I talked to the vet this morning. I checked out some dog health sites last night and got myself in a twit reading about the side effects of Etogesic. I know many dogs who are on it, and thought it to be a realtively safe anti-inflammatory. It ususally is, but lethary and GI symptoms can occur and it should be used cautiously and at the lowest possible dosage. The vet said to stop it for now, see if the gastric symptoms subside, and keep her extra quiet for the next week or so, walking her only on the leash. We have a pool, but it is, of course, closed now. He also suggested wading through waist deep water, but the ocean is a BIT cold now, and although she would go in, I don't think the extreme cold would be good for her. Buffered aspirin and Rimadyl are alternatives to consider, he said. I worry about liver toxicity with the Rimadly, but he said that it is rare and almost exclusively seen in labs! I covered up the hole with a slab of slate, and took out a soil sample to bring to the County extension service tomorrow. The dirt eating started before she started the medication. I will buy a raised bowl and already got her an orthopedic egg crate type bed! AND I started her on cod liver oil today! As an aside, and to help preserve what's left of my sanity, let me share with you just a brief synopsis re: what a bad girl Star (Cody's sister) has been today! Suffice it to say it started with garbage raiding at 7:00am (filled with LOTS of onions and corn) and escalated later in the day to an episode of counter surfing, netting a booty of half a loaf of wheat bread and a stick of butter left out for baking. I managed to wrestle 1/2 the stick of butter out of her mouth, the bread was a draw, and I am currently in my bedroom refusing to acknowledge her existence!! I know Carrie, MY FAULT!! I haven't trained her well in this regard...I left the food out....BUT she is so fast, so stealth!! Fear of food poisoning, bloat, at least a sleepness night with bouts of puking and diarrhea. AHHHHH!!! What a way to spend a day off! That's my story. Better go tell Star I'm sorry. Starting to feel guilty!
Thanks for all your suggestions! Weary Sandra