Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Hi folks

I know there have been threads about Cephalexin on here already and read through them. Was just looking for some further thoughts on our specific problem, if it even is one.

And first of all I must apologise for posting something evertime our new dog does something strange.
Our dog Ella has been given a treatment of Ceph (2 a day) for five days for a possible infection. She is also getting a dose of anti-inflammatory for limb soreness (could be a post-vaccination issue).

I noticed yesterday and this morning about 30 mins after her Ceph with food that she behaved very, very strangely. She had suddenly, almost violently lick, cratched and chewed at her back and legs. She was in the position where you think she wants to play and is waiting for you to go to her and she would run - if you know what I mean. The waiting to play stance, with her head hanging down a bit.
She does have the odd scratch naturally but her movements were so sudden she actually frightened me.
She did the very same thing this morning 30 mins after dose.

THen last night she also chewed her rawhide bone in the extreme. SItting up just chewing it with all her might. She never does this. She just lies with it and chews gently.
Then the most worrying thing is she started to growl with the bone in her mouth while she sat up in her bed, staring at me. And seemed like she meant it. It was not like I tried to take it off her. I was sitting on the sofa. She has never done this. She seemed so out of sorts.

I am waiting for my vet to call me as she is in surgery. I just think it is a skin reaction to it, but she is not happy. And the bone growling I think is if she is really fed up then she's just letting us know. Or maybe her jaws hurt from the Ceph.

Apols for the long message. Any advice welcsome as always.
I am thinking of not giving her the Ceph tonight, maybe just the anti-inflam

Last year after his vacs Strider laid around in his cage for four days, didn't eat much I could barely get him outside. It was was truely alarming to see my hyper perpetual motion machine so subdued. He came out of it though and I have comprimised by only having the "extra" vacs every other year.
Stella

Hi gr8dame,

Did your perpetual motion machine :-) feel ill immediately or a few days later. Ella took ill four days after her jabs. And did yours also get a temperature? This is three days of her being really out of it, though less today. So we are really hoping she is even more normal tomorrow.
Unfortunately she is due to get the booster vaccination next Thursday  -why can't the one jab do it rather than two in two weeks?

Adrian

Hi all,

For those that read we took Ella to the vet on Tuesday as she became suddenly became very listless and had no appetite. The vet thought it may be an infection - AS HOLLY suggested. She had temp of 104C (not sure what that is in Fahrenheit!). Gave her antibiotics.
Yesterday she was just as listless and also whined when she tried to move and seemed to have physical pain so I thought it was something more than an infection.
Brought her in again and she got an anti-inflammatory this time. This morning she was a much better dog and no whining, so the anti-inflammatory must have worked.

But worked on what? Today the vet asked had she been vaccinated recently. She was just last Thursday. I had told the nurse this initially of course. So, the vet says dogs - but usually just pups - can get joint pains 3 to 4 days after vaccination. It is possible that Ella never had never been vaccinated - she's a rescue dog with no history. This may be what caused her some pain. Not sure about the temp though. Either way she is on anti-infl and antibiotics for a few more days.

Finally, my QUESTION - have any of you very experienced and knowledgeable members seen this reaction in your dogs? She is still very tired and sticks to her bed. Even when eating last night (thankfully) she kept one paw in the bed, then reversed back into it :-)

Adrian, for Ella.

Thanks Holly.

You were spot on! Rang the local vet and took her straight over - very handy as it's only down our street.
She has an infection and a tmp of 104. Got an antibiotic jab and tablets.

Was definitely good to get her seen to quickly. She can sleep all she wants now and we won't have to worry about her. Getting the tablets into her will be fun if she doesn't eat of course.

THanks Holly

Adrian

p.s. I think you were one of the first to suggest what cross breed Ella is when I introduced her two weeks ago.

her stitch site seems ok. and we don't have a doggy thermometer...

She has followed us upstairs though so she's showing some interest, but not in food. and she only drank a little water hours ago.

We thought maybe she could be sore in her abdomen as that walk yesterday would have been her longest in six months. And 12 days after surgery.

She just keeps falling asleep....

thanks for the advice folks.

not long after I posted the question I threw out the small amount dried mixture I had soaked for her, went into the kitchen and opened a tin of food. she was suddenly beside me. she ate 3/4, then drank.

happy days. she ate another 3/4 of a tin later in the evening.

she went to the toilet for the first time today too thankfully. We didn't think it could go on much longer.

I guess it all makes sense as her body and digestive system are only STARTING to come back to normal after general anaesthetic and surgery.

Who could blame the poor things. I know us humans are miserable for ages afer surgery and let everyone know about it.

Holly, now you've given another good suggestion.

The mountain dog is such a similar head and body.
Tricolour too....

Cannot give an exact size, but like a fully grown labrador size I think, just stronger.

Hmm, which is it I wonder?
mastiff/foxhound or Swiss Mountain Dog/foxhound?