Beyond what the emergency vet said it was, hemorrhagic gastroenteroitis, did the regular vet say any different? Do they have any other theories, fixes, etc.? It sounds pretty serious and the vets aren't really in the know about what is going on with your dog. I hope everything ends up alright.

Are they actually treating him? Or are they just providing supportive care with IV's?

Maybe you should get another opinion from a specialist in this case. Has your vet determined what the problem is exactly?

I really feel for you. It's terrible that they'd keep sending him home to you even though he's not getting any better

I'm no expert, but continued internal bleeding doesn't sound like something to sit on and not be concerned about. I wonder why they're not pursuing a definitive diagnostic and treatment more aggressively...

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasesh/a/HGEindogs.htm

http://www.vetinfo.com/dhge.html

As with humans, black stools ("melena") often mean there's an injury or illness in the digestive system.

Did the vet give an antibiotic?

Yes, they gave him an antibiotic. Treatment is exactly like the first link Connie gave. This diagnosis was made after a fecal float, blood test, and x-rays. It is more just supportive care. I'm sorry, I think I did say "treat" in my last post. They sent him home to go to the normal vets care. He had just left the ER before we took him to the normal vet and I'm sure he just thought that there wasn't any extra that needed to be done. Turbo had just gotton off IV's when he saw him and was better hydrated at the time. He wasn't very dehydrated when we took him back tonight, but he was NOT drinking and started back with the diarrhea. I called the ER (normal vet was closed) and they recommended that we bring him back. In this case I really feel that he is in good care. I'm glad it happened this way, cause I would rather him be at the ER under supervision than at the vets office alone. Honestly, I could also be leaving stuff out that I didn't hear or forgot. I haven't been in my right mind all day. I've just been trying to stay a leader for my dog and not hug all over him like I would really love to do.(OK, maybe we did some extra snuggling today) Poor little guy, his spirit wants to, but his body wants a rest.

My wife just got off the phone with the ER and they said he was doing good. They said his xrays had cleared up alot. He hadn't diarrheaed any yet either.

I thought this was funny and had to tell ya'll cause it let me know he is gonna' be O.K. My wife and I were in the lobby of the ER talking to the vet. In the back Turbo heard us talking and squirmed away from the tech and found the door that the vet had left cracked open. He blew through it into the lobby and jumped up on my legs. That really made me feel like total crap having to pick him up and give him back to the tech. Talk about sad eyes. The only thing that really bothers me about the repeat trips is that I don't want my pup to feel betrayed by me. Maybe I'm humanizing too much right now, but its kinda hard not to do.

 Quote: michael_wise

... I've just been trying to stay a leader for my dog and not hug all over him like I would really love to do.(OK, maybe we did some extra snuggling today) ... In the back Turbo heard us talking and squirmed away from the tech and found the door that the vet had left cracked open. He blew through it into the lobby and jumped up on my legs. That really made me feel like total crap having to pick him up and give him back to the tech. Talk about sad eyes. The only thing that really bothers me about the repeat trips is that I don't want my pup to feel betrayed by me. Maybe I'm humanizing too much right now, but its kinda hard not to do.

He won't feel betrayed. People are taking care of him and making him feel better, and then you will come back and "hug all over him."

That's our job, as tough as it is: to do the best thing for him, even if it's not the easiest thing.

He will be thrilled to be back with you. And he is with people who go into vet work because they love animals.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

The only thing that really bothers me about the repeat trips is that I don't want my pup to feel betrayed by me.

Look what he learned, though: That you always comes back.

Thanks for the links Connie. As usual, you've given me some interesting reads to think about

Michael, I'm happy that Turbo is feeling more like himself!
It sounds like the vets are doing everything right... sorry for questioning his treatment earlier on

If he's like any Jack Russell I've ever met, he'll win everyone over with his spunky personality and will own the place by the time he leaves. Hehe.

Michael,
Glad to here your dog is doing better. Sounds like Turbo
is starting to feel better already.

Yuko,
I also use a worm prevention (valuheart)during heart worm season. A couple people at work have lost dogs to heart worms so I take no chances there. For deworming I use allwormer and it kills two types of tape worms. No scrip needed if you buy it from Australia and I only need it about once every two years.
I found out about a month ago that the worm they get is a flat nonsegmented tape worm passed from animal to animal by way of crap. I think the source around here is goose crap. Evidently it is very common in goose crap and my town is full of geese. The non segmented flat worm was very hard to find info on
even on the net. I wish I would have booked marked that page!

Steve

You order it from Australia eh? Interesting

Please let me know if you can find the site you mentioned. We have a lot of geese (Canada geese) here as well so I'll look into it.

Thanks everybody. I don't have alot of dog savvy friends here, but this site makes me feel like I do. Ya'll help put my wife and I at ease about this.

Connie wrote
"Look what he learned, though: That you always comes back."

I didn't think of it that way. Makes me feel alot better. It is very tough to stay in the moment and not feel guilty or sad. You just see so many dogs in real life or on The Dog Whisperer that had one bad experience such as this and it changes them because the owners had a tougher time with it than the dog did. I just have to keep from doing that.

And Yuko as for questioning his treatment earlier, PLEASE do anytime I or anyone else has a problem. That made me question it as well and really start looking at how they diagnosed and how they were treating. By the end if me researching to the best of my limited ability I concluded that they were doing everything that I would want them to. Actually the longer post that I made about what they were doing was me going through a checklist to see how it matched up with the diagnose and treatment procedures that I found on the internet and in books at home. Don't apologize for making someone think.

Also, he is doing good this morning, but they would like to keep him one more night. I wonder if he really needs it or if they are keeping him up there and playing with him.