Blood

[Aussie-ESS]

My cousin called.

Her Shih-tzu mix who is about 8 I think was diarrheaing blood last night.
Today blood has basically just been coming out of her bottom.
The vet doesn't know what's going on..

Will she die?
Any suggestions or anything?

HELP, please!

[Aussie-ESS]

Okay, so she got x-rays and blood tests done and the vet said nothing's wrong.
But I guess she's still bleeding and just isn't herself. She can't sleep she just keeps whining and this dog is totally silent. Please help!!

[saluki-sue]

Good heavens, your poor family and their dog. Could the dog have gotten in to rat poision or anitfreeze? Other wise I couldn't even start to guess what could be going on. I hope the poor pup is going to be ok. If they don't start giving the dog blood infusions it could go down hill fast. So I hope the vet is at least giving the dog new blood to make up for what she's missing.

Good luck

[Aussie-ESS]

We have no idea.

More help?

[Aussie-ESS]

Could she by chance have parvo?

[saluki-sue]

Could be or an auto immune sickness. The vet should be testing for all of that stuff and not just doing x-rays. Do they have a univeristy that has a vet school near by, if so I myself would be driving the dog there and not wasting any more time with the vet they have been using. Some vets don't want to reach for the answer or just don't have the answers. But a vet collage will have tons of folks with a lot of know how to find the answers.

[golden&hovawart]

It could be pancreatitis!.
I would the dog on a bland diet and see if it helps!.
California Natural is a good,pretty bland kibble!.


Pancreatitis (Inflammation) in Dogs Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Holly Nash, DVM, MS
The pancreas is a V-shaped organ located behind the stomach and the first section of the small intestine, the duodenum. It has two main functions: it aids in metabolism of sugar in the body through the production of insulin, and is necessary for the digestion of nutrients by producing pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes help the body promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food. Acute pancreatitis is a sudden onset of pancreatic inflammation.
Causes
Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); obesity; and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis. Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, dogs who have recently gotten in to the trash or have been fed table scraps, or dogs who 'steal' or are fed greasy 'people food' seem to have a higher incidence of the disease. In addition, dogs who have previously had pancreatitis or abdominal surgery appear to be more at risk.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of the acute form of pancreatitis in dogs include a very painful abdomen, abdominal distention, lack of appetite, depression, dehydration, a 'hunched up' posture, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow, greasy stool. Fever often accompanies these symptoms. Animals with more severe disease can develop heart arrhythmias, sepsis (body-wide infection), difficulty breathing, and a life-threatening condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which results in multiple hemorrhages. If the inflammation is severe, organs surrounding the pancreas could be 'autodigested' by pancreatic enzymes released from the damaged pancreas and become permanently damaged.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of pancreatitis is made through information obtained from the history, the physical exam, and laboratory testing. Dogs with pancreatitis generally have an increased blood levels of the pancreatic enzymes called amylase and lipase. If the liver also becomes inflamed, liver enzymes as measured in the blood may be increased. A rather new test, serum cPLI (pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity), may prove to be a valuable diagnostic aid. The white blood cell count is generally increased in acute pancreatitis. Radiography (x-rays) and ultrasound can also help in making the diagnosis. biopsy can result in a conclusive diagnosis, but is not commonly performed.
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to rest the pancreas, provide supportive care and control complications. If vomiting is severe, treatment usually begins with a withholding of food, water, and oral medications for at least 24 hours. The lack of oral intake stops the stimulation of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. Depending upon the animal's response food intake can be started again after a day or more. The pet is generally fed small meals of a bland, easily digestible, high-carbohydrate, low-fat food. Over the course of a week or more, the size of meals and quantity of food fed are increased. The dog may need to stay on a special diet for life, or it may be possible to gradually reintroduce the former diet. High-fat diets or treats should be avoided.
The second major component of treatment is fluid therapy. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are common in dogs with acute pancreatitis, and water intake is often restricted so fluid therapy is usually needed. Fluids are either given subcutaneously or intravenous.
Dogs who are experiencing severe pain can be treated with pain relievers such as meperidine or butorphanol. Antibiotics are often administered prophylactically to protect against infection.
If the pancreatitis was caused by a medication, the medication should be stopped. If it was caused by a toxin, infection, or other condition, the appropriate therapy for the underlying condition should be started.
In rare instances where there are intestinal complications or the development of a pancreatic abscess, surgery may be necessary.
Long-term management and prognosis
Pancreatitis can be a very unpredictable disease. In most cases, if the pancreatitis was mild and the pet only had one episode, chances of recovery are good and avoiding high fat foods may be all that is necessary to prevent recurrence or complications. In other cases, what appears to be a mild case may progress, or may be treated successfully only to have recurrences, sometimes severe.
Dogs with severe pancreatitis can recover, but may also develop fatal complications. The risk of developing fatal pancreatitis is increased in dogs who are overweight, or have diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal tract disease, and epilepsy. Pets who have repeated bouts of pancreatitis may need to be fed low-fat diets to prevent recurrence. Even so, some animals develop chronic pancreatitis, which can lead to diabetes mellitus and/or pancreatic insufficiency, also called 'maldigestion syndrome.'
In pancreatic insufficiency, the nutrients in food are passed out in the feces undigested. An animal with this disease often has a ravenous appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. Even though he is eating, he could literally starve to death. Treatment for pancreatic insufficiency is lifelong and expensive, but is possible. The pet's digestive enzymes are replaced through a product processed from pancreases of hogs and cattle which contain large quantities of the digestive enzymes. A change in diet with added nutritional supplements may also be necessary. Summary Acute pancreatitis can be a life-threatening condition, and early recognition and treatment can improve chances of recovery. In dogs, fever, lack of appetite, depression and vomiting are the most common signs. Treatment is based upon reducing or stopping all oral intake to rest the pancreas, correcting the dehydration and maintaining proper fluid and electrolyte balances, and treating any complications or underlying conditions.

[Aussie-ESS]

Thanks you two!
I guess she finally took a nap. But she just doesn't want to be around anyone and blood just keeps coming out even if she's just sitting there. She hasn't gone to the bathroom except when she would diarrhea and more blood would come out.

[animalcraker]

If the vet doesn't know whats going on then she needs to find a vet that does, and fast!

[Aussie-ESS]

Thanks everyone!
The vet gave them medicine (though they didn't know what it was...??) but Hailey is feeling better!
I guess now her poop is dark black now.
ANy ideas?