Urgent!!! Please read *now!!!*

[JMuedog]

Brooke, I feel so bad for your family going through all this. Poor Tatum! All the things she's had to go through so close together.

How's her temperature? Maybe she feels feverish... I'm probably completely wrong.

Just wanted to let you know what we're thinking about you! Trying to send strength and love Tatum's way!!

[stedmansmommy]

Hey guys...I took a quick couple of videos of Tatum panting so that you all can see for yourselves just what she is doing...maybe this video will help somehow? Although I'm sure most all of you know what a dog panting looks like anyway What you CAN'T however see in the video, is her shaking. Here it is though (P.S. - If you turn up your volume, you can actually hear her): Tatum Panting 6/17/09 at One True Media - share slideshows, slide shows, MySpace slideshows, MySpace codes, free video sharing, video montages.

I have GOT to try and get some sleep....my nerves are just consuming me. I also want to try and get Tatum to lay down and go to sleep because at least when she is asleep she doesn't pant. That is just about the only time she stops...so I want her to sleep as much as possible.

I will get on tomorrow and read the replies (only got to read a couple) and reply....I will absolutely for sure be checking into the anal gland thing. Thanks for all of your help everyone...I love you guys so much and would be totally MISERABLE and lost without my YT support system!

[erickajm]

Oh my..its like she just came in from outdoors playing... she is such a cute little girl. I hope that you are able to figure this out soon! I wish I had the answer for you.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by erickajm

Oh my..its like she just came in from outdoors playing... she is such a cute little girl. I hope that you are able to figure this out soon! I wish I had the answer for you.

Thank you so much, you are so sweet You hit the nail on the HEAD! It is EXACTLY like she just came in from being outside. This is how she breaths when she gets back from a long walk...only, she hasn't been on a walk, and she wasn't outside She has been in a cool house with the air set on 72 and ceiling fans going in every room! It just makes absolutely no sense to me what so ever.

[lmachado73]

Hi Brooke,
You probably don't know me, as I have only had my littly Lily for about a week, but I feel like I know you and your little sweetie, Tatum. I have been following this thread for a couple of days, and I wish I had an answer to help you. I don't, but what I do have is support and love for you and your family. You and your family are in our prayers. I'm so sorry! I looked through Tatum's album and fell in love with her little tongue! What a little angel! Please feel free to vent, that's what we're here for, and I don't even know you, but I can tell you are a loving Mommy trying to do the best for your furbaby. Lots of love coming your way!
Leslee

[mimimomo]

When Mimi had her puppies, she kept panting & shaking/shivering. I took her to the vet cuz I knew something was wrong & they did a blood panel & she had some sort of infection going on. They gave her amoxidrops (pink), antibiotics & she was fine in a couple of days.
Hope you find out what's wrong w/Tatum...or some sort of explanation why she's doing what she's doing! If she's retained puppy teeth (I think I read that earlier), it can get infected. Hopefully it's just a little infection that can be resolved w/antibiotics & Tatum will be back to her ol self!

[YoRkiE Te aMo]

I checked out ur videos... in the teeth grinding one, was that after the surgery if so i would think that tooth came loose due to the tube and such they use for anesthetic also i would not give her any bullystix to chew on better to give her a wash cloth to suck and bite on they love it if you put it in the freezer and get it frosty cold it helps with the pain too and possibly the tooth will come out..there are also some people that clean the teeth without anesthetic in the usa maybe you could check that out..
the panting and her tail down would possibly indicate anal gland ..u could try at home to put a warm wash cloth soaked in epsom salts put it on her anal area to help get the anal gland to excrete on its own also fiber helps with this give her a cherry or two as a treat daily...i would also give her about a 1/4 teaspoon of plain real balkan style yogurt for her tummy and the gas issue...these are just a few ideas of things u can try without going to a vet and they will not do her harm.
hope she will be better soon she is such a cutie...

[stedmansmommy]

Hey guys, sorry that I am just now getting in to do an update but I have been really busy. Tatum is still panting and shaking. It's kind of weird though, because it seems as though she starts doing it in the evening She wasn't panting or shaking earlier today, and then this evening she started. Same thing for yesterday.

I have a question for you all. How do you know when a dogs anal glands need to be expressed??? By this I mean, is there any way at all that we can feel and check? I was thinking about taking her in tomorrow somewhere (possibly a groomer, as I'm sure my vet will probably charge his almost $60 fee JUST for me to walk in the DOOR - plus whatever it cost to get the anal glands expressed, and I've already spent $500 there this week......) so anyway, I was wondering if there is any way that hubby and I can feel and check to see if she needs it done? I'm just scared that if I take her to a groomer and ASK if she needs it done, they will just tell me yes, just so they can get paid Sorry but I just don't trust many people these days....dogs can't speak and you never know if things are REALLY needed, or not. Not to mention, I don't want it done if it doesn't NEED to be done....because once you start, you have to do it for life.

SO, is there any way at all to check and see if it needs to be done? Or do you really just have to ask a vet or groomer? Thanks in advance guys.

[YorkichonBella]

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy

Hey guys, sorry that I am just now getting in to do an update but I have been really busy. Tatum is still panting and shaking. It's kind of weird though, because it seems as though she starts doing it in the evening She wasn't panting or shaking earlier today, and then this evening she started. Same thing for yesterday.

I have a question for you all. How do you know when a dogs anal glands need to be expressed??? By this I mean, is there any way at all that we can feel and check? I was thinking about taking her in tomorrow somewhere (possibly a groomer, as I'm sure my vet will probably charge his almost $60 fee JUST for me to walk in the DOOR - plus whatever it cost to get the anal glands expressed, and I've already spent $500 there this week......) so anyway, I was wondering if there is any way that hubby and I can feel and check to see if she needs it done? I'm just scared that if I take her to a groomer and ASK if she needs it done, they will just tell me yes, just so they can get paid Sorry but I just don't trust many people these days....dogs can't speak and you never know if things are REALLY needed, or not. Not to mention, I don't want it done if it doesn't NEED to be done....because once you start, you have to do it for life.

SO, is there any way at all to check and see if it needs to be done? Or do you really just have to ask a vet or groomer? Thanks in advance guys.

Hi Brooke! I watched Tatum's video & bless her heart......she seems anxious & it is so strange. Is it just me, or do you also notice her eyes seem different? Do they look kind of glassy (for lack of a better term) or larger?Maybe just because she is panting, I guess.
As far as the anal glands, Bella does the scooting thing when it's bothering her. For me, it's not something I could tell without noticing her scooting & different actions while having bm. It would seem after all you've been through, yr vet would do this at minimal charge? Our vet does & also trimming the nails. What about giving them a call & just inquire what the cost would be? I know others have said it sounds like it could be the problem, but for Bella having the issue....she's never had the panting/shivering symptoms along with anal gland problems? I hope this is all figured out soon & I'm wishing the best for little Tate. Love her! HUGS!

[lillymae]

All of her symptoms are Pain. The panting, shaking and also the enlarged eyes. If you take her to the vet and tell them you want them to express her anals they don't charge an office call for thet. Normally it's between 8 and 15 dollars.I would like to know who told you that once you start doing the anals you have to do it all the time(That's Not True) I used to work for a vet and I know all too well the problems small dogs have with anals, this is why I keep telling you to have them checked. Most small dogs, not some but Most have anal gland problems. And if they have never been done that is probably exactly what is wrong with her. So stop waisting time and just do it . The worst thing that can happed is (I could be wrong). And yes you can feel if they are full if you know what you are feeling for. But if you don't know what you are doing you can do more harm then good. Also most groomers only do them from the outside and that's not the best way. You have to actually insert a thumb or finger into the rectum and go up and out at the same time. Tell the vet you want to watch so you can see what comes out.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy

Hey guys, sorry that I am just now getting in to do an update but I have been really busy. Tatum is still panting and shaking. It's kind of weird though, because it seems as though she starts doing it in the evening She wasn't panting or shaking earlier today, and then this evening she started. Same thing for yesterday.

I have a question for you all. How do you know when a dogs anal glands need to be expressed??? By this I mean, is there any way at all that we can feel and check? I was thinking about taking her in tomorrow somewhere (possibly a groomer, as I'm sure my vet will probably charge his almost $60 fee JUST for me to walk in the DOOR - plus whatever it cost to get the anal glands expressed, and I've already spent $500 there this week......) so anyway, I was wondering if there is any way that hubby and I can feel and check to see if she needs it done? I'm just scared that if I take her to a groomer and ASK if she needs it done, they will just tell me yes, just so they can get paid Sorry but I just don't trust many people these days....dogs can't speak and you never know if things are REALLY needed, or not. Not to mention, I don't want it done if it doesn't NEED to be done....because once you start, you have to do it for life.

SO, is there any way at all to check and see if it needs to be done? Or do you really just have to ask a vet or groomer? Thanks in advance guys.

For $500, I would hope that your vet checked her anal glands as part of the exam.

Here is a great article on anal glands:

Anal Sacs

I have read that very small dogs often have trouble regulating their own body temperature. I wonder if this could be the cause of Tatum's panting?

[lillymae]

Here are some symptoms of anal problems:
Panting
Shaking
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Sporadic loss of appetite
Look of desperation
Depression
Scooting
Bouts of diarrhea
Biting at the bottom
Licking at the bottom
Dog appears to be lethargic
The appearance of running from the bottom
Whining or crying
A dog can have any one, some or all of these symptoms when they have full anals. So Please Please Please have them checked. They will either be full or they will not, if they are then they will need to be expressed throughout her life and this is normal. Some dogs more often then others, it just depends on the dog.

[lillymae]

Not all dogs scoot when they have full anals.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by lillymae

Here are some symptoms of anal problems:
Panting
Shaking
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Sporadic loss of appetite
Look of desperation
Depression
Scooting
Bouts of diarrhea
Biting at the bottom
Licking at the bottom
Dog appears to be lethargic
The appearance of running from the bottom
Whining or crying
A dog can have any one, some or all of these symptoms when they have full anals. So Please Please Please have them checked. They will either be full or they will not, if they are then they will need to be expressed throughout her life and this is normal. Some dogs more often then others, it just depends on the dog.

Did you get this online? If so, what web site? I have searched and searched the internet over the last couple of days about anal glands and I haven't found anything online that says panting and shaking are a sign of the anal glands needing to be expressed.

[stedmansmommy]

You guys, I am at a total loss here. I have no idea what to do anymore. I called one of the local Pet Spa's here and was asking them if they express the anal glands and the lady that I talked to was sooo nice, and most importantly, she was HONEST. She said that they can do it, but she highly recommends that IF I want to have it done, that I take her to the vet to have it done as she has seen so many times that the sac will bust which can be extremely painful. She said that the vets are trained to do this and if a sac SHOULD bust, she would be there in the vet's care. I SO appreciated her honesty.

However, she told me that Tatum's problems do not at all sound like the anal glands need to be expressed. She said she has been grooming for over 20 years and she also told me that if she doesn't REALLY need to have it done that I shouldn't do it, because once you start expressing them yourself, they stop expressing on their own when they go to the bathroom. So if I started this, it is something that I would always have to continue doing. I have also heard this from many other people and have read it online as well.

I am just so confused, I don't know what to do anymore. I would take her in to the vet and have him to do it, but I honestly am not sure if that's what her problem is. The isn't licking it, she isn't scooting and her little butt doesn't look puffy at all. She is pooping fine. I just don't know I have had people PM me and tell me that it doesn't at all sound like she needs them expressed. One person tells you one thing, and someone else tells you another. It is just so confusing and you don't know what to do. And I do not want to have all these things done to her if she doesn't really need them and if they aren't NECESSARY.

I don't know if I should just wait a couple days and see if everything stops after she has been on the antibiotic a little longer or what. I just DO NOT know what to do I feel so helpless and last night I actually broke down and started crying because I just feel like I have no answers and I don't know what is bothering her. My body literally feels like it is shaking inside because she makes me so nervous when she does this....it is just making me a nervous wreck.

I have absolutely no idea what to do anymore.