Getting Sick

[Chewbaccas Mommy]

My Chewie is sick. He is vomitting. I just have a question because it looked like the runs but it came out of his mouth. I saw hime eat his own pooh a few times and told him no. What could cause this. After getting sick yesterday he was lathergic.

On a good note. Wednesday night my home team baseball team won the World Series. I went after the game in the mess of people to get a hat and shirt from a local sporting good place. I came back and Chewie slipped out and I didn't know. I thought he was in his play yard. So 15 min later I went to get him and he wasn't their. I called him and he barked. He was outside on my little porch waiting for me. He barked to let me know he was there.

[Mai Tai]

Mai Tai eats his own poo when he poops in the crate, unfortunately!  It is a habit we are trying to break by feeding him a little pineapple, which the vet assures me will make his poop taste awful. (as if it would taste good otherwise)  It has never made him sick to eat it though.  How old is Chewbacca?  Has he had all his shots?  If he is young and not fully vaccinated, I would call the vet right away.  I hope he is feeling much better by the time you read this post.  Let us know how it goes.

[Chewbaccas Mommy]

Well it happen again tonight. He gets sick around the same time and then he is fine. Today it was a lot he got sick but I think cause he drank water first it seemed to be more then it was really. He was outside when I was giving out candy. Now he is just laying down relaxing. He has his shots up to date. He was born July 11 so he is almost 4months.

[Mai Tai]

Hi,

Sorry Chewbacca is sick again.  Mai Tai was born on July 24th, so our pups are close in age.  My vet told me not to let Mai Tai out anywhere but our yard until he was fully vaccinated for Parvo-virus at 16 weeks.  It seems that Parvo virus can be difficult to vaccinate against for young puppies as they can not tell exactly when it will take affect because of the mom's antibodies.  It seems that until the mom's antibodies wear off, the vaccine is not very effective.  The only problem is that they cannot tell when the mom's antibodies wear off.  It is usually sometime between 6 and 15 weeks, and so they re-vaccinate against Parvo virus over and over until about 16 weeks to ensure that the puppy is safely vaccinated against Parvo.  If a dog comes into contact with another dog's poop before the vaccination is effective, he can get Parvo.  My vet has also told me that if a pup gets parvo it is very very sick and lethargic.  It vomits a lot and gets awful diarreah and can barely stand, so it does not sound like that is Chewbacca's problem.  I have just been so concerned about Parvo since I read about what happened to Rowan.  I wish Chewbacca the best and please let us know how it goes.

[Ann]

Yeh I would recommend talking to your vet or even better tke him there just to be on the safe side. It could also be something he has eaten.

Good Luck !!!! I Hope he is ok.

[bat27]

definitly have your vet check him out, when your dog (especially a pup) vomits & has diareha you should see your vet. This happened to us (romeo was 9 months old, he's 1 today) he started with throeing up only 2x in one day and had loose bowel movement, then just laying around, no eating/drinking, called the vet he saw him & we thought he had a virus, next day he's spunky eating bowels better then after 2 days back to day 1, back to vet where he now gives him a I.V. for slight dehydration & meds, he seemed to get better after this then again he wouldn't do to the bathroom this went on for a few days back to the vet now he thinks maybe he swallowed something & had a blockage(he eats crazy stuff)was given a baium xray & we were later told that he had air throughout his whole cavity, this is a very critical condition & we had to rush Romeo to a vet hospital in n.j.it turned out that he has a pneumothorax which is very rare, now they say this only happens when a animal is involved in a tramatic injury or from developement(we think the later as these are cross breeds & he was never injured) If we didn't keep going back to our vet because we knew he wasn't right ,our pup would have just sufficated, he is our miracle & we just take it 1 day at a time as he could still have this problem with his lungs(if any of you know having a sick animal is very costly & just getting him through this experience cost over $3000)So Take you pup & have him checked, as they say at my vet if these signs were exhibited by yourself or a baby/child would I call my dr. I just wanted to share my story as each day we are thankful to have him

[Chewbaccas Mommy]

He has not got sick for 2 days now. He is being back to his normal self. No runs or anything. I called the vet they said give him some rice. If it happens again the vet will see him right away.

[Ann]

That is wonderful. I hope he stays well. Thats great. Give him a hug and a kiss for me.
You Have made my day.

[Mai Tai]

I am glad he is better too.  So nerve wracking when they are sick and you are not sure whether it warrants a vet visit or what.  At least when my kids are sick, I know what to do, especially since I have experience and some medical education, but I have no idea what to do for dogs when ill.  It makes you feel sort of helpless.  Since I have had Mai Tai (a little over 2 weeks now) I have called the vet 3 times.  Once, because he ate a mole, the second time because he ate a walnut, and the third time because he ate another dog's poop.....(GROSS, YECH, GAG) and I was worried he would get parvo or some other disease.  I am sure my vet thinks I am neurotic.  I cannot believe how fast this dog can grab something with his mouth and get it down his throat.  I am trying very hard to prevent these incidents, but it is really difficult. I am teaching him "Drop it" and "Leave It," so hopefully, this will end.  He is such a little vacuum. 

Good Luck with your boy.  Glad he is better and I hope he stays well.

[Chewbaccas Mommy]

Ann, He got many hugs and kisses. I have 3 dogs and a boyfriend so I am giving kisses all day it feels like sometimes.

Mia tai, Yes I have a medical background so it don't scare me when a human gets sick up when dogs get sick i panic. My one dog is really skinny and always been this way. He didn't have worms but my neighbors think he does. It ticks me off. He is a very hyper dog. Doesn't really lay around much. He is always running and playing so he doesn't gain weight. He is just a skinny dog. He even steals our food after having 4 cups of food.


I am so glad Chewie is better now. I think he ate something on the walk we had that day or the day before. Chewie learned how to jump on the sofa so he thinks he is hot stuff now. He also walked up the steps for the 1st time last night. I was looking all over the downstairs for him and he was upstairs laying by my bedroom door waiting to go to bed.

Thank you for all your good wishes that he got better.

[Mai Tai]

That is so cute how he got up the stairs and waited for you.  Mai Tai has no problem going up stairs but cannot come down.  He is top heavy, I think, and would just roll forward.  He has a vet visit on Monday so I will get to see how much weight he has gained.  He is a food hound and loves to eat.  He would eat all day if I let him, but I just give him the recommended amount of food.  Seems like it is not enough for him.  When we got him at about 12 weeks, he was 5 lbs, 9 oz, now at 15 weeks he is about 7 lbs.  I think he will make it to 12 or more.  Funny because his brother and sister are both around 4.5 to 5 lbs now.  I got the big chooch of the litter which is better for us since I have 5 children.

Keep us posted on Chewbacca.  He sounds like he has a great personality. 

[Mai Tai]

I am a little concerned.  Mai Tai ate dinner at 5:30 and then went out to play a little with my daughters at 7.  When he came in, he puked his dinner as well as what looks like some of his lunch.  He is very playful and wants to eat more now.  I noticed some leaf pieces in his vomit.  Could that be what made him throw up?  He is not lethargic at all.  Has this happened to anyone else?  I hope Chewbacca is ok by now.  My vet is closed but I think it would be silly to call over one case of vomiting.  Maybe he played too hard after eating. Any advice?

[Ann]

Yes Toby has been throwing up lately but I noticed he has had grass in it. I think they do it at times because they feel bloated. I also think that when they are puppies they like to taste everything and sometimes they eat plants that make them vomit. I wouldn't be worried unless he becomes lethargic. I also have been told the way to tell their tempeture is under their ears not by their nose. So if they feel very hot under their ears they could be running a temperature.  You could try that too.

Take care

[Mai Tai]

Thanks Ann, that is a good tip about the temperature under the ears.  I had heard that feeling their noses was an old wives tale.  Mai Tai seems fine today.  I think the grass made him puke.  He eats it every chance he can get.  He tries to put everything in his mouth.  I hope he outgrows that one soon.  Thanks for your help.  Hope Toby stops puking.

[Chewbaccas Mommy]

I know dogs eat grass when they aren't feeling well. It like helps them to get sick. Atleast a vet told me that. Chewie is doing awesome! We just fenced in our yard so him and the other 2 are loving it.  Chewie also puts everything in his mouth. I have to get some pineapple juice to put in all the dogs food so he wont eat their pooh.