Question:
Snickers, my little short hair male chihuahua, just recently started dry heaving. I noticed the first time it happened about 2 days ago and he does it about 4 times a day. He acts completely normal and is very active. He is only a year old and appears healthy otherwise. He has all his shots. My husband recently lost his job (just got a new one) and we are waiting his first check to take him and have him seen by our vet. I am just worried that this maybe more seroius than it appears and I love him more than life itself. Also, he recently got a large scab on his head which I had assumed was from our new kitten that he loves to play with. However, the scab is alot larger than i would suspect the cat could make, but you never know. Could that have anything to do with his coughing? Perhaps an infection of some sort? If anyone has any suggestions to perhaps help until the vet has a chance to have a look at him I would be very grateful. I am very worried about my little boy. Thanks again!

-Yvonne

Answer:
When is your husband getting paid? He really needs to see a vet. You can prolly take him in and let the vet know what is going on and they will hold off the payments until he gets the check or they will sit up a payment plan. If nothing else call and see what they say they will not charge you for a phone call. Let me know!

Answer:
Yvonne coughing or nausea can be a number of things from digestive obstruction to bronchitis and asthma.

The scab on the head? Could it be an injury from a fall or knocking into something sharp? Did the coughing start after that?

You have to be careful, could be possibly a head injury. Any other signs of instability on his feet?? Confusion or falling over?

Can always call the vet and make an appt to be safe. Put it on a credit card if you can't pay cash now.

Answer:
Well, the vet I go to does do payment plans however I have to be able to put at least half down before he can do anything. (I know because we've taken all of our animals to the sme vet) I have called (a few places) but they all say they have to be able to see Snickers to make any kind of a call as to what it could be. Ive actually been paying attention to him and he hasnt done it today at all. Im hoping something just wasnt sitting well in his stomach and he couldnt get it up. Im going to see how he does in the next few days. He has a perfect time walking and other than the dry heaving he is a perfecting active young dog. And the scab on his head is healing and it does not appear to be anything seroius. He plays with out kitten and they play constantly and im almost positive thats where that came from. O and as for putting it on my credit card.. Since my husband lost work those have been maxed out for a while. We actually maxed out our last one on taking our cat to the vet. We lost him for 2 weeks and when we found him at the shelter he was extremely ill and had to be taken to emergency. So now we are in a tight spot. Currently we are waiting on my husbands check and hell be taken right away as for now all I have to rely is advice. thank you all..

Answer:
O and another thing, Do you think it's possible that perhaps Snickers has hair balls of some sort? We have a black lab-chow mix that is shedding constantly and 2 cats that also have the same problem. I also have another chihuahua but she is a short hair and doesnt shed. Sncikers loves biting tails and the lab chow mix has a very fluffy tail that he loves to grab ahold of. Could it be a possibility that he is taking in to much hair? O and I am currently trying to teach him to stop eating feces. I understand this is very common for puppies. The problem is is that he is eating the kittens feces which are in the little box. I bought some MSG to put in all their foods so that when they pass their feces it will taste bad and he will not want to eat it anymore. Not only am I sure this is bad for him (bc of the cat litter) but its also pretty gross. any suggestions? Im just hoping that the MSG works!! Hes a licker!

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