The Official "Dogs of the DMF" Thread

[red baron]

Get a pill shooter while you're out.

Very effective.

[Stella]

Pill shooter:  Yes!  Never heard of it, ran out to get one Tues before I left for a work trip and we were able to pill him a little bit easier with it - thanks for the suggestion!!


Overall, he's uncomfortable (not surprising) but eating and drinking on his own now so that's a big improvement from a few days ago!

I left for a work trip on Tuesday (back Wednesday night).  Wednesday, I answer my cell phone thinking that perhaps it's about Oliver.  It was.  Went like this:

Hi, this is Sue from animal control, how is oliver?

me:  uummmmm, I'm sorry, who is this?  (I realize the little guy is popular but someone I don't know calling to see how he's feeling?!)

AC:  This is Sue from Animal Control.  I'm following up on the bite attack.
me:  What are you talking about?  My dog has been under 24/7 care and is knocking on death's door.
AC:  We received a report that he bit a vet tech at the 24hr care facility he was at - which is not unusual for that line of work.  We need to visit with the dog and issue you a 9 day quarantine notice. We'll be there tomorrow.
me:  What? I don't understand.  He's UTD on all his vaccinations.
AC:  I'm sorry, we have to follow up on this, this is protocol....

Yeah.  So the squirt was very likely manhandled during his first few hours at this facility and reacted.  Appropriately in my opinion.

I will definitely be making a few phone calls but won't get combative until I know he doesn't have to go back to this place.   (The alternative, much better facility costs 3x as much which is not in the budget unfortunately.)

 

[Skybarney]

BASTARDS!  They would never take my dog to a cage for nine days.  Then again if my dog bit them they would be missing limbs....

Take care of the little fella.  Shame on the vet for reporting the bite.  Part of the job, tell them to grow up and get over it.  The "STATE" will not keep good care of your dog.  Hell they might even euthanize him by accident shelters are so f'd up.

Tell them he escaped custody and is likely on the run to Mexico.  Better yet don't return the phone call at all.  By the time you get a registered letter to show up with pup pup it will be two weeks.

[Stella]

Well shit. 

They didn't mention taking the dog.....  But I have proof of all vaccinations.  So not sure why they would take a pup that requires as much care as what he currently needs.

I'll be loading my potato gun, red rider, m40 carbine if they think they're taking him. 

A lobbyist friend gave me a number of an animal investigator type for me to call regarding my rights and get info. on what the laws are.  Calling the guy shortly.

wtf     

[Triple J]

Geez...hope he gets better. Sounds like he ate something he shouldn't have (like a mushroom) on the walk around the lake.  Good luck with that, and with the quarantine people...hopefully he can stay at home with you.

Easiest way to give pills is to just open the dogs mouth, put it in the back of the throat, and shut their mouth. They have no choice but to swallow, and quickly get used to it. I have to give my Dane medication 2x daily.

[Stella]

Geez...hope he gets better. Sounds like he ate something he shouldn't have (like a mushroom) on the walk around the lake.  Good luck with that, and with the quarantine people...hopefully he can stay at home with you.

Easiest way to give pills is to just open the dogs mouth, put it in the back of the throat, and shut their mouth. They have no choice but to swallow, and quickly get used to it. I have to give my Dane medication 2x daily.

Thanks!   Open to all theories that would cause a pup to get so sick so quickly (unless something was festering and finally reared its ugly head).

Things like mushrooms, fertilizer, spider bites or ingesting a spider or other bug.... so many things have gone through my head as to what would cause his symptoms (besides the extreme vomiting: the darkened intestines and hardening of the fat around the pancreas and stomach).

Open to any and all theories!

As far as getting him pilled, we also tried the open mouth, shove it in technique (a breeze with my old cat) but he was throwing up shortly after (hitting gag reflex I think).  Fortunately the vet approved a tiny bit of velveeta cheese which has been working.  But we also have to closely manage his fat intake since too much can irritate the pancreas - especially if he does have pancreatitis - one of the things they're testing for.   In the past, I've always used peanut butter w/o a problem but we have to stay away from that until further notice.

Anywho, fingers, toes and eyes are crossed for a good, manageable outcome.  Again, I'll take all ideas, theories on this one as well as the most stealth routes to the canine underground railroad. 

Thanks!       

[Skybarney]

My pup loves eating whatever he can catch.  One day that seemed to have included a Black Widow.  He came into the house twitching and walking sideways,  He spent the night at the vet getting washed out with Saline. 

Sad thing about toxins is that there are so many.  Pesticides (The stuff for snails can be fatal), coolant and some plants.  do an inventory of the areas your pup hangs out.  investigate plant types, look for spiders and hope you get along with your neighbors.

If pup doing better?

[Howie]

Bit a vet tech?  To me that should be a risk you take when you do that kind of work.  Dentist get bit too.  Sounds like Oliver might be getting through the worst of it.

To a quick, complete recovery 

[Stella]

The suspense is over.

The Oliver Bacon Bits Kujo verdict is...... Issue #1: Pancreatitis and issue #2: inflammed intestines caused, likely, by an allergy to something (even though nothing has changed in his diet). This combo darn near killed the wee one but all the juju, prayers, DMF-vibes worked this time. He'll be on a forever low fat diet (fat irritates the pancreas) so don't be giving my boy bacon burgers or duckfat truffle parm fries behind my back, k?

The hardened, inflamed fat was part of the pancreas issue.  Can you imagine if you're feeling chubby on any given day and then your fat becomes inflamed?  Ain't no midol gonna fix that!   

Thanks everyone!!! Very happy!

[ducpainter]

What about the quarantine?

[Stella]

Spoke this morning with an animal control officer from another jurisdiction and he said it's the law, regardless of whether the pet is UTD on vaccines or not.

If the bite is in the face or neck, they take the dog away.

I need to find out about where the bite was.

Then, possibly, recruit a few people for the canine underground railroad.   

[Rudemouthsky]

Then, possibly, recruit a few people for the canine underground railroad.   

I've always wanted to be in on that

[Skybarney]

If a vet gets himself bit in the face and they were to come and take my dog?  Better take my guns first....  Oh wait good luck with that also.

So glad to hear your pup is gonna pull through.  Although a life without   

[Howie]

Perhaps you could use your charm to change the vet's mind.

[red baron]

Then, possibly, recruit a few people for the canine underground railroad.  

He's welcome here, even if I have to come get him.


I also say invite said vet tech to DITR 2014, I've got something to share.