Thursday, December 9, 2010

Cont'd

11) If your large breed dog starts pacing, acting restless, non-productively retching, and exhibits a distended abdomen, have him/her seen IMMEDIATELY. Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV/"bloat") is rapidly life-threatening and requires immediate surgical intervention. With early intervention, many of these dogs go on to live long lives. In the past year, I have done 3 or 4, and all are still alive today. Breeds predisposed include Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, Weimaraners, Standard Poodles.

12) Female dogs that are in the post-partum period for up to 6 weeks can exhibit eclampsia - also known as "milk fever." This is due to a sharp drop in calcium due to puppy suckling. Signs start out mild - restlessness, pacing then progress to all over body tremors, weakness, ataxia (difficulty walking), and very high body temperature as a result of the low blood calcium. Treatment is needed immediately to supplement the body's calcium.

13) Any animal that is acutely unable to use its back legs - whether cat or dog - should visit the ER immediately.

3 comments:

sarahMTSBB said...

What about seizures?

Also are there early warning signs of IMHA?

The Homeless Parrot said...

Sarah: IMHA is usually a very acute event, so early warning signs are rarely detectable. If they were - probably lethargy/weakness would be the most likely.

I am working on a seizure post.

sarahMTSBB said...

thanks! i was (am?) a vet-wanna be and worked in a clinic as an assistant for many, many hours in college...so i still feel guilty that i didn't "catch" my young cocker/cavalier's IMHA earlier (the local emergency/specialty hospital couldn't save her... it still amazes/terrifies me that she went from perky and her normal spunky/needy self to dead in 2 days).

thanks for your blog, too. you both make me glad that i'm a blood banker (on the human side) and want to reapply to vet school at the same time!