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Our dog is acting strange. Will not leave my side. She ate a whole rawhide bone last night at a friend's home. I do not buy them myself. I am now concerned that this is affeccting her digestive system. Could this happen that quickly? She is holding her tail down and licks at her anal area.
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Boxer mix Gender: Female Age: 2 Name of Dog: Ziggy Already Tried: At first we thought it was her tail...like a bite or flea. We used a flea comb and found nothing. Now I see that it is more her anal area. I do not think she slep much last night. She occassionally shakes all over/tremor type shakes.
Hello there,Have you seen her pass a bowel movement since eating the bone?Did she eat her breakfast this morning?
She has not eatten anything this morning and no bowel movement.
Most types of rawhide do not digest quickly, especially if ingested in large amounts. If the rawhide is the only thing different the dog has had recently it could be causing colic signs or abdominal pain. Once it passes through the stomach it should be fully digested and pass normally. If the dog is not eating and licking the anal area, anal gland infection or impaction is also possible and would not be related to eating the rawhide. You can offer a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice, no bones, with 1-2 tablespoons of mineral oil or cat hairball medicine mixed into it to lubricate the GI tract in case the rawhide is the issue. The feces should look oily and soft when it passes. It should pass within 12 hours. If the symptoms persist the anal glands need to be checked by your vet or groomer to rule out impaction or infection. If there is an infection, oral antibiotics will be needed as well.
She did just eat a little of her morning food. If it would be anal glands what would those symptoms be? Would she have swelling in the anal area?
Anal gland impaction or infection sometimes causes swelling around the anus, but not always. The glands are in the muscle tissue so they typically have to rupture through the skin for swelling to become obvious. Licking, scooting, tail tuck, walking slowly, pain defecating and blood in the stool are all possible symptoms of anal gland problems. Constipation from the rawhide would cause straining to defecate, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and a tense abdomen in severe cases.
Experience: 12 years of small animal, equine and pocket pet medicine and surgery.