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regarding my year old golden retreiver we started him on

Sent to Pet Experts January 7 2006 at 1:49 PM
   

Regarding My 7 Year Old GOLDEN RETREIVER:
We started him on a medication for diarrhea and it has made him like a drunk man. Falling down always sleeping and won't hardly wake up to eat or drink. We began this 10 days ago and since have had him under VET care for three days with IV's. Now I have him home and he is just as bad still.
The medication was taken with another med for seizures. We stopped both meds after 2 days of this type of reaction from the dog.
1st Medication: Metronidazole 500 mg 2 tablets twice daily for the diarrhea
2nd Medication: Phenobarbital 65mg 2 tablets twice daily for the seizures
What else can we do?
His weighs about 128 pounds and it is hard to move him around just to make him wake up enough to drink some water. His kidneys are still working but no bowl movement in 2 days. But he is not really eaten anything in 2 days either.
I am so worried, I do not know what else to do for him. Should I just let him keep sleeping? Wake him every 4 hours to try to make him drink liquids?
Please help me!
Waiting to hear from you
Darlene Corbett Littleton, Colorado



Optional Information:
Age: 7; Male; Breed: Golden

Already Tried:
Took him off all medication. 2 days of IV's.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $10
Info Request
January 7 2006 at 1:55 PM (6 minutes and 6 seconds later)
         
Was he on the phenobarb previously for seizures? If so for how long? Did they do any bloodwork to check liver and kidney function?

Holistic Wellness Care
Dr Andrea -- Veterinarian -- 97% Positive Feedback on 380 Pet Accepts
18+yrs veterinary experience with cats, dogs, horses, livestock, owner of holistic wellness clinic
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January 7 2006 at 1:59 PM (3 minutes and 56 seconds later)
         
Dr. Andrea

No he just started the seizures a couple of weeks ago. So this was the first dose of medication.
Also the first time for the diarrhea medication also. They did blood work last week when we took him in. Said everything was normal.
This is so frusterating. He acts just like a drunk person who just wants to sleep it off.
Thanks Darlene
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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January 7 2006 at 2:19 PM (20 minutes and 33 seconds later)
         
Dr. Andrea
We had just changed dog food when we noticed the first seisure. Do you think this could have caused something like this?
He has always been so normal. The diarrhea was not normal for him either.
I am worried that by just waiting for this medication to leave his body, that we are letting him just fade away. I feel like we should be doing something more. The VET here thinks he is having an allergic reaction to the Metronidazole?
I wonder if by having the two drugs together we have done brain damage?
Please Help.
Darlene
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
January 7 2006 at 2:28 PM (8 minutes and 57 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
What dog food did you switch to? Was it a fast change or gradually over a week or so?

The dosage of the phenobarb (1mg/lb q12h) and metronidazole (10mg/lb q12h) is within the usual dosages given initially, however any animal can have variable response to any medication, either overly sensitive like your dog or under responsive. The combination with the metronidazole may have amplified the effect if he was prone to sensitivity, altho metronidazole is not known to potentiate the effects of the phenobarb. The phenobarb can actually decrease the effectiveness of the metronidazole. I asked about bloodwork because poor liver function may decrease the clearance of the phenobarb and metronidazole, but if everything checked out OK, this probably isn't the issue.
Sleeping it off under your supervision may be the only thing that can be done along with offering him water. If he won't drink he may need more IV fluids. I would have his bloodwork checked again this week sometime just to be sure things are still OK.
Did he have multiple seizures before starting medication? If not, it may be an option to withhold medication to see if he ever has another seizure (some dogs have one and never have another one again).

Edited by harmonyvet on January 7 2006 at 2:30 PM

Holistic Wellness Care
Dr Andrea -- Veterinarian -- 97% Positive Feedback on 380 Pet Accepts
18+yrs veterinary experience with cats, dogs, horses, livestock, owner of holistic wellness clinic
Reply
January 7 2006 at 2:38 PM (10 minutes and 8 seconds later)
         
Dr. Andrea
We changed quickly not realizing the effect it would have on the dog, ie: the diarrhea
We had always used IAMS or Science Diet then just for cost reasons changed to PURINA. Now I have gone back to the orginal IAMS.
I just think it is strange for a perfectly normal dog to start these falling down foaming at the mouth and whinning seizures for no apparent reason?
So you think to just let him sleep it off is fine? Can I let him sleep 8 hours or more over night? Then just wake him during the day about every 4 hours?
It just feels like if I did not wake him every 4 hours or so he would slip into a coma?
After your response I will certainly accept and THANK YOU for you quick response.
Darlene
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
January 7 2006 at 2:54 PM (16 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
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Dr Andrea -- Veterinarian -- 97% Positive Feedback on 380 Pet Accepts
18+yrs veterinary experience with cats, dogs, horses, livestock, owner of holistic wellness clinic
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January 7 2006 at 3:09 PM (14 minutes and 34 seconds later)
         
Dr. Andrea
Thank You So Much For All Your Help!
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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January 7 2006 at 3:10 PM (59 seconds later)
         
Dr. Andrea
I accepted the answer off the last email. So the payment was made.
Thanks Again
Darlene
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January 7 2006 at 3:11 PM (56 seconds later)
         
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Dr Andrea -- Veterinarian -- 97% Positive Feedback on 380 Pet Accepts
18+yrs veterinary experience with cats, dogs, horses, livestock, owner of holistic wellness clinic
Reply
January 7 2006 at 3:15 PM (4 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
Dr. Andrea
Just knowing another Dr's opinion helped put my mind at ease. I will call my VET on Monday and make an appt for Sammy to have his blood checked again.
Thanks for being a part of this type of online service! You helped me sleep better tonight!
Darlene
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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