Swollen stomach, lethargic - not sure what to do

[yorkiesmiles]

Bubba is not himself tonight, usually begs for a carrot or treat when I come home and instead he has just stayed in his bed. He is lethargic - his stomach seems distended. Gums seems fine. Nose is a bit warm.

Do you think I should try some pumpkin?? - which I will have to go buy, and I hate to leave him

Any ideas??

[diggy4]

he hasnt pooped? do you hear his belly gurgling? is he drinking?? VERY important he drinks they dehydrate FAST

[bettyeanne]

Has he eaten lots of food today? They can "bloat" if they do and it's quite dangerous. Poor baby, I hope he will be OK. The reason I wondered ... my daughter works for a vet and they lost a little Pug this week with the same symptoms. She was a little rescue and the lady "free fed". They did emergency surgery but it was too late. I will be praying for little Bubba.

[diggy4]

I was thinking gas??? Bellas belly was so bloated and they did x ray and she was full of gas from clostridium. Very easily fixed but scary. I gave yogurt with probiotics to help with the gas it worked.

[yorkiesmiles]

all he has had is 1/4 a cup of food this morning, with fish oil and water. I'm not sure when the last time he drank. I did see him drink last around noon or 1 pm - but I was gone later, so he could have drank some more

I'm not hearing any gurgly noises from his tummy

I do have some plain yogurt - do you think I should try that??

I did put him out a bit ago and he did go out and lift his leg

[bettyeanne]

I wouldn't think that 1/4 cup of food would be too much. Maybe it is just gas. Poor baby ... have you called your vet?

[diggy4]

gosh im not sure....is he used to yogurt? I use it for the probiotics to help digestive tract and bad bacteria getting out of hand. Both mine have had clostridium before so i use it for maintainence. they had very gurggly bellies and gas that ran us from the room! Also runny stool maybe he just doesnt feel good. I hope he feels better soon and if he drinks thats a good step. Obviously he hasnt over eaten if you dont free feed so thats good too. The good thing is they dont need to drink a ton to hydrate. wonder what makes his belly upset tho. Bellas was hard as a rock when she had gas...it was sad

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

I wouldn't think that 1/4 cup of food would be too much. Maybe it is just gas. Poor baby ... have you called your vet?

no I haven't called my vet - I know I won't get him at this time of night. And I know they won't answer questions at the ER vet -- he is laying in the Family room now.

Do you think I should try some chicken broth -- I know I probably can't make magic broth as good as you!

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by diggy4

gosh im not sure....is he used to yogurt? I use it for the probiotics to help digestive tract and bad bacteria getting out of hand. Both mine have had clostridium before so i use it for maintainence. they had very gurggly bellies and gas that ran us from the room! Also runny stool maybe he just doesnt feel good. I hope he feels better soon and if he drinks thats a good step. Obviously he hasnt over eaten if you dont free feed so thats good too. The good thing is they dont need to drink a ton to hydrate. wonder what makes his belly upset tho. Bellas was hard as a rock when she had gas...it was sad

they've only had yogurt a couple of times. Do you think it might make things worse if I give it to him??

[diggy4]

well im not sure....maybe try the broth and see if he will eat it. then if he eats maybe yogurt later.

[yorkiesmiles]

ok, I'll go try the broth. He got up and went back into the kitchen - this is just not like him

Plus I have some herbs my vet gave him when he had an stomach virus before - I'll give him some of that too

[Wylie's Mom]

Is his tummy hard or soft (does it give a bit?)? Why don't you palpate around his tummy (push here and there about an inch/inch and a 1/2 inward) - make sure there isn't terrible pain present. Giving yogurt should be fine. Do you have Pepto on hand? If so, give 1/2 tsp now, then another in an hour.

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Is his tummy hard or soft (does it give a bit?)? Why don't you palpate around his tummy (push here and there about an inch/inch and a 1/2 inward) - make sure there isn't terrible pain present. Giving yogurt should be fine. Do you have Pepto on hand? If so, give 1/2 tsp now, then another in an hour.

is stomach does give a bit. It's not totally hard

Do you think the yogurt would be a better bet than the broth?

No Pepto in the house or anything like that

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

is stomach does give a bit. It's not totally hard

Do you think the yogurt would be a better bet than the broth?

No Pepto in the house or anything like that

Well the yogurt will be beneficial for the gut. The broth is really just fluids - you could give the broth in addition if he's not drinking and is dehydrated. But, fluids can be bloating too - so if he's drinking okay, just the yogurt. Hmmmm, no pepto. Okay, give some bread or soda cracker in case there are some nauseous juices floating around in the tummy - it'd help absorb those.

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Well the yogurt will be beneficial for the gut. The broth is really just fluids - you could give the broth in addition if he's not drinking and is dehydrated. But, fluids can be bloating too - so if he's drinking okay, just the yogurt. Hmmmm, no pepto. Okay, give some bread or soda cracker in case there are some nauseous juices floating around in the tummy - it'd help absorb those.

goodness - I need to go to the store - no bread, I'll have to go search for crackers - I do have melba toast - but it's garlic flavored