2ndChance

I just found my first flea on Chance!!! YUUUUCCKKKK!!! He's been on frontline since I've gotten him, and there hasn't been any other dog in my house since last year. He does go to the dogpark and dog beach...regular walks. I'm afraid I know the answer....but if you find one, does that mean there are more?!?! What do I do from here?? See if I find more then start bathing/bombing house, etc? Only plus is that he's white.... w/ a very bare belly and legs...semi-hairy butt

Don't want to jinx this, but I changed Chance's kibble from the Health Extensions that I talked about earlier to TOTW Pacific Stream. High Praire brough soft serve...but TOTW PS is loooooking good...and NO VOMITING, NO CHOKING, NO REGURGITATION!!! I'm in shock...and very happy. Hope this keeps up. If not...then I'll go to the specialist. I held off b/c the smaller meals helped...but then in general other food helped. The Vets Choice Holistic Health Extensions were little bites...maybe THAT was the problem!!!! That'd be greyt if that's all it was... Can it be true??? Little bites no good...or is it just the ingredients or something not digesting properly???!!! hmmmm....

Very glad to hear you are doing well, and I'm envious of your desire to have two! I have only one and reallllllly want another, but it'd be too much for me, being single and all and living in a condo. Financially, not sure if I can swing it either. Maybe next summer... ANYWAY, hope the transition goes smooth! Don't think anyone added this, but they are BOTH new to your house and routine, so I think you'll have a completely different experience than most just bringing home one at a time. Good luck and congrats! Hearing your surgery went well and two more pups getting a lifetime of love and cozy beds made my day!

Prayers and well wishes for your boy. Hugs to you too...this has got to be rough. Good luck....you did the right thing when you rescued him....he's lucky to have you.

NICE! I will be submitting my first claim soon myself. I got Chance Trupanion though. It seemed to fit my budget and what I wanted now and in the future. Greyt job!

I understand your feelings. Am not critizing your decision nor trying to minimize the impact on the people this has effected. However, this has been a known issue with Reglan & listed among it's possible adverse effects for years. This is the case with so many other drugs considered highly effective. In the case of Reglan, at least it is a frequently listed side effect. Again, this is not criticism. We all have our reasons. Personally I worry a far, far more about metronidazole(Flagyl) as it can cause a very severe & sometimes irreversible form of peripheral neuropathy. And unlike the Tardive dyskinisia which I have not heard of being reported in dogs , though I certainly could have missed it, the neuropathy is known to happened in dogs. Look Flagyl up on multiple sites & you will find this effect is often not listed. Some symptoms like tingling in feet & hands are but our dogs rarely report those first signs to us. It can happen to any dog & has, though rarely, but imagine the effect this drug had when it was prescribed to my dog already suffering from a neurological problem? The effects were rapid & devastating. Yet my guess is that 10's of 1000's or more dogs have been spared a lot of suffering from this drug I now fear so much. And it was prescribed because we were trying to treat a problem believed to be causing my dog's repeated episodes of bloat. Sometimes you have to pick your poison. To 'Reglan' or not to 'Reglan' that is the question!! Ok..maybe not so hysterical, but every pill has it's side-effects. Since this is my thread, I'll hi-jack my own: "I worry, a far, far more about Flagyl!" ...ummmm...do tell more. I had to take this while in the hospital after transplant...think I may have had a parasitic something or other in my urine. It went away...was nothing serious, but I never thought twice about the effects of the Flagyl...more so with the chemo & other 100's of drugs. My tastebuds are still not the same since ...was the Flagyl then...could just be the transplant/chemo in general now. Just curious.... Back to the real issue, Chance.... I will look for a specialist today after my doc appt, and then take it from there. See if they can recommend it or not over the phone. We shall see. Trying 3 smaller meals today... As always...cant thank you all enough!

I work for several Law firm in the US and Reglan is a drug that is cause a lot of problems in people. There are many law suits going on right now. Reglan side effects tardive dyskinesia and similar drug induced movement disorders are characterized by rarely reversible symptoms that include random movements in the tongue, lips or jaw as well as facial grimacing, movements of arms, legs, fingers and toes along with swaying movements of the trunk or hip. There is no way I would take this drug or let my dog take this drug. I have seen what it can do to people. oh WOW! okay...maybe I'll see the specialist first before turning to drugs. Not a fan of popping pills anyway...so dont want my furkid too. (of course I'm on 16+ pills right now b/c of the Luke ...but when I'm healthy..just vitamins!! )

hahah....don't worry. I think that's sound advice...I'll wait another day or two to see when his poop problems are alleviated. Until then, maybe I can find a specialist and see their opinion. * Glad to hear that other ppl have tried Reglan long-term with no ill-effects...if that's my end solution.

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write all that! GREYT advice! I will start to keep a log.... Interesting thought about if it's regurgitating or vomiting. He's certainly vomitted grass (after dog park visits) a few times and that has the same description you made. So that makes me say that he's more regurgitating...sometimes he acts like there's something stuck in his throat...other times it just comes up w/out warning..nothing. Got the call and bloodwork is fine. I will have to call NGAP to get the results sent to me, if they aren't on their way already. (odd sidenote: they called my brother...not me. HOW in the world did they get his number?? He wasn't even with me! I'm still perplexed! ) So xrays and bloodwork cleared. I think I will try the Reglan like you suggested... and get him to a specialist as soon as I can. I need results and answers....not waiting around while he deals w/ this and I cringe everytime he does it. I've gotten Vet's Choice Holistic Health Extensions dog food and it's very tiny little bites...but maybe I'll try 3 meals a day instead of two. Oh, and then to make things more fun for me, Chance has the Big D all of a sudden. His poop was bad last night & then pretty decent this morning and then two hours later he decided to go in the back seat of my brand new Jeep Liberty!! OMG...so disgusting, but what are you gonna do. I felt so bad for him.... Oh..and it's all in the crevices too! The blanket was on the top of the backseat & not the back of the backseat lol. THAT was greyt fun cleaning ! So anyway, tonight is boiled chicken and rice...but I'll try other stuff when he feels better. Again..can't thank you enough.

What if I said it's both issues?? He does struggle to vomit...but a few times (not as many as the struggling ones) it "just came up"... Another xray huh?! Why one day fine and the next not? ...and again, where do I find an internal med specialist for a dog?? Thanks for the kind thoughts.... I only browse through this H&M forum b/c I'm scared sh*tless of having problems w/ him. I cry after reading any thread about pups in distress... plus it makes me even more of a hypochondriac than I already am!! I really hope this isn't anything horrible.

I appreciate all this info and advice...although I admit, 'internal medicine specialist' through me for a loop ... Where do I find THAT for a dog??! You also seem to know quite a bit about this, so another question is if this is a condition that can develop later in life (he just turned 4)... It'll be a year at the end of August that I adopted him and he just started this choking stuff a few months ago...and it's just gotten increasingly recently.... He had two radiographs done....neck (esophogus) and chest....both clear. He gave me a CD of them..wonder if I can upload those pics!?

An ultrasound of his stomach? I have Trupanion, so hopefully all this would be covered. They pay 90%... I haven't tried an all wet food diet...so then that means no treats/chicken backs/turkey necks, etc? He chokes on his water too...so not sure how much wet food will help. I'll keep it in mind though! Thanks Batmom

I had posted months ago about Chance vomiting up his water and food. It's not a drinking or eating too fast issue anymore. He's now involuntarily throwing up food or water at random times. Sometimes it's just choking like something is stuck . I went to NGAP and finally got xrays and bloodwork done. The xrays came back clear and fine, which made me happy. Still waiting on bloodwork. The vet doesn't think it's megaesophagus. His temporary solution is to put him on Reglan b/c he explained that the food/water is not going straight to intestines like it should and some is just sitting there in his belly. I looked up Reglan for humans and dogs and it looks okay. They didn't mention long-term effects for dogs...but for humans they said no more than three months. Is Reglan a temporary fix? If so, then what???

Greyt! Thanks!

Thanks guys... I'm going to check out feed supply stores...there has to be tons that I just dont know about. I am really satisfied with his poop for the 1st time since I got him last August, so I may stick with it if I can find it for not too much more than a $1 a pound. We'll see though b/c his coat is soooooo soft (can't say shiny b/c he's white ) and i dont even add any Omega 3 that often anymore. Think it's worth it no matter the $$. I'm happy to hear good feedback from those who've heard of it! THANK YOU!

I dont have any added ideas, but wanted to say how awesome that is that you took in an 11 1/2 yr old hound. Bless you! I met a woman on Tues with a 15 year old!!! They adopted her at 11...AND she was a brood mama!!! ...and she raced over 100 races. I was in awe!

WOW!!! Thank you for replying!!! I posted this a few days ago I will def check that out...thought it was too expensive. I know I'm feeding a little less, but geeeez!

First 4th w/ Chance too and he HIGHLY disliked the fireworks as well. He wasn't as severe, but he didn't stop panting and shaking like a leaf for 3 hours. Wouldn't sleep w/ me either....went right to his crate which he hasn't been inside in months. Glad i hadn't folded it up for good yet. Poor babies!

You're right...but wasn't thinking when I said it. I assumed anyone from this area would know what I'm talking about. We actually consider PA/NY/NJ the tri-state area...at least I do and all my weather and news channels. But that's besides that point of the post. I'll be clearer next time.

Same here...my heart breaks for you, your fam, and Chase. He's certainly in my prayers...

Oooh the touch-ups sound like a good idea. I probably could have gotten away w/ just that yesterday, but I know he didn't get a dental before I adopted him last year...so I wanted a GOOD cleaning. His teeth look amazing...only a little tartar before...now sparkley!

Awwww...Charlie looks greyt! Glad he's doing better

I can only imagine how you feel. I hope everything is okay....and who knows....MAYBE they'll find this "sample" somewhere. I mean, where could it have gone?? Good luck...and lots of hugs and kisses to Merlin!

Check out NGAP (National Greyhound Adoption Program) in Philadelphia, PA VERY worth the trip....luckily I'm only a little over an hour away. Vet quote for dental: $550-750 Same at NGAP: $110-150 plus it'll be a $25 for an exam before hand. Soooo worth it. Plus they have huge beds for no more than $50... fleece jackets w/ snoods $20.... LOTS of greyhound sweathshirts, jackets, etc. Met lots of greyt greyhound owners too. OH, and there are appox 60-70 houndies waiting for a loving home! First time there today, and I LOVED it! We also got Xrays $85 for 1st...$45 for 2nd...Blood work: $98 (hoping those are covered on my dog insurance (Trupanion)...) Frontline: 6 mos supply $70.00 (I pay $105.00 for 7 mos supply at vet) THANK YOU NGAP!! eta: A grey got a leg amputated & another found out their beautiful hound had bone cancer & was going to the bridge today. Just a little for a safe journey & speedy recovery for the soon-to-be tripod.

Check out this dog food : Health Extensions A guy who owns the pet food store by me recommended this b/c he was out of TOTW...he special orders it. I was going to try TOTW Pacific Stream b/c he did horrible on High Prairie. I needed something and he said a bunch of greyhound owners fed this....who?? Well, me now... I love the idea that they are little bites b/c Chance inhales his food...so the dish in the middle of his bowl...coupled w/ the little bites has stopped the choking most of the time. My questions are: 1) I'm paying $32 plus tax for an 18lb bag ...am I nuts? OR does this food look like it's worth it? His poops are okay...bit orangey tho... 2) What do you think of the little bites idea?? 3) It's 418 kcals per cup...says to feed around 2 1/4 for Chance b/c he's 70lbs. I split that between two meals...is that enough calories??? 4) I've tried Kirkland ..both kinds... Avoderm... TOTW High Prairie... Versus .... Whole Earth Farms... WHERE TO NEXT??? Thx!