Chewing on tail

• 04-18-2008 3:24 AM

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Chewing on tail Reply Contact Maze has started chewing on her tail. At first I thought it was a spider bite seeing as there is a lump where she's licking/chewing but on closer inspection (and with the help of her removing the fur) I couldn't find the source of the bite. No visual swelling but when I run my hands along the length I can feel the change in size. It's hurts her a little bit but not so much that I can't touch it. Just when I put a minimal amount of pressure.. It is red and looks a bit dry. I hope it's nothing serious.. I don't think I'd be able to afford a large vet bill... She will be going to the vet but not until Wednesday.  Sadly it's the only time I can get cash.. Vets around here won't take payment plans.. And I don't have an e-vet here.. *sigh* Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-18-2008 8:31 AM

  In reply to oranges81

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,721 Points 1,905	Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Could be a spider bite and that will make the whole area radiating down hurt.  IF it is she may need antibiotics (cephalexyn usually and that's not expensive).  Not an emergency -- uncomfortable but not an e-vet thing.  Try to keep her off it if possible.
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• 04-18-2008 3:58 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact  Phew.. Lol. And here I was really worried.. I just recently switched her food for a trial run of something different. Could that cause this as well? I put her back on her regular stuff this morning when I just thought about the food change last night. Lol.  Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-18-2008 9:52 PM

  In reply to oranges81

  jessies_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 4,112 Points 40

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact   It's probably not the food that caused this. You said there's a lump and swelling; I was bitten in the lower part of my leg by a spider and still have a scar where the lump was. My foot swelled and the doctor said it was because the poison drained to my foot. Try some Benedryl; it may help with the swelling. I'll be sending healing thoughts; please keep us updated. Life isn't about waiting through the storm; it's about learning to dance in the rain. Janice

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• 04-18-2008 10:10 PM

  In reply to jessies_mom

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Benedryl? Like the stuff from the drugstore? How much should I give her?  Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-20-2008 5:34 PM

  In reply to oranges81

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Anybody? How much should I give her??  She's 50lbs. Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-20-2008 5:45 PM

  In reply to oranges81

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,721 Points 1,905

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Sorry -- haven't been home long and this, of course, didn't show up on my email.  Benedryl -- 1-2 mg/lb body weight given two to four times a day. So if she weighs 50 pounds you'd give 2 of the over-the-counter capsules (make sure it is JUST diphenhydramine -- not 'severe cold formula' -- nothing with decongestant or acetaminaphen in it - that's critical! Tylenol/acetaminaphen is *poison* to dogs and can kill in small doses) Here in the States, Benedryl is 25 mg in the OTC capsules/caplets and 12.5 per teas. in the children's "elixer" formula. For a spider bite I'd probably do the 2 mg/lb and do it at least 2 times a day.  It will help her body cope with it and it will help her not scratch it into an acute problem.  Now it *will* make her sleepy -- but that's ok.  That's part of keeping her from bothering it.  Spider bites can HURT ... a lot.  I can cause pain to radiate up and away from it.  So she could be a little bit out of sorts or acting 'off'.

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• 04-20-2008 6:03 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact  So children's Benedryl given twice a day? The allergy stuff not cold and flu. Got it Edit: So it's two capsules twice a day or is it one capsule twice a day? *I just don't want to give her to much*  Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-20-2008 6:28 PM

  In reply to oranges81

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,721 Points 1,905

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Not children's (that's the liquid usually).  But the adult capsules/caplets are usually 25 mg capsules -- she weighs 50 pounds so give her TWO (for the 2 mg/lb dose).  And give it at least twice a day (diphenhydramine is a 6 hour drug really -- so giving it twice a day is still pretty minimal) Read your label -- go by the number of miligrams.  Dogs require more of this than humans -- simply because their metabolisms are faster.  But every single antihistamine is dosed differently for humans and dogs -- this is the dose for Benedryl/diphenhydramine. Dogs can take pretty much any of the antihistamines that humans take -- you just have to get the dose. If you go to your public library, usually they will have a Veterinary PDR (Physician's Desk Reference)  and that will give you doses for common stuff.  There's a really good paperback book "The Pill Book Guide to Medications for Your Dog and Cat" (Dell reference book -- last published 1998).  It is an awesome book to keep in your collection - it will tell you which drugs you can use and which ones you can't.  It's not super up to date so it doesn't have the newer drugs -- but for something common like Benedryl it's great and it can really help you run a sanity check on stuff.

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• 04-20-2008 7:35 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact *sigh* I knew I shoulda waited for you to reply.. I had the adult benadryl in my hands but I wasn't sure so I picked up the childrens formula..It's 12.5mg a capsule. Can I still use it or should I return it and get the adults? I think I'm going to find that book. Edit: I'll just return them and get the adult dose. I forgot something anyways so it gives me a better reason for going back to the store.   Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-20-2008 9:23 PM

  In reply to oranges81

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact I just gave her two about 20 minutes ago and it's seems it already started to work. She's not chewing as bad and she looks groggy. Lol. Thanks a lot for the advice! I'm going to see if I can find that book tomorrow when the book store opens.  Again you are my hero!  Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 04-20-2008 11:23 PM

  In reply to oranges81

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,721 Points 1,905	Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Four truly is the correct dose -- it sounds like so honkin much but it is just the correct dose.  But it does help the body deal with the bite -- but watch that wound -- if it IS a spider bite they can be really corrosive and won't 'heal' without antibiotics.  Not all spiders but some of them.
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• 04-20-2008 11:41 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,217 Points 110

  Re: Chewing on tail Reply Contact Is there anything topical I can clean it with to help the healing? The spiders around here don't usually need antibiotics but I'll keep an eye on it. I've been bitten a few times and they usually heal on their own but they ITCH!!!  Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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