Mac's First Vet Appointment. The good and the sad.

[jenn D]

So based on a gut feeling I ended up calling the vet about Mac and they were able to get me in today. She looked at, and rotated his legs and did not think he had any dysplasia. She said she couldn't guarantee that he didn't without xrays but she said he had full range of motion with no resistance or visual discomfort.  She said at this point she didn't think xrays were necessary. So that is the good news.

Now onto the sad part. Fixable but sad. First, he had been licking his bum a lot and his feet when we picked him up. The fur was very red. I thought maybe allergies after posting to you guys. Upon inspection from our vet followed by microscopic analysis for samples, she said that 2 nailbeds on the back right foot and 3 nailbeds on the back left food have bacterial infections. As for his rump, she said his anal glands were so impacted it was one of the worse she had seen (and boy did he smell like that fishey anal glad smell after getting expressed). She said the left gland was bigger than a large grape and was very hard to express. In addition, she did a fecal to check for parasites and worms. I don't know how long that test takes. She did say he also had a bacterial infection around his rectum and showed me clipper cuts made around that area.

Also, she said he has very bad ear infections in both ears. And yes they both smell very yeasty. She said on a scale of 1 to 4 of ear infections (4 being the worst) both ears were a 3.

She said she could not tell me if he has allergies because she said that is not her area of expertise but would refer me to a canine dermatologist if necessary. She wants to see how he is doing after all of the infections clear up first.

Sooo, for the various infections on his body she prescribed an earwash, a topical ear antibiotic, steroids (prednisone) and an oral antibiotic. I need to pick up the later two at my pharmacist in about an hour.

Questions and comments are welcome. I feel bad for Mac. I am also frustrated by the rescue orgs as we paid $400 for a supposedly "vetted" dog looked at by a qualified vet before we got him. While I know they cannot fix hips issues etc and they don't know everything, the fact that they left his anal glads impacted and he had these infections (which granted could have occurred by very aggressive grooming and then sent back to an outdoor kennel) has me a bit frustrated.

Im glad I took him in today. We go back in 2 weeks for recheck.

[Doris]

Poor Mac!  He is lucky to have you to take care of him!!  Let those meds work first before worrying about anything else.  All those infections would make me very cranky and Mac can't tell you what hurts.  Heal fast, Mac!

[Miss Ellie]

So sorry you and most especially Mac is having to go through all this...I send prayers for comfort & healing!

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

Poor baby.  How he's better soon.