Antibiotics (Trimacare 80) and my boy

Hi, I've just joined and wanted to share something with you all.
My 9 year old staffy boy has been lucky enough to be healthy all of his life - until a month ago when he just became lethargic - really lethargic.
We took him to the vets because we weren't convinced it was 'old age' as he had shown no signs of ageing!
He is a very energetic and boisterous boy but one day he woke up and was just lethargic, no appetite and looking very sorry for himself.
Anyway, took him to the vets and he gave him an adrenalin shot which perked him up, but next day the same again.
Back to the vets and he had a temperature. Gave him another shot and sent back home. Next day lethargic and not eating.
Back to the vets the next day and this time they kept him in, put him on a drip, did tests.
Turns out he has something wrong with his liver - no idea what caused it, but his liver count was through the roof.
They kept him in for 3 nights and sent him home with meds for his liver condition plus antibiotics - Trimacare80.
OMG what an improvement - in 2 weeks he was virtually back to his old self.
But then on Saturday, lethargic again and back to square one!
Back to the vets, blood test, and more meds - repeat prescription and told to come back in a week - that he will have good days and bad days!
I said I thought his new bout of lethargy was down to the meds, but vet disagreed.
My boy had weepy eyes, dandruff, weepy nose, lethargic and weak back legs.
Anyway, we fed him his meds fr another day and he seemed to be getting worse, so yesterday I took him off the antibiotics - and I can see an improvement already.
Back to the vets today and told them what his symtoms were and what I'd done - and they agreed it was best to keep him off the antibiotics!!
Look, I know my boy, and I couldn't understand why on Friday he was like his old self - totally, and Saturday he looked like he was at deaths door again.
This would have been his 3rd week on the Trim80, which just seemed too long.
I'm hopeful he will continue to improve now I've stopped poisoning his system.
Has anyone else had any issues with these antibiotics?

You are so right as yes we do know our own dogs, I hope he continues to improve now. I have had no experience with these meds so wouldnt know. When you have a mo pop along and say hi here
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

Hi ya, welcome to the forum. I'm more surprised that the vets didn't seem to take your query in to consideration sooner. Everyone can be intolerant to any drug, human or dog, so find that a little odd and the fact that you know him and his actions better than anyone.

Have they come to a conclusion about the liver ? Antibiotics probably aren't the the cure for that so hopefully they are investigating further. I'm not generally a vet knocker but if your not happy with what you've been told don't feel worried about getting a second opinion.

I hope he feels a whole lot better soon

Thanks guys, I hate not seeing the same vet as well - each time, different vet, repeat the story again. The one that gave me a repeat prescription didn't listen to me at all - grrr, so frustrated with him, but knew I couldn't keep feeding the ABs to my boy for another week!! He's also on meds for his liver - but he needs those. We're praying he'll improve over the next few days.
I wanted to post this because other people may have the same query - I know yesterday I was trying to research the trim80 online, and couldn't find anyone else who had experienced anything like this. So, hopefully, someone may find this useful.
We all love them like our babies otherwise we wouldn't be here -right?

Absolutely and thank you for the info am sure it will be of use to many in the future

thanks for the info

I'll keep you posted on how my boy gets on - we're praying for an improvement x

Antibiotics can work miracles and they can cause a lot of problems.  I
know this from taking some recently myself.  Never again, I ended up
really ill and needing hospital treatment.  But I could say that the
pills were making me ill, your dog can't!  You know your dog better than anyone and had a sixth sense that told you the tablets were not right for him.

I really hope that with your loving care he continues to improve.

Still really worried. It's been 72 hours now since we stopped the Trim80 - small improvements - weepy eye, weepy nose and dandruff have stopped. Still no appetite - we're still force feeding him chicken! He has no strength in his limbs - really difficult for him to even get out of bed this morning - horrible to see. Vet said could take 4-5 days for the tablets to come out of his system, but why are his muscles/joints seizing up now?? I'm tempted to stop the Destolit - his liver tablets - cos there is nothing else going in to his sytem that could be affecting him like this. Really confused/worried/upset. feel so utterly useless, hopeless and helpless :'(

Oh no, I would have expected to see more improvement. They tend to bounce back fairly quickly in my experience. I would be cautious about stopping the Liver meds without further vet advice.

How is he today ?

With the heaviest of hearts, we had to make the decision yetserday at the vets - they scanned him and found masses all over his little body organs. He looked so sad and panting like crazy. Anyway, we let him go at 3.30pm, and now we're wondering how we will ever get over this.

I'm so, so sorry. Really can't imagine what you're feeling. Give yourself time, and use the forum as much as you would like for support! Xx

Thank you x

I'm so very sorry to read this, run free at Rainbow Bridge little Fella

They are such a huge part of our lives and to lose them so suddenly is heartbreaking, my sincerest condolences

My heart really does go out to you.  I'm so very sorry for your loss,
you must be going through shock and disbelief at the moment.

If its any comfort, think of your original post where you said that
your 9 year old staffie boy had a completely healthy life until a
month ago.  Added to the fact that he was so much loved and you
proved that by your final decision, we can none of us ask or give anything
more.

Take care  

Thank you all so much for your kind words, they are very comforting x

You did your best and at the end you were there for him to the very end. I cant imagine what you are going through but would just like to say if I were a dog, i would want you as owners

Thank you all for your lovely and kind words.
I don't know when the pain stops, it's still very raw right now.
From the moment we wake up, he isn't at the side of the bed waiting for a stroke, or there's no wet nose in my face telling me it's time to get up.
That's hard.
We're coming to terms with it slowly by realising that in fact, this was the best way for him to go - he was the Alpha male wherever he went.
He would have hated to have been ill long term - he would have hated losing his faculties one by one and slowly moving down the pecking order in the local dog community.
This was the best thing for him - a quick, sharp, shock illness that didn't hang around.
We still feel as though we have been robbed - robbed of at least a few more years - we were totally unprepared for this.
We're taking comfort where we can - we have like a million photos of him on the computer which we are going through the best ones to print.
Loads of videos as well.
I didn't realise that I was always shoving the camera in his face - but I'm very happy now that I did.
I recommend getting your camera out now and snap away at your furbabies.
Thank you again for your lovely words. Rachael. x x x

I'm so sorry, Rachel. Although he has gone in body he will always be with you.

You are so right about photos, my images of dogs and other animals past and present are amongst my greatest treasures.

I'm having a terrible day today, and looking through photos is not helping me. I cannot stop crying, just tears rolling down my face all the time. It's so unfair x