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Barnyard Buddies:  Knots?  |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 21 2014 : 7:10:21 PM
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So I have waited a few days to better assess the symptoms, and contacted my herb-genius, and well... Now I'm coming to you ladies before I go wash some money down a vet's drain.
Background: A couple months back, I posted about Georgi's parasite issue. I used Diatomaceous Earth in his food (whatever I could pinch between my ring / middle fingers and my thumb). We saw improvement, and stopped the treatment, not wanting to over-earth him, fearing it might cause problems.
The problems came back, and we've now put him back on the Diatomaceous with a 2-week deadline, as recommended by my herb-genius friend.
This May, I spent days indoors, rarely going out. I had a severe reaction to the pollen / spring allergens here. At one point, I couldn't get online much for about a week due to an eye infection. Sometime after all that was over, I started noticing that Georgi sounded funny when he was sleeping. At first, I paid little mind to it, thinking his snoring pattern had simply changed a little. But I couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling that it had changed for the worse, so I started watching him carefully, waking him if I got concerned, etc.
It has been very hot here in NC, and our house does not have central air. So part of me also assumed that his new noises were from the heat. He spends most of his days chilling out, napping. He'll get up to move to where he feels closest to me. In the evenings he romps with Gingy like normal.
Back in Georgia, when we moved from VA to GA, Georgi started having some mild allergy symptoms. We use the Gentle Leader collar for walking him, and the collar got a lot of pollen, grass-dust, etc. on it, so he started rubbing his face in the grass a great deal (presumably to scratch his eyes and snout). When we stopped at his gate (he lived in a pen back in GA) he would stuff his snout between my legs and rub as hard as he could until I got the collar off. So I've learned his usual allergy symptoms.
Well, this year... something new has cropped up, and I wanted to check in with you ladies.
Georgi has knots. 2 are in front / top of his shoulders. There is another, which actually feels like 2 seperate knots in the fleshy part under / in between his jowls / almost in his neck / throat area. There is a much smaller knot on one of his hips -- the small knot has been there awhile, and I'm thinking it may have always been there.
The knots are not rock-hard, though they are firm-ish. If I had to make a guess, I would say that at least some of them are partially filled with fluid or pus. They are under the skin, and it does not hurt Georgi for me to touch them.
The snoring noises are more snotty. Like if a human were to suck sinus fluids to the back of their throat. Georgi has vomited about once weekly the last 2 weeks. The vomit was clear fluid with bubbles in it. It doesn't sound to me like his airway is necessarily blocked, unless perhaps by the dog-equivalent of sinus fluids.
We recently acquired a free (thank you Craigslist) window unit A/C. Since we got it, Georgi seems much more comfortable, and his breathing is not as labored when sleeping.
We occasionally put very small ice cubes in the water bowl, but Georgi does not consume these until they've melted into water. We also provide "cool towels" (dry towels kept in our freezer) for the dogs to prevent overheating.
Last summer, Georgi did overheat, and nearly died. I'm wondering if this could potentially be complications from that -- though I would imagine not. We encourage him and Gingy both to exercise, playing games with them, etc. Gingy DOES bite Georgi a lot in the neck, throat, and ears. At first, my friend and I were thinking this may have been the cause, but after taking a look at the photos below, she says it cannot be that. A little help here?
[URL=http://s25.photobucket.com/user/TroubleBrew/media/PhotoGrid_1403030812807.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s25.photobucket.com/user/TroubleBrew/media/PhotoGrid_1403031005827_2.jpg.html] [/URL]
Nearest vet: 3 miles walk away.
We have no vehicle.
Any home-remedy suggestions are most welcome, though we understand this may require a vet visit.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
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Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland
DH and I share a blog: http://wesubtleties.tumblr.com
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2014 : 11:16:35 AM
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Is Georgi a boxer? He looks like one from the pictures. Boxers can have trouble breathing in hot weather--good that you got an A/C unit.
As for the knots, when I had my Boxer, he developed a fluid filled bump on his shoulder--the vet drained it and it was OK after that. The knots may also--don't be alarmed--be tumors, which boxers are prone to. Boxer had several tumors as he got older, none of them malignant. Only a vet can really tell you what they are. I know money is tight, but there should be vets who are willing to accept monthly payments--please check around and see. Or else call your local animal shelter and see if they can recommend someone who will look at Georgi for free or a reduced price. Maybe someone from an animal shelter can drive you to the vet? I hope you find out the source of Georgi's problems--good luck!
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2014 : 1:25:46 PM
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Georgi is indeed a boxer mix. He's mixed with Am. Bulldog and Beagle.
Thank you for the suggestions, particularly the idea of contacting my humane society. I'll do that once Drew is paid -- just in case we need to pay for gas or something.
This really helps me not to be quite as worried about him. I'm also going to get him some baby / children's benadryl, in case he has allergies -- I think that's the snotty noise coming from him. And we'll try using the cool towels more often... hopefully make him a little more comfy.
Thank you thank you thank you!! Georgi is our first experience with a Boxer (WE'RE HOOKED, HE'S AMAZING!) and we weren't aware they have a tougher time with heat... I have a book on boxers, but it's packed away in SC at the moment.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland
DH and I share a blog: http://wesubtleties.tumblr.com
Follow on Twitter: @wesubtleties |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: Knots? |
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Knots?
