Vomiting In His Muzzle

[a_daerr]

Due to Truman's happy tail surgery and LONG recovery, we are keeping him muzzled with a stool guard when we're not home. That way, he can still drink water and go out the doggie door, but he can't lick at his tail. We have to do something because he is very obsessive about licking/biting his tail- as soon as the muzzle comes off, he goes straight for it. The weird part is that he's been vomiting more and more frequently. It only happens when the muzzle is on. Prior to use, I washed the muzzle and stool guard and soaked them in hot water (no chemicals, just a tiny bit of Dawn). Each time he vomits, I wash it again. It's not a lot of vomit, and it doesn't seem to be chunks of his food coming back up- mainly just water and stomach acid. After he gets one good gag, he's usually done.

 

This has increased to about every other day, sometimes daily. Nothing else has changed regarding diet, exercise, or meds. I'm thinking the muzzle may be causing something to be off with his gag reflex? He is AKC, never raced, never wore a muzzle prior to this. Any thoughts?

[greysmom]

Is this a regular kennel turnout muzzle? Make sure it's not too tight. His nose shouldn't be pressing into the end of the muzzle when he's standing still. It should have some wiggle room up and down, but not be too loose that he can get it off easily. An AKC hounds head is (a little) different so check the chin strap area that it's not pressing into his neck.

[Riverhound]

I wonder if the vomiting has been going on for a while, but is just getting noticed now because the muzzle makes it more obvious? A little water or bile can easily hide in a carpet.

[4My2Greys]

I'd be concerned about the aspiration of vomit and fluids into his lungs.

[Sambuca]

If it's just bile and fluid my guess is that the meds are upsetting his belly. Can you make sure he gets small snacks throughout the day to absorb it?

[macoduck]

Pepcid?

[a_daerr]

Is this a regular kennel turnout muzzle? Make sure it's not too tight. His nose shouldn't be pressing into the end of the muzzle when he's standing still. It should have some wiggle room up and down, but not be too loose that he can get it off easily. An AKC hounds head is (a little) different so check the chin strap area that it's not pressing into his neck.

 

Yep, I think this is it. His head is shaped a little differently, so on one notch, his nose is sort of squished, but it fits good in the ears. On the next one up, his nose is okay, but it's looser in the ears. It's not perfect, but I'm going to loosen it up a notch. He's still not able to get it off.

[Hubcitypam]

I'd be concerned about the aspiration of vomit and fluids into his lungs.

If he has one bigger vomit with a stool guard on it can be bad news.

 

As much as I hate e-collars it might be a safer bet. There are padded versions as well as donut types that are way better than the old school plastic lampshades and depending on how wide you dog door is he might be able to go through.

Edited October 16, 2012 by Hubcitypam

[Sambuca]

When I use a muzzle to prevent wound issues I put duct tape on just the 2 holes the tongue goes out of, but leaves the space in front of the nose available. That could be an option as well.

[3greytjoys]

I was taught to not leave a muzzle with a stool guard on when hound is not supervised. Worst case scenario: Hound could potentially choke/drown to death from fluid getting caught in stool guard. Even more risky if hound happens to vomit food + fluid while standing up and hanging head towards floor (typical dog vomiting position) which could create full blockage of tiny holes in stool guard. Sometimes, the plastic muzzle blocks stool guard holes. (Can be seen by looking inside stool guard if guard is placed on inside of turnout muzzle.)

 

Even when stool guard is dry and hound is lying down resting, the stool guard/muzzle is sometimes pushed up against the nose, making it hard to breathe normally.