Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Parka · 06-17-2018, 03:55 PM

My dog is currently hospitalized for what is suspected to be hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. We don't know what caused it. I just wanted to ask if anyone has experience with it and what I should expect as far as treatment and recovery. I've learned that oftentimes you guys know better than the doctors do. Right now he's getting fluids and they are going to do an ultrasound tomorrow.

I took him to the E-Vet immediately and he was admitted and put on fluids right away. I think he has the best odds for recovery he could have.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

dottiesyrky · 06-17-2018, 05:54 PM

Hi.
Just saw this on your baby and the GI issues he has. Praying for a good outcome soon whatever the ailment turns out to be.

PILOTthePuppy · 06-17-2018, 05:56 PM

Hi Parka,
So sorry your baby is going through this.

I believe the treatment for this is supportive care while his GI system rests (withholding food for 24 hours, possibly more.) Treatment usually includes SubQ or IV fluids, anti nausea meds, and possibly pain killers. If he is losing too much blood from diarrhea a transfusion maybe necessary, the vet will assess his blood values.

I would also make sure you rule out pancreatitis. Get a spec cPL test (not in house) done to confirm his PLI number.

The symptoms between the two can be similar and pancreatitis is very common in Yorkies.

My dogs have gone through several scary GI issues over the years. Pilot did not eat for 3 days when he had pancreatitis earlier this year and also had “raspberry jam” diarrhea, so I know how scary this can be.

The good news is with supportive care, the outcome is usually very good!

Parka · 06-17-2018, 06:50 PM

Thanks for the help. They told me the best way to diagnose pancreatitis is with an ultrasound and I agreed to it. I would have asked for it regardless, though. I think considering his symptoms it would be best to make sure all his insides are ok.

He has had pancreatitis before but it manifested differently. What happened this morning was very sudden, very violent - he was 100% normal one minute, then had fluids coming out both ends the next. They originally thought he was having some sort of allergic reaction, and it could be secondary to that, or caused by that. It's unclear. But the more I read, the more I think their diagnosis is likely correct. He was a hungry hungry hippo like normal just last night.

I will check in with them in the morning and see how he did overnight.

dottiesyrky · 06-18-2018, 10:33 AM

I agree that the symptoms that I experienced when my guy had it were not so extreme and came on more slowly. But who knows, each dog is different.
However my now passed girl had these severe GI symptoms when she had acute and sudden kidney failure plus Pancreatitis. Prior to this she seemed fine and eating etc ok. Then she just threw up one day, I took her to the vet and he gave her the above dx. He kept her overnight for observation, tests, and hydration, and she seemed fine and I brought her home. Very soon after being home the severe GI symptoms that you described happened and she went back to the vet for treatment and hydration. She never recovered from this episode. I don’t know if the kidney disease came first and the P later or what happened, but the combination was devastating.

dottiesyrky · 06-18-2018, 10:39 AM

I would think that the HG or allergic reaction dxes are most likely. Hoping he feels better today and you get more info after further tests.

Parka · 06-18-2018, 01:35 PM

They let me take him home this afternoon. He is completely back to normal. Right now he's doing his "I'm hungry" dance and unfortunately I don't have anything in the house he can eat. He has let me know he's not thrilled about this.

Everything in his GI tract looks normal. The doctor believes he had a severe allergic reaction to something he encountered in the yard - most likely stepped on - and that caused his HG. Considering his speedy recovery and rapid return to his usual grumpy attitude, I'm inclined to agree.

We have been through a lot of illnesses but this one is by far the weirdest. Something similar happened many years ago where he had an allergic reaction to something after going outside, but his face swelled up like a balloon and he did not have any GI symptoms. He looked like a mutant teddy bear with puffy red eyebrows. He didn't need to be hospitalized, he just got a shot and went home.

They gave me metro, zofran, and pepcid and instructions to feed him small quantities of boiled chicken for 4-6 days. For right now, he needs a bath... he is a mess.

dottiesyrky · 06-18-2018, 02:12 PM

Thank you for the good news today. You must be so relieved. Happy to know all tests are good and that he is feeling hungry and his old self. Hope the HG symptoms abate soon with the meds and bland food. Good to give small amounts of food at a time until he gets used to food again. Please do not add food other than the mixture that worked.
I must say that the way the violent symptoms appeared looked like something outside got him. Let’s hope the stress it gave to his GI system will recover soon and that no permanent harm was done. Luckily the GI tract is repaired fairly quickly, at least in humans I believe.
Praying that this time he continues on the positive path with no more shocks, and that you can rest now.

KatysMom · 06-18-2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parka

They let me take him home this afternoon.....For right now, he needs a bath... he is a mess.

Such.Good.News.

Parka · 06-19-2018, 12:47 PM

Thanks everyone. He is definitely very tired and he's mad at me. But I would rather have him home and giving me the stinkeye than back at the vet hospital. After I bathed him, he went to sleep and did not want to be disturbed. His bedhead is so bad right now.

He had a normal bowel movement today and he is very, very hungry. He had regular gastroenteritis back in 2009 and it took him a very long time to recover. I think it was almost a year before I had him on dry food. So I'm thinking whatever caused this didn't have anything to do with his GI tract, even though his symptoms were severe.

If anyone sees this thread in the future, for research: apparently allergic reactions can do some scary stuff!

dottiesyrky · 06-19-2018, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the further positive update. I will take the stink eye rather than GI issues any day. He will forgive you soon I am sure. Good he had a bath and I am sure he appreciated that. Yes it is scary if allergic reactions can be so sudden, scary and severe. Now he is quiet I hope he continues that way and you can rest up too. Thanks for all you did for this little man.

06-17-2018, 03:55 PM	#1
Parka Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Roswell, GA USA Posts: 61	Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis My dog is currently hospitalized for what is suspected to be hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. We don't know what caused it. I just wanted to ask if anyone has experience with it and what I should expect as far as treatment and recovery. I've learned that oftentimes you guys know better than the doctors do. Right now he's getting fluids and they are going to do an ultrasound tomorrow. I took him to the E-Vet immediately and he was admitted and put on fluids right away. I think he has the best odds for recovery he could have. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

06-17-2018, 06:50 PM	#4
Parka Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Roswell, GA USA Posts: 61	Thanks for the help. They told me the best way to diagnose pancreatitis is with an ultrasound and I agreed to it. I would have asked for it regardless, though. I think considering his symptoms it would be best to make sure all his insides are ok. He has had pancreatitis before but it manifested differently. What happened this morning was very sudden, very violent - he was 100% normal one minute, then had fluids coming out both ends the next. They originally thought he was having some sort of allergic reaction, and it could be secondary to that, or caused by that. It's unclear. But the more I read, the more I think their diagnosis is likely correct. He was a hungry hungry hippo like normal just last night. I will check in with them in the morning and see how he did overnight. Last edited by Parka; 06-17-2018 at 06:51 PM.

06-18-2018, 10:33 AM	#5
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Pancreatitis I agree that the symptoms that I experienced when my guy had it were not so extreme and came on more slowly. But who knows, each dog is different. However my now passed girl had these severe GI symptoms when she had acute and sudden kidney failure plus Pancreatitis. Prior to this she seemed fine and eating etc ok. Then she just threw up one day, I took her to the vet and he gave her the above dx. He kept her overnight for observation, tests, and hydration, and she seemed fine and I brought her home. Very soon after being home the severe GI symptoms that you described happened and she went back to the vet for treatment and hydration. She never recovered from this episode. I don’t know if the kidney disease came first and the P later or what happened, but the combination was devastating.

06-18-2018, 02:12 PM	#8
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Well dog Thank you for the good news today. You must be so relieved. Happy to know all tests are good and that he is feeling hungry and his old self. Hope the HG symptoms abate soon with the meds and bland food. Good to give small amounts of food at a time until he gets used to food again. Please do not add food other than the mixture that worked. I must say that the way the violent symptoms appeared looked like something outside got him. Let’s hope the stress it gave to his GI system will recover soon and that no permanent harm was done. Luckily the GI tract is repaired fairly quickly, at least in humans I believe. Praying that this time he continues on the positive path with no more shocks, and that you can rest now.

06-17-2018, 05:54 PM	#2
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Hi. Just saw this on your baby and the GI issues he has. Praying for a good outcome soon whatever the ailment turns out to be.

06-17-2018, 05:56 PM	#3
PILOTthePuppy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 142	Hi Parka, So sorry your baby is going through this. I believe the treatment for this is supportive care while his GI system rests (withholding food for 24 hours, possibly more.) Treatment usually includes SubQ or IV fluids, anti nausea meds, and possibly pain killers. If he is losing too much blood from diarrhea a transfusion maybe necessary, the vet will assess his blood values. I would also make sure you rule out pancreatitis. Get a spec cPL test (not in house) done to confirm his PLI number. The symptoms between the two can be similar and pancreatitis is very common in Yorkies. My dogs have gone through several scary GI issues over the years. Pilot did not eat for 3 days when he had pancreatitis earlier this year and also had “raspberry jam” diarrhea, so I know how scary this can be. The good news is with supportive care, the outcome is usually very good!

06-18-2018, 10:39 AM	#6
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	I would think that the HG or allergic reaction dxes are most likely. Hoping he feels better today and you get more info after further tests.

06-18-2018, 01:35 PM	#7
Parka Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Roswell, GA USA Posts: 61	They let me take him home this afternoon. He is completely back to normal. Right now he's doing his "I'm hungry" dance and unfortunately I don't have anything in the house he can eat. He has let me know he's not thrilled about this. Everything in his GI tract looks normal. The doctor believes he had a severe allergic reaction to something he encountered in the yard - most likely stepped on - and that caused his HG. Considering his speedy recovery and rapid return to his usual grumpy attitude, I'm inclined to agree. We have been through a lot of illnesses but this one is by far the weirdest. Something similar happened many years ago where he had an allergic reaction to something after going outside, but his face swelled up like a balloon and he did not have any GI symptoms. He looked like a mutant teddy bear with puffy red eyebrows. He didn't need to be hospitalized, he just got a shot and went home. They gave me metro, zofran, and pepcid and instructions to feed him small quantities of boiled chicken for 4-6 days. For right now, he needs a bath... he is a mess.

06-19-2018, 12:47 PM	#10
Parka Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Roswell, GA USA Posts: 61	Thanks everyone. He is definitely very tired and he's mad at me. But I would rather have him home and giving me the stinkeye than back at the vet hospital. After I bathed him, he went to sleep and did not want to be disturbed. His bedhead is so bad right now. He had a normal bowel movement today and he is very, very hungry. He had regular gastroenteritis back in 2009 and it took him a very long time to recover. I think it was almost a year before I had him on dry food. So I'm thinking whatever caused this didn't have anything to do with his GI tract, even though his symptoms were severe. If anyone sees this thread in the future, for research: apparently allergic reactions can do some scary stuff!

06-19-2018, 01:57 PM	#11
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Thanks for the further positive update. I will take the stink eye rather than GI issues any day. He will forgive you soon I am sure. Good he had a bath and I am sure he appreciated that. Yes it is scary if allergic reactions can be so sudden, scary and severe. Now he is quiet I hope he continues that way and you can rest up too. Thanks for all you did for this little man.