Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
I don't normally post here but I've a few concerns about Taz, one of the family dogs. I just typed this all and then HHO logged me out so I have to type it again and it was long so apologies in advance.
I moved out of 'home' when I went to Uni three years ago and never planned on coming back but have spent two months working in Dorset so moved back temporarily. Consequently, I've been walking our two dogs almost every day.
Taz is a 7yo Alsatian Greyhound cross and Hetty is an 18 months old Staffy Boxer cross.
We've had Taz since he was 18 months old and had Het since early this year.
Taz is an old man at heart and has had various gut problems-he's a sensitive soul. He loves going for short sharp runs though, he will fetch his toy and then once he's had enough, he will stop and wait for Hetty to finish running and we'll go back to the car.
About a month ago, he had an accident and very nearly drowned. They both go swimming in a part of the harbour which is only about 2ft deep but he swims and a very splashy way and splashed passed his toy. He just panicked and me and my step dad had to pull him out. It was awful and the images still haunt me. He wasn't responsive but a passer by played with Hetty while we rolled him so he faced down hill and rubbed him to get him to warm and make him come round. I swear we were doing that for longer than a few minutes but it probably seemed a lot longer. He came round, shook himself off and expected to run again but we made him walk on the lead back to the car. He did try and bark and snap at Hetty though-we think he might have been telling her off because she ignored the fact that he was poorly.
Anyway, I took him to the vets because I insisted. Vet gave him anti-b's as a precaution but said it wasn't necessary. She did the vital checks and he seemed ok surprisingly. Bless him.
Since then, he's been ok.
But, he does this weirdy thing at the end of his runs sometimes. Mum said he did it once or twice before his accident when I wasn't at home, but since the accident he's done it once or twice a week. He basically gets almost back to the car and then goes sort of trance-like and ignores you and trots off. It's like he has no idea who we are. He trots round the field, appearing to behave like we are on a normal walk but ignoring me. A few times he's headed towards the water looking very perplexed. It's like he just doesn't want to know or doesn't want to go home. Although they do still swim, he doesn't go out very far anymore. But when he heads towards the water, I do run and try and catch him before he goes in because of what happened but also because he could get himself in trouble. You just have to grab him and put the lead on but he just ignores you. Once he's home, he's happy again...
He is struggling to get into the car more often now. I usually lift him in but I do spoil him.
Recently, I've noticed he's dropped a bit of weight although his weight yo yo's because of his gut problems. They get a small breakfast and a normal dinner. They have their recommended daily feed amount.
Mum told me yesterday that they haven't been wormed for about a year. The vet told her that because they have Stronghold, they don't need worming? I'm not convinced this is right...
He generally is a happy dog. I think he seems older because Het is so bouncy and in your face. He's never been like that. He enjoys lying quietly and will mooch around the house finding the most comfy places to lie!
Any advice would be welcome... Would you worm? Would you worry about his episodes? Mum doesn't seem to worried but I want to do my best for him. I'm going travelling at the beginning of October for 5 months and want to make sure he's ok before I go. I do worry but then I worry about everything! I think of him as my dog really.
I did have some sour cream and chive crisps the last time I wrote this but I've finished them now so I can only offer half a bottle of diet coke if you got this far...
Kat xx
I moved out of 'home' when I went to Uni three years ago and never planned on coming back but have spent two months working in Dorset so moved back temporarily. Consequently, I've been walking our two dogs almost every day.
Taz is a 7yo Alsatian Greyhound cross and Hetty is an 18 months old Staffy Boxer cross.
We've had Taz since he was 18 months old and had Het since early this year.
Taz is an old man at heart and has had various gut problems-he's a sensitive soul. He loves going for short sharp runs though, he will fetch his toy and then once he's had enough, he will stop and wait for Hetty to finish running and we'll go back to the car.
About a month ago, he had an accident and very nearly drowned. They both go swimming in a part of the harbour which is only about 2ft deep but he swims and a very splashy way and splashed passed his toy. He just panicked and me and my step dad had to pull him out. It was awful and the images still haunt me. He wasn't responsive but a passer by played with Hetty while we rolled him so he faced down hill and rubbed him to get him to warm and make him come round. I swear we were doing that for longer than a few minutes but it probably seemed a lot longer. He came round, shook himself off and expected to run again but we made him walk on the lead back to the car. He did try and bark and snap at Hetty though-we think he might have been telling her off because she ignored the fact that he was poorly.
Anyway, I took him to the vets because I insisted. Vet gave him anti-b's as a precaution but said it wasn't necessary. She did the vital checks and he seemed ok surprisingly. Bless him.
Since then, he's been ok.
But, he does this weirdy thing at the end of his runs sometimes. Mum said he did it once or twice before his accident when I wasn't at home, but since the accident he's done it once or twice a week. He basically gets almost back to the car and then goes sort of trance-like and ignores you and trots off. It's like he has no idea who we are. He trots round the field, appearing to behave like we are on a normal walk but ignoring me. A few times he's headed towards the water looking very perplexed. It's like he just doesn't want to know or doesn't want to go home. Although they do still swim, he doesn't go out very far anymore. But when he heads towards the water, I do run and try and catch him before he goes in because of what happened but also because he could get himself in trouble. You just have to grab him and put the lead on but he just ignores you. Once he's home, he's happy again...
He is struggling to get into the car more often now. I usually lift him in but I do spoil him.
Recently, I've noticed he's dropped a bit of weight although his weight yo yo's because of his gut problems. They get a small breakfast and a normal dinner. They have their recommended daily feed amount.
Mum told me yesterday that they haven't been wormed for about a year. The vet told her that because they have Stronghold, they don't need worming? I'm not convinced this is right...
He generally is a happy dog. I think he seems older because Het is so bouncy and in your face. He's never been like that. He enjoys lying quietly and will mooch around the house finding the most comfy places to lie!
Any advice would be welcome... Would you worm? Would you worry about his episodes? Mum doesn't seem to worried but I want to do my best for him. I'm going travelling at the beginning of October for 5 months and want to make sure he's ok before I go. I do worry but then I worry about everything! I think of him as my dog really.
I did have some sour cream and chive crisps the last time I wrote this but I've finished them now so I can only offer half a bottle of diet coke if you got this far...
Kat xx
