Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
My 9 month old female miniature dachshund was emitting a metallic odor from her back end yesterday. I noticed it, did some google-ing, and shortly after the smell disappeared. My research concluded that it might be her anal glands. But I can’t understand why the smell disappeared (and as of this morning had not returned). She has exhibited no other signs or symptoms (no scooting on the floor, no problems going to the bathroom, acting perfectly normal)
As the mystery continued, we were walking outside to use the potty before taking a drive. After peeing, we got into the truck with her on my lap. I noticed she has made a wet spot on my pants. Assuming it was just some urine from her potty trip, I used a towel to wipe me and her off. That’s when I noticed that coming from her vulva was a thick, milky, yellow color liquid that was accompanied by a fishy smell. This led me to think that maybe she has a case of vaginitis. As the day progressed, both smells and the discharge disappeared. And as of this morning, no trace of either can found. I was already planning on taking her to the vet on Friday, should I take her in sooner? She just finished her first heat last week and I am planning on finding out this week when we can get her fixed.
Normally, Cookie needs minimum of 3 hours of high activity (running through the bush, chasing critters, playing …) daily, otherwise she climbs the walls (pretty much literally). Ortho suggesting a month or more of rest. I voice that it is impossible unless Cookie sedated. (Because the more energy she stores up the more she’s likely to go crazy regardless of environment, confinement and situation. As I mention, literally bouncing off the walls. Plus the frustration and feeling unhappy that would come with that I’m sure does not facilitate healing either.
So we discussed it and ortho prescribed the Trazodone as effective and safe. What is your experience with this products? Side effects? Interestingly I specifically asked about side effects and was told there were none. However, when one looks it up there are side effects listed. Of course, side effects such as sedation are desirable. Others, such as vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, hyperactivity, panting, shaking and restlessness are NOT.
Ortho vet also said drug doesn’t not affect either kidneys or liver but infor says should be used with caution if liver, kidney or heart disease present. Cookie does not have those but if it doesn’t affect those organs, why the precaution?
I am not a fan of drugs but I feel that in order for Cookie to be able to undergo the period of restricted activity some chemical management to help her feel more aloof is necessary. Thoughts?
Thank you, would you? Because the other tranquilize options aren’t all that attractive either, particularly Acepromazine … *sigh
First do no harm, right? But I feel that without some chemical help she will be very miserable and a danger to herself …
Hi, I definitely understand your worry. I have personal experience with trazodone and it’s actually been extremely positive. I worked with a board certified veterinary surgeon who used it on pretty much all of his patients post-op if he was worried about activity level. For my dog, I’ve used it for anxiety in the car (as recommended by a board certified veterinary behaviorist). In my opinion it’s a lot better than other sedatives post-op because it really is fairly safe and also reduces anxiety (a lot better than something like Acepromazine). One of the main things you will read about is serotonin syndrome when it is used with other drugs. However, the surgeon I worked with used it with pain meds like tramadol, and just used the lower end of the dose range because he was aware of that risk (I’m sure if your vet uses it frequently they are as well). Most of side effects you listed, while I know they are concerning, are pretty easy to recognize and are side effects of many other medications too…and if you recognize them after starting, you can always just stop the medication. I think that the minor risks of this medication greatly out weigh the alternative risk of her high energy level after a orthopedic surgery, in order to prevent the risk of her needing a repeat surgery.
Since your baby is healthy and I’m sure they will be doing bloodwork pre-op, I don’t see any reason to be overly concerned about the organ adverse effects. My own dog had a history of acute renal injury after use of NSAIDs and is very sensitive to a lot of drugs (he’s MDR1 positive) and it was safe enough to use for him. It’s a medication that was actually developed for people with insomnia and is newer for use in vet-med but I don’t know of anyone who has experience with it that would say bad things. I think it’s great that you care so much to ask.
Thank you, Lindsey, I’m very happy to hear about such good experience(s)!
Cat has bald spot on belly with skin tag type bumps in center. recently treated for allergies. not sure what this is?
This picture is of the biggest skin tag. the others feel just like little bumps (what a human would equate to zits)
This looks like a skin disorder one of my cats had. Go to a vet it’s very important to figure out what this is exactly because it could be very hazardous to the cats organs if it’s a sign of infection or so other underlying problem.
What happened with your cat?
What exactly does that mean? Diego is a boy (don’t know if that gives you more info).
I got some very afforable meds from my animal clinic. He ended up healthy. I thought it was a nipple too. Male cats have nipples.
The vet said she would have 90 days either way, whether it was removed or not.. This dog is everything to me, I am devastated.
Ultra sound and xrays have been done. Vet sent them off for a specialist to read. He said more than likely it has gone into the liver from the looks of it, but not the lungs.
How can I find out if it is malignant? Should I have her spleen removed?
Thank you so much for addressing my situation. You wrote: “The only way to know if it is malignant is to do a biopsy. If you are going to do that do the splenectomy” Does that mean the splenectomy will be the biopsy? There is a Cancer Center for Dogs in Carlsbad, CA, If it were you would you go with an organization like this rather than an individual vet? http://www.cvsangelcare.com/About-ACCC/
So appreciative,
Elaine
Please do not say, take him to your vet. My dog is a Yorkie, he is 9 years old and he has 2 tumors in his belly that have grown. They don’t know how long he has to live but my vet said that surgery isn’t an option because she believes he would only have a 10% chance of making it. This was two months ago and today his tummy is 4 times bigger than normal. A lot of it is fluid. I can feel his organs in his belly just floating in the fluid. Is there anything thing I can give him to help get rid of the fluid. I understand he doesn’t have much time but he is still full of life, my heart is breaking.
Oh no….I am so so sorry. This must be heartbreaking for you.
I honestly don’t think there is anything you can give him to get rid of this fluid. This, as I’m sure you know, happens with cancer.
The only way to get rid of it is to have it drained by the Vet. It won’t go any other way.But I think it will just build up again within a short time.
Again my heart goes out to you.
Thank you Krista and Julie. I am going to call my vet and see if she would drain the fluid but I don’t think she will. Even though he is active he isn’t as active as he was a couple months ago and I am sad to say that there isn’t any meat on his body anymore. Thanks again !
We bought the wrong kind. We bought something for adult dogs. He is not an adult yet so we went back yesterday and bought the right kind. The vomiting stopped now he just won’t eat and he still has a fever. He’ll eat his doggie treats here and there just not his actual food. What should we do?
I would take your dog and the dog food you bought to a vet! This may be a case of poisoning from a recalled food – or it could be unrelated to the food at all! Only the vet can help you determine what is happening with your pups’s health. Typically switching to an adult dog food does not result in vomiting and fever! I suspect something else is going on.
Thank You So Much I Just Called The Vet And Made An Appointment For Tomorrow Morning.
Thank You I Called They Told Me To Come First Thing In The Morning
Looks like a husky — the odds are pretty good they will stay blue. What a pretty pup!
Yes he’s mainly Siberian husky 27 days today 🙂
Siberian husky dad mom is a husky white German Shepard mix
Thank you
Can having eaten a whole bunch of grass (about a handful as it seems) be a sole cause of an upset gut? (dog, whole blades)
She wasn’t vomiting, just had pad poop. Started out normal and then got soft and liquid at the very end, with a bunch of attempts and a bunch of grass came out. Her stomach wasn’t upset yesterday at all, when it is, she’ll eat grass but refuse breakfast. She ate her breakfast with enthusiasm and everything else she got to eat yesterday as well.
So to me it seems that the grass must have come with some extra flavor or something yesterday, because while she routinely likes to eat SOME, or she eats some when upset stomach, she doesn’t normally gorge on grass; this is the first time such amounts came out of her.
Hubby was upset about the diarrhea which her morning poop ended up with but upon close inspection, after the normal size chunk of normal poop, a bit of pudding which already contained a bundle of grass, what came out after was mostly grass with a bit of “snot” on it; not even any major amount of mucus.
As over-concerned as I usually am, I do feel that the grass is the reason why the gut had the need to purge so vigorously. It appears that large bowel is the only thing that’s not happy.
All our dogs always ate grass; usually just nibble on it a bit in the morning, when the grass is young or when there is fresh dew on it. Boys usually eat enough to throw up, girls typically don’t eat enough to cause any upset other than sometimes having poops strung together by a blade.
We don’t feed table scraps, though we do feed “human” food, such as turkey breast, steak, roast etc. Always plain and lean, no fat and nothing on it that could upset stomachs.
So I’m really just wondering whether the grass alone could have upset the large bowel to this degree or whether there could be something else going on at the same time unrelated.
My pitbull is pregnant and she has been leaking milk for about 2 weeks. She has been digging under the table but still hasn’t had her puppies. Could she be holding them in? And what should I do?
have you called your vet about this? they’re aware she’s pregnant, right? i would be asking them.
How many days pregnant is she? If she is past 63 days you need to get her seen by the vet. It sounds like she is nesting. Is there any leakage from her vulva? Have you been taking her temp? A dogs temp will drop to around 99 degrees when they are about to give birth. The first thing you need to do is determine how many days pregnant she is, then perhaps a vet visit.
Anyone else have an extremely hyper active standard poodle?
my neighbor does. he walks his boy 4 miles a day, plays fetch with him, then sends him to my yard to play with my doberman.
what’s your question?
Just need to know I’m not alone lol
they can certainly be a challenge, but if you work his brain, he’ll be quite a bit more manageable. 🙂 what sort of training do you do with him?
Not much lately but I could run her for 10 hours and she still goes she doesn’t stop and she’s close to psychotic and I mean jumps 2 feet in the air every 5 seconds lol.
yeah…work on training. just a half hour of training will wear her out…i’m serious! 🙂 plus, poods are SO smart that she could pick up something useful. what does she know beyond basic obedience? have you considered something like nosework or lure coursing?
I don’t do much really and if I knew what that was I would try it! I have 4 dogs and it’s a full time job lol I was trying to find a trainer in my area but there’s no one 🙁
well, fortunately, you can train nosework at home! you can also train basic obedience at home. a good source for training courses would be Denise Fenzi’s online sport dog training: http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/
nosework is scent detection, and it REALLY wears their brains out! http://fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/15
good luck. i know how tough dogs can be – we just have our doberdork, because i honestly would NOT be able to handle trying to train two dogs, let alone 4!
Our other dogs are older and pretty good and calm. She’s young and just out of control! Thanks for the link 🙂
i’d get her in today, if possible JUST to make sure.