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Lettie gagging

Jarena

Well-Known Member

A few days ago Lettie started gagging randomly. It really does seem to be random. It’s indoors/outdoors. Sometimes she will gag 4 times in one hour then go for 4, 8, 16 hours without doing it. She doesn’t throw up when she does it either. I have checked her teeth and used my finger to swipe around the back of her mouth and throat, thinking she might have one of my hairs or something back there. I didn’t find anything. Any ideas?
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I'd say it's time to take her in. It's been happening often enough (and it doesn't sound like kennel cough) that she may have something stuck farther back in her throat. I know taking her in is difficult, especially when they'll have to handle her face and mouth so much. Can you send the video to your vet and see what he/she says? Call and ask if you can. Then if they say yes, you'll have their opinion on what to do. Please check back in with what's going on.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I'd say it's time to take her in. It's been happening often enough (and it doesn't sound like kennel cough) that she may have something stuck farther back in her throat. I know taking her in is difficult, especially when they'll have to handle her face and mouth so much. Can you send the video to your vet and see what he/she says? Call and ask if you can. Then if they say yes, you'll have their opinion on what to do. Please check back in with what's going on.


Ok, it’s not what I wanted to hear, but it’s what I thought I would hear. I will look into sending the video but I’m sure they will look at it and tell me to bring her in. I know she will not tolerate a stranger handling her face and mouth. I know that “ace” is a no-go, and that my vets office is more than willing to use it. I will be asking them to put a note in her file to never use it on her. I’m positive they will have to sedate/knock her out. Are there any meds you can suggest that are safe for mastiffs that I can request? Ugh. I’m so stressed out when it comes to taking her in. She has an appointment on September 15th for vaccine updates. I’m assuming I should take her in sooner than that? I have tomorrow off, but Matt is out of town until Sunday night :( so if I have to take her in tomorrow, I’ll be alone.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Yes, I did use it but I don’t want to again. I did more research on it. It's just not good for the heart in a giant breed, along with the reasons you have told me about.

As always, thank you Boxergirl. You have saved the day for me more times than I can count. You really are a blessing to us all.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Yes, I did use it but I don’t want to again. I did more research on it. It's just not good for the heart in a giant breed, along with the reasons you have told me about.

As always, thank you Boxergirl. You have saved the day for me more times than I can count. You really are a blessing to us all.

I'm very lucky to have good resources. FYI the Dex in an injection. So you'd possibly need to muzzle briefly for that. It doesn't knock them all the way out. I'm honestly not sure how they'll want to deal with looking down her throat. I know Ella wouldn't want any of that and it would likely have to be totally sedated. She just doesn't like handling from anyone but family.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
I'm very lucky to have good resources. FYI the Dex in an injection. So you'd possibly need to muzzle briefly for that. It doesn't knock them all the way out. I'm honestly not sure how they'll want to deal with looking down her throat. I know Ella wouldn't want any of that and it would likely have to be totally sedated. She just doesn't like handling from anyone but family.

That’s how Lettie is also. I’m thinking she will probably have to be completely sedated too.

She hasn’t done it in about 24 hours now.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Hopefully yesterday was the end of it. I also talked to my trainer about it. He isn’t a vet, but he has good advice like you do, Boxergirl. He said he takes meds that have a side effect of gagging, and asked if anything has changed around here lately such as food/treats/meds. On September 1st at 5:00pm I have Lettie her monthly heartworm and flea/tick preventative with her supper. It’s always been the same two meds since she was a baby, Sentinel and Simperica and the dosages haven’t changed in 4-5 months. At 1:00am she threw up. I called the vet and they said she doesn’t need another dose and next month give the meds 2 days apart from each other so we can tell if one of them is making her sick. I don’t know if that is related or not, but maybe worth mentioning.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
How's she doing?

She hasn’t done the gagging in over 48 hours now. And I had today off so I’m positive she hasn’t done it all day. She did throw up a little watery stuff at 7:00 this morning though. I’m kinda leaning towards reflux but I’m not sure. I think if all stays the same I will talk to them about it a week from today at her scheduled vet appointment. If things get worse I will be taking her in sooner. Thoughts? Thanks for asking about her.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Part of Roy's megaesophagus is acid reflux. He gags and salivates at night if I don't have his head raised on a pillow. Stop laughing. Yes, my dog sleeps with his head on a pillow. He needs to have a low fat food - the lower the better, preferably 6% - and he gets a tagamet if his tummy is bothering him. I think it's worth asking the vet about acid reflux, if you think that might be it.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
The more I learn about Roy, the more I love him. Hey, we do lots of ridiculous things concerning Lettie. Like.. an embarrassing amount of things lol.

My sister gives her greyhound a human antacid every morning (per vet instruction). I will be asking the vet about it. Do you have any idea how it’s diagnosed?
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
In our case it was just per my description and it kind of goes along with the ME, so it was just expected. Also, the Tagamet helped so we just went with it. I don't really know if there's usually more to a diagnosis. I'll be curious to see what your vet says.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Took her to the vet this morning. The vet didn’t seem concerned with her gagging. She has also thrown up watery stuff in the morning before breakfast twice now. The vet seems to think it’s all related to her monthly meds. So we are switching her to a topical preventative. Thank you for checking in :)

While we were at the vet: You know those vet table things, the tall ones that your pet goes on? Lettie has been too big for those since she was a puppy. Today she forgot that and JUMPED up onto the table from a sit! A perfect clean jump and landed up there like she’s done it a thousand times. The vet, vet tech, Matt and I all just stood there with our mouths open for a minute.