Sheridan

The vet took enough blood to send away to do tests to see if there's anything underlying all this. I have to get the muzzle off him at some stage, though.

He's 13 and a half.

Only that it was probably the drug or a brain seizure. He may have some food in his teeth but given his behaviour, both of us decided not to test that one. He'd have to be sedated. He had a good look at his eyes and body and did a blood test for fat and dehydration. Both were normal.

He was shivering in the car so I took him to the vet. He was muzzled getting out of the car and being examined. He seemed fine and was all friendly and charming with me (not with the vet, which is normal). When I got him home, though, and tried to get him out of the car, it was the same behaviour all over again. Finally, I pulled him out of the car and he's in his crate. He's still muzzled but it's a soft one so he can drink. I really have to decide what to do now. I've sent his breeder an email. I hope he gets it and responds today because I could do with his advice.

He's "Grumpy" for a reason, as you know. Maybe it just brought that to the fore (?). His vet suggested that he had a mild seizure earlier, though of course he's just guessing having not seen him. Folks, I actually phoned Merijigs at an ungodly hour last night for advice and she was completely brilliant as usual. Thanks heaps. Missy Min sends wiggy wags of her tail to her Mummy No. 1.

so she did xrays/barium? No ...

I just checked on him. He's just asleep in the back of the car. He hasn't drunk anything but he wasn't dehydrated last night, which is good. I'll leave him sleep and see how he is in half an hour.

The reason I agreed to the Tramal was because she said it was so mild that it's not even a controlled substance. Well, it bloody should be.

I took him to the vet (not his, an emergency one). She couldn't find a blockage but said his tummy was upset. She gave him an injection of a drug called Tramal. Avoid it. Big time. It's turned him into a spaceman. He didn't know who I was, still doesn't and is still in the car because he wouldn't/couldn't get out. I rang his own vet this morning and he suggested that we wait until it wears off and if he's still dopey to bring him in this afternoon. I've had an absolutely shiteful night.

I just phoned the emergency vet as you were posting. They were all 'If you think he's not well ...' which wasn't helpful. He's not trying to vomit, he's asleep again. He seemed more uncomfortable with me on the bed so I got off. It's not obviously anything wrong, it's just out of character, you know?

If a piece of bone got caught and was blocking something, what would the symptoms be?

He's asleep at the moment and I don't want to wake him (given he's why the phrase 'let sleeping dogs like' was invented). He hasn't drunk anything since coming in from having his bone. He woke up when Mini told a car off for driving down the street but he didn't get up. He doesn't seem to be in pain (don't know what his normal pulse is) and he doesn't seem to be sick, just down and quiet.

Grumpy has been full of beans all day. He had a bone around 5.30, just half a lamb's neck. Normally from around 5.45 onwards he comes to harass me about dinner and this steadily grows to constant whinging around 6.00. Nothing like that tonight. He came out around 6.15 and sat on the couch. Then he moved to sit on next to the heater. I checked him and said do you want your dinner, which would normally be a little song and dance. He got up and went to the bedroom. His tail was completely flat and didn't wag when I gave him a cuddle. He's been on the bed for a while. He didn't wake up when I put some Ziwipeak on the bed next to him, not until I clapped my hands. He's very down but doesn't seem to be in any pain. His tummy is a little noisy but this is normal when he has a bone. His breathing is normal; he's just quiet and withdrawn. Any ideas?

Well done that vet.

Any news?

I was actually going to suggest you ask that. It's not awful, it's actually a good question.

Her pup could be dangerously ill. She should have taken the pup to the vet as soon as she realised. If the pup is throwing up and not drinking then at the very least it's going to be dehydrated. Yes, she's an idiot.

Trish, there's a K9 Kidneys email list. I didn't find it particularly helpful as they were unfamiliar with the kidney disease my dog had and the Americans on the list are dead keen on supplements for everything but there could be something there for you. Basically, you should feed a good quality protein diet. The Hills Prescription Ultra Z/D (make sure it's the ultra) has the protein hydrolised, which helps the dog retain it better. They also have a KD diet specifically for kidneys. Discuss which might be better with the vet. Keep an eye out for puffy legs and stomach. This will be fluid retained in the muscle tissue. Also keep an eye out for wheezing breath. Both these are signs of pleural effusion/oedema and the pup will need a diuretic to remove the fluid. That's hard for a dog with kidney disease as they will eventually stop eating and drinking. This site may be helpful (green tripe isn't available here, though).

Gingivitis?

Thinking of you. It's a gut wrenching decision.

If they don't seem hurt enough to take to the vet immediately, then hydrogen peroxide is a good antiseptic for little cuts.

Cortisone suppresses the immune system so it wouldn't be fighting the tumour's growth.

Is there much of a difference between the show lines and non-show lines? I'm thinking, for example, of John Burchard's Tepe Gawra Salukis.

If it's not aggression, it might be worth a try. There is also the possiblity of a telephone consult with someone like Dr Kersti Seksel in Sydney. Any good trainers in Canberra?

Not sure of the exact details but perhaps a decent trainer would do.