Peeing orange and losing weight.

Dr. Marie replied:

Aw..poor little pooch. I'm sorry to hear that he is really not doing well.

The fact that he is producing orange urine has me concerned. This may mean that he is jaundiced. Usually jaundice is a result of some type of liver disease.

I'm not sure what kind of liver diseases you see in Bulgaria, but it's possible that he has a viral hepatitis. This can be quite serious.

The other possibility that would possibly have a better outcome is if he ate something toxic to the liver such as a plant.

The best thing you can do for him is to try to get some electrolyte solution into him. If you don't have access to an electrolyte solution made for dogs you can use products made for children. In the US a product called pedialyte would be the best. Another alternative is a sports drink like gatorade. It's not great that there is sugar in it but it will help to support his hydration.

If this is because he has eaten something toxic to the liver then there is a chance that he could recover.

However, I am fearful that this is a serious problem that could be fatal. Unfortunately there is nothing that I can suggest that will help him to pass quicker if he is dying. The best thing I can suggest is to keep him as comfortable as possible. Give him a warm place to sleep (which it seems he has already done with the straw).

If he does start to recover you may want to consider giving him some Dewormer in case he has some parasites. But again, my fear is that this is something much worse than parasites.

I wish I could give you more helpful advice. It doesn't sound like little Pooch will be with us for much longer. :(

Dr. Marie.


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Dr. Marie replied:

Oh, I am really so sorry that you are in this situation. While I can't say for sure, my guess would be that he will pass within 24 hours from what you have told me.

There really is nothing that you can do to "end it". There aren't any medicines that you would have available to you that would be strong enough to humanely euthanize him.

I'm not sure how you feel about God, but in times like this I will often pray for the Lord to take a suffering animal. So Lord, I pray right now that this little dog comes to you quickly with no pain.

Again, I wish I could give you more advice. I will be online for about another 2-3 hours so if there is anything else I can help with then feel free to respond.

Dr. Marie.

Dr. Marie replied:

In my area there are very few things that are contagious from dog to cat that can cause liver disease. In fact, I can't think of any.

It may be worthwhile to call a vet in Bulgaria to ask if there is something in your area that you would need to worry about.

Canine hepatitis virus is not at all transmittable to humans or to cats.

Again, I hope he is at peace soon.

Dr. Marie.

Dr. Marie replied:

And thank you for looking after this poor little dog.

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi Margie...I've been thinking a lot about your little village dog. Did he make it through the night? How is he doing today?

Dr. Marie replied:

Thanks for the update. I am pleased to hear that he ate.

It certainly won't hurt to try some antibiotics on him but from what you have described he sounds sicker than a "simple infection."

Is he still producing orange urine?

Another possibility is a severe pancreatitis. Pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas) is usually caused from eating something fatty, which is definitely possible in a dog that roams. While we usually see vomiting, we don't always. The key to treating pancreatitis is keeping fluids in his system and giving him medicine for pain. Pancreatitis can cause inflammation in the bile duct which can cause the odd color in his urine. Do you see any yellowish tint to his eyes or gums? If so, this confirms that he is jaundiced but if not, jaundice is still possible. If a dog is just slightly jaundiced often what we will see is just a change in urine color first.

But then, there are a number of other possibilities as well. Hopefully the vet can help.

I'm really thinking of this little guy! Keep doing what you're doing and do keep me updated.

Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Yay! I am thrilled that Poochy is still with us and that he may survive.

I definitely agree on the diet...nothing fatty. This is likely in case the pancreas is inflamed along with the liver. Fatty food will make things a lot worse.

A few things you can try in order to get him to drink - Try offering him ice cubes. Or try flavoring the water with a small amount of chicken broth or tuna juice.

The site at survivalistboards is very interesting! There are some incredible and caring people on there! Please tell them thanks for recommending me.

Let's hope Poochy continues to recover!

Dr. Marie.

Dr. Marie replied:

Oh I am so sorry that this is happening.

Unfortunately I am not sure how to advise you in this situation. The only experience I have with humane euthanasia of an animal is with using the drugs that I have available that are meant for euthanasia.

Any other oral medication may work but could also cause seizures or other unpleasant side effects. The thioridazine is not a drug that I am at all familiar with.

The only at home method of death I could even remotely recommend is if there was someone in the village who was skilled with a gun. It would be hard to do, but if someone felt comfortable this would likely be acceptable.

I really feel for you in this situation. I wish I could give you more advice. I pray that little Poochie passes peacefully and soon.

Dr. Marie.