Question:
Hayden has started acting strangely yesterday...well a bit on Sunday, but then it stopped until yesterday afternoon.

He is licking EVERYTHING. This is not just your casual licking, it is a frantic licking. He moves all over the house at top speed licking walls, floors, couches, me, anything! He is also drooling a lot. When I try to settle him, he just sits there and heaves (like a violent hiccup) and smacks his mouth, trying to keep licking.

He is also hacking up small amounts of bile and saliva. He is trying to eat strange things too - like I caught him ripping up the carpet, his bed, even trying to eat clothes in the laundry room....he normally would never do this. When I take him outside, he frantically tries to eat sticks, leaves, anything.

I should mention that he is eating his regular food and drinking normally - as well as relieving himself normally - his poo looks & smells normal. I called the vet yesterday and explained what was going on, they said he would be ok to come in tomorrow as long as it didn't get any worse last night. Once he fell asleep after that...everything seemed ok. I kept a close watch on him though (i.e. kept him in my lap).

It almost seems as though he is trying to vomit something, but can't get it out. I took a flashlight and tried to see in his mouth, but I couldn't see anything lodged or anything like that. Finally last night, he had two "big" vomits, full of leaves and twigs and brown bile. It smelt awful...worse than usual...but that could be because of his new habit of eating poo. After that he seemed much better. Then I woke up last night and he was licking again (though not as frantically) and his stomach was making very loud gurgling/barfy sounds.

This morning he ate normally, then let it out normally. He also had stopped the licking and seemed ok. I called the vet again and we are going in this afternoon.

Does this behaviour sound familiar to anyone?? I have never seen this before and I am obviously concerned. His energy levels are still high and he doesn't appear to be distressed or anything (still wagging his tail, doing his normal stuff)...

Sorry this is so long...I wanted to make sure I explained everything

Answer:
It kind of reminds me of my lab Hunter. He did this sort of thing when we introduced him to a very small amount of a lamb based food. But he did get very sick as well, so it was more severe than what you are describing.

Sounds like nausea for sure, hopefully he feels better now. Maybe he got into something that made him nauseous but after vomiting he feels better.

Definitely keep an eye though, if it worsens at all I would have the vet take a look asap.

Good Luck

Answer:
We've seen that type of behavior when the dog come down with something that irritates their digestive tract--complete with the licking, stick-chewing and gurgling intestines. The vast majority of the time it turns out to be just general gastro-intestinal irritation from the change of 'diet'--in spring it's usually because when the snow melts they can suddenly get at the sticks; in fall it's because the acorns suddenly drop and they can pig out on them. Sometimes it turned out to be camplyllobactor, coccidia, or a flare-up of clostridium. And once, many years ago, it turned out to be a huge grass ball that was too big to pass through or throw up (that was the only one that required surgery).

So I'm glad you're taking him in to the vet. Hayden might just need some tummy soothers and Flagyl (metronidazole)...maybe an antibiotic. Watch for red blood in the vomit or the stool--if you see either, the vet may want to see you earlier. Don't be surprised if his stool gets a little loose, though--around here, gurgly tummmies usually mean diarrhea is on the way.

Poor baby--upset tummies are no fun. And I'll bet you're tired from your restless night!

Good luck at the vet I hope it's just the general "change of season" crud.

Answer:
Thanks so much - I already feel a bit better hearing it is not completely unheard of. I am such a paranoid mom. I was in tears last night because I just wanted him to stop licking and calm down...I felt so helpless and bad for him.

I should mention that we changed his food (very gradually) starting about 3 wks ago - thanks to here I was fairly ignorant about food quality...we changed from Iams (I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry!) to Summit. His stool has been a bit softer since the change...but this remains the same since he starting acting sick.

I am hoping he just ate something that irritated his tummy and it will pass.Thanks hazelrunpack, I have been watching for any signs of blood. It is gross, but I have been picking through his vomit to see what is in there - for any sign of what might be causing the trouble...I'm a scientist so it's sorta up my alley... Dad is on poo watch...to make sure nothing funny is coming out.

He is a lab and he enjoys eating all things garbage...so maybe he picked something up on a walk....Nevertheless, we are definitely headed to the vet, even if it's just for mommy's piece of mind.

Answer:
Y'know...I never welcome the vet bill, but I've also never felt that it was money ill-spent. Even when it turns out to be nothing, it's worth the trip just for our peace of mind. (We're tremendous worriers when it comes to our furbabies! )

Try to get a stool sample before you go in--if it's campyllobactor, coccidia, clostridium, or anything like that, the vet can usually diagnose it from a sample. he he he Or get hubby to do it, since he's on poo watch!

Answer:
for Hayden! I hope it's nothing serious. Labs are such sharks when it comes to eating stuff! Fingal just went through a much, much milder version of what you're describing. No licking frantically, but random vomiting, especially of bile. I knew that he had eaten tons of snow and some plants on the weekend, though, so I kinda expected it. I've been concerned and watchful, but it's cleared up now.

Hopefully, the vet can soon put Hayden right.

Answer:
to Hayden ~ let us know how the Vet visit turned out.

Answer:
also keep pepto in the house it settles there tummy.

Answer:
Thanks everyone

I ran home at lunch to check on him and all was well. He was acting completely normal - back to wrestling with Jada.

We'll see how he does after he eats dinner in a bit. His appt is right after that...so hopefully we will gain some insight into what the problem is.

"also keep pepto in the house it settles there tummy"

Is pepto ok for dogs??

Answer:
I believe pepto is safe. things like pepto, benedryl, hydrogen peroxide, are things you should have on hand if needed - but a call to the vet for proper dosage and indications should be done first. self-medicating can be VERY dangerous if the wrong dosage is given.

please post back with an update, I've been checking this thread often! I hope it's nothing serious for Hayden!

Answer:
Sending good luck and good vibes to Hayden.

Answer:
Ok, so I constantly checked on Hayden all day today and there was no sign of any strange behaviour. When I got home from work he was still his normal self - no trace of the licking, dry heaving, or anything!

I fed him, watched him outside afterwards - everything seemed A-ok. So I called the vet (for the 4th time) and explained what the situation was currently. They said it would be ok not to bring him in and to keep an eye on him to see if it starts up again. He (as usual) has been glued to my side all night and not so much as a cough.

I am so relieved and happy that he *seems* fine....but I am paranoid it will flare up again. It seems strange that it stopped as quickly as it started. Anyways, I am waiting for a sign of anything and then we'll jump in the car and get to the vet (which is just down the road and then there is the 24-hr one 5min away). I just hope I am not a bad mom for not taking him in...but he really seems fine now. Maybe he just ate something that irritated his tummy and now it has passed?

Maybe it was everyone's good vibes that fixed him

Answer:
great news! and NO, you're not a bad mom for not taking him in. sometimes it really is something simple that just needs a day to pass. glad to hear he's back to himself!

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