Car sickness, Diarrhea & Lethargy

Our very first (of many) pictures of Burke

Not the best title for a post but it sums up what's going on quite well.  

Burke REALLY does not like car rides.

Burke is a very sensitive dog.  He has always been a very sensitive dog.  He backs away from situations that frighten him (so do I). When he was a pup and we took him to obedience class, he panted and drooled in his crate on the way to class. When we got to wherever we were going, his little paws would be soaked with drool.  My trainer helped me work with him and brought over her flatcoats to teach Burke that "riding in the car is fun!"  That training did help with getting Burke into the car, but it never helped with his obvious anxiety.  Sometimes he was so upset he would vomit.  So I learned not to feed him within two hours of any car ride.

I told Dr. Hamilton about Burke's condition and he prescribed 100 milligrams of Trazodone. The dose I gave him yesterday along with using his favorite bedding, D.A.P. spray, and "relaxing music for dogs" was insufficient for our trip to Malvern.  Dr. Hamilton said I could increase the dosage to 150 milligrams. I hope that helps because I am so distressed by Burke's anxiety.  I know that stress suppresses the immune system and that is the last thing we need right now.  

I also told Dr. Hamilton that Burke had vomited three times within the first 12 hours after his antibody and chemo therapies but that he had not vomited since.  Dr. Hamilton said typically if a dog is nauseated by the chemo, it does not go away after one dose of anti-nausea medication.  He suspects the nausea was caused by stress - yeah, ya think!

Burke's lethargy continues and this morning he had diarreah.  I introduced probiotics into his breakfast before he had the diarrhea - was that a mistake?  I will add a little extra rice into his next meal.

So glad we don't have to go anywhere for the next 4 days. 

Our unhappy pup