Man.. I just had to read this thread the day my dog goes to get spayed. x_x

 Quote: Kimberly Bunk

Not sure how hard the dog was exercised or what part of the country you are from, but there is a possibility the dog was exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion which could lead to heat stroke. You may not want to run such a young dog, especially right after eating.

Kimberly

Nice call Kimberly, did not even think of that......definite possibility.

 Quote:

This morning I took my 5 month old GSD for a run after he ate breakfast. When we got home, I took him outside to pee and he put a piece of bread in his mouth, but I removed it before he ate it. As soon as we got here, he started tumbling around and shaking his head from side to side (like Stevie Wonder). He didn't want to drink water. He started to whine and bark as if saying he didn't feel well.

I am interested in more description of these symptoms (when and if you have time), and how long they lasted. My dog had a few weird "episodes" starting at 6 months that would be characterized by swaying, wobbling, high pitched long whining, inability to get comfortable, and occasionally pee dribbling or vomitting bile. "episode" lasting from 45min to 3 hrs. Dog completely normal before and after (generally would sleep after).

5 "episodes" in 7 months, free and clear for over a year now. Many tests,many vets, no diagnosis ever given/found. Most felt that although it seemed to have a neuro componant, seizures don't last 3 hrs. Onset diff. times of day, diff. seasons, dog never "got into anything".

I am always on the lookout for any dogs having had similar issues, I have yet to find any.

I know how horrible it feels to not know what is wrong with your dog and how much trust you put in your vets.

People here just want to make sure your dog gets the best possible treatment. Because they have a lot of experience dealing with vets, they just want to know all the details so they can follow along with the vet's thinking, and perhaps make some suggestions if they have had a similar experience.

You should always be comfortable with your vet's handling of you dog. Nothing wrong with asking why something is being done, or asking if there is a quiet place for your dog if that is what you want. You are paying the bills. A second opinion never hurts if you are not sure.

Please let us know if your pups condition has improved, so scarry for you.

Jennifer

 Quote: Joe Buhdee

They gave him a yellow liquid to swallow. I'm pretty sure it was for heartworm.

I feel like you are criticizing me for letting a vet do what he thinks is right to help my dog. I'm not a doctor and had no choice but to let him treat my animal because he was clearly sick at the moment.

Joe,
I apologize for it seeming as though this was criticism. I am in no way criticizing you, however, I am skeptical of the vets treatments, especially when you said that they didn't have a clue.
Treatments given for one thing may interfere with treatments given for another. And I would never perform routine treatments on a dog that was ill.
I am very protective of my dogs when it comes to veterinary care. Which is why I searched for a vet that would work with me and also would be open minded as far as how I raise and keep care of my dogs.

From your posts, it sounded as though the vet had no clue what was going on so they started firing meds at the dog and placed him in a stressful environment, when in all actuality, the dog should have been in a quiet atmosphere to help alleviate stress in order for him to get better.

Keep us posted on your findings.

Re-reading my post I see it is kinda "fishing and hijacking" to have listed my dog's symptoms. If anyone other than the OP has comments on the symptoms, perhaps they could PM me instead of disrupting this thread.

Very sorry,

Jennifer

I went to the vet and they moved the dog from the kennel to the examination room. He was trembling, so the vet asked me to look for the leash and walk him. When he was put on the floor, he started acting normal (stopped trembling, looked with more energy). The doctors 6 month old female Malinois was barking and my boy got interested. When they let the Malinois out, they started playing. It lasted for about 15 minutes.

I asked for the bill and it was $175. Unreal.

At least my pup looks fine. I gave him a chicken neck when we got home and some liver. He peed like a horse.

I'm not sure if it was heat stroke, since the blood test showed the eosinophils were high. But it was hot this morning. And I didn't push the dog. I let him run until he's tired.

He didn't drink water right after he finished exercising, which was my mistake. Last time he drank water was last night at around 8 PM. That's why I wanted them to put an IV right away. He still doesn't want to drink water.

Thanks all for your concerns. I got carried away thinking you were criticizing me. Re-read the thread and there was nothing of the kind.

I'll reply with his symptoms in a minute, Jennifer.

When we got home he started moving his head like he was Stevie Wonder. He couldn't walk straight because he was kind of falling to his side. I tried to give him water but he didn't want any.

I took him to my bed and turned the air conditioning on. At first he closed his eyes, but then it was evident he didn't feel well. He got up, but kind of fell to his side again. His head was still doing the Stevie Wonder move. He started barking and whining, but his tone was weak. I then decided to take him to the vet.

Hope this helps.

My dogs symptoms sound exactly like yours, except he didn't pee or vomit, and I didn't let them last that long. When I took him to the vet, his head was still wobbling.

Did they do any blood tests? Do you remember about his eosinophils levels? Or however they are called? My dogs tests were normal except for that one, which was at 3000 something. The vet said normal was between 500-1500.

 Quote: Joe Buhdee

I went to the vet and they moved the dog from the kennel to the examination room. He was trembling, so the vet asked me to look for the leash and walk him. When he was put on the floor, he started acting normal (stopped trembling, looked with more energy). The doctors 6 month old female Malinois was barking and my boy got interested. When they let the Malinois out, they started playing. It lasted for about 15 minutes.

I asked for the bill and it was $175. Unreal.

At least my pup looks fine. I gave him a chicken neck when we got home and some liver. He peed like a horse.

I'm not sure if it was heat stroke, since the blood test showed the eosinophils were high. But it was hot this morning. And I didn't push the dog. I let him run until he's tired.

He didn't drink water right after he finished exercising, which was my mistake. Last time he drank water was last night at around 8 PM. That's why I wanted them to put an IV right away. He still doesn't want to drink water.

Thanks all for your concerns. I got carried away thinking you were criticizing me. Re-read the thread and there was nothing of the kind.

Okay, I am really confused now....your dog was pretty ill by what you described, and then after a few hours the VET let the dog play fo 15 minutes with a Mal pup?????
I do not allow my dogs free access to water right after hard exercise, I give them a little at a time, especially when they are really hot. I will put the hose on thier chest and try to get them a little cooler before I allow them to drink a ton of water.

I also would not feed my dog right after coming home from the vets with a basically undiagnosed illness.

This is just my two cents......

Hey Joe,

Here is a link to the Merck Vet Manual, if you look under high eosinophil it says it may be common for Shepherds to have higher levels than other breeds. Without a normal baseline bloodtest result I would just say the high eosinophil level is normal and not much to worry about.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/150214.htm

Glad to hear your dog is doing better.

Kimberly