Cephalexin, Benadryl, Vomiting, And Diarrhea

[KF_in_Georgia]

Jacey, 8 years old, has a sinus infection triggered by her allergy to grass pollen. Sneezing and some pink-tinged mucus, swollen lymph nodes.

 

Vet saw her Tuesday. She had routine lab work (it was time for both dogs to get their annual lab stuff); I don't know the numbers, but the office called Wednesday morning to say everything was fine. Vet prescribed Benadryl for the allergy, 500mg Cephalexin 2xdaily for the infection. She took her first dose Tuesday night on top of her dinner (1 cup of kibble) and pills; then Wednesday morning and evening, on top of her regular meals and pills. Again this morning (Thursday), on top of her regular meal and pills.

 

I came home tonight to vomiting and diarrhea (in her bed, on the living room carpet, and in two more rooms...and all over her). There was a small amount of mucus and blood with the diarrhea.

 

Jacey's regular pills: 1 chewable fiber choice wafer, one glucosamine, one Soloxine, one fish oil capsule--all that at each meal. Usually, in the evening there's a probiotic capsule, but I ran out of them earlier this week. She happily takes her pills inside a slice of turkey lunchmeat.

 

I have a call in to her vet, but I think I may not hear from him tonight.

 

She's had some water since I came home. I've cleaned the house, the bed, and her. She's been outside and peed normally. She appears interested in having dinner (she follows me to the kitchen), but I'm not sure what to give her.

 

I'm thinking I should give her kibble, Benadryl, and Cephalexin. Then, before bedtime, I can give her a kibble snack along with the fiber wafer, glucosamine, Soloxine, and fish oil. I also have restocked the probiotics, so I could give her that. (It's going to be a late night for me. "Before bedtime" means about 1 am.)

 

And I have generic famotidine (10mg), if that would be a good idea.

 

Both dogs are looking at me reproachfully. They want dinner of some sort, but I'm not letting Sam eat while Jacey goes hungry, so the sooner I get some advice, the sooner I can satisfy my starvlings.

 

(I had new vinyl flooring installed less than two weeks ago. Monday, Sam cut his foot and left bloody prints all over the new floor. And Jacey gave the floor a real workout today. The floor is doing well.)

 

(Jacey holding down the floor the first day it was installed.

[KF_in_Georgia]

Vet called. My proposed plan is fine: famotidine now. Dinner + antibiotic + benadryl in half an hour or so. (And I can give the other pills at bedtime if she's doing okay.) Tomorrow I swing by the vet's office for some metronidazole.

 

Poor baby.

[Batmom]

Might ask vet about a different antibiotic than Cephalexin. That's the most likely culprit. Most dogs get along with it just fine, but there are a few who don't.

[4My2Greys]

I hope the famotadine helps. Cephelexin did the same thing to Nadir when the vet put him on it for an infection. I had to stop after 2 days. He had vomiting and diarrhea so bad that he lost 5 lbs in that short time.

[KF_in_Georgia]

I had to force the famotidine down her throat. Then she wanted some water--which I let her have, because the package said to take it with 8 oz of water.

 

Now she's lying on a bed, eyes closed. She seems completely unaware that she's leaking a lot of urine (very watery urine). If I take her outside, she pees, then comes back in lies down, and leaks some more. She won't eat anything, and I'm not going to try to get anything down her--antibiotics or anything else. If she doesn't perk up in an hour or so, we may go to the e-vet.

[Batmom]

 

Hoping it is just a short-term upset from the meds.

[4My2Greys]

I too hope it is from the meds and she feels better soon.

[KF_in_Georgia]

When I gave her the famotidine, I gave it to her with a half-slice of turkey lunchmeat (the way she usually takes pills).

 

She just threw up...mangled turkey, but nothing visibly a pill. Then she drank more water. (I'm not putting a lot of water in the bowl, but when she threw up--and when she's leaking in her bed--she's losing moisture, so I'm trusting her to know when she needs something to drink.)

 

She's resting quietly right now. I need to stay up late (probably really late tonight) with some freelancing work, so I can keep a close eye on her. I don't think she's got anything left to throw up.

[hikinghounds]

Sorry to hear that Jacey isn't feeling well. I hope things start to clear up and she starts to feel better.

[KF_in_Georgia]

She's much worse. "Lethargic" doesn't begin to cover it.

 

She's still drinking water and peeing. Won't take meds. Pawing at her nose (those sinuses). Stands with her eyes closed, walks with them closed. Pupils are huge. We'll be at the vets when they open in an hour.

 

She hasn't pooped--or tried to--since this started, but I don't think she has anything inside her.

[4My2Greys]

Poor baby, I hope they can give her something that helps without upsetting something else. I'll be looking for an update on her later.

[AEB]

I would take her to the vet ASAP. I have no idea what this could all be from. Vomiting on the anti-biotic I could see but the urine leakage and other symptoms (Benadryl should dry her out). Something is wrong. I hope it's just the pills. How old is she? I hope things get better soon.

Edited August 19, 2011 by AEB

[AEB]

How is she doing? Any improvement?

[EllenEveBaz]

Holding your baby girl in our thoughts.

[KF_in_Georgia]

How is she doing? Any improvement?

 

 

We were at her vet's office when they opened at 8. They sent us straight to the ER, where Jacey's spending the night fighting Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia. Her platelet count dropped from 200,000 on Tuesday to 18,000 today. She's on prednisone to suppress her berserk immune system; she's also on a doxycycline IV in case this was triggered by a TBD. (A sample has gone out for a tick panel.)

 

In a little while, I'll go back to the hospital to check on her. They'll draw blood again at noon on Saturday and we'll get a better idea how the prednisone is working.

 

There's another thread going about this...

[AEB]

I hope things improve quickly. Kisses to Jacey.