Seeing Red

[kragore]

Mr. Dog is sick.



He has the unenviable issue of impacted anal glands. This is what gives dogs their scent - it's why they sniff each others butts.
When they get uncomfortable, he starts to go after himself, licking the area around the base of his tail. Generally I can control this and get him to the vet so that the vet can express said glands (to the tune of $60 a trip.) This happens every 6 weeks.
This time, I didn't catch him. He licked himself a hot spot/ulcerated the skin. He did this in the span of 8 hours, while I was at work. I immediately shaved the area and hosed him down in Allercaine. As I was brushing him (making him look a bit more respectable, not a licked up mushy mess,) I came across a bare patch of skin on his front leg. Skin looked dry, and I had a flicker of a thought that it might be mange, but I almost as quickly disregarded the thought.
I take good care of my ass-ulcerated dog, right?

I brush over the area, and it was like someone stuck a tap in my dog. Blood in the brush. Blood on the dog. Blood on the carpet.
All the while he's sitting there, looking stoically miserable, as goldens are wont to do, with his paw up in the air and a look on his face that read "You did it, now fix it, woman."
Apply pressure, elevate the leg, stop the bleeding - All I can think is that *somehow* he developed an abscess, and that I hit it just right to drain. I don't know though, I'm not a vet. Just a miserable owner who's dealt with hoof abscesses before.
So I shave that area back a little bit to see what's going on and hose that down in Allercaine too. And called the Vet.

We have an app't at 4. He's in the cone, though I don't know what good that will do, what with both wounds at extremities.

I love my dog very much. But I swear, I will never have a purebred of questionable genetic origin again.

Comments

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

you might hate petco for many reasons, but it's 5 dollars to express the glands there. We have to take our dog every few weeks as well.

[kragore.livejournal.com]

I did not know this. I think I'm going to go the other route and just get them removed - because of his perchance for developing hot spots at the drop of a hat, it appears that if he's even uncomfortable for more than a work day, I have major problems on my hands.
Good to know, though. Thanks!

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

yeah, I think if I was in charge of my dog's health, I'd get them removed.

:(

[illustrator.livejournal.com]

this so blows. Kitty is thinking loving nom thoughts in his direction.

[termofart.livejournal.com]

Oh poor puppy!

:(

(You know, they'll teach you how to express those glands yourself. It's unpleasant, though, you know, the SMELL.)

Poor doggie, though. Poor, poor doggie. And poor you!

[kragore.livejournal.com]

Thing is, he's not small. And it's really just having two people to wrangle him while someone does the deed. I'm sure it's not hard, and trust me, when they act up, my whole house smalls like as anyway, but I think there's a larger issue here that removing them might solve, period.

[termofart.livejournal.com]

It is a nasty job. I had a shep/lab mix who had issues once in a while. Holy DOG that smell! (And wear goggles.) But, yeah, someone's got the hold dog steady.

I need to stop thinking about this. :( Yarg!

Removal? I had no idea! That would keep pooch from the licking and ulcering in that... area.

[kragore.livejournal.com]

I hear ya.

Yea, not cheap, and they have to put him under (and it carries potential side effects too) but you can have them removed.
This will happen early March.

[cointeach.livejournal.com]

Poor puppy! Poor YOU! D:

[dervishspin.livejournal.com]

Oh honey. BLeh. I am so sorry.

[kragore.livejournal.com]

Thanks, you. :\
You have any time tonight?
- K.

[dervishspin.livejournal.com]

Maybe. Depends. I need to start packing or assembling stuff for Estrella. I still have NO IDEA what I am brining or doing or anything. Also, there is a marketing meeting I should attend, but it's in the common house.
What do you need?

[kragore.livejournal.com]

I do not need anything.
If you require a hand, give me a call. I've pretty good at packing tetrus.
- k.

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

ugh, poor dog. I hope he's alright.

yup, yup...

[senormysterioso.livejournal.com]

...I hear your pain, Golden Owner.