Here's the deal. 8 year old Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, prime in health and I'm not kidding absolutely top of the line health. ***** to the wall dog. All of a sudden, massive diarrhea, drops close to 20 lbs and I really am in the the middle of nowhere. He started seizures at 3 am on Sunday morning. Went thru all the seizures...I am punched, but he has made it through them all, he's very tired now, and I've kept water up with him to keep him from dehydrating.

What now? How and when do I feed him...any help would be greatly appreciated.

Please don't tell me to take him to the vet...they don't know jack crap here except cows and horses.

Praise the lord and pass the yorkie..I know more than they do, LOL about other beasties that aren't farm animals, but I really want to be very careful about how I start my baby on food again.

BY ALL MEANS, JUMP IN.....ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.

Not concerned about the toxin, beleive it or not, well will be dealing with it up and coming the dog ate halls cough drops.

If my dog dies over a sugar substitute...I've been looking at all the websites, its an insanity beyond beleif. Dogs are supposed to be able to eat what hits the floor before the 5 minute time out.

I knew people who named their dogs "hoover". Anyways, very tired.
Will appreciate any help.

***Edited By: lpn169 on 9/20/2007 10:16:44 AM***
Reason: Made more appropriate

Unfortunately you could be dealing with so many different things there is no way to really help without a vet. I know you dont want to hear that but.... Realistically, this could be Cancer, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Kidney Failure and so many other ailments. I understand you are a long way from a vet but perhaps calling a specialist, explaining the situation directly and then going would be helpful. Regardless, you can get opinion after opinion here, but we are not vets. This sounds like you really do need one. Sorry. Hope pup makes it.

I'm not sure if I misunderstood but were you serious about this? "Dogs are supposed to be able to eat what hits the floor before the 5 minute time out." Are you crazy? Would you let a child eat an entire bag of cough drops in a sitting like they were candy? It may be OTC but it is still cough medicine. How is it any different from a child (or adult) downing an entire bottle of Robittussin? Or eating an entire bottle of childrens aspirin that's 'hit the floor'.

Given the nature of your dog's symptoms, and if you are right regarding his poisoning via cough drops, I would say that his best bet is to start on a very simple boiled chicken and steamed rice diet. Or on the canned ID Science Diet, since it's specifically formulated for dogs that are having digestive problems.

As an aside, all vets learn about companion animal health and welfare as part of their vet school training. It takes additional training to learn about large animal management. So you may believe you know a lot, but I sincerely doubt you know as much about small animal internal care and surgery as a veterinarian does, even a 'farm vet'.

I personally would be taking the dog to the vet for a CBC and Chem panel 12 to make sure his blood is back to normal, and that his organs are functioning correctly. Poisoning by any means can cause permanent liver and kidney damage, which would show up in the chem panel. Those can only be done by a veterinarian (you know, the ones that don't know jack crap about anything but cows and horses), not by your average pet owner.

***Edited By: Minniyar on 9/20/2007 8:17:21 AM***
Reason: add

Minn is right. all vets do get general training in all animals prior to specializing in farm animals, etc.
The fact that the are more apt to deal with cows doesnt change that they have the ability ot run tests, which you do not have at home.
He needs labs drawn to see what you are dealing with here. It can be so many things, and not treating him medically at all is handing him a possible death sentence.
Taking him to a vet with minimal canine experience is better than not taking him to any vet at all.
Treatment will depend on the results of testing. Also keep in ind that those seizures are a seriuos sign, he should have went to be treated and de-toxed so to speak right then. Permanent damage can be caused by each seizure. It sounds as though his condition is to the point that medical intervention is your only option for recovery.

To give you an idea of what I am dealing with here, if one calls up the local officials and says that you suspect rabies in a wild animal that has died on your property, please note wild animal, the authorities will come and literally dispose of all your animals, even indoor cats.

It doesn't matter if your animals are vaccinated either.

Here you go, for a good example of my type of rural neighborhood. Anthrax is almost normal in our neck of the woods for cattle, because the farmers are too cheap to vaccinate against it.

Oh, and in a local publication it was divulged that farmers were using Round Up to dry out their corn crop very quickly.

Now please note my 5 minute rule about the floor was laced with sarcasm. I am frankly stunned at what I am finding out about "good food" and what's in it ie xyitol or aspartame.

I am amazed frankly that any of us are alive. And my husband and I are huge label readers, and thought we were as informed as a pet lover could be. I didn't know that two sticks of trident sugarless gum could kill a pomeranian.

Good grief, people give that gum to their children.

Ok, we will now be ready to hit the road to Winnipeg. I'm sorry if you misunderstood my local veterinarian situation or took offense to it.

I still never understand why one can never criticize a vet or a vets credentials. Beyond God status I think.

I happen to love vets btw; one I knew, Dr. Purdell had surgical skills that were unreal, could operate on a burmese python and leave less a scar than the Dr. who did my appendectomy.

Anybody who knows a great vet in Winnipeg, please let me know.




***Edited By: ripley51 on 9/20/2007 12:00:38 PM***
Reason: more data to submit

Ripley, I understand what you are describing regarding your location, but what does that have to do with getting on a phone, finding a specialist even 4/5 hours away if necessary, explaining the situation and taking the dog there? I apologize, not trying to sound harsh at all, just know others live in very very far out places and still have the ability to get themselves and a sick animal to a vet when it simply has to be done.

Actually ready to roll. Have been on the phone,and please understand that I don't want to just dump him off at a vets. I am also aware that clinics are staffed only 12 out of 24 hours a day.

I have 3 other catahoulas that need tending to and indoor cats. Whew. I'll drive back to Toronto if I have to.
Been rocking and rollin at our end.

So anybody who can recommend a winnipeg vet, jump in anytime.

Where are you located Ripley? I have breeder friends in Winnipeg.

Ok, just got off the phone with my friend in Winnipeg, I hope this is not against the rules of the forum, but here's the info. Charleswood Vet Clinic has 2 excellent vets, phone 204 889 3110. If you can't make it in before the end of the day, there is only one emerg vet clinic in the whole of Winnipeg, Pembina Animal Emerg, 204 452 9427. The best of luck to you. My friend uses both these clinics, and swears by them.

Bless your soul, cripes I appreciate this. The seizures blessedly have stopped. I will contact Charleswood first thing in the morning.

How to describe this situation. I live in the middle of nowhere. Yes, I have to get JimDandy to a vet, that I can completely trust, but I can't walk out the door and leave all my other animals behind as I travel for hours.
Your friends in Winnipeg will understand this...I'm in Zhoda.

I am THRILLED at a recommendation, and please other posters I am not anti veterinarian, but I have being an ancient person now had my fill with the good, the bad the ugly, and worst yet, the expensive crappy vet lol.

OK..you have no idea how much I love you for this man. He's my foundation stud, this has blindsided us really quite crazy and going round the clock, because we love him.

I'm pretty punched now, so I hope my grammar even appears like I'm civil.

But thank you thank you thank you...calling Charleswood in the morning.

I am a complete idiot. Thank you everybody else who posted.
Tired people, and very blindsided. We don't get whats happened to our dog at all. Just so you know, we are not people who panic, husband BSC from University of Toronto, me, not one bloody degree but hands on with probably more animals than most have ever had in their lifetime.

I can personally say that I can sing a nile monitor to sleepy nappy time. Not many can do that.

LOL, here's the point, and I'm watching some of your other threads on massive diarrhea sp, never could get it, what's going on?

JimDandy was rockin and rollin, happy really healthy camper..we were planning another litter. I apologize for my inability to articulate but Lord, we can't figure this out.
I'm praying this vet clinic can help. Heck, we have American Bad Ass, Ruby Starr and Dusty Roads...I have to admit I'm frightened.

We have everyone on the line. Thanks for helping. Please pray for us.

Ripley, I think you will be happy with this vet clinic, and I`m happy to help. I spoke to them, myself and they were very helpful, said what they would do...all the right things. Interestingly enough, I know exactly where Zhoda is, I have relatives in Steinbach!! Small world eh.
Good luck!