Help Needed! Tail Amputation or some other unknown illness.

[Coree]

Hi everyone! We're new to this site. My names Coree, and my 2 year old Bulldogs name is Bubba. We have been battling a medical issue for the last 7 months, and can't seem to find the cause, in order to cure it. I am looking for any advice I can from anyone who has dealt with these same issues. My poor boy is in, "what I think" is a ton of pain and it's breaking my heart. It started with what we thought was the normal tail pocket issues. We've had several other bullies, so I've dealt with tight tails in the past, but never as tight and deep as his. He started out with the usual backing up, grinding, and licking the air. I was pretty adamant about keeping it clean, but I had noticed a bit of a smell so I took him to a local fairly new bulldog vet who worked with a very well known bulldog vet for many years before he recently opened his own practice. I had him check his anal glands, which he said were fine, and then had him check his tail. I was told he needed his tail removed due to how deep and tight it was. I wasn't comfortable with going through with the surgery without seeking a second opinion from the other well known bulldog vet first, so he sent me home with a shampoo solution that I cleaned and rinsed twice a day. It was exhausting because he fought me from cleaning it every time like it was painful for him. Although the smell was gone and it seemed perfectly clean, he continued with the backing up, grinding and licking the air, and he also quit eating, so I took him to the other bulldog specialist for a second opinion. I was told that although no infection could be seen, that because it was so tight and deep that it could be something even deeper. So we went ahead with the tail amputation. When I called to check on him I was told that he would need to stay an extra day because his tail was so deep, they were worried about him developing a hematoma. He came home the following day, and slept most of the first few days, but then he started backing up to walls or tables, or whatever he could again and licking. We chalked it off to a habit at first, but then things started to get worse, he started to lick the air uncontrollably, and started running like he was scared of something. When he wasn't doing that, he seemed like he was depressed, and mostly sleeping. I also noticed at that time, that he was sniffing the areas he was sitting. Searching everything I could, I started to wonder if it might be is anal glands again, so I had the current vet check them. This vet also said that they were fine. He sent me home with a heavier dose of pain killers, and more antibiotics. Even with the heavier pain killers his actions continued to get worse and worse. I took him back to the vet again, and I was told that he believed it was neurological. He wanted to put him on Prozac, but he said he had to order it, so he sent me home and said he would call when it came in. The following day I ran out of pain killers, and his condition worsened. He did the licking, grinding thing all night. He was twitching, and shaking his head, he quit eating completely, and wouldn't even come out of his create to go to the bathroom. When I pushed him to go outside, he was leaning, and as soon as I got him outside he ran back to his crate like he was scared again. I took him to a local vet because the bulldog vet was out of the medication he wanted to give him, and this vet agreed with the bulldog vet and felt it was either neurological, or obsessive compulsive, so he gave me the Prozac to try. He also gave him something for his ears although he didn't see any infection, incase it was something deeper, since he kept shaking his head. The strange thing with this vet trip is as soon as I got the leash out, he came out of his create, his happy normal self, although I had battled with him all day to even come out of his create to go potty. So I started to think, maybe it was neurological. I went and got him a new food and he started to eat again, and his odd behavior became less and less for a few weeks, but then it started again, and got even worse. With everything I read about his symptoms being neurological or compulsive, I also found that current studies were showing that dogs they believed had these issues, were actually having gastro issues. I realized it could be a gastro issue. Before this all started Bubba had thrown up phlegm from time to time, but I had chalked it off to a bulldog issue. I took him back to the vet and was told he had never heard of that, and to just keep giving him the Prozac. I continued with the Prozac for a month, watching his condition get worse and worse. I researched and decided to try this gastro thing on my own. I fasted him for 36 hours and started him on a bland diet of chicken and rice, and started giving him over the counter omeprazole. His symptoms became less and less, but on the 4th day he got terrible diarrhea. I remembered that the only time he had ever had diarrhea was when I first got him, and he was on a chicken and grain diet then too. I realized I can't do this alone and went back to the bulldog vet who agreed it could be gastro. He was put on zd ulta, omeprazole, and a few different antibiotics, and he was back to his happy self again for a few weeks. But 3 days after his antibiotics ran out, he started not eating, and doing the whole thing over again. Now tonight I noticed a fishy smell around his rear end. I'm taking him back to the vet in the morning, but I've been chasing this thing, and watching him suffer for such a long time, with no answers. I'm just hoping one of you might have some ideas. Thank you for your time, and I'm so sorry this was so long.

 

[oscarmayer]

Has his belly been X-rayed to determine if he has a foreign object in his stomach, gut. If this was neurological I'd think that you'd see a slow steady decline in his behavior, not so many ups and downs. He may have an infection still going on from the tail surgery. Has a CBC been done? Poor guy could use some luck, needs a break.

 

[2BullyMama]

What a horrible ordeal... I agree with Chip... get a full blood panel and x-rays.

Hills food is all grain ... go back something grain and chicken free. I did egg noodles and ground turkey for my girl-- she was allergy chicken and my boy had allergic to rice so i kept them both off each so there wasn't a chance the other got into food they shouldn't.

Please keep us posted--- sending lots of positive thoughts


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[helsonwheels]

[MENTION=17455]Coree[/MENTION] as most knows in here, Nyala my brindle has a tail pocket issue. Both vets said same like you "amputation". Well no. Not till ive done my research n homework. Nyala's tail is extremely tight. I have normal "woman hand/fingers" and very tight to get under that tail. But I can guarantee you it's been like almost a year her tail is under controll. Yes she still sits and does the wiggle bum thing n licks the air. That means "hey ma" cleaning time. I clean her pocket every 2 days n it's even programmed in my cell as a reminder. (Cause I get very busy n jump a day). Follow the recipe below and you'll see some change. If your fingers are too big, get the sturdy long Q-tips. And yes use gloves at all times. Recipe mentions ears BUT perfect for ANY infections.

Here is the essential oil recipe for ear infections or just maintaining good ear*health. Spray*on cotton ball and wipe out ears ...don't spray directly in*ears.In*a 2 ounce glass spray bottle, combine: 15 drops Lavender 15 drops Geranium 15 drops Frankincense 15 drops Basil 10 drops Arborvitae. Fractionated Coconut Oil to fill the bottle about 3/4 of the way full. Shake bottle well before using. Use once a week to treat ears that have an ear infection or once a month as a preventative measure in ears that are prone to recurrent ear infectionsIf ears are especially inflamed or infected, dilute 2 drops of lavender in 4 drops of fractionated coconut oil on a cotton ball and apply lightly to soothe the inflamed ear area.

 

[Manydogs]

[MENTION=17455]Coree[/MENTION] I have tagged someone who had a huge problem with tail amputation. Hoping she can help you. [MENTION=13737]1Chumly[/MENTION]

 

[Coree]

Hi Chip, We did have a full body X-ray done about a month ago. One of my concerns was that it could be a foreign object. When he was a puppy he ate a few rocks and an ear plug that we had to watch carefully that they came out the other end. So I feared that maybe he had ate one that we didn't know about, but the X-ray came out clear and I also had them check for esophagus issues, but she said it looked good too. He also had his labs done before the tail amputation and everything came out fine then. They redid them again today to compare, along with a urinalysis. I will have the results tomorrow. They checked his anal glands again, and pushed around on the area around where his incision was, but they said they didn't feel either was the issue. I'm still wondering though. They sent us home today with a few different pain pills to try. We're still just taking guesses. Thank you for the suggestions, and the well wishes too!

 

[Dollys Owner]

You may need a CT scan to check for abscess around where the tail pocket was.

 

[Coree]

Thank you Christine! I don't like having him on the zd. It gives him a dirty sock smell. I bathe him and by the next day it's back. It also gives him soft stool, but for some reason the vet has asked that I keep him on it for now while she tries to rule some other things out. His coat looks better then it ever has before. His shedding is now minimal, but it hasn't cured the illness we were looking to cure. For some odd reason though, when ever I've put him on a grain free diet, he sheds really bad. I would gladly take the shedding over what ever it is he's battling now though. Thank you for the positive thoughts!!

 

[Coree]

Thank you for the suggestion Helene. He has already had the tail amputation though. ��

 

[Coree]

Lynn, Thank you for tagging 1Chumly. I look forward to hearing from her.

 

[Coree]

Thank you for the suggestion Dollysowner. I will definitely bring that up at my next appointment. The vet poked around at it today and said she didn't feel it was the issue. But I notice whenever I touch around that area at home he twitches and puckers like it's still bothering him.

 

[Dollys Owner]

Thank you Christine! I don't like having him on the zd. It gives him a dirty sock smell. I bathe him and by the next day it's back. It also gives him soft stool, but for some reason the vet has asked that I keep him on it for now while she tries to rule some other things out. His coat looks better then it ever has before. His shedding is now minimal, but it hasn't cured the illness we were looking to cure. For some odd reason though, when ever I've put him on a grain free diet, he sheds really bad. I would gladly take the shedding over what ever it is he's battling now though. Thank you for the positive thoughts!! ��

I know when I switched my dogs to grain free, they shed a lot and had dandruff, but it was a detoxification process, and at end of it they shed about the same as before and no dandruff. I think that the substitutions for grains that they use such as peas and lentils are a lot healthier than the grains. I also like giving dehydrated raw to avoid dog pee ruining my lawn and to help prevent dental plaque.

 

[Coree]

I know when I switched my dogs to grain free, they shed a lot and had dandruff, but it was a detoxification process, and at end of it they shed about the same as before and no dandruff. I think that the substitutions for grains that they use such as peas and lentils are a lot healthier than the grains. I also like giving dehydrated raw to avoid dog pee ruining my lawn and to help prevent dental plaque.

I don't believe I've actually tried a grain free with peas and lentils. I'll have to give that a try next. Now that I've thought about it, I think each one I've tried has had sweet potato. Also it could be that he hasn't been on any of them for long enough to get through the detoxification, because he keeps refusing to eat, and I have to move on and try something new to get him to. I've never heard of a food that helps prevent ruining the lawn though! That's great!! I'll have to look into that too! I remember seeing something about the dehydrated raw being a good choice for one of the illnesses I was researching, but I've researched so many lately, I can't remember which one.

 

[Dollys Owner]

I don't believe I've actually tried a grain free with peas and lentils. I'll have to give that a try next. Now that I've thought about it, I think each one I've tried has had sweet potato. Also it could be that he hasn't been on any of them for long enough to get through the detoxification, because he keeps refusing to eat, and I have to move on and try something new to get him to. I've never heard of a food that helps prevent ruining the lawn though! That's great!! I'll have to look into that too! I remember seeing something about the dehydrated raw being a good choice for one of the illnesses I was researching, but I've researched so many lately, I can't remember which one.

One example without potato (most have potato or sweet potato):
Honest Kitchen Marvel:
Cage-free turkey, parsnips, navy bean, organic coconut, pumpkin, parsley, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate.

 

[1Chumly]

Sorry I have been slow in replying. We have been out of town for a few days. What a nightmare for you! Monty never had a complete amputation, just the tip and he had his tail pocket reconfigured so it wasn't deep anymore. We would have to give him a pretty thorough cleaning everytime he poo'd otherwise he would get infections and it was so much better after the surgery. Unfortunately, he started getting infections to the side (we thought it was his anal gland at first), it would drain a lot and smell bad. We would get it cleared up, then back it would come a few weeks later. After several go-arounds with that it was decided that something inside was causing the deep infection that antibiotics were unable to knock out completely and surgery was needed. Our vet operated on him and followed the course of the infection (several inches and a u-turn!) and found some ingrown hairs!! Something as minor as that caused it all. So far everything is looking good.

Do you have a Veterinary training college anywhere near you? I don't know where in the country you are but you have seen two bully vets with no definitive answer, so I would think about trying something else. We are very lucky here as we have Texas A & M University fairly close and our wonderful vet sent my sons dog there when they felt they couldn't help. If you don't have one within a few hours drive, maybe your vet could send your dogs records and see what they have to say. I really don't know what else to suggest. Others have given you good advice about different foods. I certainly hope you can get this cleared up, poor guy. I know how frustrating it can be and how worried for him you are. Let us know how it goes.