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About Jana Connell RVT, CVT
Expertise
I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I cannot diagnose diseases nor will I try to. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I DO NOT do birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I also do not know much about reptiles, so post those to the reptile experts also. Thanks!
Experience
I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a nutritional consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina.
Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT.
Certified Veterinary Dental Technician
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Birds > Ask the Veterinarian > sick maltese
Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT
Date: 7/24/2008
Subject: sick maltese
Question
My 3 month maltese has kennel cough and is on antibiotics. I have to feed her myself, since she doesnt want to eat. Im feading her every 3 hrs and she's also on pedialite. My concerned is that she hasnt pooped all day today and I feel her stomach a little hard. Should I be concerned or will she eventually relieve herself soon??
Answer
In 28 yrs of being a vet tech I have never seen a dog so sick with Kennel cough that they had to be hand fed. Ever.
So I am wondering if that is all that is going on here.
If you are feeding her small amounts only throughout the day, she probably won't have a stool until tomorrow. When a dog doesn't eat, there is nothing to pass through the digestive system.
If her stomach is hard give her a little teaspoonful of pepto bismol and see if that doesn't help her pass some gas or move her bowels. You are probably feeding her too often also. She wouldn't eat normally every three hours but three times a day- morning noon and night- so that is the schedule you should feed her on.
I have never seen a kennel cough dog not eat either.
If she isn't eating on her own by tomorrow or the next day you need to call the vet and ask what is going on since that is just not normal.
Kennel cough is more of an irritation in the throat than anything else, it is the trachea that is inflamed. I know because I have had a form of it four times myself. It causes a honky cough and is self limiting, in other words it works itself out after a few weeks. It is contagious to other dogs but it is not infectious. The antibitoics are to prevent her from developing a secondary infection like pneumonia. Owners feel better when they can give something. There is no real treatment for kennel cough itself because it is a virus. Like our cold viruses, they just have to run their course.
So a dog not eating and so young makes me worry more about parvo. Keep an eye on her stool when she starts to go and cut back on your feedings a bit.
Let me know how she does in a few days.
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