StarFox Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 Today was horrible!!! My mom took the day off so we could take Zebra to the vet because he had a lump on his right side, near his ribs. So we sceduled the app. for 11 this morning and when we took him in the doctor said it might be a bunch of differernt things, it could have been fatty tissue, granulation from some shots that he got a few weeks ago. But they had to stick a needel in it to see if it was fluid or not. So they took him in the back and I could hear Zebra cry becaue the needle hurt him. It made me want to cry to know that he was in pain. :cry: Turns out that the lump was an infection, and it was a puss sack. (eww gross!). So the doctor told me they had to put a tube (penrose drain)in to drain the fluid. So we had to leave him there for a few hours and then pick him up later. So we left him there at 12 and picked him up at 6. When we got him he was shaved and he had that awful tube in his side. The doctor told us that if he dosn't stop bitting or licking the tube that we have to get him one of thoes Cones that they whear around there neck. So I have to keep a VERY close eye on him to make sure he dosn't try to pull the tube out. I know it's realy bothering him because he can't sit still, he won't relax and he is not drinking or eating ANYTHING!!! This is become worrysome to me since the last water he had was at 11 this morning and it is now 11 at night. I tried giving him cold water, ice cubes, popsicles but he won't take any of it! All he is doing is running from one side of the room to the other side, he is soo uncomforatble and It makes me so upset to see him in pain. I wish I could take his pain away. :cry: :( I'm going back to the vet on sunday morning to get the tube out and to have a recheck. And he is on antibiotics for a week. I hope he starts to feel better tomarrow and it won't bother him so much. Umm I do have two questions- -Is there anyway that I can get him to drink water? Or should I just wait till he drinks water on his own. (there is always fresh, clean, cool water in the laundry room for him) -I'm not worried about him eating because I know he won't starve to death but how do I give him his pill if he won't even eat his favorite snacks? Isn't there a way where you put the pill in the dogs mouth and hold his mouth shut then blow in there nose??? Or am I crazy? Quote
behle Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 Oh, I'm so sorry Zebra had to have this procedure done... :cry: They didn't give him anything for the pain? I'd be pretty annoyed if I had a rubber tube sticking out of my side! I'd fuss with it too! (My Max has a drain tube through his stifle from one side to the other right now from his surgery and he bothers it a little, but not a lot. He has his Deramaxx he is finishing for the discomfort, plus his antibiotics.) Has Zebra settled down a bit? I hope so and I hope he is drinking water too and eating a bit.....poor thing! Sometimes my saint won't swallow a pill and my husband will pop it in his mouth, sort of hold his mouth gently, and stroke his neck from his chin to his chest. This usually does the trick for our saint. Good Luck with Zebra! Hope he's better soon! :angel: Quote
gooeydog Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 Haley has had several drains in her stump, one when it was first amputated, then two more when it filled with fluid and junk after she banged it on the ground. She actually wouldn't have needed the last one if she hadn't pulled the one out and chewed it up :o Haley also had a cone, but her owner would start to feel sorry for her and take it off, then Haley would pull the tube out :roll: Just a warning... better to have to keep him "coned" then to have him need another drain put in. About his not drinking... depending on what type of anesthesia used, he may still be feeling the effects of that, and not feeling well enough to eat or drink. If you're really worried, you can take a turkey baster and suck some pedialyte (or pedialyte/water, or just water if you want), then squirt it a little bit at a time into the back corners of his mouth (it shouldn't run out as long as his head isn't tilted down), and he should get that down. Don't give him any more than a baster-full in one sitting, and if he starts hacking, he probably got some down the wrong hole :lol: so let him sort that out before you give him any more. Pills... I know there's some diagrams online about giving pills, and they'd probably be more help than this, but... open his mouth (I usually put the hand with the pill on the top jaw, free hand on the lower), stick the pill back on the back of his tongue as far as you can (without him gagging and struggling), then close his mouth, hold it shut and rub his throat as behle directed (this makes them want to swallow). Open his mouth, check around for the pill, and watch him for a few minutes afterwords for him to spit it out. If he does, start over again, but you may have to shove the pill a little farther back this time. Don't underestimate the amount of time a dog can hold something in their mouth... Goo once walked around for 20 minutes with a pill in her mouth before she walked out to the kitchen and spat it out (I think she was trying to sneak off where I wouldn't see her, but I happened to come out for a drink :o :lol: ) Quote
courtnek Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 Zebra will eat and drink when she feels better, dont worry. As far as the pill, put it in her mouth as far back to the throat as you can. Hold her mouth closed with your hands and tilt her head up so she is looking at you, then stroke her neck downwards from right below the jaw to the middle of the throat. Continue this until you see her swallow. Put a medium pressure into the stroke. You are forcing the pill down this way without hurting her. I hope she feels better soon. Poor baby..... :( Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 I am so sorry you have had such a bad day I HOPE ZEBRA is feeling better soon :) Quote
Malamum Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 Poor Zebra. I was a little nervous about giving Indy tablets at first but once you get the hang of it it's very easy. I get Indy to sit (then give him a little treat). I then straddle him from behind so I am leaning over his head (this is easy because he is so big) and put my hand under his jaw and tilt his head back. I then open his mouth and put the tablet on the very back of his tongue (again his size makes this easy, because my whole hand can fit in his mouth I can easily get the tablet all the way to the back without making him gag) I then close his mouth and keep his head tilted up and blow gently on his nose. He automatically swallows and the tablet is gone. He then gets the rest of the treat. The first couple of time were a bit awkward but now it only takes about 10 seconds. Quote
bk_blue Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 I'm sorry for Zebra, poor boy must be so uncomfortable! I don't have any advice to give (bk off his food? never!) but I hope he makes an uneventful and quick recovery. :angel: Quote
StarFox Posted July 5, 2003 Author Posted July 5, 2003 Poor Zebra is so misrable. But there is some good news. We got him to take his pill by wrapping it in some cheese. And he started to drink water again. We went outside earlier so he could do his "buisness" and I took some water out with us and he drank it all up! He was soo happy outside but then some moron shot off bottle rockets down the street and it scared the carp out of Zebra. :x Stuff keeps comming out of the tube, It's mostly blood and puss (eww!) :o . So I keep having to clean it every hour or so. It is sooo desgusing. But I feel realy bad for him because his side is all swolen and I know it must hert very badly. I wish the vet would have given us some pain medication to give to him. We got him one of thoes cones from petsmart today, it's blue and he HATES the thing. I mean he H-A-T-E-S it!!!! But I'd rather have him whear that then pull out the tube. Sunday we get the tube taken out and he is gunna have a re-check. I just wish I knew how he got the infection, the vet said it could have been anything, from a splinter to a bee sting. Thanks for all your support. Quote
Rowie-the-Pooh Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 I'm so glad to hear Zebra is doing better!! :D I'm so sorry about his op. and the tube!! :cry: Be brave, and he will be too! :D Keep us updated! :D Quote
nadooshkinz Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 Good to know that Zebra's getting better! As for the drinking and eating,l she WILL come to it eventually when she's FEELING up to it! Quote
Deez Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 I'm so glad to hear about Zebra feeling better... Keep us updated on how he's feeling.. :wink: 'Till then, be brave! :wink: :angel: :D Quote
courtnek Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 I'm glad Zebra's getting better!! All my dogs hated the collar, never met one who liked it....My golden couldnt see well with it on and would walk into walls..... Just to make you feel better, often after surgery a dog will not eat or drink because they know instinctively that if they do they will throw up. The anesthetic has that affect on some dogs, so it's usually just better to let them decide. As long as he's taking water, he'll be ok.... Keep at it - he'll be fine in no time (and so will you!) :D :angel: Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted July 5, 2003 Posted July 5, 2003 We got him to take his pill by wrapping it in some cheese. we do that as well :) glad Zebra's getting better :) Quote
StarFox Posted July 6, 2003 Author Posted July 6, 2003 yeah! Zebra got the tube taken out today!! It was origanally planned to take it out tomarrow (sunday) but we had to go in to the vet today because he was in so much pain last night. And the vet said that it was ok to take it out, and they did!! He is so much more happier! Still a little grumpy, but I would be too if I had a tube stuck in my side for more than a day and had to whear an ugly cone around my neck . He's still not eating so we have to hand feed him :roll: . and he won't drink any water unless he is outside. He is also very nervious becaue he keeps licking his lips and giving us the "look". But strangly enough if my mom or I sit down next to him and sing to him he calms down allot, so I've been doing that all day long. :) The things we do for our pets :roll: Slowly but surely he is becomming himself again. By the way i can't belive how many post I've missed just in the last few days from not being on here!!!! :lol: Quote
Rowie-the-Pooh Posted July 6, 2003 Posted July 6, 2003 By the way i can't belive how many post I've missed just in the last few days from not being on here!!!! If you miss a day on here, it takes a week to catch up! :lol: :roll: I remember I had to leave for some time for vacation, I missed SO MUCH it was scary! :o So much happened, and I missed it! :x I choose the best times to leave, don't I? :roll: Quote
ellieangel Posted July 6, 2003 Posted July 6, 2003 I'm sorry I missed this post until now :oops: So glad to hear trhat he's on the mend,keep doing what you're doing it seems to be working,it won't hurt to spoil him for a few days will it !!! Give him a big hug from me xx Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted July 6, 2003 Posted July 6, 2003 GIVE HIM A BIG HUG FROM ME :iloveyou: Quote
behle Posted July 6, 2003 Posted July 6, 2003 So glad to hear that Zebra's tube is now gone and that Zebra is slowly returning to normal. Big hugs from Michigan for your little patient!!! :D Quote
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