Really Disgusting Pet-Related Question. HELP!

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I had Chloe's teeth cleaned yesterday and she hasn't been the same since. She had a VERY hard time once she got home. She was staggering all over the place, was very restless and was panting heavily.

Finally, around the time we went to bed, she was resting comfortably.

Well today, she's acting really strange. She can't sit and can't have her tail moved to one side. I called the vet and they said that it sounded like her anal glands might need to be expressed.

I had noticed a slight anal gland odor when we got home, but she's never had any issues before. Anyway, I cleaned her up in that area and took her outside, where she had another normal bowel movement.

Chloe has had "cold tail" before from swimming in our swimming pool. This is exactly what she's acting like. Her tail is totally limp and it hurts to be moved. If she tries to sit, she gets up quickly and looks back to see where the pain is coming from.

I called the vet back and told them that I thought I might know what was going on and to see if I could give her aspirin. They checked with the tech who performed the cleaning and she checked with the person in the kennel, who told the tech that Chloe did release her glands yesterday in the kennel.

That is something dogs do when they're stressed! But to the tech, this indicates that it probably is the glands and not her tail. I DO NOT want to take Chloe back to the vet to have them expressed, if it's only another case of cold tail - or a sprain from all of her slipping yesterday.

She is deathly afraid of the vet. I have to have helpers come out to the car to drag her out.

I know anal gland issues are common in a lot of dogs, but do their tails hurt to be moved and is it too painful for them sit when they're full? She has done no licking and no scooting. Nothing indicates that her sacs are full.

Help! It's like they ruined my dog. She was fine before her teeth cleaning!

 

[Buckalew11]

It almost sounds like something happened to her tail to me. Do you think it could have gotten hurt during her teeth cleaning and they just aren't telling you that something happened? I am sorry your dog is going through this. Poor puppy.

 

[zurgswife]

My dog reacted like this when the neighbors kids broke her tail...not much the vet could do but to have it heal on her own.

 

[NikiM20]

I would try to give her aspirin and see if that makes her feel better. Is it possible that she got her tail caught in a door or something????? It doesnt sound like glands to me

ETA:If they sedated her to clean her teeth that could have made her stagger until it completely wore off

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

It almost sounds like something happened to her tail to me. Do you think it could have gotten hurt during her teeth cleaning and they just aren't telling you that something happened? I am sorry your dog is going through this. Poor puppy.

My first reaction was that maybe they dropped her. I alluded to that, and they told me that if anything had happened, they would have notified me. I do trust them, so I'm inclined to believe that whatever it is, it happened here.

She was fine last night, tail-wise. It wasn't until this morning, that it started. She did try to jump on the bed last night and was unable to make it all the way up. DH helped heave her hind end on the bed and when he did, I noticed her legs being straight back behind her, which didn't look too good.

I just don't want to take her in for what will be a painful procedure, if it's only her tail.

 

[disneynutt1225]

Toby has had to have his glands expressed a couple of times in the last few months. He has really bad allergies. Who knew?

Anyway, it doesn't sound like Chloe needs to have this procedure done to her. Toby licks at his butt a lot, and scoots a lot when he needs to be expressed. He also doesn't sit fully on his butt, it's more an off to the side lean.

I'm thinking something's going on with her tail. Give her an aspirin to take the edge off. Hope she feels better soon!

If she DOES start licking, scooting, and sitting funny, I'd take her back in.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

My dog reacted like this when the neighbors kids broke her tail...not much the vet could do but to have it heal on her own.

When she had cold tail, it also hung limp like this, and it was very painful if I moved it. I don't remember her having a hard time sitting though.

Cold tail is caused by certain things though, none of which she did.

I hate this!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I would try to give her aspirin and see if that makes her feel better. Is it possible that she got her tail caught in a door or something????? It doesnt sound like glands to me

ETA:If they sedated her to clean her teeth that could have made her stagger until it completely wore off

The staggering was caused by the affects of the anesthesia. I'm thinking that all the stumbling and slipped may have caused a tail injury.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Toby has had to have his glands expressed a couple of times in the last few months. He has really bad allergies. Who knew?

Anyway, it doesn't sound like Chloe needs to have this procedure done to her. Toby licks at his butt a lot, and scoots a lot when he needs to be expressed. He also doesn't sit fully on his butt, it's more an off to the side lean.

See, and large breeds aren't prone to anal gland issues. She's six and I've never had this happen before. I think it's too much of a coincidence for her to come home and BAM! have this issue too.

She has none of the other symptoms. I think the only reason I smelled the original odor was because of her expressing them in the kennel.

I'm thinking something's going on with her tail. Give her an aspirin to take the edge off. Hope she feels better soon!

If she DOES start licking, scooting, and sitting funny, I'd take her back in.

I can give her one buffered aspirin twice a day. I haven't yet, but once this thunderstorm lets up, I'm going to go get some.

 

[airhead]

sounds like cold tail to me

 

[kayeandjim00]

Our lab needed to be expressed only once and it was obvious that she had issues with all the scooting. It definitely doesnt sound like that to me. I would just keep a close eye on her for the next day.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

The staggering was caused by the affects of the anesthesia. I'm thinking that all the stumbling and slipped may have caused a tail injury.

That would be my guess.
You might want to go to the vet and pick up some Rimadyl or Deramaxx to use instead of the aspirin. It works better and doesn't cause as much stomach upset.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

That would be my guess.
You might want to go to the vet and pick up some Rimadyl or Deramaxx to use instead of the aspirin. It works better and doesn't cause as much stomach upset.

So odd that I just read this, because an hour ago I gave her a buffered aspirin and she is sleeping beside me and letting out nose-hair burning gas.

Whew! I had no idea!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

It sounds like cold tail to me, too: Here (4th and 5th paragraphs in particular).

I will admit that the first thing that popped into my head after reading the original post was, "Oh no... what did the vet tech do to her?" Are you sure nothign happened to her in the back? Was it just one vet tech in the room or two that you could get a similar story from?

I hope your baby girl gets better Casey is a Golden- and reminds me a lot of your Chloe from her pictures- and I hate it when something's bothering her and there's nothing you can do to help them. Sending good thoughts her way

 

[lisajl]

Ok..sometimes with anal glands they will have gas. My dog has them expressed about every 4-6 weeks. She is about 35 lbs. I'm not sure where you heard that big dogs don't have that problem, because they do.
Granted we don't see as many at our office as medium size or small dogs, but we do see it.

We always call surgeries the next day to see how they are doing. It's a good way to keep on top of things like this. Your vet should do this, too.


Also tell your vet that Chloe (my dog's name, too) had a difficult time with the anesthetic. Sometimes they have reactions to it. Every animal is different. It's good to have that noted on the chart.

If things are not getting better, call them. That is what they are there for.
I'm sure they did not drop your dog. When something happens at our place we always inform the owners. It's the right thing to do. Things like this though, rarely occur.

Good luck
Lisa

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ok..sometimes with anal glands they will have gas. My dog has them expressed about every 4-6 weeks. She is about 35 lbs. I'm not sure where you heard that big dogs don't have that problem, because they do.
Granted we don't see as many at our office as medium size or small dogs, but we do see it.

Chloe is over 100lbs. I've been told that it's more common in small, non-shedding dogs, than in large breeds.

I don't think it never happens (as OP mentioned with her lab), but Chloe has no history of it at all. I just think it's odd that she's fine and then comes home with anal glands that all of the sudden need to be expressed.

But - if that is what it is, I'll have it done. I can't stand to see her like this.

We always call surgeries the next day to see how they are doing. It's a good way to keep on top of things like this. Your vet should do this, too.

They do, but they didn't get the chance. I called them first thing this morning when I realized something was wrong with her.

Also tell your vet that Chloe (my dog's name, too) had a difficult time with the anesthetic. Sometimes they have reactions to it. Every animal is different. It's good to have that noted on the chart.

Good point. I'll make sure they note that on her chart. For what it's worth, this is the fourth time she's been under, and the first time it's had negative effects on her.

If things are not getting better, call them. That is what they are there for.
I'm sure they did not drop your dog. When something happens at our place we always inform the owners. It's the right thing to do. Things like this though, rarely occur.

Good luck
Lisa

I really do like my vet and they've been my vet since Chloe was a puppy. My first thoughts were along the lines of wondering what on Earth did they do to my dog, but I really think in her drugged state she did something to herself.

What, I'm not sure.

As I've been watching her, I'm realizing that she's only wanting to sleep on the side opposite of where her tail appears to be hurting her. It's like any pressure on that side is bothering her. She'll try it, but she's restless until she shifts sides.

I'm also not ruling out her hips. Her legs did go straight back last night. Not something I've seen her do since she was a puppy and she is gingerly squatting to go to the restroom. It doesn't explain the tail though.

I don't know. I just want my dog back.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

It sounds like cold tail to me, too: Here (4th and 5th paragraphs in particular).

I had read that same site this morning. Thanks for going out of your way to bring it my attention though!

I will admit that the first thing that popped into my head after reading the original post was, "Oh no... what did the vet tech do to her?" Are you sure nothign happened to her in the back? Was it just one vet tech in the room or two that you could get a similar story from?

My mind went to the same place, but the tech that did the cleaning, I fully trust. I was relieved to know it was her doing the job.

The only thing that makes me think it wasn't something that happened there, is last night, up to right before she jumped on the bed, she was sitting. I really think it happened at around 3am.

I hope your baby girl gets better Casey is a Golden- and reminds me a lot of your Chloe from her pictures- and I hate it when something's bothering her and there's nothing you can do to help them. Sending good thoughts her way

Thanks so much. It is hard watching her. She hasn't been herself at all today.

 

[lisajl]

Chloe is over 100lbs. I've been told that it's more common in small, non-shedding dogs, than in large breeds.

Wow! We have seen it in all dogs..but, like I said, more in smaller dogs.

I don't think it never happens (as OP mentioned with her lab), but Chloe has no history of it at all. I just think it's odd that she's fine and then comes home with anal glands that all of the sudden need to be expressed.

But - if that is what it is, I'll have it done. I can't stand to see her like this.

I'm sure there is more to it than just the anal glands, like you have stated.
Since they said she expressed her glands yesterday (just re-read your post), that should not be it.
They do, but they didn't get the chance. I called them first thing this morning when I realized something was wrong with her.
Wow! Good for you! I wish more people would do that! Only you know how your dog is acting...we go by what you say.



Good point. I'll make sure they note that on her chart. For what it's worth, this is the fourth time she's been under, and the first time it's had negative effects on her.

On this one, they really need to know. We have had animals come in for vacc and have no problems, the following year, they have a reaction.




I really do like my vet and they've been my vet since Chloe was a puppy. My first thoughts were along the lines of wondering what on Earth did they do to my dog, but I really think in her drugged state she did something to herself.

What, I'm not sure.

As I've been watching her, I'm realizing that she's only wanting to sleep on the side opposite of where her tail appears to be hurting her. It's like any pressure on that side is bothering her. She'll try it, but she's restless until she shifts sides.

I'm also not ruling out her hips. Her legs did go straight back last night. Not something I've seen her do since she was a puppy and she is gingerly squatting to go to the restroom. It doesn't explain the tail though.

I don't know. I just want my dog back.

Understood...I would definately let them know what is going on...there is nothing worse than knowing there is something wrong and not being able to help.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Understood...I would definately let them know what is going on...there is nothing worse than knowing there is something wrong and not being able to help.

Your response is just the one I needed to hear. I was just telling DH an hour ago, that I wished there was a vet, or a vet tech in the family.

Funny, it used to be a pediatrician, and on really bad days a lawyer!

She did just show interest in her baby and wanted to play a little tug-o-war. She also ate as soon as I fed her. I'm not sure if it's the aspirin talking, or she's feeling better, but I'm making her take it easy anyway.

It sure was nice seeing her come up to me with a monkey hanging out of her mouth though! Maybe tomorrow, she'll be back to her old self.