Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
Hi pawbly friends…
It was a snowy, no school day here. Try as I might, I could not get the dogs to stay in while the kids were out playing in the snow, and all that running and horse play took a toll on our 12 year old GSD Butch. He just fell going down the stairs…. not the whole stair case, the stepto get onto the landing. My husband picked him up and rather than having him try to use the stairs tonight, we brought him round the outside way to use the hill instead. He seems fine on his walk just now, but slow going. My question is this: he’s got rimadyl that we give him sparingly for pain from his arthritis. Should I give him some tonight, or wait til morning when he will probably be really stiff, or give tonight and tomorrow? Thanks for anyand all advice!
I walk my 4year old Lab nightly for about 45 mins. About once or twice a month, our walks are interrupted by him becoming very uncomfortable to the point where he is rapidly panting, stops walking, sits, lays down, cannot get comfortable, constantly changing positions. On these occasions, we stop, I calmly try to talk to him, gently pet him, until he is okay to walk again. The whole episode lasts no more than 5 minutes. Then we walk home like nothing happened. I have racked my brain trying to find the common thread leading to these episodes. The only thing I can come up with is that he ate within a relatively short time before walking. Maybe 30 mins or less before walking. Usually he eats at least 2 to 3 hours before walking. Is the problem most likely related to his eating, then walking shortly after? Do you think it could be something else?
Hello,
I would wonder if there is any underlying issues like heart condition, blood pressure, hypoglycemia, thyroid issues, etc. I recommend a trip to the vet to discuss your concerns and I also recommend a blood work. I hope this helps. Let me know. Good luck
Thank you. I will schedule an appointment for him.
Once the vet has hopefully ruled out any medical issues, you might want to take a close look around where this episode usually happened. There might be something going on environmentally? I know it might sound hokey, but that might trigger some odd behavior. For example, we absolutely can not walk our dogs south down our road when the farmer that way has his bull out in the fields with the cows. Even if that bull is acres away… the dogs go crazy. I don’t know if they smell something, or sense something or what the deal is, but this is what we have determined. If that bull is out, anywhere, my two lovely dogs become insane. I know that this is different from your situation. I just wanted to share that changes in environment can effect them too.
My dog, a schnoodle 7yrs is lethargic, seems to have pain in his hind quarters (like arthritis type pain) and is sensitive around the anal area and slightly runny stool. Any thoughts or advice please.
Where there is pain and lethargy combined, there is an emergency.
I agree, treat this like an emergency and get him to the vet ASAP.
My Amish friend down the street has a working dog that tends to her other animals (herding sheep, horses, etc.) so he is an outdoor farm dog. (a sheltie/aussie mix). The dog is well loved and cared for but even after giving him a bath today, the poor animal still has little bugs (like fruit flies but a little bigger) swarming and flying all over him, especially his face area. I mean, like about 50-75 or so of them! It’s crazy. She just thought he needed a bath and that’s why they were there, but even after the bath they were there. I have never encountered anything like that before. Anyone help explain and give some ideas on how to get rid of them for this poor pup 🙁
This is normal in PA to a degree. The dog’s diet contributes to its attractiveness to flies more than any thing. I would check for ear infection(s) or bad teeth. Other than that all that can be done is to apply a repellant to the dog – and I would use a natural one that can be found at an Agway or other farm store. These repellents contain a mix of essential oils like cedar or peppermint, etc.
Thank you. I agree – unfortunately with their culture it will fall on deaf ears, I am just trying to do my best to help the pup. I was the one that gave him the bath, etc. Perhaps I can have her make a mask and meanwhile I will play around with some of my essential oils to create a repellant blend that will work and that the dog would be tolerant with. Thanks so much Krista and PK
PK….I normally use water in my essential oil blends for animals but seeing as the bugs are attracted to water, do you think I should use a carrier oil instead?
My dog was breathing really hard when I got home, expresses pain towards her rear end, won’t let me touch her tail, is gassy, threw up earlier and it had a quarter of an unchewed rawhide bone in it, now she’s very lethargic, walking around in pain, her breathing is shallow and is having spasms on her bed, she’s an otherwise healthy 3 and a half year old catahoula American bulldog mix…..
This sounds like a potential blockage. Please get your dog to the vet NOW…DO NOT wait on this. Blockages and obstructions are usually fatal if not handled quickly.
I recently painted my room with low voc paint and aired it out for six days and put my parrots back in their will they be OK
I have a miniature collie that was in a house fire very stinky very thick hair also has like a stye on it so I can I save this dog what should I do
Was supposed to say stye in its eye and can I shave this dog
Hi, does anyone think they know what type of breed my dog is? He’s supposed to be a purebred miniature poodle but I don’t think he is. He has spots all around him, and his tail and size doesn’t look like a miniature poodle. Here’s the pic:
did you buy him from a breeder? was he registered as a poodle?
i have difficulty with distinguishing the small fluffy companion breeds…i wish i could help ID the dog.
Hi, thanks for replying! I did not buy him from a breeder, we bought him from a puppy store called Dreamy puppy. I don’t think he was registered as a poodle. A lot of people think he’s a bichon frise, I have a hard time telling the difference between the small fluffy breeds too 🙂 🙂 Thanks!!!!!
Ah, that’s a shame…there really is no way to tell unless you want to spend money on one of those DNA tests.
Thank you, just one more question- If you take him to the vet will the doctor be able to tell you or do you have to buy one of those DNA kit test things? Thank you ;>
A vet MAY be able to tell when your puppy is older. Maybe.
My pug / boston terrier mix occasionally chuffs and huffs like a horse with the heaves. What could be the cause of this? My old Yellow Lab used to do the same thing. Could it be heartworms? He’s 5 yr. old not neutered male in good health
If he is not on Heartworm preventative then your dog could have heartworms. Why is he not on preventative? It sounds like it could be a heart problem and he should go to the vet. A vet is the only one who can diagnose Heartworms or another heart problem.
I have been agonizing over this for 2 days now. Last Monday I took my 14 year old cat to the vet because he had stopped eating and drinking. X-Ray showed what the vet thinks is abdominal cancer. After talking to my vet decided that surgery/chemo would not be an option for me and she prescribed steroids which may help and gave him fluids. He perked up a tad after fluids and would eat maybe a quarter to half a can of wet food a day. Since Friday though I have not been able to get him to eat anything (he did come out and lick the food yesterday but would not eat) and all he does is lay under the computer chair. He will not sleep in the bed with me which is something he has done his whole life. I plan to call the vet first thing tomorrow morning, but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts.
you might try some tuna packed in water to get your cat to eat, I know what your going thru three months ago i had to put my 19 year old down and 2 months later i had to put my other cat down. both of mine had kidney faluer it,s a hard choice. but try the tuna packed in water, and best of luck.
Just to update:
Butch is stiff this morning, so I did give him his pill. I did not give it to him last night because when I went fir the dogs last tuck in, he was already comfortable. He had a tough time getting up the stairs this morning, and we had to help him… he needs a little help most mornings, but again after all his playing and running yesterday its no surprise he needed more help than usual this morning. If any of you have any other advice on how to help him recover from thinking he was 10 years younger yesterday, please share.
I didn’t see this last night but I wouldn’t give NSAIDs preemptively.
I think I would try to work on leashing him if he’s going to go a little off his rocker on snow days. 😉 That or work on the kids not letting him out.
Oh, and for recovery, crate rest for the day.
Hi Sarah, just wondered if you had considered Acupuncture for Butch? I know it helps a lot of dogs.
You could also ask your Vet about Gabapentin as an alternative to Rimadyl. It gives good pain relief and has no side effects in canines.
Do hope Butch is feeling better soon ?