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!!!

[Pam & Trixie]

Bloat doesnt always cause Torsion (the stomach to flip)

 

With our Springer Only one of 4  flipped & not all the way.  She survived 3 bloats...the 4th she was 16.5 years & not in the best of health so we had to decide to say goodbye.

 

Great Danes Bloat alot.

Here is the 'Dane Ladys' info on Bloat:

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/bloat_and_torsion_is_nutritio...

[F, Calla & Luca]

@Karen Reducing the gas might help if the stomach isn't too twisted. It couldn't hurt anyway.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, the articles said it might buy you time in the early stages.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Do they tell how to recognize the early stages, that would be really good to know. Would it just be discomfort, pacing etc. How the heck would we know? That is what scares me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In that long description of the symptoms I posted above, they mention that certain of the signs usually occur in the early stages, but they don't say it about many of them. I know I've seen other websites where they describe it better, but I can't find one where it has a list of progressive symptoms. I think that the symptoms vary from case to case and no dog will show all of them, nor will any one certain symtpom always be present in every case.

I've been reading more about it lately because dogs with IBD are at higher risk. I am becoming schizophrenic from this. Too much stomach noise is no good, but none is no good either. I am sure JD must be bewildered that I'm constantly listening to and feeling his stomach.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Try not to get too crazy from all this. Jack isn't eating huge meals, exercising right after eating etc. There is just so much you can do.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, I don't think this article mentions it, but I've read that you should have someone call the ER to let them know you are coming in with a dog who's bloating so they can prepare, because you really don't even have time to stop at the desk and register, and they really don't have time to first set up after you get there.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would do this and I happen to have the tubing on hand, for another purpose. Now I have to get the wood block ready. I could not make it to a vet in 10 minutes, that's for sure. It really isn't that hard. The biggest problem in passing tubes in people is the gag reflex but dogs don't have one. But extra hands would be--dare I say--handy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dogs don't have a gag reflex? Then why does JD gag when I'm trying to get a pill down his throat?

You would do this, but most of us have not successfully made it through internship and residency.  Nor ever performed an invasive procedure on anything that was still living. ;)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well, some sites say that reverse sneezing, which I think Calla has had, is a pharyngeal gag reflex. But they have no uvula hanging down in the back of their throats which is often what makes us gag when touched. My dogs don't gag with pills.
Anyway. I think we might all be surprised what we could do in a life and death situation but the problem is identifying it. I wonder about the timing . I definitely need to read more.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'll pick some up in a bit - my girlfriend in coming over and bringing some dinner so while she is here I'll dash to Walgreens.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you for this information!