Something's Wrong...?

[lemonlauren]

Our little 4mo old boy has been fighting giardia and what seems to be kennel cough (clearing throat then gagging noise) for a month now. He's just started a new round of flagyl for the giardia a few days ago, which is also when the vet took him off of antibiotics for the coughing. Around that time, he developed a sniffle, like a stopped up nose kind of sound, and quit coughing quite so much. He was more energetic than ever before, and his poos have also started improving slowly, so we thought this was all good.

Today, however, he has been lethargic all day. He's eating quite well, and drinking enough water (though of course not as much as he does when he's really active). But the lethargy has gotten worse as the day goes on, and I just peeked at his gums and saw that they're a little dark and grey. He also didn't fight me to look at him gums like he normally would. I'm almost certain he's not hypoglycemic because he ate a pretty big meal just a few hours ago, and he's not shaking. And like I said, he's drinking halfway decently. He just acts like he barely even wants to open his eyes at this point!

I'm going to take him into the vet first thing in the morning, but I would really sleep sooooo much better tonight if any of you have any other advice or information on what might be going on. Could the darker gums and lethargy be a sign that the kennel cough has turned into an infection in his lungs? You think he'll be OK, right? Oh, I'm so worried about him. I have no skin kids, and this is my first puppy, so I know I'm acting like an insane overprotective first-time mommy, but I can't help it. He's my baby.

Sorry for writing a book... thanks for reading.

Lauren & Nikko

[lemonlauren]

Hmmm... I just noticed just now when we gave him his flagyl... his upper gums are still pretty pink, it's just the lower ones that look dark. Now I feel like an idiot - I should've looked at him gums closer, upper and lower, back when he was feeling happy and energetic, for a comparison. He just went outside with me and peed effectively, so it's not like he's completely a limp noodle... but he's kinda close, definitely a lot more lethargic than normal. And as he's sleeping now in my lap breathing in and out, it sounds like there's lots of mucous (sp?) in his nose. Sounds like he just needs a tissue, and to blow his nose, and he'd be all clear lol. If he was a human baby, I'd get one of those booger-sucker-outer-tools.

Lauren & Nikko

[annamalyssa]

Originally Posted by lemonlauren

Hmmm... I just noticed just now when we gave him his flagyl... his upper gums are still pretty pink, it's just the lower ones that look dark. Now I feel like an idiot - I should've looked at him gums closer, upper and lower, back when he was feeling happy and energetic, for a comparison. He just went outside with me and peed effectively, so it's not like he's completely a limp noodle... but he's kinda close, definitely a lot more lethargic than normal. And as he's sleeping now in my lap breathing in and out, it sounds like there's lots of mucous (sp?) in his nose. Sounds like he just needs a tissue, and to blow his nose, and he'd be all clear lol. If he was a human baby, I'd get one of those booger-sucker-outer-tools.

Lauren & Nikko

I'm not too sure what to do besides get him to a vet because lethargy is not a good sign. But if you cannot get to an ER vet.. how about trying to get him into the bathroom with hot water running in the shower and all the doors closed for maybe 15 minutes to half an hour with you in there of course this would clear his airways for him.

I would also maybe try a bit of nutri-cal if the lethargy continues just to give him a boost. Otherwise I wouldn't know too much.. hope this helps!

The giardia can also cause lethargy in it's later stages but I think that is usually related to dehydration and you said he's drinking etc. so I would suppose it's not that.

[lemonlauren]

Thanks annamalyssa :-) The closest ER vet I've been able to find is well over an hour away (that really sucks). But once we woke him to give him his flagyl a lil bit ago, I started to feel not quite as desperately worried - he hates the taste of it, and he definitely had enough energy to fight having to take it still! And he did a good job outside doing his little pre-pee dance. I've just never seen him sleep so much since back when he was really sick.

Also, the hot steam bathroom sounds like a good idea - we're doing something similar right now, and I do hope it's the right thing to do. He's sleeping in his crate next to a hot steam vaporizor with a bunch of towlels over the whole setup except for a window out the front so we can see him and he can see us if he wakes up. It's like a little sauna in there - I'm jealous, lol. :-)

Lauren & Nikko

[jencar98]

I would contact your vet and see about having a full blood panel and BAT done, to rule out possible causes of his lethargy.

Please update this thread and let us know how your little boy is doing this morning.

[lemonlauren]

This is so weird... he's a crazy little monster this morning, acting all healthy and like his normal mischievous self. Do puppies just sometimes have days where they feel like sleeping all day? I have days like that sometimes, lol. Or maybe do you think it's possible that he ate something that made him feel bad? I bleached the floors he runs around on yesterday - maybe there was some leftover bleach he licked up somehow, and that made him feel crappy and lethargic?

Right now he's going crazy on my lap as I type this update, licking me and trying to paw at my keyboard. He just got done with a pretty good looking poop, a pee, and scarfing down a nice helping of kibble.

I'm still going to call the vet, and ask if maybe he should go back on antibiotics anyways... I hate it when he worries me like that! Sheesh!

Lauren & Nikko

[bchgirl]

It is possible he was running a fever that cause him to be lethargic and just like people the fever can reduce in the am and return in the afternoon. Or the fever broke and now he feels better. Guardia can make them really sick until the meds kick in.

When you check his gums...touch them with your finger. If they feel tacky...he is dehydrated. That doesn't sound like a problem today, just keep it in mind.

Kennel cough can take a long time to clear up. Adding vick's liquid to the warm vaporizer will help his congestion. This isn't the rub...it's a formula specifically made for steam vaporizers.

Btw, I will say...at 3 in the morning....ALL of mine would seem lethargic. We're usually all asleep....LOL

[bchgirl]

A dog's normal temp runs between 100 - 102....for reference later if you need it.