cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 09/05/2012 1:37 PM |
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Hi all. We've had a busy summer and I haven't been around much. Havoc has been doing great- he's a big boy now. 25" and 63lbs- just turned 7mo.
Over Labor Day weekend we did our biggest hike yet and I'm worried now that we over-did it as Havoc is acting strange. We hiked about 10 miles at a SLOW pace (I'm still recovering from injuries myself) at an altitude of 10 thousand feet. Havoc appeared to be fine the entire hike with the exception of his training pack rubbing him a little under the arms. The hike was on Sunday. He ate and drank normally and showed no signs of issues other than being tired (expected).
Then comes Monday- he barely ate anything and suddenly vomitted in his crate in the middle of the night. While we were cleaning that up, he vomitted twice more around the house. He is drinking water, but shows no signs of wanting to eat. He's been eating 4cups a day of Blue Buffalo and is usually excited and LOVES his food. Since Monday morning he's eaten maybe 3 cups total. Energy level appears to be normal, and he is still drinking.
Am I freaking out over nothing? Was that hike maybe too much for a 7 mo old? Could his lack of appetite be from exhaustion? We were prepared to turn around at any given moment should he appear to be struggling, but he seemed fine.... but now I'm concerned. |
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gharner
Middletown, PA
MH
Posts:565
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| 09/05/2012 2:05 PM |
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| hmm, he could just have a stomach bug or something....maybe he got into something nasty on the hike? If he was acting fine during the hike I wouldnt think that it would be from over doing it really. Sometimes when were done with a long hike or kayak trip Dax just wants to sleep but he is usually starving too. After eating he'll be sluggish for a few days while recovering. They always seem to get into things though when we take them out so that would be my best guess |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7851
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| 09/05/2012 3:28 PM |
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| Did he drink any water from lakes, ponds or streams? The fact that he is drinking is good. I don't worry too much if they miss a meal or two, but getting water is important as they can dehydrate quickly when they are vomiting or have diarrhea. How is his poop? If he is pooping normally I would watch him and see how he does, but if he takes a turn for the worse I would get him to a vet. I would let him skip the meal too. You could even give him something like Pepto Bismol too. |
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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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knightfarms
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MH
Posts:87
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| 09/05/2012 3:29 PM |
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If he's drinking and peeing, he's probably ok. I know I don't want to eat when my tummy hurts, and I sometimes think that dogs are that way, too.
He could have eaten something yummy(dead and decaying) on the trail, or have drank some gross puddle water that he couldn't resist...
As long as you feel comfortable, I would give it a few days to see if he perks back up.
-Cheryl |
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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7851
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| 09/05/2012 3:31 PM |
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| BTW I just got back from a trip to Lake City, CO where I hiked with the dogs at those same altitudes. We were typically doing about 7 miles a hike. My dogs love hiking in the Rockies. |
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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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mckee.lucie
Seattle, WA
MH
Posts:202
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| 09/05/2012 3:55 PM |
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| My first thought was that he probably drank/ate something while you were out hiking. I'd expect him to be tired after a long hike like and even the next day, but not throwing up from it. Our 2 year old female GSP from the time she was around 9/10 months old on definitely managed a 10 mile hike here in WA State and high elevation too, where she was tired at the end but not sick from it. If it doesn't get better in a day or two, I'd take him in to your vet and check a stool sample for giardia, or maybe another similar bug. |
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gsplover
Houston, Tx.
MH
Posts:382
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| 09/06/2012 2:23 AM |
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Can dogs get altitude sickness?
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"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-- Unknown |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 09/06/2012 12:43 PM |
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Unfortunately the trail we hiked ended up being quite busy with hikers and 4x4's so Havoc was tied to my hip for most of the hike rather than being off leash. I didn't see him eat/drink anything, but doesn't mean he didn't sneak something when we stopped for photos. He ate a little bit last night (1 cup) and pooped normally. He's still drinking water and peeing normally as well.
I did have a co-worker tell me that dogs can get altitude sickness..... but I honestly haven't taken the time to research it yet.... If he doesn't eat tonight then he'll probably be at the vet tomorrow. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1194
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| 09/06/2012 7:13 PM |
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What was your temps like? It is possible he just over did it a bit. The only time Bella has been sick was a weekend out a camp. She plays hard out there and runs even harder. She is constantly on the go, and the bag of lazy that likes to sleep in until 10 normally is up by 6:00, too excited to get outside to eat. She has be reminded to take breaks for water (as she doesn't seem to understand she can drink from the same water she swims in lol).
It was her last day out, it was fairly hot, she finds all kinds of nasty to taste test at camp...and then there was the annoying camp neighbor who spilled a beer and before I was aware allowed Bella to lap up some. I think that is what sent her over the edge. She vomited before we left and went back to playing but at a much slower pace. Once in the car on the way home she vomited twice more (thirty minute drive home), and once more time in the back yard after we were home. After she seemed to be done I gave her a warm bath. She didn't show interested in dinner that night (but did have water), and by the next day she was eating fine.
Keep an eye on him, but try not to worry too much. Let him rest. B usually very content with two days or so of down time after a weekend of heavy activity. Hope all turns out well! |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 09/07/2012 6:17 PM |
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| All of the above input is good. I agree that you should give it another day or two. At that altitude I don't think you would have to worry about it, but blue-green algae can be fatal to dogs, up here anyway. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 09/10/2012 12:35 PM |
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| Just wanted to update that Havoc is back to himself and eating normally again. Thank goodness. |
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Jace
Posts:10
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| 09/13/2012 11:12 AM |
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Glad to hear he is back to normal.
And yes, dogs can suffer from altitude sickness. To me it sounds like he was experiencing it, and it is normal for him to display symptoms for a couple days after descending. |
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