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I just got back from the vet. I have an 8 year old mastiff. She has always been in great health. She has a very high pain tolerance - broke her tail, didn't act like she even noticed, quick cut at groomer, walked around spreading gore and acted like she didn't notice.

Last night she was clearly distressed - panting heavily and pacing. I figured it was the stress of teh new environment so put her in her crate for the night. This morning, she didn't want food unless I brought it to her (she's highly food motivated). I came home to check on her at lunch adn she didn't even get out of her crate to greet me.

I just got back from the vet. They did a physical exam. It's not bloat (thank god). They don't want to do invasive tests on her as they're pricy and, well, invasive. So they gave her a steroid shot and some pain meds. I also left with referrals if she gets worse.

The vet told me that she may have injured her back and just need to heal. HOwever, it could be neurological, could be cancer, could be a myriad of things. Mastiffs don't live very long and when they go downhill, they go downhill fast.

I'm so worried and sad right now. There's nothing I can do but wait and see.

(((Hurts dog)))

I hope she's feeling better soon and doesn't require anything more then the shots she got.

Do Mastiffs have hip problems like other large breeds?

(((hurtbs)))

I hope it's nothing. I'll be sending good thoughts.

(((hurtbs)))

Hopefully it's something minor like she was stung by something outside.

My first thought was bloat too, how did the vet rule that out? Did she possibly get some food/trash that didn't agree with her? I know my golden would get all panty/pacing when he would have a trash snack, and it didn't agree with him.

I hope it's nothing serious. Mastiff's are awesome dogs.

Hope she feels better soon.

Did they mention anything about her thyroid? My BFF's dog has thyroid issues and when she's not regulated, she gets the way you described. (((hurtbs))) I hope she's feeling better soon.

Quite honestly, if it was bloat she would be gone already. She has no firm abdomen or other symptoms.

She didn't get into the trash. No visible stings or bugs.

Vet thinks it's either musculo-skeletal or bio-chemical.

ETA: The vet gave her a shot of steroids that should increase her thirst, but she still isn't drinking.

Mastiffs do have hip and joint problems, but she has had zero history of it, is a healthy weight, and it doens't appear to be a hip issue.

[This message edited by hurtbs at 3:07 PM, August 7th (Wednesday)]

Sending positive thoughts to you and your furbaby.

Sending mojo

Hugs,

K

Sending mojo

Hugs,

K

((((big lovable doggie))))

I hope she feels better soon.

((((poor puppy))))

Did they do blood work or a urine/stool sample? That can rule out/in certain things or at least point you in the right direction as to what it might be.

NO urine/stool as it's a walk-in clinic. She also hasn't been going to the bathroom since yesterday (Probably because she's not drinking).

They declined blood work until tomorrow. If she shows zero improvement, we do full blood work and xray. The reality is, any problem she has that would show up on blood work causing these symptoms - her age, would be untreatable. :/

Right now, she doesn't even want me to pet her. At all. Not even on her nose.

[This message edited by hurtbs at 5:07 PM, August 7th (Wednesday)]

That's more than likely true. Our big girl (mastiff) passed this year , cancer. Although she ate like a horse up until the end. The big dogs have such short lives.. so they pack a lot of love in a short time.

I hope she's not hurting and the vet finds something treatable.

eta- is there a clinic you can take her to tonight that can do the bloodwork? If she doesn't want you touching her, that may mean she's in pain

[This message edited by unfound at 5:11 PM, August 7th (Wednesday)]

I'll take her tomorrow for the bloodwork tomorrow unless she deteriorates. The emergency clinics are so expensive and they won't be able to really treat her unless it's...

She's eating a lot. She won't eat standing up, but she's eating. It's freaking me out that she won't drink.

It's killing me cuz I'm in a new town and don't really know the area yet. Her old vet was so great - the most loving vet I've eveer had (he would call personally to do follow ups). She had to go to strangers.

She's resting quietly - no whining, yelping, or simpering. Just very, very quiet.

This is breaking my heart.

[This message edited by hurtbs at 5:51 PM, August 7th (Wednesday)]

((Hurt and fur baby))

hurtbs, I'm so sorry you're going through this distressing situation with your dog. It's so upsetting when you know there's something wrong with them but they can't communicate it.

I'm surprised they didn't do an xray...unless my eyes skipped over that detail.

Wildly, wildly unlikely, but FWIW I'm mention that long ago I had a Golden Retriever (Jr. High age in dog years) in a partially furnished campus apartment.

She developed similar symptoms to your dog; it wound up being intestinal blockage due to pantyhose. I despise pantyhose, and they could not have been mine (I was single @the time, so no funny stuff going on).

My best guess is that she'd low-crawled under the middle of my bed and found (& ultimately devoured) them. She didn't start manifesting symptoms for several days post-consumption.

She had surgery to remove the blockage, and after recuperation she went on for another 11 years.

I hope this winds up being a worrisome -- but short-lived-- thing for your mastiff.

(((hurtbs)))

This walk in clinic did not have an xray and the vet did not think it was intestinal or digestive - she could hear active digestive sounds and there was no abdominal swelling or tenderness. Nothing to indicate a blockage of any type or intestinal perforation.

She told me to do the xray and/or bloodwork tomorrow if she did not improve and gave me a 24 hour place if it takes a drastic turn.

She is not in emergent distress - i.e. she's got no temp, no blockage, etc. What she was showing me and talking about was that they fold her toes under and all but 1 foot, she unfolded it right away. The fourth one was delayed. She said that is either musculo-skeletal (in which case, the regimen would be what she has right now - meds and rest, no cast), or bio-chemical, in which case we were talking cancer or something nerologically degenerative in which case x-ray would be worthless and waiting 24 hours for blood would not be detrimental).

It's one of those things where I could throw $600 at it right now (blood and xrays) and still have the same prognosis, or I could throw $100 at it today and wait 24-48 hours before proceeding (barring a major downturn) to see if she responds to treatment before throwing more money at it.

I hate to admit it but it is the best move forward - least amount of stress on her (they would have to drug her for the xray). It will also let me conserve funds and spend them more effectively on whatever treatment is necessary to proceed.

[This message edited by hurtbs at 6:35 PM, August 7th (Wednesday)]

Oh hurt,

So sorry about your baby. I hope she's just a little under the weather and is better soon. My first thought was pancreatitis, but they don't eat with that.

I had a husky that had bloat, and once you've witnessed the signs, you never forget them. I'm glad the vet ruled that out.

Not drinking has me stumped. Perhaps blood work will reveal something. Hugs to you both, and keep us posted.

Sending love and mojo for your doggie hurtbs. I hope she's just feeling under the weather and it's nothing serious