Is My Dog Sick?

[expatpumpkin]

Here are the symptoms:

- frequent scratching for the last week, but no fleas or rashes

- blood in stool today

- excited to go on walks, but lags behind after awhile, not as much stamina?

- whinier than normal

- still has his daily solo play session (by himself, we're not starting it or even involved)

He's a nearly 6-year-old Shih tzu, neutered, no serious health issues in the past, Orijen and healthy table scraps fed (salmon, lean meat, chicken, some veggies, etc.).

I know that the logical answer is to take him to the vet, but I've been known to take him in for minor (nonexistent?) reasons in the past and he really hates going. So I don't want to stress him out for nothing...

[ralphlauren]

I would take him in to be sure.

[straymo]

Yes, with all that combined, I'd take him. It would of course depend on how long it was going on. If it was one day, I'd probably wait and see. If more than one day, vet visit.

Also one thing that helps our little guy at the vet, is we take a bathroom rug with us. In the lobby, I lay it down and it goes right to it and lays down. In the room when he's on the table, I put him on his rug unless they are doing a knuckling test when the vet will move him off for it.

It makes him much more comfortable because the tile floors are usually freezing and the table is slippery and scary. The rug smells like home. Someone suggested it to me, and I was shocked how much better he was.

[expatpumpkin]

Thanks for the tip!

We have a vet appointment in a few hours, and I'll be sure and post the update.

[kellbell191]

I'd be most worried about the blood in his stool. It could be that he is having anxiety, food allergies, a parasite. Hopefully the vet can point you in the right direction

[expatpumpkin]

So we went to the vet and he had a fever of 103! I took poop (that he graciously produced THREE TIMES on our walk there) and that's being sent off for testing. Vet is 99% it's a bacterial infection; he's actually getting several cases a day with the same symptoms, so it's something seasonal that dogs are picking up from sniffing in the street/park...

He got a shot, he's on a 24-hour fast (poor thing!!!) and then a special diet for two days, and he'll take antibiotics for four days. We'll have the results of the poo sample on Monday, but he should be all better by then.

I feel terrible now because he just watched us eat dinner and was like, "where's mine?"

[niemand88f]

It's good you took him in then, poor guy I hope he feels better soon.