Sick dog

[Zen]

Debarked? OMG; I didn't know such a thing could even be done. It sounds rather gruesome..

Gruesome is not the word.
The word you're looking for is inhumane.
People disgust me.

Try feeding Doodle wet foot with a little extra water so he can essentially lap it up.

[emily_in_nc]

Poor Doodle! So glad he's feeling better. Debarking should be outlawed. That's just horrible.

[Chicken Little]

Deb- is there some mild laproscopic surgery for Doodle that could ease the cough and other symptoms? It sounds like he has some extra laryngeal tissue flapping around in there. We do it for people, it must be available for pups.
Such and insult, this debarking thing.

[zoom-zoom]

It disgusts me the sorts of things people do to pets for their own convenience. Just as disgusting are vets who will do such procedures. Seems unethical, at the very least.

Glad Doodle is doing better. He sounds like such a sweet guy. How lucky that he has people to treat him like family, now.

[badger]

it boggles my mind that there are veterinarians out there who do those things just for money. Any vet with an ounce of compassion or morals will refuse to debark a dog or declaw a cat.

Anyways, I'm glad to hear that Doodles is doing better. I once knew a sheltie that was used as a stud and also debarked. Awful.

[zoom-zoom]

it boggles my mind that there are veterinarians out there who do those things just for money. Any vet with an ounce of compassion or morals will refuse to debark a dog or declaw a cat.

We had a vet who had the audacity to tell us that if we CARED ABOUT OUR FURNITURE we'd declaw our cats...WTF, seriously?! We never went back.

[malkin]

Try feeding Doodle wet foot with a little extra water so he can essentially lap it up.

Zen's typo cracked me up! It is a typo, right? (I'm keeping my shoes on, just in case.)

Anyway, all the best to you and Doodle!

[blackhillsbiker]

He's eating a kind of gruel (wet dog food and lots of water). Still he is gagging. We've had him for 5 years. This is the first time he's had a major problem swallowing his food. We usually just have to be careful not to let him get hold of dry foods. When someone drops a piece of popcorn, that is the worst.

The vet is going to evaluate his throat as soon as all the swelling and redness is gone. I've read that there are some ways to reduce scar tissue. I think one of the articles mentioned laparascopy. I hate to put him through more. Still, if it would help make him more comfortable. The sad thing is that his breeder was pretty famous at one time. The year after we adopted Doodle, his littermate, Flash, won the Westminster Dog Show Best of Breed. I just wish she could see how hard it is on him now. I think all her dogs were debarked.

Deb

[NbyNW]

Does he do okay with peanut butter? Yogurt (I've seen various sources say yay or nay on yogurt, but . . .) ? Just thinking, maybe there are some "smooth" foods that might help supplement his diet while he's healing.

[drgynfyr]

Yay Doodle!! *wishing him a speedy recovery **

[sundial]

The year after we adopted Doodle, his littermate, Flash, won the Westminster Dog Show Best of Breed.

Disgusting! No ethical breeder would de-bark a dog or a litter for the sake of sneaking around city ordinances. On a happier note, I'm glad your Doodle is doing better. Do you by chance have access to a doggie internist in your area? They could perform an endoscopy to see what's going on with his throat. Another alternative is performing an ultrasound on the esophagus. As for feeding soft food...I have had success by softening food in chicken or beef broth or adding a little bit of baby food to the meal. Be aware that bouillon cubes and canned broths may contain onion powder and you might want to check with your vet regarding this. It probably won't be enough to affect the kidneys but it's better to be safe than sorry.

[tzvia]

De-Bark? Holy crap!

I hope Doodle continues to mend; what a horrible torture he went through .

Hopefully the Doc can do something to ease his throat...

Oh, I had to hug my 13 year old puppy Kelev after reading this; I had no idea that anyone would do something like this; I'm just in shock. What was mentioned already, chicken broth, nice and warm with some chicken pieces in it is what I give Kelev when he is under the weather. No matter how he feels, he never walks away from chicken. I can't even say the word in the house- he will drool all over my hardwood floors as only a lab can do.

[Zen]

Zen's typo cracked me up! It is a typo, right? (I'm keeping my shoes on, just in case.)!

Doh! My dog has an excessive licking habit but that's not what i meant.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am not a fan of breeders after my own experience with a vet that was a breeder of 5 different breeds. I know we have a few breeders here and I am sure they are not like the horror stories I have experienced. Our dear Maggie Bear we had to put down last year was sold to me because "she won't take for me, you can have breeding rights though". A vet said that and told me I could keep on trying to make her have litters. Her kidneys shut down at 9 years old, my vet felt her breeding background couldn't have helped.

Debarking though? My vet gave me a look when I said I would have never declawed my cat because it disgusts me (she was decalwed by her former owner) but I have never heard of them debarking a dog. I am glad to hear Doodle is recovering, give him an extra hug from all of us. Poor baby!

[smilingcat]

Home made pureed chicken soup is the best. Anytime our babies are sick, we give them chicken stock and any pieces of shredded chicken meat (cooked in the stock or the broth) to go along with it.