Ivan made it all the way to our laundry room in our complex, which is about three car lengths, maybe three and a half yesterday. I’ve been trying to move him when he feels inspired, because he still has not had a poop since I adopted him on Sunday morning, and movement should help the peristalsis action of the bowels.
He hobbled back, doing well, I had to carry his upper half to each step and sometimes his lower half to follow – sort of Slinky style, except 80 pounds of Slinky. At the top, he just stopped. He was done. No forward hopping to the cool kitchen tiles, where he likes to lie. So I said, “OK – if that is where you want to stop, I’ll get your water.” Brought himhis water, but had to rub it under his dewlaps and muzzle where he licked it off in annoyance, I think, more than anything. Finaly he took a few laps.
I went in my bedroom and a while later I was surprised to see his big head poke around the corner, the first time venturing anywhere in the house besides the kitchen. He was afraid to come in, though. As I knew I would, against my ‘no drool’ policy, I lifted him on the bed so his poor bones could rest on something soft for once, and I aimed the fan on him because he was panting.
Went to visit a friend in the apt downstairs for about 40 min, and when I came back, Ivan was in distress. Shallow rapid breaths, 78 per minute. He couldn’t stand. He couldn’t raise his head. I was really scared.
I called my friends and we decided to take him to the Emerg Vet. Along the way talked about euthanasia possibilities, which broke my heart and angered me, all at once…after all, I just adopted him 2 days ago.
To make this shorter, we spent most of the night there, where he, by Murphy’s Law, decided to make me look foolish by wagging his tail at the staff and sitting up. The vet gave him a very low Body Condition Score and thought he may have thrown a clot or have heartworms and had a heartworm go to a lung accounting for the sudden difficulty breathing and weakness.
He’s still very weak today. But he is eating …hopefully will poop later.
Keep your fingers crossed!
Oh geez 🙁 Come on Ivan, fight. You are now in a good place, with someone who will give you all you can need or want. Please try and fight this sweet boy. It would be so unfair to lose everything now that you have a chance.
Kungfu nurse, could you use some of that Kungfu on the horrible rescue person? It probably wouldn’t do any good, but it makes me so sad that he has such an uphill battle to wage.
Elizabeth
LOL You are funny !! Thank you. I am just going to try to spread the word that PAWS 911 rescue in Newnan GA has at least one foster mom who is guilty of neglect!
oh my. You are such a good new dog owner! I hope he perks up more!!
Thank you. You are very kind.
Boy this is sounding more and more like heartworm. When is his vet exam? Heartworm treatment is so harsh; I hope his condition allows him to tolerate it if he’s positive.
I don’t know what you’re trying in terms of food. Is he eating? If you hand feed, will he eat? I have an incredibly picky eater and it took months after surgery to find something that he’ll eat. In fact, I think we wrote pages about it here. We settled on Honest Kitchen stuff, and even some of that is looked at with disdain. Little bastard.
Keep trying. If Ivan has the will, I hope you’re able to coax it into bloom. He has such potential.
Shari
Shari…Yes…I dread this, but I think you might be right. The foster mom said she had been giving him something for cattle…she said “It kills EVERYTHNING” including heartworm. She said it’s in a tube and she just squeezed some out and put it in his mouth while he lived in the barn. But there’s NO way he could have been getting vet care while she had him, because no vet would have seen Ivan and said he was healthy enough to be adopted from PAWS 911 rescue, she didnt even have a rabies tag. My point is…he wasn’t seeing a vet…how could she know if he was heartworm postitive before she started dosing him on whatever this cattle med is?
I put a whole chicken in a crockpot with brown rice and he accepts that out of hand. He does not seem to know how to eat out of a bowl. He licks and licks but the food just flicks out of the bowl all over the place. It’s like he doesn’t know how to BITE the food.
Today I just started mixng chicken and rice with Pedigree kibble and he accepted that too. I don’t give him large amount because I am afraid he will bloat.
paws crossed that ivan will turn the corner and start to feel a little more ‘dog’ soon. he’s had such awful human interactions in the past, he is blessed to have you fighting for him now. we also feed honest kitchen, we feed ‘thrive’, which is great for ‘treats’ or for giving pills. our regular food is a blend of wellness core kibble and blue buffalo grain free canned… but for now, getting ivan to eat ANYTHING is good.
we adopted a pup who was heartworm positive, and the treatment is hard on them…but it can be treated. sending best wishes to both of you guys!!
charon & spirit gayle
Oh that poor sweet baby! We are pulling for him!! Sending him all kinds of pawsitive energy (and you too of course!).
I wonder if there is anyway to find out if that horrible woman has any other foster dogs. If she does – they need to be taken away from her. I know you have your hands full with taking care of Ivan right now – but I hope the word gets out quickly about this woman.
I’ve seen other rescue groups on Facebook or Twitter send out the word about people to be avoided – hopefully something similar will happen with her.
Keep us posted on what the vet says as far as Ivan’s outlook!
Jackie
If a dog is heartworm positive and you give him heartworm preventive, it is meaningless. This person could have been dosing him with something that kills “everything” and that could be the problem. If he’s positive, it won’t work. And it could also kill the innards of a dog if it kills everything!
It is also possible that Ivan does not know how to eat out of a bowl. But I’d also be highly suspicious of something going on in his mouth. I’d almost put money on it. Maybe a tooth abscess or some oral sore or cysts. This just smells like a mouth problem to me. Speaking of which, what does his mouth smell like?
You can also stick stuff in the blender and make glop to see if he will lap it up. One of our members, Micki, made soup for her gal Rio. I’m going to ask her for the link. It might work. Boiled chicken and rice and other stuff in a food processor or blender might be just the ticket. And if he doesn’t know how to eat from a bowl (if that’s all it is), he can learn. You start with a big plate, go to a shallow pasta bowl, etc. Let’s hope that’s all it is. And if we can get you that link, we will.
Shari
This is so heartbreaking. I have been thinking of Ivan ever since I read you post yesterday, praying for him. He just has to make it now that he has you fighting for him. It just seems to cruel to think of there being anything but a happy ending.
It’s good to hear he is eating. Hopefully he will poop soon.
Sending you and Ivan lots of pawsitive thoughts.
Karen
(I would have let him on the bed too)
Your prayers are helping. I am about to post news of our vets visit. 🙂
Here it is! http://riosmom.tripawds.com/2011/10/18/rios-dog-soup-recipe/
Thanks! Awesome!
Shari – You’re right on the money. I gave Ivan a chewie treat to see if he had a dog’s natural urge to chew – which he did – but I had to take it away because it was soaked with blood. His gums tore, but when I tried to look further, he made it clear that he did not like his mouth examined. He wasn’t mean or anything, he just kept moving his head and he may have raised his lip back, I’m not sure. He does shake his head and God help you if you don’t have a slicker on, because you will be slimed….but I understand that’s normal for Mastiffs. Seriously though? A 6 inch string of drool hanging in Purgatory for like an hour? Anyhow, I’m about to post news of our vet visit.