Sep
30
2009
What Do These Symptoms Sound Like In My Dog? Vet Said It’s Nothing But She Seems In Pain…?
Posted by: Alan in Dog Worms Symptoms, tags: It's, Like, Nothing, Pain..., Said, Seems, Sound, Symptoms, These, What
She’s been scooting. I know that can be anal sacs needing drained. The vet did that a couple weeks ago, and said really they didn’t even need it.
The dog was still scooting when she got home. I also had a worm test done, and it came back negative. Sometimes she eats grass too, which I know can be a sign of stomach issues. She vomits once and a while too. I’m going to have another vet look at her, just wondered if anyone had any natural remedies or if it sounded like anything in particular. It cost me around $400 last time I had this checked (2 weeks ago) and it will be another month before I can afford that again. I’ve tried cleaning the area with vinegar which helps some.
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:11 am
You’re doing the right thing by asking for a second opinion – sometimes another set of eyes are what is needed.
This could be a big or a small problem – and if your dog seems otherwise healthy, it’s safe enough to try a couple of things.
First of all, depending upon her diet, it’s possible she just doesn’t have enough fiber. You can safely give her a spoonful of pureed plain pumpkin (not the pie filling that contains the spices) in each meal. I have yet to meet a dog that didn’t like it, and only one that is allergic to it (makes her ears itch). Otherwise, it just helps to give things a bit more substance, and clean out their GI tract. Safe to keep going with it, if it improves the situation.
Secondly, it is not uncommon for a fecal test to come back negative – which is why quite frankly I don’t even bother, unless it is a rescue dog that doesn’t seem to have been cured of them with a certain type of wormer – then we need to do one only to choose the right remedy.
Otehrwise, it’s perfectly safe to just go ahead and deworm the dog with Panacur, which is fendbendazole. Three days in a row, then again in three weeks, and that should take care of almost all the intestinal worms. Never a bad practice, no matter what, every six months or so. they get worms from the soil outside, since there will always be worms coming in from the wild things…
You should also keep in mind that your dog could have a mild allergy to her food – the eating of grass can mean that her stomach is irritated. While many dogs do it just because…well, fill in the blank, the constnat snacking can mean that her food is irritating her gut. You might try changing her over to Nutro Lamb & rice – gradually!- and see if it helps any. That is one brand that is readily available, and really only contains lamb and rice. Top food allergens are beef, corn, chicken, wheat, soy and dairy.
Your new vet can advise you on methods to work with her as far as a sensitive stomach is concerned – sometimes dogs are given pepcid and other human drugs as a way to calm down their GI tract while you switch over to something that will be better tolerated.
But anyway, start out slowly, have the new vet take a looksee, and above all – see what works with your dog. She is the best judge!
September 30th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
You can get another opinion. I have to get my Misty’s anal glands cleaned out every so often. But she scoots on her back end a lot after she has it done. Like our vet says her butt itches and that is the only way she can itch it. As for her eating grass and then vomiting they eat grass because their tummy is upset and that is why she vomits after she eats it. Good luck
September 30th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Some dogs just scoot some times. Especially after defecating. You can take her to another vet if you want, but if they say she is ok then let it be.
And I wouldn’t put vinegar on the area. I do not know how that will solve any thing.
October 1st, 2009 at 1:02 am
Getting another opinion is good. You also might get some of those doggy wipes or baby wipes and wipe her hiney after she poops, it cant hurt and it might help. Hope the other vet has good news and she stops scooting soon!
October 1st, 2009 at 2:25 am
I’m glad you’re taking your dog to another vet. I certainly wouldn’t try any remedies (natural or otherwise) on her without knowing what’s what.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:41 am
It does sound like the anal glands to me as well. Can you try introducing some ruffage to their diet to help?
October 1st, 2009 at 5:43 am
my dog scoots sometimes right after she poops.
i think your dog is fine..if the vet says its fine…. its fine. lol
October 1st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
These vague symptoms and inconclusive testing can be the very devil, and extremely costly too! Been there! I think it’s time for you to either switch vets completely, or at least get a second opinion as to what’s going on. Obviously something isn’t right, although the occasional vomiting/grass eating could just be an indication that she has a sensitive tum. On that basis, you might try changing her diet (do it gradually or you will be into tummy upsets big time). It could be that, if she’s eating grass, her stools are not coming away as they should be – sometimes, forgive the graphics, stringy bits hang out which they know are there, but can’t do anything about – that’s up to you to gently pull the bits through (sorry again). Check her next time she poohs.
I think I’d leave the vinegar (on the dog?) alone!!
October 1st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Yes, you’re wise in seeking a 2nd opinion….always the best option when you find yourself doubting your initial vet’s diagnosis.
What all did the first vet do, that cost $400? A fecal analysis (worm test) and draining the anal sacs should NOT have cost so much….should have been $70 TOPS, if you include a standard office visit fee! Did they run any other tests??
I would personally think all her symptoms together- including the vomiting- point to some sort of mild gastrointestinal irritation or sensitivity….perhaps the kind of thing that flares up & subsides. Ask your vet what he/she thinks about that possibility.
Perhaps do some research on ingredients in her diet; find out some of the common allergens that can irritate a dog with a sensitive digestive system. Consider making a well-informed & gradual change in her diet to see if it helps.
Adding fiber, such as a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin (NOT the pie mix!) or a spoonful of green beans, to her diet may help bulk up her stools. Firm, bulky stools help keep anal sacs drained naturally, with every “movement”. If she is indeed having an anal sac problem, bulking up her stools will help.
A *holistic* vet might actually be a good source of information, if traditional vets are unable to pinpoint a root cause for the dog’s vague & inconsistent tummy troubles. Nonspecific issues like this can easily be linked to diet, stress, or other environmental factors, and taking a holistic approach might just help. Good luck.
October 1st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hi there, you can clean her sacs your self….there are different tests for worms, did they take a stool sample? Eating grass is GOOD !!! Really, they eat it instinctively. Then they may up-chuck. That is ok. Two tablets of Pepto Bismol will help with throwing up, and nausea. Also cottage cheese, chicken broth. You will need to skip a meal first, then start with 1) meal, rice and chicken broth.and pepto and monitor, repeat if needed , then you can add chicken COOKED. If all seems ok…then you can look at your dog food. What brand? The first few ingrediants need to be real….that is there are tons of fillers and non-food in our dog food that are empty and bloat our dogs and give them no value. Plus our dogs are allergic to these foreign things, and your may be throwing them up and or pooping them out, like mine did. I have a Great Dane who is sensitive, and my rescue Mutt, has an iron stomach, and can eat anything. Try those things, and I will check back and watch. You can call me CMM
October 1st, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Make sure she get a normal diet and don’t let her eat any thing but he dog food no grass and no left overs be sure to take her on lots of walks try one in the morning and one at night but at least one. When she goes outside you follow, and be sure she eats NOTHING but don’t just take her out and strait beck in play with her and try to see that she sleeps at night, (Get a crate if you don’t all ready have one) by keeping her in her crate at night. and when she scoots tell her NO! so she doesn’t get hurt that way
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 am
It sounds like tape worms(scooting) or giardia (vomiting) to me. Tapeworms are hard to see and irritate the rectum which will cause scooting. Sometimes a worm or fecal test can come back negative even when the dog has worms or another type of parasite problem. My dog had the same symptoms last year and the fecal did not show anything. My vet still treated her with a de-wormer (Drontal since it even gets rid of tapeworms) and an antibiotic for Giardia. If you haven’t already, get your dog on a monthly heartworm preventative which will deworm her monthly (most preventatives get rid of all worms EXCEPT tapeworms).