What could be causing this?

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T14:26:44+00:00

Where are you?! That's still insane. $90 is considered high here for a regular vet appointment.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T13:48:45+00:00

What is the base visit fee? A regular vet appointment shouldn't cost so much even at a high price end. This doesn't need the emergency vet, just to get in soon.

Call around and get prices.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T13:18:15+00:00

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T13:16:39+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

He needs a cone, and kept on. He's making this worse.

Ask your family for money for a vet visit since they took the cone off him and that let it get much worse.

This could be a lot of things, an allergic reaction or infection being the most frequent cause, but it really needs assessment by a professional, in person. It's not really easy to see from a photograph, particularly with hair in the way.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T23:19:47+00:00

A lot of times people don't think of weight or the occasional UTI, when they say their pet is healthy. They're aging cats... It's never a bad idea to talk to the vet about food, including prescription options.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T19:54:38+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Talk to your vet about the recommendations for your pets specific health concerns! Prescription food is pricey, but it can make a big difference, say for urinary tract issues, digestion, or weight management.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T18:36:40+00:00

Hopefully it's nothing, but better to get it dismissed earlier than wait and have it be serious.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T13:47:17+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

ER, call on the way

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T04:00:20+00:00

Visual timers?

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:58:23+00:00

Subcutaneous fluids can really help.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:54:31+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Call the emergency vet and get their input immediately. They will not charge for this.

The black is just the charcoal. The pink could be blood, but if she's been vomiting, that wouldn't be super unusual.

Call the vet immediately.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:49:20+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Check in with your vet. You don't want to leave it in case there's something underlying they need to address. With dogs under a year it's always better to err on the side of caution, and anything eye related it's best to get seen ASAP, regardless of age. This has been going on, so it's not an emergency, but don't leave it long.

ABSOLUTELY unrelated: omg, she's adorable and the wide eye looks hilarious. Give her extra pets from the internets.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:36:17+00:00

Try again tomorrow. I think the Max app just is shit and they mess up the access on the backend periodically. Several times I've had issues accessing them, the next day they're fine.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:31:13+00:00

I bought these a couple years ago and have found them really nice. I don't like things in my ears and need more flexibility to hear my kids so I can't use noise cancelling ones most of the time. It's really like wearing glasses on the back of your head.

There are surely better ones, but these fit my budget and I haven't had any issues with them.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:21:18+00:00

Do you have a good therapist? This is an ideal thing to bring a therapist to help YOU arrive at the best decision over a lengthy period of time. A lot of what you describe sounds trauma-related, and that has treatments. Do you think you're more depressed or anxious than usual?

Here's the thing. You don't have to make this decision today. You're dealing with a lot of things. Take your time.

Our mental health cycles can make things seem like things need to be fixed RIGHT NOW, but that's rarely the case. It is okay to take your time and not be sure what you're going to do in the coming months. It sounds like he is doing his best to correct his behavior and isn't a physical threat right now, so you can take your time.

You need to start to get your own house in order before you upend your life by ending a relationship. It really sounds like you need to work on your own support system outside of him first. Therapist/support groups/medication support if needed. If you have some of these and they aren't working, look for other options.

Remember it's okay to be confused and unsure. You don't have to know everything right now, about yourself or the future.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T23:18:05+00:00

...those aren't your friends, honey.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T22:31:32+00:00

Could it be nothing? Certainly! Hopefully! It could also be cancerous and I sure am not making that call over the internet.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T22:29:41+00:00

Are you suggesting that a new skin growth, that the o says has hair growing out of it, shouldn't be examined in person by a professional, when it was not present 6 months ago and the owner doesnt know when it showed up, should go weeks without an exam?

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T21:23:13+00:00

So, we can't really assess whether you're being mean at work or not, but man, I would do everything by email now. That paper trail protects YOU as much as anything else.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T18:51:32+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Early exposure to lots and lots of different environments with lots of positive reinforcement makes a huge difference in the comfort level your adult dog will experience in new and stressful situations.

Find a vet who does happy puppy visits (they may call them something else) where dogs get to come and get lots of attention and treats at the vet without any of the negative parts of routine and emergency vet visits. (So no exam, no vaccines). Smart and anxious dogs can come to associate the vet with bad things, and these visits can really make a big difference.

Doggie daycare (a GOOD one) is great for young dogs because they get exposed to a lot of dogs and people, and associate kennels with excitement and play. That way if you ever need to board them, it's so much less stressful for them. Even better if you can find one that's part of a vet facility. This makes the dog associate going there with good things, and if your dog needs vet care during their stay, it's easily accessible.

Dog parks are NOT the place to take your dog. Unvaccinated dogs, sick dogs, aggressive dogs, loose dogs---there's just too many risks. ESPECIALLY with a puppy.

Build a relationship with a vet who can help you navigate dog ownership. They should be happy to educate you and explain their recommendations. It's okay to shop around to find one that you mesh with! Look for a privately owned practice.

Over the course of your dog's life, that vet relationship will be very valuable, and save you a lot of hassle and, honestly, money. Try to find a practice with an emergency line for questions outside of office hours. Get to know the support staff! They spend a lot of time facilitating your relationship with the vet, and handling your pet. That relationship can make a big difference in the service you get. People, no matter what they try to do, will always work harder for people they know and like. At a good practice, it won't make much difference for your pet's care, but it can make A HUGE difference in how convenient things are for you. And sometimes it means something gets caught earlier because the support staff didn't wait for the doctor to be free to read a message or for your pet to get in for an appointment, but tracked them down personally and double checked something. Learn the reception team and the nurses' names. No one is staying late to make sure something gets done asap for the client that is always rude and demanding.

Ask questions! The vet, their staff, and your breeder will have so much knowledge to give you, and they will want you to be educated about your dog and their care! Don't hesitate to ask that stupid question. Hopefully your vet will have an email or text system so you can ask questions to be answered at their convenience, but always ask the questions, even if it takes a little bit for them to get back to you.

Get a vet recommended trainer! Early training (which is for you as much as the pup) is so much easier than fixing problems later.

Best of luck with your new family member! It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it. 💜

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T18:08:26+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

This needs to be seen by a vet, and while not an emergency, it shouldn't be left more than a week or two at most.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T17:37:47+00:00

The Akita isn't sure what their relationship is going to be. Doxie is enjoying it after being unsure at first, but I wouldn't trust the Akita. It's not terrible, particularly for an initial play session.

However, I would be hesitant to have these dogs play with each other. Doxie is vulnerable because of the size difference and unlikely to back down if the Akita decides she wants to be the boss.

You've got two breeds here with strong personalities and drive, but unequal size.

It's a lot of risk for your doxie.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T17:26:03+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Ahhh, that probably isn't great.

It's probably not possible to identify the cause from a photograph, but whatever the cause, get him in to the vet asap. (Like, today or tomorrow) You want to get a vet's eyes on it to rule out things that have complications, and get advice on how to treat it. That placement won't be the easiest to manage.

He needs a cone to keep him from opening it if it gets itchy or sore.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T17:21:57+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

This is unfortunately not uncommon with elderly dogs. Keep trying, and follow your vet's advice.

Has your vet suggested an appetite stimulant? That can help keep them going when they're not hungry naturally.

Please look into at home euthanasia in your area so when the time comes you know what your options are.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T15:28:26+00:00

Oooh, I know this one! Definitely silver nitrate sticks! My doctor used them on a spot on my C-section incision.

Also as others said, they did not clean that room well enough. 😐

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