I know this is weird to post about this, but this is the first time my dog has been sick or anything. I brought her to Petsmart yesterday to have her shaved and washed and her nails clipped. She seemed fine when we got home last night. Then I noticed she was itching and scratching a lot, and I thought it was just stray hairs or something. She went out and woke me up around midnight, barking furiously. I let her in, she ran around and around, in circles, literally chasing herself, biting, scratching, room to room, wanted back outside, came back inside. After an hour of trying to calm her and watching this bizarre behavior, I gave her some Benadryl, thinking she was maybe allergic to the soap they used or SOMEthing over there.

The Benadryl calmed her and I think she slept, but this morning it started all over again. Then I was thinking it was maybe her bladder. She went out to go pee and I tried to watch, it seemed like it was a trickle. So I called the vet and they are open this morning so I'm getting ready to take her in.

She's my *baby* now, and this is freaking me out. I don't know if I can be this attached to another living thing and find out something's wrong with her. :-(

By Amecmom on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:29 am:

I hope she's okay. The Benadryl was a good idea. It sounds like she was allergic to something. Antihistamines can dry you out, so that may be why she had a trickle. Let me know what happens at the vet.
Ame

By Happynerdmom on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:30 am:

Keep us posted. It sounds like some kind of allergy to me, too.

By Kernkate on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:31 am:

{{{Karen}}} Good luck at the vet. Maybe its just something simple. Let us know how you make out. We sure do get attached to our pets.

By Momaroze on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:32 am:

Poor baby. Sounds like she is very irritated w/something. Keep us posted on what happens at the vet.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 12:03 pm:

Vet said she was either allergic to what they washed her with, and/or itchy and sensitive from being shaved. Whew!!!!!!! He does want me to watch her for signs of a bladder infection though. He gave her a shot of Depomedrol, and she is much calmer now. This was just like when of of the kids were sick in the middle of the night when they were babies! Who knew??????? ROFL

By Marcia on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 12:09 pm:

Did you give her a bath to get rid of whatever's on her? It might help. It's awful to watch them suffer. :o(

By Happynerdmom on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 12:10 pm:

Glad it wasn't serious! They're very much like kids, aren't they!

By Amecmom on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

Happy to hear all is well. Yes, pets are just like kids. I think every woman should have a puppy before she has a baby. If I hadn't had my dog, I'd have been even less prepared for motherhood.

By Bea on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 04:33 pm:

I'm so sorry your baby had such a rotten night...poor pup. It's so hard to watch them and not understand how to help them. I hope it's all better now.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 07:15 pm:

We went to hear Jeff's band play in a talent competition and when we returned home a few hours later, she had chewed the skin under one arm raw. After looking at her more closely, it looks like when she was shaved, she was shaved much closer to the skin on her underside than ever before. The vet said the very short hairs could be itchy and prickly, thus making her react this way.

I thought about washing her with Aveeno, but we're afraid to irritate her skin any more. She's mostly been lying around the house all afternoon, and I *think* she's starting to feel better.

Thanks for the concern.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 08:44 pm:

Poor puppy! I'm sorry you had a bad night with her. I remember a night when Honey had the runs and she got me up three times during the night. Poor thing. At least, she had time to get me, so she could go outside.

By Mommyathome on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 08:48 pm:

Aww...poor dog. I love animals and know that they can become one of the family very easily. I hope she is doing better soon.
I wonder if there is something you could put on her itchy parts to help them heal faster. Bag Balm maybe? Maybe ask your vet for a cream or something. Just so she won't go raw.

By Coopaveryben on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:27 pm:

I had a poodle and she was allergic to what they washed her with and would do the same thing.

By Tink on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 10:23 pm:

My mom's cat has seasonal allergies where she does this each year. You can put calomine lotion on it. It is soothing for the animal, they don't like the taste, and it won't hurt them if they do lick at it anyway. Poor baby! You and your pup.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 08:20 am:

I gave her Benadryl last night and she slept, which allowed ME to sleep! LOL

She appears to be doing better this morning.

Thanks again!

By Eve on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 08:25 am:

You poor things! I'm glad she is feeling better! It's so tough when they can't just tell you what is wrong! I hope today is going well.

By Texannie on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:21 am:

Poor puppy!!!!

By Conni on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:34 pm:

Glad you got some sleep last night!!

Sorry your dog was so irritated. Hope she feels better tonight and you dont have to give her the Benadryl!!