vitamin b for weak dog?

waygr00vy · #1 12/10/06, 07:54 AM

I posted this in the pet forum, but I am usually on here and thought you guys might have a better idea....I have a hound dog i rescued a couple of weeks ago, he was in really bad shape, dehydrated, exhausted, and didn't even have the energy to drink. I squirted water into his mouth with a syringe to hydrate him , and after almost 2 days of sleeping and barely moving, he began to get much better. A few days ago he was just as happy and energetic as the other dogs. Well, he snuck out and took off the other day and was gone for 1 1/2 days. I had put a tag on his collar so yesterday someone called, they had found him, and brought him back. The thing is, he is just as bad as when we had first picked him up, and he hasn't been gone that long. Just lies there, will not get up or eat or drink. Is there anything I can do, short of going to the vet (it is sunday and really can't afford emergency vet). I have vitamin b complex for goats and cattle, is that ok for dogs? I certainly don't want to make anything worse. Anything else that will help give him enough energy to want to eat and drink on his own? I tried putting a little karo syrup in the water...he is doing a tiny better than last night. Thanks a bunch!

Bearfootfarm · #2 12/10/06, 08:09 AM

Have you wormed him? Check his gums to see if they are pale. You can worm him with Safeguard at 1 ML per 5 lbs, 3 days in a row.

waygr00vy · #3 12/10/06, 08:13 AM

His gums are not very pale, they actually look pretty good. He went to the vet a little over a week ago and got all his shots plus she wormed him. Also tested for heartworms and he was neg...He is definitely underweight but i am really surprised he relapsed after only 1 1/2 days. He looks like he dropped a lot of weight in the short time also.

Tricky Grama · #4 12/10/06, 08:34 AM

I would guess that it's too soon for him to go that long w/o food & to be running like he probably was. If you've had him checked by the vet & he's not anemic, just feed him, love him & hope he doesn't take off for days again!

Patty

mpillow · #5 12/10/06, 08:36 AM

My mom's kitty went off his food for a few days and he was lethargic and the vet gave him an IV and b-complex....yogurt is something else you might offer. Her kitty was better quickly.

fishhead · #6 12/10/06, 10:25 AM

Dogs and goats are different and the reason for giving vitamin B is probably different.

Is it possible there is a bitch in heat close by? Our dog disappeared for several days once. He came back skin and bones and slept alot. Then off he went again. It turned out someone had a bitch in heat about 1 mile or more away.

waygr00vy · #7 12/10/06, 01:21 PM

Well, i broke down and took him to the emergency vet. They did a blood test and he was definitely anemic (which i kind of figured because he came back COVERED in fleas and ticks). They gave him an antibiotic shot, and wanted to do all these other tests but the tests alone would have run me $350, thats before treatment. I am going to take him to my regular vet tomorrow, the emergency vet gave me some blood samples for them to send off...thinks he may have some sort of tick disease or something else weird going on. The weird thing is he won't even eat or drink...not even wet dog food. Hopefully he'll be feeling better tomorrow...

tinknal · #8 12/10/06, 01:37 PM

I had a hound like this. He had a ton of hunt in him but was dumb as a post. He would take a powder and literally run until he dropped (usually on someones steps LOL). Then he would sleep 3 days and be ready to go again.

As far as B12, rumenants synthasise B12 in their gut so anything that interupts their digestion can leave them deficient. Dogs get it in their diet so if they are getting good grub they shouldn't need a supplement, but I don't believe it would hurt.