My Blog Entry
Update on Olie
Hi pals! Well, I don't know what WAS going on, but he seems mostly fine now. I did call Friday afternoon and made him appointment for Tuesday morning- they thought his symptoms didn't warrant an emergency- but over the weekend, he seemed to be feeling better. The worst night was Thursday night, when he had what almost seemed like an attack of some sort (as described in previous blog). Friday I heard a few occassional coughs and some of the tongue licking thing. Over the weekend, I heard maybe one or two coughs. But then I also heard Ember coughing just a couple times over the weekend. She also threw up at least 3 times Sunday morning, but hers was productive and she threw up mucus. As far as I know, Olie never actually got anything out when he was trying to vomit- unless he did it when I wasn't looking at the cabin over the weekend.
So I have a few possible theories at this point. One, I have often thought he exhibits signs of heartburn... he makes a lot of the same noises that I do when I get it. So the acid reflux theory may be a good possibility. Maybe not for the specific "attack" that he had, but I really do think he gets this sometimes.
Two, kennel cough? Olie played with Ember and 3 of her litter mates just a couple weeks ago. A week ago, Olie and Ember were both at the vet (and exposed to who knows what) and were vaccinated for it, but I read somewhere that the vaccine doesn't necessarily prevent them from getting it because there are several strains, plus if the pups had it, the exposure would have been prior to the vaccination. Olie had the vaccine a long time ago but it was out of date. Ember has never exhibited any symptoms except the very minor coughing I heard on Saturday. I don't think her puking was related- she probably just ate something- at one point I caught her with a mole claw in her mouth- I don't know if she killed it or if she found it, but she puts EVERYTHING in her mouth, so it's hard to tell what made her puke. Anyway, kennel cough seems like a good possibility for Olie, but Ember does not exhibit symptoms. Because of her puking I was going to take her to the appt. instead of Olie, she seemed a little bit lethargic for a while... but that didn't last- it would take a nuclear blast to slow her down.
Three, he very well could have had a stick stuck in his throat. He eats sticks ALL the time. When we're at the cabin he's allowed to run free to eat, drink and puke whatever and whenever... unless he gets caught. But I generally allow to him to chew on sticks because breaking him of that habit would be like breaking me of my MDS habit... you just can't do it. I've worked really hard to get him to stop eating rocks, I do occassionally catch him with them in his mouth- he had to have surgery to remove rocks before I knew him. But I think a sliver of wood would have been a good possibility. Why do these monkeys put EVERYthing in their mouths? If it was a stick, he either got it out or digested it or something...
In any case, I don't know exactly what was going on, but they both seem fine now. If everything seems normal when I get home from work today, I'll probably cancel the vet appointment and continue to monitor.
Does anyone know what side effects there are from the bordatella vaccine? Could it actually CAUSE kennel cough, like sometimes a person gets a flu vaccine then catches the flu from it?
Do dogs get the flu, or common colds? I can get a cold from a co-worker but exhibit completely different symptoms... I wondered if maybe they're just passing something back and forth?
I also want to consider an upset in Olie's routine since we have Ember now... we're working real hard on house breaking so I limit her water, which in turn limits Olie's water. Ember acts desperate like she'll just die if she doesn't get a drink (that's just her crazy puppy persona). But Olie's used to having it there all the time, so he doesn't get it that now he needs to drink it while it's there. Could he be dehydrated? He has constant access to water at the cabin, which might explain why he was fine once we were there for the weekend. How much water does a dog actually need?
One last thing- Ember seems to get the hiccups quite frequently. Is this normal for puppies?
Just trying to put 2 and 2 together and decide if I should keep the vet appointment tomorrow.
Thanks!
Julie
Blog Barks
Oh Gosh, I've been away for a while..
Sierra was just at the vet the other day and I asked about allergies.. human symptoms... eye buggers, sounding congested, running nose.. yep.. they do get those same things.. allergies.. benedryl.. same kind we take..
Heartburn.. yes sir ee... pepcid AC, again same kind we take.. was what I was told to give Sierra...
the piece of stick or something else.. likely.. this is precisely why Sierra gets absolutely no rawhide anymore, or the hard pigs ears. She destroys it and gets the little slivers caught, and acts like she's gonna puke her paws up and nothing...coughing.., whole nine yards... the grass eating is usually so they have something to puke up..but heartburn gives the same symptoms... been there done that.
Keep the vet appointment. Check with him/her about dosage based on weight.. check for Ember too.. not a bad piece of information to have on hand if you need it. Pepto can also be given to dogs.. now weather they will take it is a totally different story.. one either likes that crap or hates it.. Sierra is like me.. can't stand the stuff. I have to use a syringe and squirt her with it when necessary.. thank goodness not very often.
83 days ago by Sierralynn
I agree with keeping the vet appointment, that it's better to be safe than sorry.
About limiting the water, I don't know how hot it is but that might not be a good thing to do. You can tell if a dog is dehydrated by lifting up skin from their back - it will make a fold. If it quickly goes back into shape they are not dehydrated, but if it stays put they are. Dehydration can be very serious.
Everyone loves Olie, so please let us know as soon as you know anything more.
Carla
83 days ago by CarlaGenender
Oh goodness I just read your blogs. With the server issues we've been trying to stay off for a couple of days. Even if Olie seems better I would still take him to the vet. I would rather take him and find nothing wrong then to let it go and it could be something serious. Just from "getting to know" Olie through you and your blogs and barks..He seems like an awesome pup and his health is what is the most important thing. As far as eating things...oh we've been through that. Sable never was much of a "snacker" but Chi would eat anything she found. I have caught her with rocks, sticks, bugs, wasps (yes, she's been stung in her mouth several times), q-tips, nails (the kind used for building), thumbtacks, and even a razor blade. And that's just what I caught her with..there's no telling what she's gotten hold of when I wasn't looking. She's must have a iron stomach! Of course when she has passed some of those things she really "felt" it. And it wasn't very pleasant but no serious damage has ever been done. I don't know if she's just gotten smarter and figured it out for herself or my scolding worked but she doesn't do it as much anymore. I think the one thing I found that worked the best was rawhides, or pig ears or something that she could chew on that wouldn't hurt her. Something that was tasty. You can break Olie from eating sticks but it will probably take some time and keeping an eye on him until he learns. We really hope it's nothing serious and he's ok but I think keeping the vet appointment is the best way to go. Hug him and Ember (and even TYK) for us!
Melinda, Sable and Chi
83 days ago by SableandChi
Well please let us know what you find out. We are all worried about him.
And I think you are very wise to take him to the Vet. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Sorry I didn't post to the first one, I just now saw this one and then read your first one.
I am glad he is better, but still wise to go. It may be something that they can give you medicine for when he has attacks or if it is an acid reflux thing, you can have something on hand. Mugsy has had seizures for years, and we have a medicine that we keep on hand to treat him when he has one. It was always worse when we traveled so we would give him one before we took a long trip. Ollie didn't come into contact with any toads at the cabin did he? They can emit a substance that will make them foam and cough.
Well anyway, you are about find out, let us know, we are praying for him!
83 days ago by Marciatin
 |
