Yup, my vet agreed that it was most likely a long reverse sneeze. Ratwings - I'll try to remember to bring a laptop over to their house the next time we visit to show them and double check with them. The parents said that it went on for over a minute, stopped for a second, and then continued on for another minute or so. That's why they got worried. She had done it before, but never for such a long time. My vet did say that it's
possible it went on for such a long time due to her weight. She just wasn't able to regulate her breathing again as quickly as she should have been able to.
My vet checked her out and she is completely healthy, except for still being so obese. However, she is now down to 51 pounds. Not a huge change, but it's at least something.
I was told by my other half that I'm being a little, um..pushy..about getting her to our house lately and this is what he wanted to try one last time:
We took Bailey to our house Thursday afternoon. Howie said his mom was about to cry when he told her he was bringing her over for at least the night, maybe longer, but they could come see her Friday afternoon and possibly take her back home. While at our house she cried constantly if he wasn't right near her and even sometimes when he was. She started to calm down a little overnight, but she would cry if she was left alone for any amount of time. That worried Howie, but I told him she would need time to adjust. It's all completely new and scary to her and she's a sensitive dog - of course she'll tell us that she's not sure what's going on right now.
On Friday afternoon he sat his mom down. He told her, "You know how much you hated having Bailey away for just last night? Well, think about what it would be like if that was for the rest of her life. If she doesn't start losing weight at your house, I will bring her over here so that she can." and reiterated all the no treats/only 1/2 a cup of the food that we'll decide on rules. She agreed, and he let them take her back home. Apparently, their golden was a little 'off' all night with Bailey gone. Acting withdrawn and such, so they felt extra bad that Bailey wasn't there.
I took her to the vet Saturday morning and then told them what my vet told me (for them, because she knows I already know what to do for her to help Bailey lose weight). I told them how my vet likes to compare foods like Kn'B to chocolate cake - not exactly something anyone should live on as a standard diet. I did tell them that she lost a little weight, but she still has so much more to lose and if they hadn't been feeding her extra things, she could have lost even more. We also agreed to tell them that the reverse sneezing could have possibly taken so long due to her weight and that was just the start of so many problems she could, and most likely would, be having if they didn't help us get her back down to 25 pounds. Bailey does apparently have a larger beagle stature so 25 pounds should be good for her with 30 being the extreme highest she should ever be to still be healthy.
My vet was also telling me about a new drug they're trying with overweight dogs that basically is an appetite suppressant. She said it's pretty much to train the owners to see that dogs that will normally constantly eat (like beagles and other hounds in general) can actually survive on less, because they'll simply stop taking all the extra treats the owners try to feed them. My vet doesn't really like the idea, but she said the groups using it so far are showing progress and sometimes the owners really do need this in order to see that their dog doesn't need as much food as they previously thought. I agreed, too, that it shouldn't have to come to using the drug in this case. I might recommend it to them for their own golden, though, since I have no say on how much they feed her.
Soooo...they have her again for the time being, but they've agreed to follow our rules. We didn't set a time limit, but I'm going to say I'll have her weighed again in about a month. If she doesn't show improvement in her weight, I'm going to become 'pushy' again. Howie made the threat - so he had better follow up.
One thing I did notice while she was here that might be a problem, though, is the fact that we live in 1/2 of a double with tons of stairs. His parents house has three levels - a basement, main level, and attic - but Bailey would always stay on the main level. In our house, though, she was trying to follow us up and down the stairs constantly and even to get outside she has about 6-7 steps to go up and down each time. She was limping on her front right leg by the time she left here. Our house would definitely be a good workout for her, but it would be a little hard on her legs until her weight is down a little more and her body gets a little stronger. I'd probably have to block her off from the upstairs for awhile, but then, of course, she'd start to cry if we went up there and she couldn't follow...
So, fingers crossed that they actually listen to us this time, but Howie is far more optimistic about it than I am.
Thanks again everyone! And thanks Kati for the video! I didn't even think about checking around online for examples of it.
