Rescuing Rocco

Rocco gave us quite a scare yesterday with a case of the ‘gulps.’ 

We had a pretty quiet weekend. My parents came to visit on Saturday - when we noted that Rocco was licking lots of ‘weird’ things. Like the trash can, the track to the sliding door, the floor, the front of the oven - you know, things dogs lick, but not things Rocco licks very often, if at all.

Between that and some super STINKY doggie breath we didn’t think much of it - thought maybe he needed his teeth brushed, etc. 

Then on Sunday things got a little weirder. He seemed fine all day. Did some weird things with his treats - like switching them from side to side to break them up and then dropping them on the floor - again, we thought it was his teeth and decided to call the vet on Monday. 

He couldn’t wait that long to see the vet it seems. 

I took a shower after working out around 6 o’clock and Rocco laid on the bath mat in the bathroom as he often does. When I got out he started licking the floor - I thought maybe I had dripped water during my shower or that the shower curtain was messed up leaving a puddle. 

Then he followed me into the bedroom ‘gulping’ and started obsessively licking the carpet. Thinking he was going to throw up we ushered him outside. He didn’t throw up right away but started trying to eat grass, even laying his head down on the grass sideways trying to eat more. He finally threw up but the odd behavior he was displaying has us calling the vet already. 

He finally came back in and we took him over to the vet - because as she said he was displaying signs of nausea. 

Luckily Pete had taken video of what he was doing - since it wasn’t normal and as a puppy had experienced a seizure, so we knew to try to get the behavior on film. The vet didn’t think it was anything - just him being a puppy and nibbling on something he shouldn’t have.

So two shots and a bottle of pills later we were on our way home - hoping that it was just something getting to him - nausea and digestive issues. We skipped the xRay know we are close and that we’d watch him like a hawk. 

The poor little guy had one more minor episode of the ‘gulps’ napping on the couch - which meant I had to let him sleep upstairs with us so I could hear him and know he was OK. We all slept through the night!

Apparently he’s back to his super napping self today with no more cases of the ‘gulps.’ But we’ll be keeping an eye on him, making sure he’s eating and going to the bathroom … and that he’s not strangely licking things. I’m hoping it’s a one time thing and nothing more serious or long term. The little guy is family after all! And well worth the $200 it cost to go to the vet yesterday! :) 

I’ll try to snap a picture later when I get home.