mychip1

Update on Dustin....got home from work and he looked good. I gave him a small meal - and he was very interested and then ate only about half - but seemed OK...Took them for a walk - but no poop - but I figure all the food in his stomach from this morning came up the other way. When I started poking around in the kitchen with my food - he got VERY interested - so his appetite is good - but being finicky with is kibble. I broke down and gave him a little pasta with some more kibble - and he ate all the good stuff and a little kibble.... But - most importantly - so far everything has stayed down AND I got a little, well formed poop!!!! (Though it was in my family room....but he gets forgiven this time). Life as an animal mama (especially w/horses, too).....living to see normal poop!!! Thanks for all the concern!! I'll update if things change.

Lunchtime visit update - Ran home to check on him and gave him a very light snack. He is again interested in food. He ate the food (maybe 1/2 cup). We went for a walk. He urinated fine, but did not poop - I was actually relieved about that because he normally doesn't have to go at lunch time. I stayed home with hom for another 1/2 hour or so and he was still holding everything down. He also drank a little water!!! Will keep an eye on him....keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks!

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful boy.

Lots of prayers.

Run Free, Sweet Boy....

OK...I've had dogs for years - but as I age, I become more of a worrywart. Dustin vomited up his whole breakfast - hot dog chunks and all. He ate at 5:30, went for his walk and was fine. (Stool was loose and he was eager to poop before his walk - uncharacteristic - but not the big D). I left him 15 minutes later to go to the barn. Came back at 8:00 and he had vomited everywhere - undigested, wh ole food. I know it was Dustin and not JJ because he looked very upset and when I tried to see if he was interested in a cookie, he turned away. (If it was JJ I would figure it was the antibiotics from the dog bite he got - but Dustin only had a scratch and some bruises). My big concern is that last night I heard him chewing on something that sounded almost plastic. I went to check him and I thought he swallowed whatever was in his mouth - but I wasn't sure. Then I heard him chewing again and found on the floor what looked like - I know this sounds gross - a petrified piece of kitty-poop. It is possible that he found something behind the litterbox that is upstairs and I know my beagle always LOVED cat poop. I think he may have eaten whatever he had the first time. If he had eaten the old poop, could it make him throw up 9 hours later? If it wasn't poop, it might have been a piece of plastic from something they had stolen off my shelf. If so, will it just pass? I know I sound crazy. But back when my Bridge Boy Jack threw up for a day or two on and off, I eventually found hair scrunchies coming up in the vomit. I was very lucky they came up. On top of everything, I muzzle them when I'm out so they DON'T eat things - so the poor baby had to throw up with a muzzle on - but that's why there's no guard on them!! I did get him to eat five or six little pieces of hot dog and a cookie which he kept down for the 20 minutes I stayed before I HAD to leave for work. I will go back and check on him. Any thoughts? I'm not sure why I am so paniced about this.

Yay Joey!!!!!

Yup! My exact thought.... ??? Wow, is our state's reputation that bad? If it's any consolation, I didn't know Rhode Island had ANY kind of reputation, good or bad!! In answer to my own question - I know why RobinM thinks so (Paige12, check out the Lexus project links).....Frankly, I would have been more worried if my dogs defended themselves - I might have been fighting for their lives....and on some level, that's why I don't want to report this guy's dog....especially since he has tried to accept responsibility. I know if their injuries had been very serious - or if this puncture gets worse, my edge on this might grow sharper.....but I hate to see animals suffer for their owners' mistakes.

[Cancer took him and my Dad. I'm sorry for both of your losses. Sounds like a beautiful dog....

Julie.....you mentioned the man in your neighborhood carrying a golf club....DH had actually left one in our yard months ago worried about this type of thing.....guess he was right....so now I work that into my hands - though some of the other suggestions sound good, too...like Citronella. As far as infecton, I'm hoping the amox works. I'm watching it closely. The young man left the cash in the door during the day at some point with a very apologetic note. I spoke with his brother and father today as he wasn't home. Both seem to understand the gravity - and we even discussed that when he walks the dog he uses the "muzzle" type of leash because the dog is so strong and they openly admitted that the latch on the door was not secure and the dog should not have been in the front room with the door like that. Ironically, the kid's brother is a mailman who said he has been attacked and has an issue with irresponsible people with dogs. Hopefully they really do understand how serious this was....and, in the end, all I really care about is that my boys are OK....

I'm so sorry for you....

Actually, try not to flush. Believe it or not - the meds - even after processing through treatment plants, can contaminate waterways - and if you have leach fields can contaminate groundwater. I gave Jack's back to the vet when he passed (I had already purchased the meds and paid for the surgery before we realized that he was regressing) and asked them to give it to someone who was in need.

Multiple small meals per day if possible!! Seems to provide a more even weight gain without have it burden her digestive tract. Hugs to you for rescuing!!!

Without a doubt....with small four-leggeds and the big, horsey kind as well. My Chippy (Bridge at age 32 two years ago) could just turn his head toward me a certain way and I knew something was wrong. Same w/dogs and cats. But, I also must say that they possess the same skills with us - but to an incredibly higher degree. I know they always pick up on my emotional state - for good or bad.... But very interestingly, on the physical front, our senior boy, EZ, is very sensitive. I brought him to my mom's the night before she was to have a mastectomy on her left side. He walked right up to her, but his head on that side of her ribs and nestled right into her. I don't know if he could smell medications from work done earlier in the day on her - or if he sensed the cancer. I don't think he was simply reading her stress because he zeroed in on the location. Now, mind you, it must have been there in the weeks prior - but maybe a combination of her stress and the cancer triggered something in him.

Evet gave nothing topical just oral and an injection. I will check with my vet tomorrow and ask about emt. Thanks!!

Godspeed, Tank.

Just noticed some bruising and a small scrape on Dustin. Called evet. They weren't surprised.....I think it may actually be from the dog's paws rather than teeth as it was jumping on them. Update on JJ....seems to be doing OK. It is oozing - which I think is good for cleanliness.....though at some point it needs to close up. I know he wants to avoid stitching it.

Yup! My exact thought.... ??? Wow, is our state's reputation that bad?

Oh...I'm so very sorry.....God bless....

There is a woman in RI who boards. She oversaw all the care at the adoption kennel in RI, so she is very breed-knowledgeable as is her husband who was in the industry. They board them right at their house. If you are interested, PM me and I can give you her number. Don't know what her policy is on taking in special care pups, but you might want to give her a call.

My EZ had a heart murmer - and they sent him for what I believe was an "echo" rather than the EKG. It was just over $200.00.

Poor sweet baby....

Just spoke with the young man who owns the dog. It's a four-year old norweigen elkhound. I didn't recognize the breed during the whole situation. Apparently the latch on his screen door was open and the dog pushed right out - which given that all I saw was the dog fly out of the house within seconds after I heard him barking, I could believe. I guess the dog did have a collar on under all the fur - but he had trouble actually getting to it. He owns a chihuaua as well - but said that the dog has gotten more aggressive with larger dogs as he has gotten older. Said he used to take him to dog parks - but he got attacked at one - and since then has been aggressive w/other larger breed dogs. He will be getting me the money within a few days. I told him to use the first bit of money he has to fixing his screen door and then pay me. ......I will donate half the money to Ohio State's osteo program. Been meaning to do it anyway - and maybe some good can come out of this ordeal. In the meantime, JJ is OK - but looking a bit sad and worried. Dustin is fried, too. Interesting question, Macoduck - considering that he said the dog was actually the victim of an attack - wonder how that got reported - though it was in another community. I do think there is some grey area - given that even though I'm on call 24/7, some time is still considered personal.

Yes...off leash is illegal - and I am often hearing of issues regarding vicious dog hearings, etc.) I certainly don't want to report the dog - though my knowing about it puts me in kind of a bad spot - because if the dog does it again to someone, because I know about it, the "city" is sort of on notice in a funny way - but work aside, the reality is that it is just maddening to have to be fearful to walk my own dogs properly in my neighborhood. And my poor sweet boy ends up suffering. Update - Finally went down to check to see what was in my front door when I got back from the evet. Turns out it was a note from the young man with the dog offering to pay vet bills/damages. I actually feel much better about that. He left his number and wants me to call him. He must have known which house we live in. Calling him now....

Glad to hear that she seems to be doing better w/the panting - but it's just very scary when they don't want to eat. Could her teeth be bothering her on top of it? I agree with your concern about fluids, too. Good luck to you. Lots of prayers.....