LaFlaca Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Medical term - Hair Ball Gakking. 11 year old Wendy has begun making these "gakking" sounds like a cat expelling a hair ball. Sometimes it seems random, sometimes it happens after she eats something. We're going to the vet on Saturday as she also has a small, Skittle-sized lump on her neck <sigh>. Any ideas what the gakking might be about and if there are any tests/x-ray I should request? Quote Irene ~ Owned and Operated by Jenny (Jenny Rocks ~ 11/24/17) ~ JRo, Jenny from the Track Lola (AMF Won't Forget ~ 04/29/15 -07/22/19) - My girl. I'll always love you. Wendy (Lost Footing ~ 12/11/05 - 08/18/17) ~ Forever in our hearts. "I am yours, you are mine". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Research laryngeal paralysis. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaFlaca Posted February 28, 2017 Author Share Posted February 28, 2017 Research laryngeal paralysis. [/quote First - Thank you for the lead and responding so promptly. Have you experienced this with your hounds? Second - Oh, crap! Quote Irene ~ Owned and Operated by Jenny (Jenny Rocks ~ 11/24/17) ~ JRo, Jenny from the Track Lola (AMF Won't Forget ~ 04/29/15 -07/22/19) - My girl. I'll always love you. Wendy (Lost Footing ~ 12/11/05 - 08/18/17) ~ Forever in our hearts. "I am yours, you are mine". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 One old boy had minor symptoms, but it never progressed to the point where we needed to treat anything. (LP is an old-dog condition, and I've only had two dogs make it to "old." I lost my other three when they were 8 years old.) Easy recommendations include using a leash with a harness rather than with the collar. There also may be better positions for food and water bowls to make it easier for Wendy to swallow. And there is the potential for surgery to make things better. I'm sure other people who've been through this will chime in. I just knew I recognized the symptoms from what I've read on here. Depending on pollen conditions in your area, Wendy might have something that's more like post-nasal drip from allergies, though, and your vet should look into that, too. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 It could be several very benign things, but the mention of a "lump" is always concerning. If you don't already, you might try soaking her food before feeding, and making sure she's staying hydrated. Wipe her down with a wet wipe or damp paper towel/wash cloth (especially her feet) after she comes in just to remove any loose pollen in case it's an allergy thing. Washing her bedding goes along with that. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaFlaca Posted February 28, 2017 Author Share Posted February 28, 2017 All great advise; thank you all! I always want to be prepared with as much information as possible before I go to the vet with any unusual issues. Quote Irene ~ Owned and Operated by Jenny (Jenny Rocks ~ 11/24/17) ~ JRo, Jenny from the Track Lola (AMF Won't Forget ~ 04/29/15 -07/22/19) - My girl. I'll always love you. Wendy (Lost Footing ~ 12/11/05 - 08/18/17) ~ Forever in our hearts. "I am yours, you are mine". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 To a lesser extent of LP, gakking might also be acid reflux. You might be pleasantly surprised if the vet suggests Pepcid..... Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 If it is LP, my Onyx had the tieback when she was 11. She lived to 15.5 yrs old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Percy was put on doxepin, twice a day, reasonably priced. IIRC it was an off-label use of the med. You can read about it here: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/316305-laryngeal-paralysis/?hl=laryngeal The medication works best when it's a new onset, rather than something that has been going on for long time. Once we started him on it he improved. If we missed a dose he started to get the symptoms again. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimismom Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Always a great idea...please video your dog "hairball gakking" It's very helpful for your veterinarian. Lumps may need to be aspirated to determine what they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaFlaca Posted March 1, 2017 Author Share Posted March 1, 2017 (edited) To a lesser extent of LP, gakking might also be acid reflux. You might be pleasantly surprised if the vet suggests Pepcid..... I choose Pepcid! : ) Always a great idea...please video your dog "hairball gakking" It's very helpful for your veterinarian. Lumps may need to be aspirated to determine what they are. Absolutely...I've been shadowing poor Wendy around all day trying to catch a "gak". She did one last night (when I did not have my phone, of course!) and actually gakked up a bit of biscuit I had just given her as a treat on my lap. I'm hoping for a lipoma diagnosis on the lump. It comes up with the skin on the side of her neck and feels a bit spongy or squishy. Edited March 1, 2017 by LaFlaca Quote Irene ~ Owned and Operated by Jenny (Jenny Rocks ~ 11/24/17) ~ JRo, Jenny from the Track Lola (AMF Won't Forget ~ 04/29/15 -07/22/19) - My girl. I'll always love you. Wendy (Lost Footing ~ 12/11/05 - 08/18/17) ~ Forever in our hearts. "I am yours, you are mine". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaFlaca Posted March 1, 2017 Author Share Posted March 1, 2017 If it is LP, my Onyx had the tieback when she was 11. She lived to 15.5 yrs old! Fabulous! I hope the same for my Wendy. She is so very dear to me. Quote Irene ~ Owned and Operated by Jenny (Jenny Rocks ~ 11/24/17) ~ JRo, Jenny from the Track Lola (AMF Won't Forget ~ 04/29/15 -07/22/19) - My girl. I'll always love you. Wendy (Lost Footing ~ 12/11/05 - 08/18/17) ~ Forever in our hearts. "I am yours, you are mine". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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