My dog is at the vets as I type...can i run this by you... he was ill last night, kept being sick, floods of water, drank loads, and ate some grass, took him vets today as he is very quiet, he was given 2 injections, a long lasting anbio, and another one to stop him being sick.  Got him home, he went out to have drink, and he stated shaking his head.  Not side to side, but up and down!!.....like he was shivering but just on his head.  Took him straight back to the vets and they have kept him in.  They think it may be some kind of reaction to the injections.  So worried.  Any advice?

Some dogs, like us, can be allergic to some antibiotics etc

Just rang them and he hasnt done it again since I left him, so thats 2 hours..thank god for that!!!

Got him home, and  he was sick again.  This time there was a piece of rubber in it, which was blue.  Now this is from his Kong, but I though this Kong away about a month ago, as he was bitting bits off it.  So this means that he has had this in his stomack for at least a month...could it be a blockage of some sort?  He is going back to the vets in the morning and will tell them about this.  He is not shaking anymore but is so quiet.

Hi Charlotte

Is he a Dobermann by any chance?  If so then go and get him and do not worry :) - and don't let the vet carry out any expensive tests

Some Dobes do this and no one knows why, some reasons that have been put forward are stress, tiredness, ear wax and some people claim that Vit C or Vit B help.  Generally they can be bought out of it by offering a game/toy or a biscuit.  There have been neurological tests carried out in various parts of the world on Dobes that do this but nothing has yet been forthcoming

Take a look at Dobermann Head Bobbing

If he is not a Dobermann then ignore the above and follow your vet's instructions

Hi Charlotte

Just read your latest message and yes dogs do eat kongs.  My male Dobe is no longer allowed to have them after having two very expensive blockages removed that they caused.  He is also at the vet's at the moment as he has been off colour this week, and this afternoon we decided to investigate more throughly.  The muscle below his abdomen had abcesses in it which had caused peritonitis over quite a large area and part of his intestine disintegrated as it was removed.  He was on the operating table most of the afternoon but has come though the operation - the biggest risk now is septic shock over the next few days.  My vet had never seen anything like it before

Yes he is a Dobe...thank you soooooo much!!!!!....I have been in tears most of the day thinking he has some brain problem.  He has just done it again now....off to read the link you gave me, and thank you again.

Hope your Dobe is well soon. 

ps, the vet felt his tum and it felt fine, if mine had a blockage, would it have been felt by the vet?

A blockage would not be detected by palpation of the abdomen 100% of the time but usually if there was a foreign body or intussuception present then an educated guess could be made from the dog's reaction as he/she would almost certainly be in a lot of pain.  Of course, the pain could be due to lots of other things too so the only way to be certain is an x-ray.

Hope he's feeling better.

If the anti-sickness drug was emequell (metaclopramide) it often affects balance or causes nervous signs.

Yes it was Metoclopramide, he is still the same today, but no head bobbing, so we are back to the vets at 11.20 today.  I am starting to think that he has a piece of Kong stuck somewhere.  Every now and then he stretches his back, but only the bottom part, so he must be in alot of discomfort, think I will get them xray him.....well I did have some money!!

Hi Charlotte

Sometimes an object can be felt and sometimes not - it depends on the size, position and how tense your dog holds himself.  I have just spoken to the vet about Rio (who is looking brighter at the moment but I have been warned that he is still critical) and a ligament that is normally about 1" thick by about 3" wide was over 3" thick and 5" wide (and full of solid pus for over 7 inches) but he could not feel it as Rio tensed up as soon as he tried to examine him although he could feel it when he was under the anaesthetic.

Generally when a dog has a blockage he will vomit - a classic sign is to drink some water and bring it straight back up again at which point urgent veterinary attention is required.  Prior to this, in my three experiences of it, a humped back, stretching and looking like a stallion having a wee, dire-rear for a while and vomiting are common.  The dog will not want to lie down and will not lie on its side when he does but will only lie and sleep in the sphynx position or with front down and bum up.  I stress these are my experiences and I am not a vet.

Hope your boy does not have a blockage (tis very painful for the dog as well as our pockets).

I am off now to visit Rio

That i what he is doing, he has jsut been sick and it smells like poo?????????

Hi Charlotte

Don't give him anything to eat if you have not already done so as I imagine your vet may want to operate

Good luck

Just back from the vets, and they have kept him in as he is dehydrated, so putting him on a drip and they are going to xray him, and maybe do some blood tests, if the xray is ok.  Will have to wait and see, I know myself it is not tummy upset.

Printed off the sheet about head wobbling, gave it to the vet and he was very intested in that and kept it to read.  Got to phone at 2.

Sorry I am being selfish here, I do hope your Rio is on the mend.

The vet just phoned, not convinced about the xray, as nothing showing up.  He thinks he may have Addisons as well, from his blood results??  I know nothing about this, and am looking it up now.  He has to stay in, on the drip, because of his sodium level.  So none the wiser really, but feel he is in safe hands.

I also posted on here the other month about putting him a diet, as he was puting on weight.  So now it seems he could be in addison crisis.

OOOOORRRR i hope he gets better very soon, please let us know how he gets on. Best of luck.

They kept him in overnight on the drip, they said he seems a bit brighter, which is good.  I am ringing later this morning, to find out if has kept his breakfast down, and if he has they are going to do the test for Addisons.

Hi Charlotte

I am trying to get in touch with someone whose Dobe had an Addison crisis recently so you can "talk" to them if I manage to get hold of them and you both wish to do so.  If so can you send me your email address?

Ther are links regarding this disease at
Canine Addisons

At least if it is this disease it is easily treatable (lifetime) and your Dobe will be able to live a normal life - hope it is something moe common that can be treated and cured for both your sakes though

He has been fed small amounts of food through out today and has kept it down, but they are keeping him in again tonight, and I have to phone at 9am, and he then should be allowed home.  The vet is not sure about Addisons now as he has responded to the drip, so he has not been tested, but we will have to see.  He now thinks his bloods were so out of wak because he was so dehydrated.  So lets hope that that was the case here.

How is your Rio now?

He is home, all he has to show is that he is bit slimmer!!...back to being a nutter again!!...and I am £200 worse off, but I dont care!!

Rio came home yesterday, he was supposed to eat and drink and wee properly before he was allowed to come home but unfortunately he would not do any of these for the vet or nurse so they called me in to see if I could help.  As a result he was allowed to come home and is looking better - my pocket is a LOT lighter than yours but at least I still have him which looked very doubtful for a while.  He was on the operating table for well over an hour (closer to two I think) . 

I have to take him back later but I think the vet will be pleased with him as he is looking brighter between periods of heavy sleep (and his granddaughter came into season this morning which won't help his appetite!)

Hope your lad stays fit