. We did a little reading online and went to the urgent care vet. He examined her, did blood work, took four x-rays. All vitals and blood work were excellent. The radiograph shows that she has a lot of stuff in her intestines (small and large) and food in her stomach. He said that she doesn’t have bloat, and that he’s confident that there isn’t an impaction.

He doesn’t know why she hasn’t cleared out her intestines and things possibly an injury to her back (didn’t show up on x-ray) with the resulting pain preventing her going to the restroom. My first thought on something like that is that she didn’t drink enough water. She isn’t a fast eater and just casually eats a bite full here and there.

She will still eat and drink, doesn’t drool or throw up.

Ultimately, he sent some Remadyl and a pain reliever to see if there is a pain issue stopping her from going potty.

We were there for four hours or more because he had a real emergency. There was an older cat whose tongue had been bitten off by their dog. It was too late to reattach the tongue.

I don’t actually know what to do about our dog, though. This is Bunny, whom you all helped through her mammary tumor last year.

[Chall]

How’s the pee and poop? Both what it looks like and when was the last time she performed?
Keep on checking gum capillary refill to make sure she isn’t bleeding internally.
Hope she feels better and you too.

And are enemas used on dogs? I’d ask my vet.
I’d keep an eye on her vitals every two hours and call the vet back with the temp, pee, capillary refill info.

[Beckham03]

I would get an abdominal u/s. If that yields nothing, a consult with a surgeon or neurologist for the back pain. Foreign bodies, etc, don’t always show up on radiographs and disc issues rarely show up on radiographs either…which is usually why they suggest ct or MRI. Jingles it is nothing major!

[Laurierace]

Thank God you went to the ER as my first thought was bloat. Hope they find a simple solution.

[Bicoastal]

Jingles for Bunny

[QUOTE=Beckham03;8027434]
I would get an abdominal u/s.[/QUOTE]

I’d start there too, if Bunny doesn’t feel better today. Something isn’t right.

A lot of dog owners are reporting diarrhea and vomiting the past couple of weeks in the greater DC metro area. A common factor is all of these dogs like playing in and eating snow. Home owners are spreading various chemicals on their sidewalks and driveways to combat ice. I think there is a link.

[Coyoteco]

Thank you all. This morning I took her to my regular vet who is fitting her in. The x-rays and blood work are being emailed and faxed so she has everything she needs. Bunny is in good hands.

We had called this office last night but they were closed and just refer out to an urgent care/emergency vet. The guy last night was, well he was focused on the cat who really needed his attention. That was a true emergency and when he ruled out - sort of ruled out - everything critical, he didn’t pursue some of the things I thought he was going to.

Anyway, this vet will get it done whatever is necessary. She’s the one who did Bunny’s surgery last year.

Hopefully, they will get the x-rays and blood work right away - I was supposed to get it last night - but by the end of the night, it fell through the cracks.

That’s good advice about the snow. We do not put anything on our snow. This morning I saw someone leading a BC in the city. The BC was eating the snow that had come off the road! Scary practice. I try to keep my dogs feet out of that stuff, and even more concerned about them eating it!

[Coyoteco]

My vet did a more thorough exam. It seems to be related to a spinal injury - slipping on ice or something like that. The urgent care vet mentioned that as a strong possibility.

[Polydor]

Ouch. Poor girl. Lots of jingles for Bunny!

P.

[threedogpack]

I did not read the other thread, but be aware, one of the most common treatments is crate rest with hand walks for potty. Several weeks. I hope that Bunny does well (all of my dogs who needed crate rest recovered uneventfully) and that she handles the crating well. Jingles to her

[Coyoteco]

Thank you! She is home. We brought her in through the back (driving through the 8 inches of snow and crossing my bridge that hasn’t quite been repaired since the big flood). That gave her an easier entry into the house.

She’s on pred and tramadol for pain and inflammation. She should do fine on crate rest if the crate in the center of attention:).

She got one laser treatment today and will get another tomorrow and Friday.

[Pancakes]

Be careful with the Rimadyl and then the pred… the two can cause GI ulceration if used concurrently or near each other.
If you gave the Rimadyl, then be aware – if you didn’t, then you’ll probably be fine.

[Coyoteco]

Thank you Pancakes. She got on Remadyl last night, and since we were taking her to our regular vet this morning, we didn’t give one today. The vet was aware of that and did discuss the interaction and made certain that we would not give any more Remadyl. She did give an injection of pred today and that’s about 12 - 16 hours after the Remadyl last night.

Hopefully, that is OK. I certainly won’t give any more Remadyl. I’m not a fan of that drug as it sent my lab-mix into liver failure.

Your advice is good. I hope the 12 - 16 hours was sufficient.

[Pancakes]

Good to know your vet briefed you on it!
I have seen dogs have ileus (slowed GI tract) from pain. Also, pain from the spine can radiate through the abdomen - called referred pain. It is very common and makes it really hard sometimes to tell if there is GI or back pain.

I personally like Rimadyl in general, but I use it only on a selective case basis, and I do not recommend it for long-term use. Any “senior” animal should have bloodwork done prior to starting it as well. It really is great for musculoskeletal pain and inflammation, though. Like us taking Advil.

The 12-16 hours may be sufficient, but it wouldn’t hurt to give Pepcid AC too, or at least ask your vet about it…

[MustangSavvy]

I think we generally tell clients to wait at least 24 hours before starting pred after rimadyl.

[Coyoteco]

Thanks. Do you think she needs to continue the Pepcid (she said 1.5 up to twice per day) for the duration of the pred and Tramedol? both going for about a week.

I do think she’s a good vet so am not “questioning” her, here, just learning from your knowledge and experience. I certainly feel more comfortable with horses and cats health issues than with dogs’. Seems like the urgernt care vet was good, too - he was certainly personable.

[jetsmom]

Tramadol isn’t an NSAID so you should be fine after 1 or 2 days on it, to deal with the short time period between the pred and Rimadyl.

[Horsegal984]

[QUOTE=Coyoteco;8029085]
Thanks. Do you think she needs to continue the Pepcid (she said 1.5 up to twice per day) for the duration of the pred and Tramedol? both going for about a week.

I do think she’s a good vet so am not “questioning” her, here, just learning from your knowledge and experience. I certainly feel more comfortable with horses and cats health issues than with dogs’. Seems like the urgernt care vet was good, too - he was certainly personable.[/QUOTE]

Need to? No. Not t would it hurt? Bigger nope. It’s safe and cheap so why not continue it? That’s my opinion if it were my dog anyway.

[Coyoteco]

You’re right. It seems like simple insurance against the gastric upset.

Jetsmom. the vet gave the pred through a shot while she was there - so there wasn’t a decision on my part as to when to start the pred.

As always, there is so much knowledge and advise here. One of the first things I did was come here and search old threads on related topics.

Thank you!

[MsM]

I went through a back injury with my dog last year. My vet (neurologist) also had me give her Pepcid while on the tramadol & pred. Be very rigorous with the crate rest! Everything has to be kept very still if there is a disc problem and you want healing without surgery.
There is a website called Dodgerslist about dog back issues. It can be a little frightening as it was created by Doxie owners and some of the issues include paralysis. But there is also some good information on managing back issues.

Unfortunately for my dog, her issues had crept up on her and it took a while until I recognized the signs, so her problem didn’t respond to rest, pred or spinal injections. Happily, surgery did work! Today she is happy and healthy and though I will always restrict some of her activities, she is doing great!

[Coyoteco]

Thanks for the information. My vet had not said to be complete crate rest, but to keep her quiet. Walking was ok, but no running or jumping. I’ll make sure she stay very quiet. Yesterday she was in the crate. Today, she’s on a soft bed in a small carpeted hallway which is near the family room The hallway is blocked by two dog barriers so she can’t move around. If that stops working, I’ll put her in the crate, but she’s pretty comfortable there as it’s easy to sit with her and keep her company. She’s a cooperative dog, so that does make it much easier.

She is getting the laser treatments which the vet says is very helpful. I wonder if the trip to the vet (being lifted in and out of the car) is a good idea, though.

I’m really happy to read that your dog responded so well to the surgery.

I’ll look at the website, thanks. for the recommendation.

She is much better today, so I think the pain meds are working pretty well for her.