Erratic doodle Help?

[Jayd (Dempsey)]

Seasoned DKers I need your help. 

 

My doodle Dempsey is acting really strange. 

Background:  Dempsey had gotten poop stuck in his fur around his bottom and my husband took clippers and shaved the hair off in the immediate area.  He then started to drag his bottom on the ground and everytime he walked he woud tuck his bottom under.  then he would sit and just look terribly uncomfortable.  I really just thought he was reacting to the feeling of short hair (my husband didn't shave it down to the skin just mad it shorter).  So after one day of this crazy walk/sit/ drag behavior I took him to the vet.  She said that from all the licking and dragging he was doing that he's irritated the area. She shaved off more hair gave me a salve to put on his bum and a steroid to take for the next 7-10 days. 

 

and there lies the problem.  He is on day 2 of the steroid and his breathing is so erratic.  He's panting like crazy and I'm concerned.  He also is VERY clingy, way more than usual.  I called the vet and she didn't seem too worried.  Does anyone have any suggestions he just seems so out of sorts and I'm only on day 2 of the steroid with 9 more to go...

 

Would appreciate any input

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

2nd opinion maybe?? At first I thought it was shaved to short because this happened with Myla at the groomer. Did the vet check the anal glands? Chloe had to have hers expressed multiple times as a puppy? Sorry no other advice. I would hope that he's not reacting to the meds? Can you google the meds and look for side effects??

[Jayd (Dempsey)]

That's what I thought too that maybe my husbad nicked him or something but the Vet said no.  I asked if the meds had side effects that I should be aware of BEFORE i gave them too him but they said that he would just be thirsty and maybe hungrier which both have happened but the panting and hard breathing were not mentioned.  When I called back this morning she said that panting was not unusual.  But we could reduce the dose if he's really aggitated.  And I just have never seen him having such a hard time settling down.  He's not yet a year and this is just very unusual behavior.  I will check the side effects on line Thankyou!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

If you find something that concerns you don't be afraid to tell your vet, better safe than sorry. Maybe call an animal hospital in your area. Ours will give lots of advice over the phone, just say that you are asking for additional advice.

Good luck! Hope he feels better soon!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry for Dempsey. I would not keep administering the cortizone if your gut is telling you it is causing a problem.  Use your mom-radar - what would you do about it if it was your child, then act accordingly.  Sometimes mom's just know!

[Jayd (Dempsey)]

Thanks Nancy,

My mom radar is going crazy!  I'm not comfortable at all with how he's reacting and will call the Vet again...

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with this and I would again talk to the Vet.  When Guinness's butt was very raw and sore from all the diarrhea he had with the Pancreatitis the Vet shaved the area and then we used Desitin and it helped a lot.

[Jayd (Dempsey)]

They gave him Temaril P - and the side effects (on line) are more about thirst.  The vet said he really wanted him to take the Temaril because he's been excessively itchy.  I believe she checked his glands but I'm going to call and ask.  I'll call a vet hospital too.  Thanks so much.  I feel so badly for him.  poor guy no one likes an itchy butt.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Do not stop the steroid abruptly without talking to the vet. If necessary bring Dempsey back in.

[Jayd (Dempsey)]

I will definitiely talk to the vet.  I did know that you can't stop the sterroid abruptly but thank you for the reminder.  His panting/breathing is pretty scary like he just ran a mile in the hot sun.  Just making me nervous...

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

F is it dangerous to abruptly stop the steroid after only 2 days? I thought that was only after long term use but I haven't had any experience with them myself.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes. Even after only two days, it's dangerous to abruptly stop them.

Panting is a normal side-effect of the streoids, and is not a reason in and of itself to discontinue the meds. But if it's excessive, I would definitely call the vet.

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

what exactly would happen if you stopped abruptly?