Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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In order to let Jack play at the center down the street or in the dog parks, I needed to get his shots updated. He's all set now with his shots, but now something else is minorly concerning me. Jack likes to lick, like...alot. I call him smackers because he gets to the point where his fur is so wet it just sounds like he's smacking instead of licking. Well, when he's done, he tends to let out this big, hacking, cough, like he's letting go of a hairball. He has also been snoring a LOT lately and sounds congested sometimes when he breathes in through his nose. His vet said his heart and lungs sound great and that his gums look the perfect color, so she thinks it's probably allergies which, for some reason, dogs are prone to get after moving to WA (who knew!). So, he does do the "met" cough, but it's not consistant, and not daily, and pretty much only after excessive licking (or inhaling of food...). Has anyone else been told this before? Just thought I'd add this update 🙂
<3 Laura and congested Jack
When we first thought Jerry had "the cough" it turned out to just be allergies. And being from the Northwest, I can personally attest to the mold spore and tree pollen index there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for your response! Made me feel a little better to know that this actually can happen 🙂
Hey congested Jack.......
From the first day we got Paris at the shelter she chewed and scratched, had multiple ear infections, etc!! She is on Hydroxyzine 50 mg 2 capsules twice daily. We tried taking her off it in the winter and she was miserable........us too for yelling at her for chewing her paw! After her surgery and chemo our vet said that there were no contraindications for her staying on it.
Jack, I hope you don't cause your Mom too much trouble!! You take care up there in Washington!
Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Poor Jack, Zoe does the same thing like she is trying to cough up a fur ball. She has had allergies her whole life, even with allergy shots she still licks and chews her paws all the time. I'm sure your vet probably recommended things but something like Benadryl or prescription Hydroxyzine would help. Also Fish oil, if he isn't already taking it, I think would be of benefit. Hopefully it is just a seasonal thing and will go away. It is great news that his heart and lungs sound good.
Jack, Washington does have a lot of pollen and it doesn't usually get any better in the winter since it doesn't often freeze on this side of the mountains. Two out of my three dogs ended up on allergy vaccine after moving here, and Loki has done very well with fish and potato dog food. Antihistamines can help (hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, or diphenhydramine are most commonly used although the bigger dogs can also try Claritin).
Pam
zoes4life said:
She has had allergies her whole life ... licks and chews her paws all the time.
So, is chewing of the paws a sign of allergies evn when there is no other sign of excessive itching or scratching? Wyatt is often munching on his paws.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tazzie used to chew his feet when I first adopted him, at age 1 & 1/2 yr for about a year and it seemed to be due to allergies. I think he also tended to scratch the base of his ears. My vet at the time indicated those are two big clues for allergies. It got better as he got older. I am taking care of a young yellow lab today and she is also chewing on her feet.
Tazzie regularly nibbled on the OSA location (distal radius) last fall, several months before he limped, so I guess we might need to distinguish different types of licking and chewing depending on the location.
Jack is a big foot chewer, and often scratches behind his ears...hmmmmm.... Its funny, but I never would have thought twice about this behavior before diagnosis, but now it's like, everything he does means something 😛 Anyhoo, thanks to my vet that works Saturday and my dad who had no plans today, Jack was able to get a Hydroxyzine perscription filled and picked up while I spent the day at work. We'll see if it helps! Also, no coughing at all so far today, so either he's licking less or his mets aren't bothering him 😛 (this is what I get for not doing x-rays...I don't know the real cause. But at least we can hope it's allergies!!!)
<3 Laura and Jackers
I really hope that the hydroxyzine helps to make a difference for Jackers... I know that when Wolfie would start licking at his feet (every once in a while) I would give him some benadryl for a few days, it would make a difference... But if your dog has severe seasonal allergies, then hopefully the hydroxyzine will help. Let us know how it goes...
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I'm not sure, I would think if there isn't ear infections and all the other scratching and licking, it may just be either local irritation or possibly a habit. Before Zoe was started on allergy shots she would chew her paws til they bled, at least now its not that intense. I know this sounds weird but when her allergies were bad her feet would get that yeasty smell too.
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