A spin off from Sharon's thread...

What is your course of action when a dog has an off day? When does vomiting/diarrhea warrant a trip to the vet in your opinion? How about limping?

Unless I'm really sensing it's something major and the dog is still drinking water fine, I tend to wait a day or two and see if it resolves itself.

For instance one of the dogs might come up a bit lame. Unless they seem to be in pain (as opposed to just uncomfortable), I just restrict activity for 2-3 days and re-evaluate. If I see no improvement, we'll head to the vet to get it checked out.

With occasional vomiting or diarrhea, I chalk it up to a dog thing unless there are other symptoms that possibly point to something else. I'll fast them for 12-24 hours then gradually introduce bland food slowly changing back to their regular food.

So what's your normal course of action for things like this?

Great questions Mara. I agree with everything you said.

Barring explosive diarrhea, which if it continues, and/or vomiting more than once in a couple hour period, that for me would warrant a trip in to see the vet.

One thing that has worked well for me when sick is giving baited water consisting of saving the water from boiled chicken and allowed to cool, and I mix it with plain pedi-lyte.
A fast for 12 hours and then feed the boiled chicken and very soupy overcooked white rice. (Connie's recipes btw)

I also like to give a probiotic powder mixed in with canned pumpkin to mix in with the rice after the 24 hour fast.

Once my dog had continued explosive diarrhea and it ended up being Giardia.
Also, never wait when you have a puppy as they dehydrate very fast, I get right in to see a vet immediately with a pup.

I'm with you, Mara.

Unless the dog is in real pain, or ill to where I worry about poisoning, I give it a day or two.

We have only had three emergency vet trips. The first was when she was a puppy and I saw her swallow a chunk of sheet rock, the second is when she got a stick stuck in the back of her mouth and I couldn't get it out, and the third was last memorial day weekend when she suddenly came down with a terrible case of Pano and was in a great deal of pain.

That was the most horrible visit, even though it was the least emergency of any of the visits. She basicaly went lame in three limbs that morning. The poor dog was in such pain that I had to lift her into the car. By the time I got her to the vet I was in tears.

I also don't wait with a distended abdomen or inability to poop or retching or pacing or restlessness or even lethargy, combined with any other symptom(s).

Anything that even COULD be bloat, I don't wait.

Also, when the dog "just isn't right," beyond vomiting or pudding poop, I don't wait.

Or when there's blood in the poop or urine, or vomitus looks or smells like poop, or poop is gray or pale ....

Regular vomiting or diarrhea that don't persist, i just fast with fluids and then do the normal overcooked-rice snack-size meals.

Limping -- that's not always as simple. I had one who started limping because he had stepped on a bee (or something) and he was holding up that paw. By the time I got him into the vet's office a few blocks away, his heart was racing so fast and hard that I could feel and hear it, with him in my arms, and he was gasping.

But for the usual limping after play, etc., I pretty much do these:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Causes-of-Limping-in-Dogs http://www.quiksystems.com/dogs/dog-injury-and-the-vet.php to isolate the spot, as well as feeling for heat, and then call the vet with all the info unless I am convinced that it can wait for a day or two. I'm pretty big on gently applying frozen peas wrapped in a towel for a few minutes. Newer recommendations lean towards ice for 15 minutes and then off for 90 minutes rather than 10 off, 10 on.

JMO! I hope Dr. Betty and other pros chime in!

Limping- unless they are 3 legged lame, or I've seen a troublesome step/fall/twist/something traumatic I wait at least 3 or 4 days before deciding a vet trip is called for.

Vomiting- If a dog of mine vomits once I ignore it. If it happens a more then 3 times in a 24 hour period I'll take them in.

Diarrhea- I'll let it go 3 or 4 days, fasting after 1 day of diarrhea. (but I know I've got a dog who's prone to diarrhea) If I can't keep them hydrated by normal water intake/baited water, I'll give sub-Q fluids. If the dog isn't able to eat mushy rice and boiled chicken after a 24hr fast, I'll take them in.

I keep tramadol, metronidazole, acepromazine various wormers, and IV fluids at home, just in case.

Dogs are just like people, (IMO, of course) We all take missteps, twist an ankle, and wind up gimpy for a few days. Sometimes I'll get a flu bug and vomit once of twice. Eat something that my stomach didn't agree with, presto! Diarrhea. I give it time to resolve.
I'm a minimalist... working as a vet tech, I routinely see people spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars diagnosing dogs with a strained muscle, or a minor cold.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I also don't wait with a distended abdomen or inability to poop or retching or pacing or restlessness or even lethargy, combined with any other symptom(s).

Anything that even COULD be bloat, I don't wait.

Yes, I would like to add to this, I keep on hand, extra strength GasX or Phasyme to administer on the way to the ER Vet.
Just one small thing that might help while on the way.

Great posts Connie and Kelly! Great thread idea Mara!

I was going to ask my vet about gas-x on our next visit!

How much are you supposed to give them in the event that you suspect bloat?

Benadryl is also good to keep on hand. My dad lost one of his dogs to a wasp sting a few years ago.

I honestly would give at least the recommended dose for an adult, but only because with bloat, it is such a dangerous situation.
Having said that, I hope Dr Betty or Connie will see this and comment, as I consider them more qualified to answer that one.
That is a great question for your vet.

I'm also going to ask the vet for more tramadol to keep on hand. I used what was leftover of the prescription to keep her quiet while she healed from some minor bumps she took. Normal tweaks like Kelly was saying.

Without something like that, even a day of crate rest literaly makes her almost schizophrenic.

Demeanor is the #1 indicator for me.

I've seen Danke with some pretty foul diarrhea before, but if she's her regular, perky, silly self, I don't worry too much, and just treat the symptoms at home.

If she had diarrhea and is lethargic? That's usually a trip to the vet. Same for vomiting. Depending on the degree of vomiting and lethargy, it might be a hurried rush to the E-vet at 11pm.