I posted somewhere here...about this afternoon when I went to carry Hallie outside to potty and she cried. I had picked her up from her crate, carried her through the kitchen, noticed a rice cake crumb on the counter so leaned over with her so she could get it, she had a worried look on her face and would not eat it (she always snarfs anything like that up so it was a red flag for her). Carried her on outside, as I was setting her down she cried out. I was devastated, (thanks to Delia and Jen for talking me down!) to see her having back pain after two weeks of confinement.
But just now I took her out again and I discovered a pretty large lump on one anal sac. About the size of a small grape I'd say. I had felt this 2-3 times in the last couple of days, it was smaller and lumpy bumpier, and I just thought I was feeling stool ready to come out (and she did have to go right then). If I hadn't been so worried about her back I would have paid more attention to that but I didn't think about it again until tonight.
Someone on Dodgers List had asked me today after her ouchie experience if it might be her anal sacs because they can mimic a back problem. I am not daring to think this whole thing could be from her anal sacs (although wouldn't that be something if I have been crating her for 2 weeks due to an anal sac problem!!) but I am wondering if at least it might be what caused her to cry out today? I have not seen any signs of pain since that happened and I have not seen one sign of pain at all either, between the night of the 14th when we rushed to the ER and today. (even the next morning she seemed to feel fine). She didn't seem to be bothered by me feeling around the lump here this evening although I was pretty gentle.
I have googled anal sac stuff but can't find a very good description of exactly how the pain will present...so not sure how much I can hope is anal sac and is not. The ER vet the night we went in, did not check her anal sacs to my knowledge. I just read her notes but can't read her writing very well, I don't see anything about anal sacs though. She did tremble and sit when the vet palpated her in her upper lumbar which points to back problem. But I'm really wondering if todays episode might have been from the anal sac?
Poor baby girl she hates having her anal sacs expressed, she often will cry out very loudly, I hope it won't be traumatic for her but hopefully it will give her some relief!
Take her to the vet, then both of you will be out of pain....not the ER, but your own.
You never never know till you go......
Keep us updated.
big hugs
Roberta
ps have another chardonney.
Let us know what the vet says. It's soooo difficult to see our furkids in any kind of pain. Especially when we are not sure what is causing it. Hang in there mama....I'm with Roberta on the wine! Smooches to the magnificant Miss Hallie.
I have heard that anal gland problems mimic back problems - I would take her to the vet armed with that information and have hers checked.
Remember a couple weeks ago when Rudy was out of sorts? He didn't indicate back pain, or really any kind of pain - he was just kinda of out of it - and some times in a daze. That Friday when we went to the vet specifically for anal glands - they said they were very full. The next day or so, he began to be himself again.
How often are Hallie's normally done? We are sending big Texas rays that that will help her feel better. Please, oh please - let that be it !!!! Fingers and paws crossed here -
Well this is wierd - After I had posted this - the vet called and Rudy is under having his dental done and she said he had a cracked molar. When he was out of sorts last week - he started acting that way while he was chewing a chew stick. THAT is when he apparently cracked his tooth and they did look at his tooth when I took him in that Friday for them to look at him and do his glands. The technician said this morning it was very hard to see the crack - that she thought is was just tarter at first. So now my boy has to have his tooth pulled......
Sorry back to Hallie - moral of the story - sometimes it is very hard to tell where they are hurting. Before that call - I would have sworn it was Rudy's anal glands bothering him - now I know it was a tooth and would never know it lately as he been chewing on bully sticks just fine. Or so it seems - maybe he has only been chewing on one side and I didn't even notice - AGHHHHH.....very frusterating......
I am praying that Hallie may be hurting because of her glands - maybe she has an infection - maybe evident by the lump that you feel.......please let us know as soon as you get home !!!
Hang in there mom - maybe there is an answer for our Hallie BB.....let us know ASAP !
Sounds like off to the vet she goes ASAP! Will say a prayer for Hallie. Let us know how it goes. And don't FREAK!
Hoping anal sac overload is all that is keeping Miss Hallie from being her normal little cheery self! Keep us posted and rays on the way!!! :bandaid: :pray: :heart:
Poor Rudy Barb! You just never know what they are going to find., How is he doing now?
We just got home from the vet, poor baby has a HUGE abscess on one anal gland. Much larger than grape size as I had thought. Good news is it could likely have been why she cried yesterday and not from her back. Bad news is the vet could not drain it...Hallie would just SCREAM louder than I have ever heard her, I almost got sick...the vet wasn't getting much to come out of it and I was so afraid Hallie would hurt herself struggling so I made her stop. Now our only option is I am hot packing it and she'll be on antibiotics but if it doesn't start to go down by Friday (doubtful) then we'll have to put her out to drain it. I do NOT want to put her under.....ARGH. I don't know what else we can do though it is much to painful for her to have the vet drain it herself.
I was sort of hoping this could have been the only problem all along but the vet said the initial problem still does sound like a back thing.
When it rains it pours.
Actually, I think the two are connected in one way. Poor Hallie has probably not been able to push out all the yucky poop due to her back hurting her. Next thing ya know, a little dinkleberry makes an infection and then an absess.
Sorry the little girrl is having such a rough time, but if anyone can administer tender loving care, it would be you. (When I die, can I come back as one of your dawgs?)
You know Les the funny thing is, from the morning after this first happened (with her back...two weeks ago today) til now I haven't seen one sign of a back problem. I wasn't allowing her to do much, granted, but she has always seemed pain free and able and willing to do anything like normal. She could always stretch way out, shake her whole body, want to run etc. I was so devastated yesterday when she cried thinking her back was getting worse...but she was feeling good up until that moment and afterwards and still is today. She's pooped on schedule and it looked normal every day, so I "think" she's been pooping as usual? But my kibble order did not come in and I was out so she's been getting all canned for a couple of weeks (she usually gets about 2/3 canned and 1/3 kibble between the two meals) I wonder if that contributed as well as so much less excercise than she is used to?
Anyone know what the best and safest anesthesia is these days?
Dee, I am sorry that you and Miz Hallie BB are having more problems. I'll keep sending reays and prays for you two.
When Rudy has had anal gland infections/impactions he:
Arches his back
Walks funny
Eats less and is less enthusiastic about it, may even decline food or treats
Cries if pressure is wrong when picked up or set down
I actually rushed him to the E-vet saying all the way it was his back - nope. It was his anal glands. He was expressed and given some antibiotics and a steroid shot (to boost healing and reduce inflammation). He was perfectly fine within a few days and was noticeably better within 24 hours even.
Thanks Nikki and Krista.
Hallie didn't most of those symptoms. The only things out of the ordinary I noticed were a little bit of licking around her tail, a scoot here and there and the cry she did yesterday. No back arching, walking funny, definitely been no appetite loss, but we're all over #4! It was a relief to think it is likely that and not her back from yesterday. I just dont' want to have to put her out on Friday.
That's good the vet was able to express him. Hallie's is too far for that I think (I just can't believe I didn't notice it til now!But honestly you can't really even see it from outside). She is starting antibiotics tonight I am praying that darn thing will drain itself somehow.
Thanks for the encouragement good to hear Rudy did fine after!
Update, Hallie's vet called me back and she is scheduled for the surgery Friday morning at 7:30. :confused: She is going to use Propafal to put her under, which is IV and administered as they go so as soon as she's done they will stop giving it to her and they wake up pretty much immediately and with little side effects. I am of course still terrified (GADS will this month from aitch ee double hockey sticks ever end!). But I'll be able to be right there with her the entire time. And there will be two vets, they are a husband and wife team and will both be there. As long as I can keep from passing out....I told them if I do IGNORE ME and continue on with Hallie. I won't though. I plan to scrape her teeth while the vets are working on her bum. They don't really need it but I can get to a few places that is really hard to get to when I normally do her teeth. I'm guessing it won't take more than a few minutes tops to lance and drain that abscess so hopefully it will be over before we know it and we'll be back home napping! I wish we could do it tomorrow and get it done but they are closed on Thursdays. Prayers and rays would be greatly appreciated!
and I read this all just before dinner..................
I did similar with Amy, they let me hold her till she was under and then got me when she started to wake. keep us posted, and don't pass out or they could do your glands too.
Keep strong
roberta
This has just been a nightmare for you DeeDee. The good news is that once this is over tomorrow you can maybe rest a little easier and Miss Hallie will certainly feel better. Please keep us informed and know that you and Hallie are in my prayers and thoughts. Hopefully tomorrow nights glass of wine will be celebratory! Hugs to you!
It is always so hard to put them under......but that yucky stuff needs to get out of our Hallie girl ! This way they can really get her cleaned out. It sounds like the vet team is great - and that is very cool that you can be with her ! Dang dd - you and Hallie sure need a break - sending powerful rays and prayers that this will make Hallie feel much better. Be strong woman ! Hugs to you and smoochies to Hallie - :comfort:
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Wow! I have missed quite a bit, but I'll send rays that Miss Hallie gets back to her normal self ASAP! It really does sound like her anal sacs have been bothering her, so don't be afraid to get them drained! That will make her feel better pretty much immediately, although she may be tender for a few days it will not be the pain of infection. {{HUGS}} to you and let us know how things go!
Loads of rays to our Hallie Berry BUTT. Hang in there, DD. It will get better. :pray: :heart:
Roberta you have single handedly guaranteed I will NOT pass out now. And you actually made me laugh. 2 great accomplishments. :)
Yes little Hallie certainly does have a berry butt now. That's a good point too, if she's uncomfortable after this it will at least be from healing and not the problem getting worse.
My Aunt just stopped in to see her and brought over some gardenburgers for lunch. I was holding Hallie and looked to see my Aunt cleaning up in the kitchen and using the washcloth I have been packing Hallie's tooshie with. :thinik: I'm glad it was after lunch and not before or I would have had a hard time explaining why I wasn't eating my gardenburger...
Now that made me laugh.
Roberta
ps whats gardenburger
Think of a gardenburger as a hamburger with no meat. Sometimes there is a soy patty with veggies and sometimes they are veggies shaped into a patty and cooked, with more veggies added like a hamburger.