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I need help. I’ve got an 8 year old allergic bichon with flaky skin almost like dandruff all over his little body. The vet recommended I use Etiderm shampoo. Been there, done that. As of one week, I’ve also been using a product called Dinovite, which is like a vitamin supplement. I haven’t seen much of a difference yet. I’m hoping to be able to use a home remedy rather than going back to the vet again. I know I have to give everything some time to work, but I just feel so bad for him. He just seems to be so uncomfortable, not to mention keeping me awake in the evening by his on and off scratching. I have put a little hydrocortisone cream on his little groin area because it’s not real hairy. It did help, but I’m not sure how I can put that on his skin without shaving the poor kid!

So I’m stumped…
Eva
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I have had several animals that have had the same problem. One I have to use prednisone from the vet but use it very sparingly as too much prednisone can cause problems. She is a large lab and the vet says it is a fungus. She only takes the meds once a week and it works wonders. You might also try putting a tablesthingy of Wesson Oil in your dogs food. There is also a product on the market for the skin and coat called Linotone which is wonderful for skin problems. Linotone can be bought at a pet store. I do suggest that you take a vets advice as the dog sounds like he is very uncomfortable.
dogs4all
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Just curious.. are you using a hypoallergenic food?
Many food allergies show up as itchy skin.
libbymae
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Hi all , I just read your post and will be going to the pet store and getting Linotone for my shep. maybe that will help her with the itchy skin. I hate yelling at her to stop scratching but she does it all the time. I feel so bad for her, I know I would be miserable if I had to scratch like she does. Thank you for the help.
lil-things
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If your dog has already been checked out by a vet, some kind of oil is really great at helping out flaky, dry skin. It’s worth a try.
redfire
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Eva
Have you tried giving your dog vitamin E ? it helps with skin problems.
if your dog’s anything like our’s you ‘ll have to rap it in a piece of sandwwich meat.
H.B.G
Big_Dogs_Rule

My big 9 year old dog excessively pants and drools. His forelegs and chest are constantly soaked. Any Ideas?
ortell6
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Some breeds are known for excessive salivation, and all dogs will pant heavily in high heat and humidity. If you feel your dog is doing either to an extent that is out of normal range for his own behavior, you should take him to your vet to be checked out.

All the best,

Tempest

my cat is dribbling all over the place he has 2 little red patches on his tongue, which are bald…(as in have none of them little spiky things on them) and his breath is realy bad, he seems fine but is not eating as much food as he normly does…..anyone have any idea what this could be?…..if it dont get better in a few days i will go to the vets
galileo
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Sounds like he could potentially have ulcers in his mouth which could be from numerous things. Are you noticing any other sores around his lips? Or on his face?

You mentioned there is a change in his appetite. My guess would be because it’s painful to him to eat. I would take him to the vet to have it looked at and have him put on some meds to help relieve the discomfort and prevent further infection.
hscvt
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I agree with the previous post. It could potentially be serious. You need to take him to the vet as soon as possible. It could be ulcers or some sort of tooth root abcess. If his breath has a bad odor to it (and it is worse than usual) then that probably means there is some sort of infection in his mouth.
redfire
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I agree too. It could be a burn, too, either from heat (hot food?) or some sort of chemical. Or it could be …
Definitely time for a vet visit.

Hope he’ll be okay!
For_the_dogs

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All the symptoms you describe could indicate a kidney problem too. He needs to go to the vet now. It is not going to get better by itself.
suebgone

My 6 year old cat Trouble has been sounding like Darth Vader for the last couple of weeks. In September I took her to a new vet (I recently moved) for skin allergies. He gave her a shot, this was the first time she had been given a shot for her allergies. Towards the beginning of August I rushed her to the ER vet for an asthma attack (according to him her tongue was purple and the roof of her mouth was blue but to tell you the truth I will never go back there because the vet just wasn’t awake?? or something) He gave her two shots (the first he just jabbed in there and she actually flinched and cried and I pretty much told him that wasn’t acceptable. Trouble has never flinched or cried at a shot before). They were both for her attack. When day arrived I call and went to the new vet I had choosen and he gave her some really strong antibiotics for a cold but said she wasn’t weazing or anything. I gave her the medicine for two weeks. When I called back he wanted to do x-rays and a cardio-ultrasound. I just moved, I can’t afford it. So, instead, I continued with the children’s benadryl that he said I could give her. Today she is playing (quite intensly), eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, everything she would normally do but she continues to sneeze and snort and have drainage in her eyes. I have found that if I give her the benadryl daily she improves. Does anyone know of something else I can give besides Benadryl? She really hates it. I am going to be taking her to the vet as soon as I get paid but that will be a while. Any advice? Thanks.
LadyDarya
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Try putting her in a carrier on your bathroom floor with the door closed for 20 mins twice a day while the shower runs hot. The steam from the shower should clear her sinuses and help her breathe easier.

Also, ask your vet if it might be advisable to give your cat L-Lysine. You can buy it in the vitamin section of any drug store, crush a tablet, and mix it with 1/4 can of canned cat food once a day. It’ll help boost her immune system. I have a cat with a chronic herpes infection in his eyes, but 500 mg of L-Lysine daily keeps the infection under control.

I hope Trouble’s troubles resolve quickly and completely.

Tempest

Hello, our lab has developed some strange hypersensitivity along his back in the past two days. If touched in a single spot along the middle of his spine (as one would press a doorbell quickly), it seems that the surrounding muscles contract. If rubbed, he will start kicking one of his hind legs as if here were being rubbed on his belly. This interferes with his ability to walk or stand. He does not wag his tail while touched or rubbed, but seems normal and happy at all other times. We have also noticed some nasty sores (the largest about 1/3 inch in diameter, total of 7 or 8 sores in a 3 square inch area) just between his neck and where his front shoulders meet. The sores do not seem to have a direct relationship to the sensitivity, but since they are a recent development I thought I would include them here. Does anyone know what may be causing this, or if we should worry? We have not found any fleas, although he does seem to be scratching a bit more than normal. Thanks for any info.
houston
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This sounds like something your vet should be evaluating. The sensitivity might be a spinal or neurological problem of some sort, perhaps caused by an injury or mismovement. The sores could be anything: allergic reactions, bug bites, or injuries of some sort. They may or may not be related to the back sensitivity. Perhaps the sensitivity is a precursor to him developing sores in that spot. You really won’t know what’s going on with your boy until you have him examined by a competent vet.

Good luck,

Tempest
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I completely agree with Tempest that an exam is in order for your boy. Usually with a hypersensitivity it is something which causes the nerves to become hypersensitive to stimuli. In the area such as the back, this could be narrowed disc spaces, bulging disc, collapsing disc, etc…there could be numerous causes as to what is causing this..and no one is going to be able to tell for sure without having a vet palpate the area and see what is going on and where the sensitivity is stemming from. I am a bit concerned about the comment of it affecting his ability to walk or stand.

I dont’ know what the sores could be a cause from..skin infection? Mites? Fleas? Immune disease? Again the possibilities could be a number of things.

Hope things turn out for him and let us know what happens.
hscvt
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Thanks for the info and suggestions everybody, we also found three lumps during one of our impromptu and amateur inspections (they are all movable and a bit squishy and pliable, giving us room to hope that they are just cysts). The sores are still crusty and don’t seem to be improving. I’m carting him off to the vet in a couple of hours, so we’ll see what they come back with. At the very least I can make them clip his nails, so I won’t have to be the one trying to hold him down
houston
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Big relief - the lumps turned out to be fatty, and the vet attributes his sensitivity to an allergen (we haven’t narrowed down the specific agent yet). Thanks again everyone!
houston

My 10 month old dog has been shivering this morning and acting like he doesn’t feel good. I think he may be running a fever. I tried to take his temperature, but he does not like me to take it and will not be still. I have noticed that he does not want me touching his ears and he tried to bite me earlier when I touched his ear. Normally, he does not mind me touching his ears.

Could he have an ear infection and do dogs run a fever with an ear infection?

Is there anything I could give him at home to make him feel better until the vet opens tomorrow?
all4upets
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Usually dogs do not run fevers with ear infections. Has he ever had one before? If he has allergies and his skin is inflammed then he may feel hot to the touch but not have a fever. You could try mixing a half vinegar 1/2 alcohol solution to clean his ears but the symptoms you are describing do not really sound like an ear infection. Perhaps you should just wait to take him to the vet. Keep us posted!
redfire
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He had ear mites about 3 weeks ago and his ears were cleaned at the vet then. His ears still smell bad, though. He is supposed to have the last treatment today. As far as I know, he has never had an ear infection. I just remembered that he kept shivering when he was only 3 months old and when I took him to the vet, he had a temperature. I decided to give him 1/2 of a baby aspirin in case he was in pain. He does not feel hot. I took his temp under his leg (even though it probably isn’t accurate there) and it was 101. He is still eating good, but I did notice him coughing a couple of times yesterday. Last night I thought he was going to vomit but he never did.
I will keep an eye on him and take him to the vet tomorrow if he is not better.

Thank you for your help.
all4upets
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I wanted to let you know what the vet said about my sick dog. He had an abcess on his throat that was causing the fever and listlessness. I don’t know what caused it but it is a possibility that my older dog could have bit him on his throat when they were playing. If this is the case, does anyone know what I can do to keep my older dog from biting him on the neck again? They both bite on each other when they play, and I never thought something like this could happen. The other possibility is that something like a stick got could have stuck him in his throat. He was given antibiotics and hopefully will get better. He is acting more like himself now, but not completely well. My vet did not drain the pus and said to watch it closely and bring him back if it got any bigger. Does anyone know why my vet chose not to drain the abcess on his neck? Could it be the location of the abcess? I read on the Internet that an abcess should be drained and was wondering if it will get smaller like my vet said or if it needs to be drained first.

Thank you for any input on this.
all4upets
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There are some abcesses that we do not drain- the location might be a factor. But yes, what you read on the internet is correct. Most abcesses do need to be drained before they get better. Where was the abcess on your puppy? Was it right under his chin? It wasn’t puppy strangles was it? Because we do not drain those type of abcesses.

With antibiotics the abcess will probably get smaller on its own. Beware though-the abcess might open up and drain itself. If it does, that is normal and you should just clean it with peroxide and a cotton ball or something like that.
redfire
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Just letting you know that his abcess went down and he is acting 100% normal. Thanks for all your help!
all4upets

I am wondering if anyone has a similar problem with their cats. I have 2 ragdolls–one a 9 year old male and an 8 year old female and recently, against my better judgement added a 12 week old kitten whom we all love. My older cats have the herpes virus in their eyes–we have dealt with it for several years—don’t know how they got it–I have kept them vaccinated–but we do have to deal with the runny eyes. I am wondering if anyone has this problem–I know there is no cure–but how to control it better—we have had numerous visits to the vets and we are always just given antibiotic ointment to avoid infection. My oldest cat did get a nasty infection in the eye this time around—and I feel so sorry for them—and me—when it comes to treating it.
annie
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Unfortunately because herpes is a virus that your cats won’t be cured from, eye problems are a part of the virus…mostly what can be done is treat the symptoms that they are displaying. So how things are currently being handled is probably what is going to continue happening.

One thing that you can ask your vet about and get their opinion on is something called l-Lysine (which is an anti-viral) l-Lysine is a food supplement which can interfere with viral replication and may help in the long run. It can be expensive..but check with your vet.

Hope this helps.
hscvt

I have a 35 lb dog who isn’t too active- runs for about 10 minutes once a day. My vet told me that I am feeding her too much- I feed her one whole can (the larger ones) in the morning and at night. She said that I should be doing 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night.

Does that sound right to anyone? The feeding guidlines on the can say I should be feeding the whole can.
bmack
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Feeding guidelines on food bags or cans are always going to tell you to feed more than you should..think about it..the more you feed, the faster you go through their product, in turn means more often buying more of the product…therefore you should look at what the manufacturer recommends and then REDUCE…..especially with your dog who isn’t very active.less calories are required…so 1/2 can am and pm sounds very reasonable..
hscvt
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I agree. 1/2 can sounds very resonable to me also. If I knew how big the can was it would be easier to help you. You should typically feed one cup per 20lbs. That amt can be cut back if your dog is less active and/or overweight.
redfire
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Why feed canned at all? Dry is much better for their teeth, & doesn’t have as much junk in it as the canned. If you change to a good quality food you will feed much less too. You can add fresh green beans to the dry to make up for some of the bulk of the canned. You can wean him off the canned by just using a tablesthingy of canned & mix it in thoroughly.

When reading the instructions on the bag - go by the amount the dog should weigh, not what it does weigh. Even a half a can sounds like a lot to me.

Don’t give junk foods for treats. Apple slices, carrots, brocolli, pear slices are a very good substitute.

Is there some reason the dog doesn’t get exercised more often? If there are no health problems it should get walked at least twice a day. Runs about 10 minutes a day is not nearly enough altho “running” it like that could be harmful because the dog is clearly not in shape.
suebgone
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BLAH. Who needs guidelines to feed a dog?

I just look at my pets. If they start getting too fat, I cut back on the amount I feed them. If they start to get too skinny, I increase the amount of food. I own many pets and they have always been the perfect weight at the vet. This is like an old timey remedy. It works for me and I don’t plan to ever follow any guidelines unless given by my vet.
furrypals

What is the normal temperature in a dog? My vet told me 102.5, but I saw 103.5 somewhere else. Now I am confused at what temperature is normal for a dog.
furrypals
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From 100.5 to 102.5 is considered within the normal limits.
suebgone
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Yup 100.5 to 102.5 is normal..isn’t abnormal to see 103 when in a clinic situation especially if they are worked up from the car ride over and nervous about going into the clinic.
hscvt
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Thanks all for your help. I thought 103.5 was a bit high.
furrypals
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103.5 is definetly not abnormal if your dog was really hyper/nervous/active. It is a little higher than normal, but not at all uncommon. I wouldn’t worry at all if your dog is otherwise feeling good.
redfire
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What would be considered high in a nervous dog?
furrypals
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A nervous dog would be a dog that shakes alot, runs away from the doctor or just acts abnormal. It is hard to say, you know your dog better than anyone so it is hard to say what your dog would act like if he was nervous.
redfire
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The other thing to factor in for very nervous dogs is do they run a higher temp normally. When dogs came into the clinic and they had a higher temp, we could look back to see if they normally ran that high..and could then point it to nervousness and being worked up/excited. As redfire previously stated..have to see if there are other things associated with it..how is the animal acting? Do they show any symptoms of illness? etc.

Are you taking temps at home? Are these related to when your pet goes to the vet?
hscvt
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I take the temps at home when they are sick and the vet takes them when we go there. I just saw that 103.5 was normal and wanted to clarify it.

Thanks for replies.
furrypals

My 8 months old puppy has had diarrhea on and off for about 3 months now, I already spent about $2,000 in vet’s bills and we still don’t have a diagnosis. His blood and stools are “normal”. Even on a cottage cheese and rice diet and flagyl, he still has diarrhea . We tried to change his food, Chinese herbs, nothing is helping. I can hear his stomach growling from the other side of the room and he gets very bloated as well. It was under “almost control” and yesterday I gave him one of those cow knees you find at the pet store supposedly high digestibility… BIG mistake, it got worse.

Please help, I would appreciate your suggestions!!
smsteffy
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What foods have you tried & for how long a time for each?

Have you considered another vet for a second opinion?

Have you ever fasted him & then brought him back on boiled hmbg & rice before giving dog food?

He’s not getting any milk is he?

Take away any rawhides, cow hocks etc.

Were there X-Rays done?
suebgone
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The first thing I would do is get a second opinion! 2,000 dollars is ALOT of money to waste on just diagnositcs alone. Have you tried an ultrasound yet? Ultrasounds are great for detecting things that x-rays and bloodwork can’t. They are especially good at detecting GI abnormalities. I would be surprised if your current vet has not yet recommended or done an ultrasound.
redfire
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GET A SECOND OPINION. I DID THIS WITH MY DOG RECENTLY AND IT WAS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE.
all4upets
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I feed him Nature’s Recipe easy to digest Chicken-rice-barley dry food. I’ve tried every food for at least 3 weeks. The funny part is that the first “poop” in the morning is normal, thereafter it is diarrhea. The ultrasound did not show anything special (aside from a pelvic bladder…). No milk, raw or human food.

I just don’t understand why we can’t find a solution.
smsteffy
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I would get a second opinion in this case. Has their been any mention of inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome? How about mention of colonoscopy with biopsy? That might be a consideration also.
hscvt
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They mentioned a lot of things, including pancreas issues but they did not want to run those test yet.
smsteffy
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Try him on bottled water only for a couple weeks & see if that makes any difference.
suebgone
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Does he act sick or like he doesn’t feel good?
redfire
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I am waiting for a call from the vet as the puppy got extremely sick this week, pooped in every single room of the house and in the car 4 times. I gave him imodium and pepto bismol, it helped until this morning at least. But he went back to intense diarrhea this morning. He currently is on a rice and cottage cheese diet, again. He doesn’t act sick, he still have a lot of energy, the only moment I can tell he is in pain is when he is bloated (on top of the diarrhea), and this happens pretty much every day. I just don’t understand what can be wrong that the vet cannot figure out! I started introducing a new diet on Friday with some rice, recommended by the pet store (wellness white fish) and I suspect that was enough to worsen the all problem. If you think about an exam an particular that I should suggest to the vet, please, please let me know… Thanks smsteffy
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Has any allergy testing been done? If not that might be a way to go….have you called a different vet or still going to the same one?
hscvt
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Still going to the same one. they did a good job so far on my other dog.
smsteffy
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As long as you are comfortable with them..that’s what matters. I hope that they can find something out soon for your pup’s sake! Things I might think about are (and most of these may have already been done)…

fecal float and direct smear (checking for things like coccidia, giardia, and any other intestinal parasties)

Bloodwork

Allergy testing

Abdominal radiographs/ultrasound

Colonoscopy with biopsy

Those are some of the things that come to mind….
hscvt
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The vet now recommends an endoscopy/biopsy, she thinks the bloating and the diarrhea would be more of a bowel issue. He had diarrhea last night but none today (so far). I am putting him on bottled water has somebody suggested, rice and boiled chicken. For some reasons I have a hard time putting him through this although I would like to know what the problem is. If I can maintain him “Diarrhea free” for 1 month, I will just keep this diet and spare him the biopsy. Thanks for all your answers, I will keep you posted on the evolution!
smsteffy

Our Lowchen is 3 years old and a delight. Saturday morning (3am) I heard found her sitting on the floor staring after she had vomited. Cleaned her up and put her back on the bed where she sleeps. An hour later I found her vomiting again. Feeling something was wrong I attempted to calm her down and she started running in circled trying to get her left flank until she fell down and stretched her legs ridged. Thinking she was choking or having a heart attacked I tried to look down her mouth and she got me (not bad but wow). I held her while hoping she would start breathing again. She finally did after it seemed like hours. Calmed her down and were able to contact a vet (very nice to talk to us at 4 in the morning) who informed us that we had just experienced a seizure. Pet owners can identify with our horror while we watched this in our vacation home where we knew no vet. We obviously took her to the vet next morning and are awaiting the results of blood urine etc tests. Heart temp etc. were all fine.

Here is the gist of our question: next day at six in the morning she vomited again. Then again during the second mornign walk. This morning she vomited again (3am). She still eats, deficates so I don’t believe there is a blockage and we quite sure she has not eaten any poison, been hit on the head etc. We are addressing the seizure but on all the articles that I have read I have not seen mention of vomiting once or twice a day for several days…. Has anyone?
bcd52
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I have, over the years, had several dogs, one cat, and I’m fairly certain a horse who have all experienced seizures, but never once have I known seizures to be accompanied by vomiting.

I would suspect poisoning or some other toxic exposure in your dog’s case.

I do hope the test results can shed more light on your alarming situation. I can well understand your worry, particularly when away from home and your regular vet.

I hope your dog recovers quickly and completely.

Tempest
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Vomiting associated with seizures I would tend to also think of a toxin that might have been ingested. I don’t know of seizures otherwise being related to vomiting> Really check around to see if there is anything possible that your dog could have ingested..even something like grapes which is toxic could cause this type of reaction.

Bloodwork should give you some answers to what is going on as well. It will check internal organ enzymes such as kidneys and liver…

I hope that things turn out well for your dog and you have answers quickly.
hscvt
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Thanks for information / suggestions. Still vomiting. Went to the vet this morning for an x-ray and they could not see anything. Tech is coming in this afternoon to check. If nothing they will do a sonogram and or barium test. I supposed if she ingested something soft it would not show up. Waiting is the pits. I guess that could have caused the seizure.
bcd52
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An obstruction would show up on x-rays or ultrasound (depending on the type of obstruction) but toxins would not. Did her blood/urine tests all come back normal?
Tempest
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I completely agree with Tempest regarding obstructions. Sometimes even if the actual item that is causing the obstruction can’t be seen on an xray..you are able to see gas patterns, abnormal shape of intestines, etc…to determine that there is “something” obstructing. How were the bloodwork results? Were there any elevations there especially with liver enzymes.
hscvt
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Blood work is normal. urine normal. I do believe there must be a blockage of clothe or tissue (although wouldn’t tissues have disentigrated by 5 days). I hope they can resolve this soooooon. Why do dogs crave those tissues etc
bcd52
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Well I’m glad to hear that bloodwork was normal. Now let’s focus on the vomiting. Tissue will usually pass through the body…but if there is cloth…that won’t..not all the time..so there is a potential for that. Check around your house and look for anything that could be missing. Are you missing a sock somewhere? Any parts of cloth that have been chewed etc…

Why do they crave these things? Good question…Why do dogs eat their own feces? Another good question. I guess only they will know!!!
hscvt
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This time of year people are spraying the weeds to kill them out also spraying, to kill bugs dusting their flowers for mites. your dog could have got some on his feet licked it got a toxic from this worth checking. good luck
REBA
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Went up to VT to see my wife and dog. Dog is fine. She vomited for the week. Had x-rays, sonograms, barium swallow test etc. etc. and has finally stopped and returned to her happy self. We are scouring the house for anything she might have gotten into. Even to the point that we remouved a plant that is supposed to be very dangerous…name escapes me now….and even thought she might have bitten one of the many toads that are in the grass. I hope it never happens again and thank you all for your help.
bcd52

my cat that we just adopted has ear mites and i think that now my other cat has ear mites too, is this possible? and is it possible for cats to get mites around their eyes?
bonztgr4
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Yes it is possible for your other cat to also get ear mites as they are contagious between pets. It is also possible for the mites to migrate out of the ear canal and be on places such as the neck…so around the eyes could be a possibility. BUT…if this is something new I would have the vet check it out and make the appropriate diagnosis.

Hope this helps!
hscvt
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thank you very much for your information,but i have one more question…. do mites look like little black dots?
bonztgr4
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You would not be able to see ear mites with the naked eye. Are the black dots you are seeing move? Maybe you are seeing flea dirt. Fleas like to congregate around the head so if you are seeing black dots around the head then it is likely flea dirt.

Also, yes ear mites are contagious but to be transmitted there must be close contact between your cats. Do they snuggle close together?
redfire
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I think it would be best to have a vet make a diagnosis on what is going on. It is hard to tell over the internet exactly what it could be.

Ear mites are contagious to other animals in the house and if you have introduced the new cat to the other one, then is a possibility that it could have been transmitted.

As far as black dots, no…ear mites will not appear that way…as stated you can’t see them with the naked eye. ..Usually what owners will see is debris in the ear that can resemble coffee grounds.

Ear mites generally are found in the ear canal but can migrate to other areas of the body, mainly around the head.

Again if you are not sure what is going on , I would have the vet take a look at your cat to make the appropriate diagnosis.
hscvt
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thanks for your help, i will try and get him into the vet
bonztgr4
———-

My 7.5yr old male lab/golden mix has begun having accidents over the last several weeks. Some of them do not seem like accidents, in fact, he usually does not even make an effort to go to the door. He also has been having tremors, will pace endlessly and sometimes just stands and stares into the closet. He has been tested for kidney function, urinary tract infection, and has had a normal abdominal ultrasound and pelvic x-ray. Has anyone had a similar experience? Could this be behavioral? I don’t know what to do next.
GlenBethJ
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All of these tests were normal and the vet has no idea what is going on?

Has the vet discussed any kind of neurological disorder with you?
redfire
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No. He does have a history of seizures but has not had one in over 5 years. He has been off of seizure medication for this long as well. One of the incidents he lifted his leg on the side of our couch. This one almost seemed deliberate. At the same time, he clearly is not right. (i.e. tremors, etc.)
GlenBethJ
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The tremors and the past history of seizures seem to almost suggest some sort of neurological disorder. However, lifting his leg on the side of the couch does seem deliberate…has he been under any stress lately? New family members? Renovation to the house, etc?

I would seek a second opinion about him and maybe even speak to a specialist.
redfire
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Thanks for the help. Yes, it did seem to begin the week we had a new septic system installed and there were lots of new people around and lots of digging and work in the yard.
GlenBethJ
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Everything you described in your first post are symptoms of seizures. Dogs do not always thrash about when seizing. Some even sit & bite the air as tho catching flys which is also a seizure.

Have they not done any nurologicial testing? I’d insist on it. I don’t think his actions are behaviorial or of his choosing.
suebgone
————
I’d also recommend having his thyroid checked. That probably wouldn’t have been done as part of a standard blood panel, so you’ll have to request another blood test specifically for thyroid testing. Hypothyroidism is a common cause of seizures in dogs.

The pacing and closet staring also may be symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. There are meds that can be used to treat CCD. Ask your vet to explore that possibility.

Tempest

I hope someone has some insight into what might be going on with my English Bull Terrior pup. He is 4 months old and about two weeks ago his ears stood straight up. Then last week one flopped over. A few days later the other one started laying across his head pointing towards the flopping ear. Quite a sight!!!!
Today the floppy one is straight and the other one remains laying across his head. Is this common? Will they finally straighten up? Thanks
Jackthebull
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probably his growth..my boston had that problem when he was a pup and as he grew older, they both stood up.
Beachbaby
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They might straighten out or they might not. Only time will tell. Both of my Aussie mix’s ears flopped when she was a young puppy. As she aged one ear stood up. The other looked like it was going to stand up, too, but it only got as far as flopping over a bit closer to the ear tip. That’s where it remains to this day as an adult dog - one ear pricked, the other floppy.

Tempest
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Puppies ears go through all kinds of changes until the settle into a permanent position and shape so you’ll have to wait until he is fully grown to see what they end up looking like.
According to the breed characteristics, the ears are supposed to stand up when adult but, having said that, I also have to tell you that not all purebreds conform exactly to the breed characteristics. Even among purebreds there are diffferent qualities (in most breeds just ’show’ and ‘pet’ but in hunting dogs you also find ‘field’ and their looks differ, sometimes a lot, like in the example of Labrador Retrievers).
The other thing is that, unless you got that dog from a reputable breeder (somebody who is registered with the breed association and well known for quality puppies), there is no way you can tell if your AKC registered puppy is actually pure… and even if he really was pure, he could still not conform (white Boxers o German Shepperds with crooked ears, etc).
But that does not mean that he won’t be a great dog so don’t worry so much about details and enjoy your puppy, funny ears and all.

MY 13 yr old lab mix has had a mild case of arthritis for a few years and has been on meds for that but about one month ago he started having trouble walking. Just thought the arthritis was getting worse. He has quickly detoriated. His whole back side and legs seem to have developed atrophy. He walks swaying and drags his legs at times. Today he has just laid in our garage all day. Barely eats and I get him to drink. The vet has put him on steroids but he has progressively gotten worse. His upper torso is still strong and muscled and he is attentive but he just can’t walk. Is the inevitable here Should I put him down to keep him from suffering.
iluvlucyricky
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If your vet hasn’t run a blood panel recently (like within the last week), I suggest you have him do so immediately. If you are giving your dog one of the NSAIDs for his arthritis, it’s possible the med may be seriously damaging his liver and/or kidneys. All of the NSAIDs have been linked to such problems in some dogs, even after years of successful, trouble-free use in an individual dog. Inappetance is a common sign of liver and/or kidney problems (although it can also indicate pain), and such problems can be quickly fatal. If I were you, I would immediately stop giving the dog any NSAID meds (not including the steroids - you must NOT stop steroids cold turkey) until you have the blood panel results and know how his organs are functioning. Get that blood panel done tomorrow, if possible.

If you do feel it’s time to put him down, wouldn’t it be best to know exactly what you’re dealing with first, just in case it’s something treatable that can give you more quality time with your beloved companion?

I wish you and your boy the best.

Tempest
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I had another thought that doesn’t sound too likely from your description of the progression of your dog’s condition, but I’ll throw it out there, anyway.

If your dog has a head tilt, talk to your vet about vestibular. You didn’t mention a head tilt, but the drunken type movement is consistent with vestibular. Vestibular typically hits hard and quickly, then gradually resolves and gets better over the next few weeks. But it sounds like your dog’s condition has been more gradual and getting progressively worse, so it’s probably not vestibular. If he has a head tilt, however, vestibular is definitely worth investigating.

Tempest
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Thanks for your concern. He was put to sleep yesterday. It was very hard but I know it was the best for him. We brought him back home and buried him in the back yard. He did give us 13 years of unconditional love and we will miss him. Thanks again.
iluvlucyricky
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I am very sorry to hear about your loss. That is never an easy thing to go through. Sounds like not only did he give you unconditional love but you did the same for him….

Again I am very sorry. Take care
hscvt
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I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. It is a very difficult thing to go through but at least you know that he isn`t suffering anymore and that he is in a much better place with no sickness or pain.You will see him again one day.
puppy
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I am sorry for your loss. (I am new to this group)

I just put my Star down, she was 14 years, 2 months..

My husband did it, I just could not stand it anymore….
She just lie on the floor, and in the end looked at me with her beautiful eyes, and I said “mommy will help you”….Star stopped eating, was in kidney failure, and had cushings….I hate to talk about $, but my star was costing us about 300 a month, not that she wasn’t worth it and more…

But the reason she was put down, was the eating, she wouldn’t eat, and then would eat, and I was going nuts.
Almost every day, I had to clean up diahea…

Truthfully, I felt Iwas going mad.

I couldn’t stand it anymore…

So, she was put down 4/5/05…She was a good dog…

She was probably the only thing that ever loved me.

I do hope to see her again though…That sustains me.

Love, Jada
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Knowiing that I will see my Puppy again is what gets me through losing her too. She`s waiting for me in heaven and will be the first to greet me when I get there and after that we will be together for eternity.
puppy
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HOW VERY SORRYI AM YOU HAD TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP AND OF YOUR LOST, I NO THE PAIN AND YOU ARE FEELING, I WAS JUST LIKE YOU WHEN I PUT MY BABY TIGER TO SLEEP, BUT HE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN.I LOVED TIGER AS MY CHILD NOTHING COULD HAVE HURT ME WORSE BUT WE WILL SEE THEM. AGAIN THEY ARE TOGETHER PLAYING IN FIELDS OF FLOWERS, GREEN GRASS NO MORE PAIN. IT TAKES TIME TO HEAL, BUT YOU WILL NO YOU DID THE RIGHT THING .AGAIN I AM SO SORRY MAY GOD BE WITH YOU REBA
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I hope your dog is okay. I just came across this.
We have a 12 year old Doberman; he also was getting around and he was in pain. I’ve never seen him cry; it was so sad. My husband would have to pick him up so he could urinate without wetting himself. He also had to take the bowl of food to him to feed him. We took him to the vet and he said he had arthritis/hip displasia. He prescribed pain pills for a couple of days and recommended Bayer asprin if needed. They also sald 2000 miligrams of glucosomane a day. In just a couple of days he was moving around again. It’s been about 2 years and although he’s not 100%; he does get around on his own and without pain. I’m glad we didn’t put him to sleep like some suggested we did.
catlover

I have a 3 month old great dane puppy. What do you suggest she can have as supplements so she can grow to her full size and be a strong dog? When do you suggest she can have puppies?
perla
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don’t know about supplements, but my vet suggested i give my bloodhound salmon and tuna, along with the occasional raw egg mixed in her food. The low-fat protein has the omega-3 fatty acids, good for building brain cells. And the egg will give her a beautiful, shiny coat. If you can get her to eat the egg shell, there is alot of calcium in them. Raw vegetables, like carrots, are great for their sight, and help keep their teeth free from tartar. These foods, along with a good large-breed puppy food will make her strong and healthy. ( i like Iams–the yellow bag for puppies, the green bag for adults)
deedee

My hamster, Sasquatch, had a respiratory infection last winter and my veterinarian gave her amoxicillin for her sniffling and sneezing. She recovered just fine. A few days ago she got another cold, only this one seemed a little worse because she was breathing loudly and her nose was making a squeaking noise like she could barely get any air through. I had to take her to a different veterinarian because mine was out of the office due to an illness. This new veterinarian gave her an antibiotic called Baytril and she seemed to be improving up until last night. I noticed when I was giving her her medicine her stomach was pretty bloated. I figured she was constipated so I gave her some fresh vegetables to see if they would help her have a bowel movement. She wouldn’t eat them though and as the night progressed she started acting lathargic and when I opened her cage she wouldn’t even lift her head up. I planned on taking her to the veterinarian first thing this morning, but when I woke up this morning she was dead. My question is, can a hamster die of constipation that quickly or was something else the cause? I looked up the side effects of Baytril but I couldn’t find anything. I wanted to call the vet and ask but I’ve been crying all day and I know I couldn’t get through explaining everything without breaking down, so I figured I’d see if anyone has any ideas in this forum. Thank you for any reply. -Kyli
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Dear Kyli~
I have no answers for you - I am sorry. . .but I just wanted to let you know how very sorry I am about what happened to sasquatch. I hope you find the answers you are looking for. Lori
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Baytril is what they use in most rodents when they get respitory infections. with hamsters and many other animals , they don’t show any sign of illness until its almost to late. and from the sounds of what you said it was pretty bad, and could have had phnemonia. More than likey the animal was all ready to far gone and the baytril just wasnt strong enough .

Sorry for you loss though.

Rachel

I just Adopted a Boxer from Boxer Haven Rescue.
He is about 4 yrs old and has a thyroid problem that is taking meds for it and he seems to be ok, He just has a little trouble laying down and getting back up.

I’m REALLY glad I got him and the reason I’m writing is to ask if there is anything I should do with the thyroid problem, Like play more or let him rest or diff. foods to or not to feed him ect..?

Thank you,
Bob
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I, too, have a hypothyroid dog who is on thyroid meds. My dog also happens to be severely arthritic, which causes considerable weakness and stiffness. As far as I know, her thyroid condition doesn’t have anything to do with her arthritic symptoms, and I doubt it does in your dog, either.

What has your vet said about your dog’s stiffness? Does he associate it with the thyroid? Depending on the cause of your dog’s stiffness, exercise may improve or may aggravate it. You really need to discuss this matter with your vet so you understand exactly how to handle your new boy’s medical concerns appropriately.

With hypothyroidism, it’s important to give the thyroid med at the same time each day. Also, have your dog’s thyroid level checked at least once a year to make sure he’s uptaking and utilizing the med in proper amounts. A “Free T4″ is a far more accurate test than a standard T4 done at a vet’s office, though it is somewhat more expensive.

Hypothyroid dogs generally do just fine on thyroid meds as long as they’re getting the proper dosage. Keep an eye on your dog’s weight, though, and make sure you don’t let him pick up any unnecessary pounds. He’ll be healthier and less stiff if you maintain him at a lean weight.

Have fun with your new boy!

Tempest

Does anyone know what it means when a dog wages it’s tail?
supergirl
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Usually, it means he or she is happy.
TCAP28
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okay, but some people say it mean they’re happy, and some people say it means they’re friendly.
supergirl
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Not every dog that is wagging his/her tail is friendly though. When they are wagging it yes they are happy..but for a strange dog dont’ automatically assume that they couldn’t bite you just because you saw the tail wag.
hscvt
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Actually, tail wagging means a lot of different things. It’s how they wag that makes the difference. When they swing it hard and high (sometimes even round and round), it means that they are happy (like when you come home from work) or excited over something they like (like the anticipation prior receiving a treat or your throwing the stick for them to retrieve). Then there is the steady, slow, low position wagging (usually accompanied by a slight lowering of the head) when they want you to forgive them. There is the once or twice heavy and lazy movement of the tail which is usually a reply to a ‘good’ stimulus (like when they are half-asleep and you caress them and tell them ‘good boy’ in a soft voice and without even opening their eyes, they go tock-tock with their tail like saying ‘I love you, too’). There is the ‘I-want-to-be-your-friend’ wag, which is very similar to the ‘forgive-me’ wag but the head and ears are up and they have an alert look to their faces (instead of the ‘poor-me’ look they get when they did something bad). And, lastly, there is the ‘I-am acknowledging-you-are-more-powerful-than-me-but-I-can-still-bite-you’ wag. This is the one that you have to watch for because, depending on your behavior and the degree of timidity or how abused the dog has been (and 99% of the time it is with problem dogs that happens), it can go both ways. It looks kind of like the ‘forgive-me’ wag but the ears are folded back or against the head, they only wag a few times, they look at you from under their lashes and do not keep their eyes on your eyes. In cases like this and for people that have not been trained to deal with problem dogs, it is always better not to approach them, just in case.
I am not sure if this is what you were looking for. I know the differences when I see them but it’s hard to describe body language without showing you. Let me know if I can clarify anything further.
Bibi
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thanx u helped alot i just wanted to know and yes it was wat iwas looking 4.
supergirl