I need help with my dog! Please help!?

Question

Hello,

I have a black lab who is about five years old. She is a female. Well, I just recently got her from a friend. I've only had her 3 months. The friend I got her from unfortunately didn't tell me anything about her, and therefore, I don't have any info on her.

I have taken her to the vet to be checked and everything, and well I keep getting told different things. She has been taken to at least 4 different vets now, and it never is the same thing.

Anyways, she whines a lot, doesn't want to be in a kennel, she constantly licks her bum area, and we were told by the vet that her scent glands were inflammed, and infected, so we were prescribed medicine and have been giving it to her everyday!

Well the vet told us this is why she was whining so much. Well, she's been on the medicine for about a week, and the whining has increased tremendously, so we took her back in to make sure nothing was going on. The vet said that sometimes an allergic reaction can happen with one of the meds and so maybe that's what was going on. Well, he prescribed two new meds incase that was happening.

Okay so we have been giving her those along with a pain medicine because the vet said she could be in pain with her bum issues. Well, nothing seems to be working, and she is worse.

She whines, and now she is starting to nip at people, and mate with one person in the house. She itches at her bum, and although we try and stop her, she is making her bum red.

We have been told by every vet we have been to that they are unsure if she has been spayed. They can't tell, and they just tell us to watch. Well, they say to look for spotting, but she hasn't done anything like that, and then today we got told that she may have been spayed in the past, but she could still show signs of being in heat. And that's why she is acting like she is.

No vet has honestly told us what is wrong with her, and we keep hearing things like she may have personality problems or is in heat. We also got told that her heart rate is slow, and that she may have a thyroid issue.

Ugghhhh, we just don't know, and this is getting costly, does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? We want to help her. Please help us.

All of the vets have said they honestly don't know what is wrong with her. One vet even said she could have a spine problem.

These are her signs:

She doesn't play much, she whines a lot, she itches and is pain around her bum, her bum is red, and she bites her tail. She nips at people, and trys to mate with one person in the house, she wants to always be with you, her eyes have now seemed to get hazy, she is peeing more, she's had blood work done, but they have said there is nothing wrong, she is having more blood work done and we'll find the results out next week. Her heart rate is slower than normal, she's a little red around her eyes and mouth area.

Answer 1

You were so helpful to me I hate to hear that your pup is sick also. If I thought I could get my vet back on the phone I would ask him. I will def. ask him tomorrow though. well I will pray that your pup gets to feeling better...Take care

Answer 2

Ok, I obviously can't tell you for sure what is wrong because even the vets cant' seem to tell. I can however offer you a suggestion. Sometimes the foods that we give dogs can cause an allergic reaction like you are getting. You can try giving her human grade foods. (The bag will not say "not fit for human consumption") They are a little costlier but often they are very worth it, especially if she has an allergy of some sort. Her symptoms may also be getting worse from the stress of changing owners. Dog's look at their humans like family and to have one of their family members throw them away, is traumatic.

If you are going to continue to take her to the vets, try to find one that is a farm vet. Often they are cheaper to go to and they are just as good as city vets. I take mine 30 minutes away from the house to a farm vet even though there are plenty in my area.

BTW: Where is this friend now that you can not call and ask a question? Are you feeding the same thing he/she fed her?

EDIT: an article on gland infections in dogs.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Anal-Glands-In...

EDIT: I did a little research. did the doctors express her anal glands and drain them before giving the antibiotics and pain medication? It seems this is the best way to handle an infection in this area. Often they need to be put under anesthesia to lance the gland and clean it properly. If your vets have not suggested this and are only trying to treat it with antibiotics and pain medication, it seems the failure rate will be higher and this might be why she isn't getting better.

EDIT: Anal glad problems can be stubborn especially if it was pretty severe to begin with. I feel so bad that your dog is suffering and I know it is frustrating. It sounds like the old owner didn't take very good care of her to begin with and I am sure this problem was brewing before you ever got her. If you decide not to go to a country vet, at least stick to one vet. I know it looks like guessing but sometimes medicine is not an exact science. Different bodies respond differently to various treatments. (same as humans) Also, sometimes two different illnesses can have about the same symptoms. If you continue to go to the same vet, at least they will be up on what they have tried before and work toward a solution by having ruled out other problems at the previous visit. Ask the vet if you can use something topical to stop the irritation until the antibiotics take effect. (Lydocaine based product or hemorrhoid wipes?)

Answer 3

Unfortunately, I don't feel knowledgable enough to answer your question-but I have starred it in hopes that someone more knowledgeable will see it-so STAR IT guys!

Poor girl, going from vet to vet and changing medicines like that! I hope it gets sorted out soon and that she feels better.

Answer 4

VET!!

Answer 5

a xray will tell if shes spayed! though what your describing is scary to wait a week for results! I don't no it bothers me that your vets just seem like they're guessing!!!