Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/28/2010 4:02 AM |
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I'm really worried about Hogan, I know I'm paranoid but I need your advice.
Luckily, we are going to the vets tomorrow for his second jab and microchip so I will get him looked at then.
Anyway, please, anyone to set my mind at ease until tomorrow will be grand 
First thing - about 3/4 days ago he got his tail trapped in the kitchen door - it's an internal door so It was just between carpet and door but he still squealed and was trapped until I opened the door.
Initially he squealed when he touched it - but we can now feel all along his tail and squeeze it all along - and he's fine. Also, Toni thinks it looks a little swollen at the top, but I don't think so? Since then he has also squealed a few times - when he is moving about, sitting down etc.
Second thing, he keeps scratching his ears. I've looked in them and they have dark wax in them (but I think a normal amount?!) although one has more than the other. Could this be a sign of an ear infection?
Any advice would be great, thanks...
Shelley |
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cdansan
Northwestern, Vermont
MH
Posts:125
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| 02/28/2010 4:52 AM |
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If he has visble dirt and is scratching his ears they are most likely infected. My long haired dog has ear infections all the time. They all get ear cleaning 2-3 times a week when they are swimming almost everyday.
The tail issue is probably just bruising from getting stuck in the door. They will probably not do too much with it. I have had 2 broken tails on my Flatcoat retriever, all they did was give pain killers. Another GSP benefit of short tails on a hunting dog.
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:2439
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| 02/28/2010 5:39 AM |
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The ears may or may not be infected but have the vet check them out.
The tail is most likely sore and possibly swollen and bruised. If there was no open wound on the tail then I doubt there is an infection. If it did have a wound then it could have gotten infected, but then I think it would be very sensitive and as you know with horses feel for heat to find the bad spot. I bet the tail will be fine. |
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http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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Almost Heaven GSP
Springfield, WV
MH
Posts:725
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| 02/28/2010 7:11 AM |
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Likely a yeast infection in the ears. The Vet will prescribe some antibiotics and likely give you an ear cleaning solution that basically amounts to a glycerin dilute as used by those that get "Swimmers Ear".
Tail is probably just a lil tender and bruised. |
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Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
Bruce Shaffer
Almost Heaven GSP's
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/28/2010 7:31 AM |
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Ok thanks. I will let you know what the vet says.  |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 02/28/2010 8:39 AM |
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So Bruce beat me to what I was going to say about the ears. If the wax is dark and kind of smelly it is very likely a yeast infection. I had cocker spaniels for years and it was a constant battle with them. Not so much a problem with GSPs because they have bigger openings and short hair, but they still can get it. My oldest girl had a yeast infection when she was a pup, but since an adult no problems. You might also ask the vet to for a good ear cleaner. Yeast infections occur because the ph in the ear get too alkaline.
As for the tail, I agree with everyone else, probably bruised and sore. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
     
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2378
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| 02/28/2010 9:00 AM |
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Ears: Tessa's ears always get dirty, I clean them at least once a week with a solution the vet gave me, which I put on a cotton ball and then wipe the inside of the ear - yuck! Once a month or so I drip the solution into the ear, massage the ear, then wipe clean with cotton. She never scratches her ears but I swear the wax makes her deaf sometimes - especially when we are in a bird field 
Tail: I Don't have much experience with tail injuries but have heard that even if broken, there's not much they can do. I would suspect some bruising, like the others said.
Great timing with the vet appointment - let us know what they say. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 03/01/2010 3:51 AM |
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We are back from the vets.
My poor little man has an ear infection 
He has ear drops for 1 week, twice a day (which he's going to love - hehe).
He had his second jab so he's almost ready to go out and about now (finally) and his microchip (didn't like that so much  )!
The vet also looked at his tail, she said it was more than likely just bruised 
More relieved now
Shelley |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2737
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| 03/01/2010 6:07 AM |
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| They are SUCH a worry, aren't they? Good to hear Hogan has been checked out and fixed up! |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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unowhoandwhy
Middleofnowhere, NH
MH
Posts:1796
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| 03/01/2010 7:45 AM |
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Poor little guy, I hope he feels better soon!
Daniel had the same nasty brown stuff in his ears for years & I faithfully cleaned them out weekly & gave him various drops, etc. Then, the vet & I really looked into the causes behind it it & realized that it was food-related. After some experimenting with various foods I finally found one that he loves & that he doesn't have any allergies to & I haven't had to clean his ears since - although he still asks me to, apparently he loves having them cleaned. |
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Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002
Lady Layla - 1/2006 |
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Gatormom
St Paul, MN
MH
Posts:193
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| 03/02/2010 1:15 AM |
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Glad to hear that Hogan's tail is only bruised.
There are a number of ear cleaning solutions available in pet stores. Also, there are recipes to make them on the internet. I made some once, but the ingredients (boric acid, betadine, etc.) were much more expensive than what you can buy already made. You simply squirt a few drops in their ear, put the ear flap down, and massage it it, then clearn the ears out with cotton balls. First you will get a brownish tinged material on the cotton ball and I clean until the cotton balls come out clean. I do this whenever I do toe nail trimming. Like Bev, I had cocker spaniels before I had shorthairs, and their ears go gunky very frequently. Floppy eared dogs are much more prone to this than are pointed ear dogs. |
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Barbara
Kaiser (1996-2010)
Gator
I am simply thankful that least dogs exist, and I'm humbly aware of how much less a person I'd be - how less human, if they did not exist - Rick Bass |
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