Why does my senior Lab gag when waking and constantly lick her bum?

Full or impacted anal glands are one possibility, especially if she is scooting her back end on the floor. Your veterinarian or groomer can express (empty) them if necessary. Other causes would be allergies, parasites or discomfort around the area. Ideally, Ruby should be seen by your veterinarian to diagnose and address the underlying cause. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent excessive licking until she sees the doctor.

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about Mud Bud's troubles. Sometimes older dogs can actually acquire dementia over time. This could be the cause of Mud Bud licking everything. There is also a condition called, Pica, where animals will ingest odd things, due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. I always recommend evaluating yearly lab work in elderly animals (7+ years old) to insure that they don't have any health issues that may cause this. I also think that sometimes if dogs lose vision at all to any degree, which can happen in older dogs, they may start to lick things more often for sensory purposes. I think it is best to have Mud Bud evaluated by his veterinarian. They can get some samples for lab work and give him a full physical exam, and make sure that he doesn't have any pressing health issues. From there, they can make recommendations for his behavior. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Chronic heaving / gagging can be caused by problems with larynx or trachea, like laryngeal paralysis, chronic infection / inflammation, laryngeal mass, mass on the neck and more. A visit at your local vets is recommended to establish diagnosis and implement treatment as required. Your vet may want to examine the throat under sedation and/or take radiographs of the neck and chest.

I'm sorry Roxy has been so sick lately! Her symptoms could be caused by cardiac disease, respiratory disease, or even cancer. Unfortunately, cancer is always a possibility in a senior Lab. I would have her seen by a vet in the morning for a physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, and x-rays. Using these tests, the vet can diagnose what is causing her symptoms and can discuss treatment options with you.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sky may need some diagnostic testing to find out what the problem is. He may have an esophageal foreign body, ulcers of stomach or esophagus or just acid reflex. I would discuss with Sky's vet if radiographs might help determine what is wrong. If the pepcid seemed to help, it may be that he needs to be on an acid reducer long term. There are other medications that may used longer term than the pepcid. I hope Sky is back to normal soon.

It sounds like she experiencing nausea so she may need an anti-nausea medication, like Cerenia, an antacid, and/or a gastrointestinal protectant to help treat. It might also help to put her on a hypoallergenic diet, like z/d or d/d. You could also add a probiotic to her diet and see if that helps. If it continues than you could take her to an internal medicine specialist for an endoscopy and intestinal biopsies to get a definitive diagnosis.

Poor Diego! The diarrhea could be due to a number of causes including dietary indiscretion (eating something he should not have or isn't accustomed to), bacterial imbalance in his GI tract, a parasite, or inflammation of his colon due to stress. The chronic swallowing problem is more concerning for gastroesophageal reflux, a problem with his lower esophagus such as megaesophagus, or even potentially cancer. His bad breath could be due to persistent bacteria in the mouth, a tooth problem, or potentially related to his swallowing trouble. I recommend having Diego evaluated by a veterinarian for these issues. A fecal test would help to determine the cause of his diarrhea and how to treat it. The swallowing problem is something that will require an oral exam and possibly x-rays of his neck and chest or a more advanced swallowing study with contrast material. Or, your vet may recommend some medications if reflux is suspected. I hope this is helpful and you can find some answers!