Tootsie is swallowing a lot! Allergies?

[Franceen]

Tootsy has started to swallow a lot and sounds as though she has a little mucus. She also sneezes occasionally. She has suffered from hayfever and I wonder if the swallowing is due to a post nasal drip?

[kjc]

IDK, could be allergies. Maybe something going on with a tooth... worth getting a vet to have a look.

[Franceen]

Thanks for your reply. I think I will give her some antihistamine tonight and if it all goes away by tomorrow, then I will assume it is hayfever. I will pop down to the chemist and get the ones she was given by the vet the last time she had allergies. I don't know whether antihistamines help with a post nasal drip? Aren't humans usually given antihistamines plus another ingredient to dry up the mucous? That is, of course, IF this is the cause of the swallowing

I will certainly take her to the vet if it continues. I just wondered if anyone else had had a Yorkie with symptoms like this, which proved to be due to allergies.

[Ellie May]

They can get sore throats. Vet time.

[Wylie's Mom]

It could be allergies; it could also be allergies + acid reflux. When dogs swallow hard over and over (and sometimes lick their mouths along w/ it), it can mean reflux.

[Franceen]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

They can get sore throats. Vet time.

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

It could be allergies; it could also be allergies + acid reflux. When dogs swallow hard over and over (and sometimes lick their mouths along w/ it), it can mean reflux.

Thanks so much for these replies. Yesterday she woke up and seemed absolutely fine - no swallowing and sneezing. I did notice that she did not eat quite as much as usual, though. In every other way she was back to normal. Today I found her rubbing her one eye. I bathed it in opthalmic saline solution and looked to see if there was anything in the eye or any inflammation. The eye looks normal. I will keep a close watch on her today and if she rubs her eye again I will go straight to the vet.

When you mentioned the sore throat I thought that might well be the problem as a couple of days ago she went to the grooming palour and was around a lot of other dogs, as a result. She could have picked up a virus. I took her temperature and it was normal. I was intending taking her to the vet in the morning, but then, as I said, she woke up yesterday looking fine and not swallowing.

The acid reflux could be the problem! I had not thought of this and I really think this is a strong possibility. I wondered if I could give her a little Gavison, or something like this, when it occurs during the night and you cannot go to the vet? Perhaps they cannot take it? I have had acidity and was given Zantac, but I found that I needed to take Gavison first, to deal with the burning, and then wait for the Zantac to block further acidity. After that, just taking Zantac kept the acidity away. If she starts the swallowing again I will obviously take her to the vet, but it would be nice to be able to relieve her acidity immediately, should it recur during the night, as it is so uncomfortable. This is, of course, if it is acidity.

I am really grateful for your replies. If you could see her now she looks as though there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. She is running about the garden, barking at next door's cat, who was considering coming into our garden then thought better of it, and is now chasing the pidgeons! It is a lovely sunny day here and she is really enjoying the sunshine!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Franceen

Thanks so much for these replies. Yesterday she woke up and seemed absolutely fine - no swallowing and sneezing. I did notice that she did not eat quite as much as usual, though. In every other way she was back to normal. Today I found her rubbing her one eye. I bathed it in opthalmic saline solution and looked to see if there was anything in the eye or any inflammation. The eye looks normal. I will keep a close watch on her today and if she rubs her eye again I will go straight to the vet.

When you mentioned the sore throat I thought that might well be the problem as a couple of days ago she went to the grooming palour and was around a lot of other dogs, as a result. She could have picked up a virus. I took her temperature and it was normal. I was intending taking her to the vet in the morning, but then, as I said, she woke up yesterday looking fine and not swallowing.

The acid reflux could be the problem! I had not thought of this and I really think this is a strong possibility. I wondered if I could give her a little Gavison, or something like this, when it occurs during the night and you cannot go to the vet? Perhaps they cannot take it? I have had acidity and was given Zantac, but I found that I needed to take Gavison first, to deal with the burning, and then wait for the Zantac to block further acidity. After that, just taking Zantac kept the acidity away. If she starts the swallowing again I will obviously take her to the vet, but it would be nice to be able to relieve her acidity immediately, should it recur during the night, as it is so uncomfortable. This is, of course, if it is acidity.

I am really grateful for your replies. If you could see her now she looks as though there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. She is running about the garden, barking at next door's cat, who was considering coming into our garden then thought better of it, and is now chasing the pidgeons! It is a lovely sunny day here and she is really enjoying the sunshine!

For acid reflux, my vet recommends 1/4 tablet Pepcid twice a day. PLEASE confirm this dose w/ your own vet though, as you always should. Reflux can most definitely affect appetite in dogs, so that may have been why she didn't
want to eat much.

[AllDogBoots]

Cooper did this a few years ago for about a week. He swallowed very hard especially at night when he got into bed. I let it go because I didn't think it was serious. I finally took him to the vet and was glad I did! He had a major throat infection with a very high fever. He needed antibiotics to get better.