Very sick dog.

Dr. Marie replied:

I'm sorry to hear that Tootoo is not feeling well. There are a lot of things that can cause diarrhea. Often, as you mentioned, stress can cause diarrhea. But stress shouldn't cause the other symptoms that you wrote about.

Blood in a dog's urine is never something normal. Also, the fact that she is very thirsty has me really concerned. An extreme thirst in a dog can be a sign of a very serious kidney problem. Some dogs can get a kidney problem by eating something toxic. For example, antifreeze is extremely toxic to kidneys. Or, certain plants can be toxic. We have been hearing a lot of stories of dogs getting serious kidney disease after eating chicken jerky treats.

Sometimes the cause for kidney disease is not easy to find. A condition called leptospirosis can cause serious kidney problems. Or, an infection in the kidneys could be the culprit.

Another possible reason for thirst, lethargy and blood in the urine would be if Tootoo has something bleeding internally. If she has any exposure to rat poison this could be what is happening. Or, if she has been roaming free and had some type of accident such as being hit by a vehicle she could have internal bleeding. This is less likely than kidney disease though.

A serious liver problem is possible as well. This could explain the yellow urine. There are a number of things that a dog could eat that could be toxic to the liver.

Another possible reason for her symptoms is a serious infection in her uterus called a pyometra. (This would only be possible if she is not spayed). Pyometra is not that common in dogs as young as she is.

In any case, what you are describing sounds very serious. Is there any way you can get her to see an emergency vet today? If this is a serious kidney problem then the longer we wait the more danger she is in. The vet will examine her and will likely do tests on her urine and her blood to determine what is going on.

I really hope she is ok!

Dr. Marie.


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Dr. Marie replied:

Ah, I have clients who have moved to Nunavut and I know that it is not always easy to get vet care there.

Definitely encourage her to drink. If drinking large amounts makes her throw up, then only give her a small amount at a time. If you have access to a pharmacy you may want to see if you can get some unsweetened pedialyte. This is a liquid that is meant for giving to children with dehydration. If she will drink this, this can help her as well.

Unfortunately there is not a lot else that you can do at this point. Don't worry too much about getting her to eat. If she wants to eat then you can give her some boiled chicken and rice. But, if she doesn't want to eat then don't force the matter.

Hopefully the vet will get back to you soon!

Dr. Marie replied:

I'm so glad to hear that she is improving! I think it's still a good idea to have the vet check her, but it doesn't seem nearly as urgent now!