HELP Westie Sick

[Big Dave]

I hope some one can direct me here. our Westie has gotten sick. She is 3 year old, full blood, 15lbs, Pale gums, has not eaten well today, drinks water and spits up in a while, Sleeping a lot in the last three days, very lathargic having muscle twitches

[Ruby]

Have her checked asap for hook and whip worms. I almost lost two of mine. They get the whips from cayotes. The vet said they can get them even if the cayotes don't come in the yard. If they get close to the fence they can get infected.

Both kinds of worms attach to the stomach and intestines and suck the blood from the dog.

[Big Dave]

I called the vet right before I posted on here. It is really hard waiting for him to call back. She is twitching some like muscle spasims. Her gut is rolling. Can dogs get the flu?

[Ross]

Definative help would need more details but the symptoms would justify a vet call ASAP. Worms are a good thought but not the only possibility. Poisoning comes to mind too.

[GrannyCarol]

I missed this, how is your dog doing?

One thing that came to mind for me is the possibility she's eaten something that is stuck in her intestines too. I had an English Setter pup swallow a rock the size of a golf ball - because dogs are meant to eat bones (which they can digest), they can swallow pretty sizable things that will lodge in the intestines. They had to do surgery to get it out, he was also drinking a little water and spitting it up. He was in a lot of pain too.

I'm glad you called the vet - I'd consider those symptoms urgent.

[Haven]

Please get her to the vet asap. I just had 2 of my Westie clients die this year (was either Cushings or Addisons, I forget) I am assuming they are genetically predisposed to a few things that should be checked for. They had similar symptoms.

Hopefully it is something minor...

[Big Dave]

It is now 9A Thursday and have been up all night with her at the vet's. Let me say thank yall for the response. I took her to town to the emergency animal clinic. My vet called while I was in route. I then took her back to his clinic. Long story short the diagnosis is antifreeze posioning. She was at death's door when I got her to the first clinic and they gave her a slim to none chance of survival. I have never seen a decline like that in man nor beast in such a short and rapid time. They did do a test for Addisons and it got ruled out. She can sit up a little as of 8A but is not out of the woods yet.
I have not worked on my own vehicle in 20 years so where did the antifreeze come from? Things are afoot here and it is VERY disturbing. Again thank yall for the support and I will post later as to the progress.

[belladulcinea]

Oh dear! I hope she recovers, we had one that did. I'd be looking around for where she got it!

[Minelson]

I'm sorry Big Dave Do you think it was intentional? I'll be praying for your pup!

[GrannyCarol]

Thanks for the report, what an awful thing! I sure hope she makes it. Very glad you got her to the vet.

[Big Dave]

9:35P Thursday: She is lifting her head. The antidote seems to be working and so are the prayers. We just do not know what she got into. There is no antifreeze around our place and the only people who are close only came over once in the last 4 years. No reason for them to poison her. We are all still puzzled. Her temp is still low, but her stool has coagulated. We are also grateful she is responding to treatment so far. I will keep this post up till she is out of the hospital.

[Molly Mckee]

Please let us know how she is. You are in our prayers.
Could a car, truck or tractor be leaking or have overheated? Several years ago several dogs in our area were poisoned by anti freeze mixed in meatballs and thrown into peoples' yards.

[Bearfootfarm]

I have not worked on my own vehicle in 20 years so where did the antifreeze come from?

It doesn't take much, so even a small leak could do it

Glad to hear she's improving

[Runestone]

I hope your little Westie continues to recover...good thoughts going to you and her.

[Big Dave]

UPDATE; Sadie the Westie is standing up and eating. She is still dopey from the antidote that has been administered. Her temp is normal and has stayed that way for the last twelve hours.She is resting.
Anti freeze or tea tree oil. I have narrowed it down to tea tree posioning. My son did not crate her when he went to class and she got into the trash in the bathroom. She ate a Q tip that had tea tree oil on it. I feel bad but am delighted she will come home. Precautions are now in place that were not before. I knew about the antifreeze but not the tea tree.
We are continuing on the drip to flush her system and she is expected to fully recover by tomorrow in time for my son's homecoming from Guam. YIPPIE!

[GrannyCarol]

Oh, I'm glad you figured it out and no one tried to harm her! I had no idea tea tree oil was that toxic, if I get some I'll be very careful with it.

I'll bet you are happy she is doing so well AND your son is coming home - cool!

[Runestone]

That's great news...and thanks for the tip about tea tree oil - I have it in my house as well and my dogs don't normally get into the bathroom garbage but now I'll make sure to dispose of anything with tea tree oil differently.

[Ravenlost]

Oh thank goodness she is improving. I was reading each post with growing dread...was so glad to read that she's getting better.

[fishhead]

I'm glad to hear that she's improving.

[beccachow]

Oh, what a roller coaster to read. So glad she is doing well!!