Time4ANap

Run pain-free, Momma.

Sounds like what we went through with Rocket. The allergies and the bowel issues were two different problems with him, not food allergies even though we went down that road for a long time. Rocket has seasonal allergies with itching and when it gets really bad, he chews his paws. He has had his lifetime max dosage of Prednisolone the first 2 years that we dealt with the allergies. For his allergies now, we can give him Chlor-Trimeton (basic formula - no additives) and use HC Comfort Spray on his Paws. The vet prescribed both. Bathing with an oatmeal soap also helps with the itching. Things like vinegar and water etc did nothing to relieve his itching. His seems to be a pollen and ragweed allergy. The stomach issues would pop up at random, and were (after several years) pronounced to be Stress Induced (often happened after boarding or some other event like the allergies where he didn't feel well.) We know several IBS hounds who do very well on Precise Sensicare Lamb and Rice. Rocket lost too much weight on it, so we eventually went back to Precise Foundation and added Tylan after all other options were exhausted. When he turned 7, I put him on Precise Senior Formula because he was gaining too much weight. He has done well on it. So his current diet is the Precise Senior, a Tylan capsule with each meal, and Olewo Carrots with each meal. I also add green beans to his breakfast so that he fills up and isn't begging for food all day. The Precise foods are highly digestible and I would suggest trying whichever one you think might work well based on his history. We found that stools were pretty consistent on them, although as Rocket got older we did add the Olewo Carrots and the stools bounce across the ground now. Foods mentioned above: Precise Pet Food Sensicare Precise Foundation Other Precise Products: Precise Holisitc line (can be pricey) Precise Grain Free Good luck. Hope Ashe is feeling better soon. Edited to add: I forgot to mention that we also keep Evangers Canned Organic Chicken on hand for when we need to feed bland. It is only chicken, no additives except for a little Guar Gum as a stabilizer. It is less than half the price of the canned WD, and it works better for Rocket than boiled ground beef or boiled chicken. I usually mix it with scrambled eggs and mushy rice. When feeding bland, I go to 4 small feedings a day to reduce the stress on his stomach. May be worth a try instead of shelling out $$$ for the Rx food.

Hold off on the carrots until he has adjusted to the brand of kibble and the amount you are feeding. When you start adding things, you have no idea how well (or not) the kibble is working for him. This will give you an idea of what is a "normal" stool for him so you can detect any major changes later on. The carrots work well, but depending on your hound's stomach, other treats, etc he may or may not need. Rocket has stomach issues and we tried the carrots to see if they would make a difference in the frequency of those issues. They firmed up his stool and we haven't seen the type of stomach issues that he was having in a while. Anytime you start changing the diet, make sure that you make only one change at a time, whether it's adding something, changing portions or brands, or giving add-ins like carrots, yogurt or pumpkin. Not every dog needs those add-ins, and we often see new adopters who read the info on the forums, and suddenly the dog has diarrhea because they added yogurt, pumpkin and beet pulp to the food, all at the same time. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing!" In many cases, a dog needs no add-ins and the kibble works fine. Over time you will be able to detect those subtle changes by monitoring stools, his coat, skin flaking or itching etc. It's nice to be able to know that you added something a week before itching appeared, etc.

Overfeeding will cause soft poop and diarrhea. Read the directions on the bag to determine the amount of food for your hound's approximate weight. Every food will be a little different. Start there and then adjust up or down in a couple of weeks as needed to maintain a healthy weight. 6 cups sound like 2 too many to me, maybe even 2 1/2 too many but will vary somewhat depending on the KCal count of the food you are using. Depending on which scale I use, Rocket weighs between 78 and 88 lbs (yes - there is that much varaince in vet scales.) He eats 3 1/2 cups per day, plus gets 1/3 can of green beans and some Olewo carrots on his food. We used to feed about 4 cups per day but had to cut that back as he got older because of weight gain. He looks great even if one or two of the scales say he is over the weight he should be at.

Claymore just posted over on humantalk.com and says he can't get this woman trained to walk on his left no matter what he does.......

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet boy, Diane. We also have a "people dog, not a dog's dog." I understand that description so well. Run free, Huston.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet boy, Irene. Run pain-free, Fuzzy.

Sending lots of positive vibes to Chase!

Probably irritation from the stuffy. It doesn't take much to get that mucousy blood if the tummy or bowel is irritated. If it keeps up, then the vet may want to do 7-10 days of metronidazole.

These were prescribed by our vet in IL when we were battling ragweed allergies. They label says - Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexomethasone Opthalmic Suspension. There is no "trade name" on the label so I'm guessing this is a generic Rx.

The ability to edit only lasts for 30 minutes unless you are a paid supporter of the site. If you were previously a supporter then the membership period expired. Just an FYI - lots of dogs here seem to be itching now that allergy season has started. Rocket has been batting at his eyes and scratching at his nose a little. I've started giving him his eye drops that we used for ragweed allergies in the midwest. As far as Gambler's sensitive tummy, Rocket has dealt with similar symptoms since Day 1 and was diagnosed with Stress Colitis - he gets a little stressed and the Big D or gas starts. He is on Tylan which takes care of many of the issues, but we recently added the dehydrated carrots to his food twice a day and the stools literally bounce across the ground. He seems to feel much better too. He is about 80 lbs. I make 1 tbsp of carrots with about 2-3 ounces of water each day and give him half with each meal. A little goes a long way with the carrots.

Same here. There have been a couple of posts over the years of similar happenings with hounds and I'm pretty sure there was some type of seizure diagnosis. Seizures can be controlled easily with medication. Definitely requires a vet or University Vet School that can do a neuro evaluation.

Thank you! I knew there was something else that people used as makeshift boots when I posted, and absolutely could not remember what it was...

Last winter Rocket and I were in the Polar Vortex of Illinois. We went weeks with no walks due to ice and temps. We did have a turnout area for him that was secure, so we were able to keep that area easier for him to use. I was ab;e to put down horse stall bedding on top of fresh snow and ice to give him a warmer surface and some traction for his paws. The main thing is that paws /pads will feel like they are burning at these temperatures. As posted above, boots / booties are a lifesaver. Until you can procure them, you might try throwing down an old towel or blanket for him to stand on, knowing that you are sacrificing it "for the cause." Another option is thick coating of kitty litter, sawdust, newspaper or anything that you can get between his paws and the ice / snow to prevent the burning feeling . At times like this, you have to think outside the box and just do whatever works. Grocery bags on his paws might freak him out, so if you try something like that, make it something soft that doesn't crinkle and allows a little traction. Maybe an old towel cut up and wrapped with some vet wrap or tape. Just remember that he will go when he has to. These hounds can often hold their bladders for 12 hours or more when they decide they aren't going out.

The prices on dental cleanings are all over the map, and often higher in metropolitan areas. Since she is a recent adoption, I'm surprised that her teeth weren't cleaned while she was under for her spay surgery. If you adopted her in the past few months, I would ask your adoption group if a dental cleaning was done and if so, let them know what you are being told. If you are uncertain whether or not she needs it, I would ask for some opinions on good local vets and get a second opinion before moving forward. Daily cleaning can't hurt if she lets you brush her teeth. Chewing is the most effective cleaning agent, so raw turkey necks a few times a week, bully sticks etc provide the most cleaning action. Do not give cooked bones, rawhides etc as they can lead to choking or stomach issues. If you give raw bones, be sure the hound is supervised at all times. You will hear varying opinions about bones, some give them, some don't and each have their reasons. I give them to Rocket, but never leave the room until he is done with it, just in case he splinters a piece off. He is a pretty gentle chewer. Others have experienced broken teeth from various bones, and don't give them at all. You can also use a water additive like Plaque Off or similar in the water bowl to help loosen some of the plaque. It works slowly, so it will take several weeks before you notice any difference.

Try putting a dog bed in there if you haven't. Rocket likes to stand in my van to look out the windows, but will lay down when I tell him to. In the car a Camry Sedan) he lays down pretty quickly and will sleep until the car comes to a stop or has a significant change in speed, like slowing down on a ramp.

I never dreamed i would see the words "bull penis" and "hopeless romantics" in the same post.....

Search for raw pet food suppliers in your closest major city. Many have retail store fronts, and others have once or twice monthly delivery routes over multi-state areas. This will keep your cost down, and many of them have the food already mixed in various formulations. Examples: Here's one in Phoenix - http://www.freshrawdogfood.com/ And one in Indianapolis - https://www.mypetcarnivore.com/index.php?lang=en You might want to post your location so others can suggest suppliers that serve your area.

Tramadol is now a controlled substance just like narcotic pain killers. Typically it requires a paper script, although in some places they are still getting away with faxing it in. It is not available by mail order from any legitimate US pharmacy and must be filled in person at retail. ID is also required. If you are carrying Tramadol with you, make sure your name / Dog's name is on the Rx label and that it's not in an unlabeled container. Possession arrests for Tramadol are increasing, and the last thing you need to deal with is a felony arrest for carrying your dog's medication in a different container. I've been using Tramadol for chronic pain for many years, but no longer carry it in a small pill container like I used to use to carry just one dose when I'm away from home for the day. I now carry the actual Rx bottle with the correct info on it.

Looking sharp, Taylor. That almost looks like there's some stinkeye involved.

In the past when we've had this issue with Rocket, I've kept the Flagyl going until the transition was complete and all was good. I also found that switching to 4 smaller meals a day from 2 meals helped a reat deal and didn;t overload the tummy when switching back to kibble. That mucous usually means that something is still flared up in the tummy.

Run free, Paisley.

Handsome boy and a beautiful tribute. Run free, Teo.

Either he is in pain or is not feeling well. Since it's out of character, a vet visit is definitely in order. Hope it's something minor.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet boy. Love the pictures of him. Run free, handsome Jake.