[SpencersMOM]

I had to use that subject title!
You have got to hear the day I had. I worked midnights and got home at 7:30 am to a screeming Beagle. He would not move or eat anything. He kept trying to catch his tail. I instantly knew he was having anal gland issues. So... I grabbed my latex gloves and vaseline and made a nice make shift exam table out of my kitchen table and proceeded to go in. I extracted his glands and some of the fluid went on the floor which my 2 labs decided to lick up ukey: .
After that I cleaned off Spencer and placed him back on the floor, and within minutes he started screaming again running at his tail again! So I picked him back up and went in again and found 2 HUGE rocks and got them out. I let Spencer outside and he was still in pain, he looked like he was in agony still. I was thinking of taking him to the vet but wanted to wait a little bit too see if the rock pulling and anal squishing helped. He might of just needed a rest.
A little later he was squatting and trying to go potty but nothing was coming out so I proceeded to go back in and check for more rocks. there was nothing that I could find. I decided to give him a little "warm water" enema and within seconds he took the biggest poopie ever!!!! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif
After about 30 minutes he was all back to himself again. Eating, playing and being a Beagle butt boy!
Sometimes I feel like I should be paid for all I do for my furkids.
I think Spencer appreciates how I take care of him. Everytime he is sick he is right in my face letting me know that I need to make him all better, and I always do!
My day in a nuttshell.. with no sleep!

 

[SpencersMOM]

Thanks guys! Frank is also grateful for my expertise in mending our furkids.
I went to grooming school and A'd the class work which consisted on diseases etc... Spencer has always been a problem child since the day we got him. His epilepsy, eating rocks, eating poop, aspiration pheumonia etc..... After spending thousands of dollars on him I thought I'd better take care of him myself.
I seem to always know what is wrong with my dogs and what to do to fix it.
I had to go in manually with Spencer before due to his rock eating habit which I thought was over with! Apparently not. Our vet said at that time that I should consider being a vet and that I did a wonderful job, plus we saved over $1000 from having them surgerically removed!
I never let him go outside alone anymore since he eats almost anything he can get his mouth around. He loves to eat poop and he always gets very sick and once landed in the ER for 2 days in a O2 tank with apiration pheumonia. What a nightmare that was.
It is kind of scarey when you know your dogs so well.
Frank thinks sometimes I am nuts. I keep reminding him how much money we are saving with me taking care of their health issues.

 

[SpencersMOM]

Laxmobster- regarding the enema... We have 2cc syringes in the house for valium for Spencer if he starts having multiple seizures.
The vet also gave me a bunch of small plastic tubing that I cut into 1/2 inch pieces and attach it to the syringe.
For the enema I use a little warm water and put some vaseline on the plastic tubing and slowly insert into his bottom and slowly inject the warm water and within minutes he is pooping.
It works like a charm!

 

[SpencersMOM]

ricksconnected- Spencer is on the best diet any doggie could hope for. He gets home cooked food mixed with Innova EVO. Plus fresh veggies and fish, chicken and other meats for treats. Believe me, he has no vitamin deficency. My vet said that dogs will eat rocks or other things not edible out of bordom. Spencer likes to play and if my other 2 labs are not in the mood Spencer gets an attitude, which is probably when he eats the rocks.

Booker- Yep, the fingers do all the work. I have very long skinny fingers. You have to be very careful not to rip the colon. I use vaseline and make sure Spencer is 100% comfortable before "going in"! He needs to be standing up straight and tail up!!!!