In my quick look at the site, I think I did read something about requiring a referral. That's probably to see a specialist, maybe not for the general clinic. I'm hoping you will have a good experience with the new vet you're seeing on Monday and they will have some answers for you or at least be able to direct you to the right specialist. Fingers crossed!

Just got home from work and my girl now has two huge lumps on the bottom of her belly that feel like they are full of fluid. The left back leg which was normal looking 8 hours ago is now as big as the right one and the toes as well. She looks like she's put on about 50 lbs but I'm sure it's all fluid.

She had trouble coming down the stairs so I'm going to block her off on the bottom floor so she doesn't have to do anymore stairs for now.

I'm starting to get really worried but I'm trying not to panic. I don't want to lose another dog so young!

Just spoke to my breeder and she recommends I take her to the Emergency Vet. Leaving now.

Fingers crossed!

Oh God! I feel so sorry for you both and other people who love your dog. Hope so much all will turn out well!

The emergency vet prescribed a diuretic, Furosimide (Lasix) and gave her a shot at the clinic to get her started. She gave me a prescription of pills to give Sasha, 2 tablets every 12 hours. These meds are making her pee about every 20 minutes so I put her in the furnace room and opened the back door out to the yard and left her like that for the morning. Thank goodness it wasn't super hot today.

Now I'm home from work and Sasha'a feet look much better. You can see all the individual toes now and the legs look much smaller now too slthough her belly still looks quite swollen. I made a sunshade shelter in my back yard using the fence, an x-pen and a silver shade thingy. Seems to work quite well in keeping her cooler.

The problem I'm having now is her not wanting to eat. She is supposed to take all her meds with food but she won't eat. I've even gone so far as to buy cans of tripe (her favourite all time treat, GAG!) and she still won't eat.

For now, I've been mixing her meds into some yogurt, backing her into a corner, straddling her, lifting her chin and scooping about 4 fingers full of yogurt and putting it down her throat.

I am quite impressed with this emergency clinic. I was expecting to pay quite a bit especially because it was a weekend but the visit only cost me $181.35 including the meds. We have an appointment with a regular vet on Monday evening and I'm still trying to get an ultrasound arranged. Keeping fingers crossed we can figure out what is wrong with my girl and fix it.

With the worsening of symptoms as you described, I would have done the same thing, taken her to the ER rather than wait another two days for your vet appointment. At least Sasha is getting a bit of relief from the swelling. I wonder if the loss of appetite is a side effect of the meds. I hope your vet visit later today goes well, and you can get the diagnostic tests done quickly. Hopefully, you will soon have some answers.

I'm thinking about this too, possibly side effects of the meds. I hope so much it is just this. Though it is of course a very unpleasant thing when you need to give her the meds without her wanting to eat. I wish you all good luck!

 Quote: Bob Scott

Excellent move!

I probably would have been thrown out or arrested over something like that......if I wasn't such a nice old grandpa!

DIITO, Bob !!! Never mess with "LOL"s (Little Ol' Ladies) or their Dogs either

I got Sasha to eat about a 1/2 cup of food last night and a small handful this morning. Her breath is absolutely horrendous and her tongue is a dark red. I'm not sure if this is part of the meds she is taking but wow, it smells like something died in her mouth.

The worst part of this is more emotional for me than anything else. I hate that I have to force feed her the meds and that she can't stay in the house with us. This is a dog who was always super happy when I got home and now when I go out in the backyard to check on her, she slinks away and tries to hide from me. Please tell me I haven't totally destroyed my relationship with her.

4 hours and 53 minutes until the appointment with our new vet.