Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Dakota has begun chewing himself raw. He has always been a nervous licker, and after his amputation he seemed to get worse. He has never, ever licked a hot spot on himself...till now.
We moved from mountains to suburbs at the first of the year so we have a lot of different botanical life now. I'm wondering if he has allergies to our new plant life. I am planning to take him to the vet tomorrow. I expect he'll be given an antibiotic to try to heal the gigantic, 4-inch long raw spot he managed to open up since yesterday. I also expect he'll be put on either some kind of anti-anxiety (if the vet thinks this is all anxious licking) or an antihistamine.
Does anyone have experience with antihistamines? I'd like to know my options and pros and cons that others have experienced so I can have an intelligent conversation with the vet. He's a great veterinarian and I think things will turn out fine, but this is crazy! Licking himself raw? Oozing, open sore? Good grief, dog. (Maybe I can get an anti-anxiety for me.)
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I'm SURE you've tried this but how about spraying bad tasting stuff on his licking spots? We have some gross tasting liquids that we use on our horses to stop them chewing their bandages, blankets, fences etc etc etc. It doesn't really address the problem but it might give the skin a break. There are several different brands that I can get you the name of if you're interested.
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
I do have some stuff I put on the places he's chewing and licking. It's not anything that will irritate him but it does smell pretty strongly and keeps him away...for awhile. That's one reason I think there's more to it than just a need to be obsessive. If he's really itching, it must be incredibly distressing to him. I'm inclined to believe that's what it is now. What product do you like?
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
hmm..... Bud had some kind of fungus or perhaps allergic reaction between his toes once and we got a spray for that and they told me to put a bleach solution on his dog run (preamp days) Also the vet tried to have me use that bitter spray stuff to keep him from licking his infected skin....and it totally did not work...bandaging it didn't work. Spraying the bandage didn't work. Continuous "no Bud" did not work. Finally the antibiotics worked
Sorry Im not more helpful! Best wishes for the vet tomorrow!
Zeffy is having a similar issue -- I thought (cuz we stopped in Eugene last week and we always seem to pick up fleas in Eugene) that it might be fleas, but I gave her flea meds, and a bath, and she's still chewing the heck out of her tummy... Seasonal allergies, maybe??? I'll be interested in hearing what your vet thinks, since we haven't had a moment to get her back in to see her Dr. since the "butt issue." Geez -- if it ain't one thing, it's another, right?
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
I have no idea if the condition of his coat would be related, but we use a product called Nupro. It's basically an all natural supplement that's supposed to make the coat "healthy" (soft and shiny). It's a powder and we add water to it to make it a gravy, then mix it in with their food. You can find it online. Maybe read up on it and its ingredients, and ask your vet if he thinks it might help. We have a dog park friend whose pit-mix (Rocco) has allergies, and his coat was always really dry and itchy. She asked about Bernie's coat one day (even a terrorist can have soft fur!), so we told her about Nupro. She uses it on Rocco now, and said she noticed a difference in his coat within a few weeks. In our conversation we never got to the allergy issues, so I don't know if it helped there any, but I guess anything that can make a coat nice can't hurt. Good luck, and let us know what Dakota's doc says!
Are you by any chance giving him any meds in peanut butter? My sis's dog was licking his feet raw, and he took daily meds in P.B. I happened to see an article that many dogs are very allergic to it, so sent it to her. They switched to giving him his pills in hummus (only in CA?) and he licking troubles went away.
Probably a long shot, but thought I'd mention it. Hope you figure out a solution soon! Poor guy!
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
My daughter's dog, Sosa, has allergies and obsessively licks his legs and feet. Benadryl helps, but sometimes the vet has to resort to shaving his wound and prescribing stronger drugs. Removing the hair seems to make a huge difference. Good luck — allergies can be a bear to lick. (no pun intended)
Smilin' Sammy, March 16, 2004 – Dec. 5, 2011
Golden retriever, diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2010 — right front leg amputated November 2010. He fought valiantly to stay with us; but a second diagnosis of osteosarcoma, this time in his left front leg, was more than our golden warrior could overcome. He loved his pack — and everyone else he met.
We loved him even more.
Thanks for the pennies, Sammy. They helped.
Ohhhh poor Dakota! Here comes the cone of shame !
It's funny but whenever we go to urban environments, Wyatt Ray starts itching like crazy. I'm inclined to think he's either allergic to grass or the chemicals people put on it.
Tea tree oil is another good, safe repellent you can use to prevent licking.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So here's my update. I decided to hold off on the vet for now. I think I can try some other things here first. Since Dakota goes into anxiety overload when we go to the vet, it might actually make the problem worse.
I've been using an oil called Hot Spot Skin Relief to keep him away from the trouble area. It has healing oils in it but also lavender, tea tree and myrrh for extra "keep your mouth to yourself" effect. It really scents the room so I know Dakota must be really offended by it. Also, using a homeopathic itch remedy my non-homeopathic-believing husband brought home in desperation (so you know it's bad).
The middle of the night is when Dakota goes to town. I guess the oil loses potency during the night and he wakes me up with his slurping. Drives me bananas even when it isn't raw. He's chewing and licking on his rear leg, kind of inner thigh.
I know several people who have goldens with seasonal allergies and they all use Claritin, and all are prescribed by their vets. Any thoughts on me trying a round of Claritin?
Diane gave me an idea when she suggested a coat supplement, but it probably wasn't what she intended. It made me think that yeah, I've been using a supplement for Dakota in much the way she described. I started it shortly before he began gnawing on himself. So now I'm wondering if he is allergic to it. It has good stuff in it and I can't imagine it being allergenic for him, but who knows. I'm using Solid Gold's Seameal. Kelp, flax, aspergillus, lemon, pineapple. Anyway, I'm going to discontinue it. Not giving peanut butter for anything.
I'm also going to give Dakota a haircut. I own clippers! He pants all the time, so I think he's really uncomfortably hot, but I can also hopefully get rid of any little stuff that may be bugging him. After that, I'll schedule him for a bath. If it's environmental, maybe that will fix it. If not, I'll cut off his rear leg! Only maybe kidding...just a little...
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Ooooh those sounds can make any human go nuts at 3 am!
I think your action plan is good. Get rid of that fur. Also try to think of ANYTHING that's changed in his diet lately. Or maybe he got bit or stung by something there? Is there evidence of a bite?
Solid Gold is an excellent supplement, I would be surprised if that was it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sounds like you have a plan of attack.
I wonder if it's the coat supplement? I, personally, am pretty allergic to pineapple - not that it will kill me, but it does a huge painful number on my mouth (which is a total bummer cuz this just started happening a couple of years ago and I love pineapple!). Anyway - I wonder if it could be that? Just throwing ideas out...
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Right there with you on the slurping sounds! Obie's licking makes me feel like screaming sometimes.
I know D. Dawg and Obie have some of the same OCD licking behaviors. Obie is also having bouts of itching now- I think it is seasonal allergies, but I'm not sure what he is allergic to. I was also giving him a coat supplement from... Honest Kitchen I think.... can't remember. But he seemed to get worse after I started him on it so I stopped too. We have tried several antihistamines with little effect. I can't remember if we tried Claritin, I know I talked with the vet about it, but I don't think we used it. The only thing that calmed it down was Temeril-P (not sure of the spelling), the P is for prednisone. I don't like having him on it continuously so I only use it when he gets really bad. In fact, I just started him on it again this morning. His worst spot is above his eyes of all places. He is losing hair and has scabby spots. He looks like he has reverse eye brows! I am curious what homeopathic itch remedy you are trying- although I hesitate to use anything around his eyes. I do put aloe on a couple of times a day.
Next I am trying a diet change. He is on a grain free , allergy formula already.
I hope Dakota feels better soon.
Karen and the scabapalooza
What Friday brought: a dog fight.
Evelyn and Dakota decided to go at it over Dakota's ignored and neglected supper. He didn't want it, but he was going to be damned if he let her even look at it. She looked at it, so they had a tussle. When you combine a bulldog's big, hard head with a mouthful of dental hypoplasia's messed up teeth, you get a knocked-out tooth. So Dakota is now missing a canine. I wanted to strangle them both, but I didn't.
I do have an appointment for Dakota to get a bath and some kind of haircut next week. Maybe I can find a full-service spa and they can do a dental implant, too. Maybe a brain transplant even. I wouldn't turn that down at this point. The older he gets, the weirder he gets. By the time he's 12, he should be fairly intolerable. But with the missing teeth, at least he'll be harmless.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Oh Shari!
I come late only to find out that there is now a missing canine!!! Holy Moly!!! I hope those two learned a lesson!!!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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