Dog Community

Licking fit

Posted : 6/4/2006 6:48:05 PM

We have a 4 yr. old basset hound who goes into what we call a licking fits. He licks the carpet, tile, furniture, even just the air,then he starts to bloat up. He has been tested for pretty much everything, he's a on special diet now. We've kept track of when he has these fits and it just happens to happen a couple of days, even hours after we give him his heart worm medication. Gas X is the only thing that helps. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

dyan

Posted : 6/4/2006 8:04:45 PM

Just a couple of weeks ago, a poster here had a sick dog that kept getting sick, throwing up and spent a lot of time licking the floor and licking everything. The poster didn't understand that and the vet told her that dogs do that when they are sick to their stomach.
I can tell you our Dane Ollie used to get sick for quite a few days AFTER getting his HW pill...he actually did'nt eat or anything,,,would throw up here and there also. We stopped giving them to him, getting him tested every 6 months instead.
I would consider the fact that your dog COULD BE sick or having the same problem as Ollie. What ever HW meds you are using, you might want to try a different one.

calliecritturs

Posted : 6/4/2006 10:29:34 PM

What kind of heartworm prevention do you use and why don't you switch to something else??

That flatly sounds like seizure activity -- and unless you have already tried 'everything' I would do something different. Even if you had to spend the money to test him for HW several times a year, it's not worth inducing a seizure once a month to deal with it.

Elaine Navarro

Posted : 6/5/2006 12:01:52 PM

Harley (Our Basset) is on Heart guard (ivermectin).
Our vet has also but him on Metoclopromide twice a day. Before we tried the metoclopromide, these licking fits were much worse, lasted longer, and occured more often. Now it only happens when he gets his hert guard. We have swiched from the chewy bites to the actual pill because we thought he may be allergic to something in the chewy bite, unfortunatly the out come was the same. We have found that this is something that is common in Greater Swiss Mountain dogs. The behavior is exactly the same, only they each have different triggers.

dyan

Posted : 6/5/2006 3:02:26 PM

I would NOT be giving him something that I thought might be making him sick. You know, first of all, HW pills don't prevent heartworm,,,they are pesticides,,,they kill any heartworms you dog might get! I'd be looking into NOT ever giving him anything that makes him sick again. Our Ollie does NOT get HW pills but we live in Ohio,,,only have to worry a few months out of the year.

Elaine Navarro

Posted : 6/5/2006 4:35:19 PM

That's great that you choose not to have Ollie on HW, But we are NOT 100% sure that it is the HW, our Vet does not recommend that we take him off of it either. I COMPLETELY trust our Vet, and we are going to try a different HW med. next month. I was Just wondering if any one had experienced anything like this before.

dyan

Posted : 6/5/2006 7:26:12 PM

You know, I am not suggesting you don't give your dog HW pills,,,if you read the second post here I suggested "whatever hw pills you are using, you might want to try a different one!" I am however, telling you that our Ollie ALSO got sick for days after taking his Heartguard...quite obvious that it was the culprit making him sick. After a couple of times of that, its not hard to figure it out. I am glad that you COMPLETELY trust your vet, but if he keeps doing what he is doing, and as you say " starts to bloat up" he could be in might big trouble one day, bloating kills many dogs.

calliecritturs

Posted : 6/5/2006 10:53:33 PM

Ivermectin works in the brain (it crosses the semi-permeable brain membrane of the parasite and disrupts the nervous system so totally the parasite dies.). It *can* in certain dogs and certain breeds actually do the same thing TO the dog.

Milbemycin (Interceptor) is a 'cousin' drug but it works differently in the body and is much safer. I had to learn it the hard way with one of my dogs too.

As long as your vet is planning to switch that should work.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/5/2006 11:13:49 PM

My dog had seizures within a few hours of having heartguard. Interceptor is fine, for her, so that is what we use, now. I hope it works for your guy, especially since he's bloating. That's scary. Bloat is very dangerous, as I'm sure you know.

Elaine Navarro

Posted : 6/6/2006 12:22:45 AM

Thanks calliecritturs and jennie_c_d for the information. Much appreciated.

dyan

Posted : 6/6/2006 7:39:38 AM

Just to add something,,, I also give my Dane Interceptor, but my vet does not carry it...and when I asked for it they tried to steer me to what they give, which is Heartguard and another (can't remember which) So by chance your vet does not carry it, they can give you a prescription for Interceptor and you can work from there. That is what I have to do.
Good Luck! Please keep us updated on your dogs progress. I hope it is the HW pill, that will be an "easy fix!"

Elaine Navarro

Posted : 6/26/2006 3:34:42 PM

Just an update on Harley,
Our vet swiched him to Iterceptor and is doing very well, We gve him the new HW 2 weeks ago
and he hasn't had an episode
Hopefully the problem is solved. Knock on wood. [

]

dyan

Posted : 6/26/2006 6:55:03 PM

I'm glad things look better, lets hope it continues!