HELP!! Does Jack Need to go to the Em. Vet?!!!

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

well he was outside…but he hasnt eaten anything different...or gotten into anything that ive seen, hes sleeping now with his mussle on so he doesnt irritate it and i put some topical spray the vet gave be before on him...so if its not gone or not as bad in the morning i should take him to the vet?

[nodakerdeb]

My experience with a tummy that looks like this (Dan has had this several times) is that he has come in contact with something that he is allergic to. Keep up the benedryl at the regular intervals and put some calamine lotion all over the area. Do NOT let him lick it or you will have a real mess on your hands. If this is not gone in the morning you will may be in for a long haul, esp. if this gets weepy. Dan has had to wear a lampshade for 5-6 weeks while this stuff clears up.

If this gets worse the vet may suggest a shot of prednisone. I would do it because it will save Jack a lot misery. I can promise you that his skin is on itchy fire right now.

Let us know what you find out.

This is not a hot spot.

[edit] me again. Just read through some of your back posts and noticed that you have had some behavior problems with Jack, and that he is between 5-6 years old. Have you had his thyroid checked? Our Dan is hypothyroid and before he was put on Soloxine his tummy would break out just like that. Don't know why I didn't think of this back in the first paragraph.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

thanks…we waited it out last night and this morning i swear it looks like his face is swollen...gahhh, i cant tell.

Vets office is closed (i could go to the em vet) and hubby is on duty so i have the baby and it 730 am@@ lol…im going to try the ben. pills and i HOPE i dont have to go to the vet...so poor jack has to stay in his mussle??? awww

[nodakerdeb]

Didn't you give him the Benedryl last night? Please do as soon as possible, but I think you should get him to the vet. He will probably need a shot of prednisone. He is miserable, and probably feels like he is on fire. I don't think the Benedryl is going to clear this up. He needs something more.

Do you have any idea what may have caused this reaction? It is going to be very important to figure that out or this will happen again.

Deb

[lvoss]

Give the Benadryl ASAP and watch the swelling carefully. Deb is right, with how severe the reaction is a shot of Pred may well be in order and that will require a trip to the vet. If the swelling continues once he has had a benadryl then he will definately require a trip to a vet. Swelling around the face and throat can be very dangerous since it can block their airway.

[WBL]

To just add what everyone else has said, quite often it will appear to get worse before it gets better. Even with benadryl it will do this.

I had a dog that had an allergic reaction to something that I couldn't find out what it was, I took her to vet and she got a shot, and I was told to keep her on the benadryl. It got worse the next morning and I took her back again, and the vet told me that it can happen like that. And she was miserable and looked like she had jelly beans under her skin with red spots all over her body.

I would take her to the vet, but do try the benadryl. Now this is just me but IMO I'd wait and see what the benadryl does, if the swelling gets worse I'd then take him in.

[MaxBooBooBear]

Please take Jack to the vet asap. This looks like a severe allergic reaction–the vet will be able to provide immediate relief with a shot--and I'm sure they'll be able to determine what medication/treatment is needed so that this doesn't drag on longer than necessary. Jack looks terrible.

[sharronhurlbut]

Please let us know how it goes.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

i gave him benadryl this morning ( had to go buy some) its been 4 hours & the reddness under his belly went down…we are going to the vet as soon as my friend gets here to watch Aiden...THANKS for all ur help, ill let you know what happens,,,GEEZ its been a rough few weeks for Jackers and his family!!! lol

[renaultf1]

Good luck! Yes, please let us know how it goes…his poor little face...he looks so uncomfortable.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

we went, got 2 shots benadrly inder the muscle…?...and a steroid. Hes doing ok, the vet said he will be fine on the benadryl we have (desolving strips...works SO much better than pills for Jack) and he is still pretty red under the belly but his swelling is almost gone...Vet said it could take a couple days for the reddness to go away, but appearently there were several dog who came in today and yesterday for the EXACT same thing...WEIRD...

[MaxBooBooBear]

I'm so glad Jack is doing better. Does the vet have any idea what is causing this?? That does sound strange about several dogs with the same symptoms. And I think this is the first time something like this has happened to Jack? I hope whatever it is doesn't continue….

[Quercus]

@MaxBooBooBear:

Please take Jack to the vet asap. This looks like a severe allergic reaction–the vet will be able to provide immediate relief with a shot--and I'm sure they'll be able to determine what medication/treatment is needed so that this doesn't drag on longer than necessary. Jack looks terrible.

Ditto! This is definitely an allergic reaction, and he needs the vet.

[sharronhurlbut]

I wonder if someone who doesn't like dogs threw something in your yard.
I think you mentioned that Jack was outside when this happened and you were gone???
If so, I wouldn't leave him out without you being home and I would walk the yard checking for "things" that shouldn't be there.

[MaxBooBooBear]

@sharronhurlbut:

I wonder if someone who doesn't like dogs threw something in your yard.
I think you mentioned that Jack was outside when this happened and you were gone???
If so, I wouldn't leave him out without you being home and I would walk the yard checking for "things" that shouldn't be there.

That hadn't even occurred to me, Sharron–but you may be right. It just seems so strange that Jack would flare up with something he's never had before so suddenly. I am so paranoid--I would probably check in with the local authorities too (police, animal welfare) to see if they're aware of anything..... years ago, my german shepherd got really, really sick all of a sudden--I checked the backyard (she had free access to the backyard all day through a dog door) and found one of those animal cookies--with the pink coating on it. It turns out, my neighbors grandkids were throwing them over the fence to "make friends" with my dog......apparently, she ate so many that she was too full (or too sick) to eat them all--thank goodness because at least I found out what was going on and was able to put a stop to it.

[sharronhurlbut]

I hope I am wrong…its awful when folks hurt dogs.
I hope you find nothing and it all ends soon.
Hugs

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

thanks for the info!! She said its probably a food allergy from the new food brand we tried for him this past month. (kibble) she said it could be from the dye in the food and that i should switch back to the olroys (even tho she said she doesnt like that brand) We just went with kibble bc the commisary didnt have our normal brand! so out with the kibble i guess!! @@

[youngandtired]

Poor Jack, he can't get a break! Things are going better with the family and along comes this dumb allergic reaction. It is apparent that Jack got into something or like you said is allergic to the new food. The vet probably said she didn't like OlRoy b/c I was told it is the worst one on the market. It is made with the worst ingredients. Good Luck finding something Jack can eat and is not allergic to.

[Quercus]

Yeah, you should really try to find a better food. Not only are food that are high in filler (corn, soy, etc) not great for digestion…they aren't screened as well for 'mistakes'. And there is some evidence that connects behavior problems, particularly aggression, to low quality food ingredients.

You can find some info at Whole Dog Journal...and I am sure if google 'dog food aggressive behavior' you can find more.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

ok good to kno…i just bought it bc Jack LOVES it...are there any other "gravy" type foods i can buy for him thats cheap? I dont want to but him canned food...any ideas?