My dog Terra had a swollen ear flap yesterday, we took her to the vet and found out we have another serious problem. Her red blood cells are way, way, down. She had little (darn forgot what they are called)..oh petekia (not sure of spelling) pin prick size blood dots under her arms and on her ear flaps. They did tons of blood tests on her and tomorrow I am awaiting the results and go to the vet early in the morning. She is on prednizone right now. Her condition could be caused by many reasons and I hope we can narrow that field tomorrow morning. It could be immune related, she could have cancer, toxins, anemia. The toxins remind me of what happened with my dog Cody a year and a half ago. They found no toxins in him but he was very ill and was in the hospital for a week. It took 6 more months to bring him back to himself. We are keeping Terra quite and in her crate during the day. She can't be bumped or played with, she needs to remain calm.

Has anyone else faced this challenge with their dogs? What advise can you give me?

Thanks sharon

 Quote: Sharon Empson

My dog Terra had a swollen ear flap yesterday, we took her to the vet and found out we have another serious problem. Her red blood cells are way, way, down. She had little (darn forgot what they are called)..oh petekia (not sure of spelling) pin prick size blood dots under her arms and on her ear flaps. They did tons of blood tests on her and tomorrow I am awaiting the results and go to the vet early in the morning. She is on prednizone right now. Her condition could be caused by many reasons and I hope we can narrow that field tomorrow morning. It could be immune related, she could have cancer, toxins, anemia. The toxins remind me of what happened with my dog Cody a year and a half ago. They found no toxins in him but he was very ill and was in the hospital for a week. It took 6 more months to bring him back to himself. We are keeping Terra quite and in her crate during the day. She can't be bumped or played with, she needs to remain calm.

Has anyone else faced this challenge with their dogs? What advise can you give me?

Thanks sharon

Petechiae?

I think I have a couple of saved sites on this symptomatic bleeding disorder (I think it is, unless it's trauma-related).

I'll look.

I hope you can be calm and upbeat, as hard as I know that will be. I'm so sorry that you and Terra are facing this.




eta

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/terminology/g/G_petechia.htm

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_dg_petechaiae_ecchymosis_bruising


Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/25/2011 02:21 PM)
Edit reason: eta

I've heard of it at my vets office. Other then that, I don't have any experience with it. My prayers are with you and Terra. Hopefully it will be something easily fixed, and she will be back to her normal healthy self.

It sounds like your dog is low on platelets, so she is bleeding. Good for you to notice and attend to the hematoma in the ear so quickly. Rat bait is a big cause of this in house dogs, but there are naturally occuring platelet disorders too.
ITP can be a terrible foe. I wish you the best. Hopefully they gave her some vitamin K, the rat bait antidote, as well.

They did treat her with vitamin k just in case. If you have read my past posts you know that our neighbor poisons squirrels, mice and rats.I have talked to her repeatedly about it but she just doesn't get it. We have about 2 feet separating our yards, with two chain link fences between us. So, I guess it is possible she could have gotten some. But there is nothing we can do about it. Jerry and I are trying to save up so that we can get a solid fence to go between our properties. But we can't do that yet. Terra is 3 years old. adopted at one.
I will be glad when tomorrow is over so I know what we are dealing with. I don't want to extend her suffering, but I do not want to sell her short either.
I am trying to learn all about her blood problems. Her gums are a little pinker today and I noticed she does not have the little blood dots on her ears anymore, but still has them on her arm pits.
Thank you for your prayers, we need them. Most of our finances went to Cody when he became really ill. He spent 7 days in the hospital it cost a huge amount.
Now we no longer have the amount of funds we used to have.
We covet your prayers. sharon

Squirrels and mice/rats go over/under and around any fence you can build. Poisoned rodents are easy to catch and foolish, often seeking water,wander aimlessly, pay no attention to dogs or cats. Likely the poisoning (if this is the cause) is from eating poisoned critters, not the poison itself. If this is the cause weekly treatment with oral Vitamin K
obtained at a health food store could eliminate your troubles. Perhaps you could cultivate a relationship with the neighbor, find out when she is baiting, ask her to use a warfarin type poison, and buy the antidote.
This issue is HUGE in the country, on farms, where everyone poisons. An easy fix if you know what's going on.

Sharon, I just wanted to say that I'll be sending positive vibes Terra's way.

I've talked with her many times. She uses the stuff you can buy at lowe's. She just doesn't get it that it is dangerous. she told me the other day her dog was sick, probably got into a little rat poison, but she is ok now. I told her how horrible it is for the dog and how she would not want to see the symptoms of poison in her dog. She just has a different mind set, she didn't get it. She still doesn't get it.
I can't reach her. I have given up. We are sick of this. However, I am not sure it was a toxin that got terra. We will find out in the morning. I am heart sick about this. If things are too expensive or she is too sick, I may have to put her down. We are crushed but hoping against hope.
Sharon

Sharon, I'm so sorry to hear of Terra's illness. I'm sorry I don't have any advice on the subject, but I want you to know my thoughts are with you and I hope everything will turn out okay.

Cheri: Thank you. I appreciate it. I am so very sad. It is great to know others are caring with me. Sharon