I can't keep putting them through this!!! ***UPDATE***

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I am at the end of my rope with the heart worm, flea & tick meds!!!!  I just don't know what to do.  Rooney does not tolerate any meds very well but did manage to keep down 1/2 of a Tri-heart Plus (for up to 25lbs) with his breakfast - tonight he'll get the other half with dinner and I'll hold my breath that he doesn't throw some or all of it up.  I'll skip a day to let his system rest and then start the process over cutting in 1/2 a Comfortis, dosing a.m. & p.m., which ALWAYS causes him to be sick but the vet says if it stays down for an hour or longer there should be coverage.  Rooney has done o.k. on the topical BUT after seeing it cause head tremors in Stuart - I'm too scared to use it any longer.

Stuart got his entire Trifexis tablet (heart worm, flea & tick all together) with his breakfast today.  Rooney can't take the Trifexis at all - makes him violently ill, Stuart has spit up a little bit on it UNTIL today.  I'm scared as he just did a big vomit all over his bed (which is now in the trash) and he is acting strange.  Trying to hide, repeatedly licking his lips, eyes glassy.  Dog Poop - I am getting mad.  I've never had this problem with any of our other dogs - what gives?********************

Stuart appears to have made a full recovery.  I tried to keep him calm and quiet yesterday but as the day went on he felt better and better so by early evening we even went to the dog park for a little while.  he ate his chicken and not so much the rice for breakfast and for dinner I mixed in a small amount of his kibble and raw topper to slowly get him back on his food.  I do want to check with the vet to see if we should give him a seperate heartworm pill in a week or does she feel that he is covered for now.  Next month I will try him on the Frontline but I am going to start slow and under dose him to watch for any head tremors.  Thanks everyone for all your support and advise - I truely don't know how I would survive without all of you!!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ask the Vet to explain bloat to you and tell you what to look for!!! 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

She said that if he develops bloat - his tummy will look like he swallowed a basketball and he would be in pain.  Anyone have any experience with bloat that they can share?  Just want to make sure on the off chance that I would recognize it for what it was.  Also the vet is printing all her tests off to give me so that in an emergency - if we went to the E.R. Hospital in the night - then I'd have those.

[Bonnie and Kona]

It's time for sweet Stuart to just let one rip and you can have peace of mind. Poor guy! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs:

 Typical symptoms often include some (but not necessarily all) of the following, according to the links below. Unfortunately, from the onset of the first symptoms you have very little time (sometimes minutes, sometimes hours) to get immediate medical attention for your dog. Know your dog and know when it's not acting right.

Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-30 minutes This seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom"
"Unsuccessful vomiting" means either nothing comes up or possibly just foam and/or mucous comes up
Some reports say that it can sound like a repeated cough New

Doesn't act like usual self Perhaps the earliest warning sign and may be the only sign that almost always occurs
We've had several reports that dogs who bloated asked to go outside in the middle of the night. If this is combined with frequent attempts to vomit, and if your dog doesn't typically ask to go outside in the middle of the night, bloat is a very real possibility.

Significant anxiety and restlessness
One of the earliest warning signs and seems fairly typical
"Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance
This seems to occur fairly frequently
Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the tummy Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's tummy.
If your dog shows any bloat symptoms, you may want to try this immediately.

Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum)
Despite the term "bloat," many times this symptom never occurs or is not apparent
Pale or off-color gums
Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages
Coughing
Unproductive gagging
Heavy salivating or drooling
Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
Unproductive attempts to defecate
Whining
Pacing
Licking the air
Seeking a hiding place
Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
May refuse to lie down or even sit down
May stand spread-legged
May curl up in a ball or go into a praying or crouched position
May attempt to eat small stones and twigs
Drinking excessively
Heavy or rapid panting
Shallow breathing
Cold mouth membranes
Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance
Especially in advanced stage
Accelerated heartbeat
Heart rate increases as bloating progresses
Weak pulse
Collapse

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Thanks - guess I won't be getting any sleep tonight!  I love that goofy guy so much - it was heart breaking to see him not responding to me.  And he was licking his lips, drooling, panting and trying to hide - he crawled under the dinning room table under all the chairs.  That is when I rushed him to the vet.  I'll keep everything packed and ready incase I have to make a dash in the night.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jane, the best thing you can do is to have some Gas-X in the house, or Mylanta Gas- what you want is simethicone. Bloat can be a true emergency in terms of how fast you can get them to the ER, and Gas-X will buy you some time. I keep some for just that purpose and I hope I never have to use it.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Karen, thanks for this information.  I'm gong to add this to my First Aid kit for Riley. I've just checked the trade names here for simethicone and I'm heading to the pharmacy tomorrow for Bloateze.  I also checked on the emergency dosage.  Does 275mg x 2 seem right?  I have the symptoms of bloat printed out and the emergency Vet number on the fridge.  Bloat must be one of the scariest things.  The survival rate in an otherwise healthy dog is only 30%.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, two pills.

Here's a link to an article on emergency treatment for bloat:

http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/BloatFirstAid.htm

I am not good in an emergency and doubt that I would be able to do this, but it's good to know.

[Pat and Traveler]

OMD!  I fear Trav would be a goner if I had to do that procedure!  But I'll definitely get some Gas-X.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know. I don't think I could do it under the best of circumstances, let alone if my dog was in crisis mode.

But it could save a dog's life. ;(

I worry about being stopped for speeding on the way to the ER, if JD bloated.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Gas-x might be of limited in bloat since the stomach is twisted and this leads to a cut off of the blood supply, which is the biggest problem, I believe.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I got the info about giving Gas-X (or any form of simethicone) from several different websites on bloat.