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Sorcha

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Posts posted by Sorcha

    Talk To Me About Support Harnesses ...

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks for the website links to various products, however I have already done an internet search and there are way too many options so what I really am looking for are personal experiences from anyone who has used a specific product.

     

    I found this WebMaster Harness very useful Harness but it will go under the belly somewhat. The good thing is it's padded and you can lift a dog up by this harness, you can also leave it on, and it's very easy to put on, without having to lift feet.

     

    Thanks for the recommendation. With this harness, what size did you go with and how adjustable was the fit?

    Talk To Me About Support Harnesses ...

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I have been using a regular (Wiggles, Wags & Whiskers) harness as a sort of handle to help Tuna get up and down the ramp going in & out of the house and to hold her steady when she gets wobbly on her feet. I think I need something more and would like to know what's worked for you. Tuna hates, hates, hates anything that touches her belly so keep that in mind! I am out of work and the budget it tight so not looking for anything that is pricey. Also, if anyone has one they are not currently using that I could borrow to try out, I will pay for shipping. Thanks.

    Tuna Update

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    So this weekend I was to attend a camp / retreat two hours away from home for 3 days and 2 nights. I had a lot of guilt about going, but it was a birthday present from my mother and a much-needed break for "stress relief". Well, after one night and 2 days, I am back home. Last night when I spoke with the dogsitter Tuna was doing okay, other than having an accident. Early this afternoon, after going on a zip line, I checked my voicemail and had a message from the dogsitter saying Tuna did not have a good morning and the tone of her message instantly had me concerned because it sounded dire. I called her back and she explained that Tuna was lethargic today, she was having more mobility issues than using and tripped over her own legs while going down the ramp to get outside (a few minor cuts and scrapes, nothing serious), and overall was very wobbly and lacking energy. When Tuna got back in the house, she stumbled to her dog bed, ate a little breakfast laying down, but would not get back up to go outside again before the dogsitter left. When the dogsitter returned at lunch time, Tuna was laying in the same place and had not gotten up, when she tried to get up she had a great deal of trouble. The dogsitter also said she seemed to have breathing trouble. So, I packed up and headed home (campfire, canoeing and the other activities I missed out on will have to wait for another time) in full blown tears expecting this was the end for Tuna, I even left a phone message for the vet to that effect. I arrive home, Tuna does not get up to greet me, she's just laying on her dog bed panting heavily with the dogsitter offering her a bowl of water. I instantly realized it was her LP acting up because of the heat, went and got a box fan and turned it on so it was blowing directly on her and within minutes her breathing was back to normal. As for getting up, she was a little slow, but did get up for me and going outside she was much more careful walking down the ramp, once she got into the yard she peed with a little bit of a stumble, then when she was coming back up to the house I noticed she was walking sort of sideways and haphazardly with her rear paws knuckling under. I took her by the harness and guided her back to the house and up the ramp, into the house, and she made it on her own back onto her dog bed where she happily gobbled up dinner and is now napping. So, to me it was not life and death that I get home, and I am sort of bummed that I missed out on another night and day of camp, but of course I dearly love Tuna and want to be here for her and I had no way of knowing for sure how bad off she was unless I came home. On the drive home I was completely convinced that the time had come to let her go, but now that I am back home with her I am not so convinced. I just don't know what to do, other than never leave her again! Tonight I will have a serious "Is It Time" thought session going on in my head.

    Tuna

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by Sorcha

    Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to post a reply here, it does help.

     

     

    I'm sorry this is so hard on you and Tuna. You don't have to do this alone you know. Would it help to have an evening off? DH and I could come over one night and hang out with the dogs while you get out.

     

    Thanks, Beth, I appreciate the offer. The thing is, I don't really have anywhere to go anyways so I might as well stay home! I will let you know if I do decide to take a break one night. Thanks again.

     

     

    Sarah, I don't have anything constructive to add, but I wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you. You know what I just went through with Riley, and the whole time I was thinking it would have been so much easier if he was showing signs of going downhill, but the reality is no matter what, making that decision sucks. I hope your vet is able to come to your house when the time comes. I too wish I lived closer so I could physically help, but we are all here for emotional support. I've always loved Tuna, her name is my favorite greyhound name ever. :grouphug

     

    Thanks for the kind words of support, Lucy, I appreciate it.

    Tuna

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Sarah... hugsmile2.gif

     

    Everything you described could have come from my own heart, and my own experience. I know too well how frightening it can be when you're the only one there for the hounds. We feel so vulnerable and alone at times. And there's the ever-present worry about how we'll be able to manage if something happens and we have to move one of our pups quickly.

     

    First, let me say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tuna, and am thinking of driving down right now to dognap her. :) Looking at that loving, gentle face, I don't see a dog who's lost her dignity. I see a beautiful face of a dog who's come to adapt to her limitations, and still gets enjoyment from eating, lying in the sun, and standing (even if only for a few moments) to eat her supper. These old ladies really are stubborn, aren't they? But this is what preserves their dignity. When she no longer wants to battle her handicaps, you'll see it in her eyes.

     

    Is it possible to create a bolster around the bed so she doesn't slip out? You can even prop up a bunch of pillow, and that should work fine. Do you use the washable incontinence pads? That would keep her bedding dry, and she might also use the pads if one or two are left on the floor. I'm happy to send some down to you, if you'd like.

     

    I was told about a vet in the Wilmington area who makes housecalls (or who is a mobile vet). If you want more info, I'll get it for you. It would be much easier for you to have someone who will come to you, especially when you know it's time for Tuna to make her journey.

     

    Please PM or call me if I can do anything at all... smiley-hug005.gif

    Jordan

     

    Thanks, Jordan, I appreciate your support.

     

    With the dog beds in my bedroom, I have now blocked the space between each one and my bed to keep her from sliding under the bed. I don't use incontinence pads, I doubt she would stand for them. I just cover up dog beds with towels, sheets and blankets and have a hand held Bissell Little Green machine on standby for the carpet. When I am not home I have it set up so she is confined to the kitchen. She has a nice, soft bed in there and I keep a towel down on the floor and she knows to pee on it if she has to go before I return home.

     

    Thanks for offering the vet info but while a mobile vet would likely be easier I really like the vet I have so I will find a way for it to work out when the time comes.

     

    Thanks again.

    Tuna

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks again. The sandbox pictures were taken the week before last, when I opened up the sandbox for the season (had to evict the snakes and add fresh sand first!). She was sooooo happy to have her sandbox back after the long, cold winter.

     

    My vet does not do house calls, and he is about 1/2 hour away, but I have talked with him about the possibility of coming to my house when it's time to let her go. He did not say yes or no yet, will wait and see how things ... end up.

    Tuna

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thank you for the words of support and your own personal stories. I should mention that Tuna is not in pain, and she does not have cancer (as far as any xray scans can show). She does have DM (degenerative myelopathy) and LP (laryngeal paralysis) and a stubborn streak! I beat myself up a lot about the "day too soon / day too late" thing but I just don't feel I have received that clear cut sign from her yet. Yes, I can carry her and have had to before (in and out of the house before the ramp was put in). I know that I am not alone in that I have the support of people like you, but I am going through it alone in that I have no one physically here to lean on for support or to help me out with her at home. The thought of taking her to the vet to have her put to sleep, by myself, and then having to drive home afterward ... I don't even want to think about that yet but I know it's going to get to that point eventually.

    Tuna

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I guess I just need to get my thoughts out, as I have no one to talk to about this and am going through it alone. Tuna (turned 14 in November) continues to decline, but I still have not gotten that definitive "sign" from her that it's time to let her go.

     

    My days revolve around taking care of Tuna. I lost my job 6 months ago and I spend the majority of my time home with her, except I do volunteer work 2 or 3 mornings a week and one Saturday a month. One weekend a month I visit my mother overnight, and the petsitter comes then. As much as I love Tuna, I have to admit it is kind of a relief to get a 30 hour break in taking care of her. I feel guilty about that. By the way, I have 3 other dogs (ages 17, 8 and 6), and a cat (age 10).

     

    I stay up until midnight every night, because she has to go out to the bathroom at 12 am in order to make it through the night until 6 am without having an accident. When she wakes up, I have to get her outside immediately before she has a pee accident. Last night she somehow managed to slide off her dog bed and her back end was half on the dog bed, half on the floor and her head was under my bed. She did not get up at 6 am like she normally does, instead it was 6:30 am when I woke to discover her like that, and she had an accident laying down. I had to pull her front end out from under the bed. She had on pajamas and had a blanket over her which were soaked through on the back end, as well as the dog bed and floor. Having something like this happen makes me feel she is losing her dignity and quality of life and that has me wonder if that's the sign? I expected the sign would be her falling down and not being able to get up (she has DM), or refusing to eat, or ... something.

     

    As far as eating goes, she has a healthy appetite and eats 3 meals a day, but despite this she has that emaciated look going on. I spend more money a week feeding her than I do myself. She has LP and is a picky eater, so it's taken some time to figure out what she will eat and how much. I just fed her breakfast (scrambled eggs plus a few slices of fresh turkey plus one pancake plus 3/4 of a packet of Moist and Meaty's Rise & Shine) and she ate it with the usual gusto. Lunch is a 12.5 oz can of high-calorie Blue or Merrick canned dog food (over $2 per can), dinner is a 22 oz can of Pedigree Chunky Chicken dog food plus a "meatloaf" I make for her (made of ground beef, crushed dry dog food, eggs and peanut butter) plus whatever else I have that night (could be mashed potatoes and gravy, could be a slice of pizza, etc.). She eats breakfast and lunch laying down, because with the DM causing hind-end weakness she cannot stand up long enough to finish a meal. Dinner she refuses to eat laying down for some reason, so it takes several hours for her to finish since she gets up, eats a few bites until she can no longer stand up, goes and lays down for a bit, then repeat.

     

    Last night I discovered that she no longer realizes when her back feet knuckle under, she does not correct it until she starts to lose her balance. Another concern ...

     

    She still enjoys spending time outside in her sandbox but the majority of her day is spent sleeping (either inside on a dog bed or outside in the sandbox). She has to use a ramp to get in and out the house, with my holding her up by her harness. I am going away for 2 nights this weekend, and the petsitter will come over 4 times a day and stay for at least one hour each visit. I hope she does alright with me being gone 2 nights in a row, and does not boycott eating or have a fall or something.

     

    So I continue on with her ...

     

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    Riley

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    My deepest condolences on Riley's passing. I am honored to have met him in Dewey, he was a very handsome and good natured dog and I know you two had a special bond. My thoughts are with you during this sad and heartbreaking time.

     

     

    If I Should Grow Frail

    -- by Julia Napier, copyright 1999

     

    If it should be that I grow frail and weak

    And pain does keep me from my sleep,

    Then will you do what must be done

    For this - the last battle - can't be won.

    You will be sad I understand

    But don't let grief then stay your hand.

    For on this day, more than the rest

    Your love and friendship must stand the test.

    We have had so many happy years,

    You wouldn't want me to suffer so.

    When the time comes, please, let me go.

     

    Take me to where my needs they'll tend,

    Only, stay with me till the end.

    And hold me firm and speak to me

    Until my eyes no longer see.

    I know in time you will agree

    It is a kindness you do to me.

    Although my tail its last has waved,

    From pain and suffering I have been saved.

    Don't grieve that it must now be you

    Who has to decide this thing to do.

    We've been so close - we two -these years,

    Don't let your heart hold any tears.

    Mystery Bleeding

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks everyone, Tuna is doing fine. I still do not know what happened, but am going with the "whacked her face (mouth) on the furniture" theory. After I cleaned the blood off her mouth and inside her mouth under her front teeth, there was no more bleeding. Gum color is fine, she had another meal for lunch (her special meatloaf) and is acting like nothing ever happened. She HATES having her mouth opened to look inside, nearly alligator snapped my fingers off when I did this morning ... but I will give it another look. By the way, she is 14 and had her last (ever) dental done a year ago.

    Mystery Bleeding

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Tuna was in the living room this morning, she should have been laying on her dog bed patiently waiting for breakfast while I prepared it (scrambled eggs, turkey and Rise & Shine Moist and Meaty). I enter the room and am greeted by big blobs of blood on the floor. I go over to her and there are large spots of blood on the dog bed. I looked over at her water bowl, it's turned red from blood which tells me its her mouth. I take a look at she has blood oozing out from her mouth (mostly from her gums under her lower front teeth, it's actually blood & tissue matter of some sort), and when I open her mouth it's all bloody inside. :blink: How did she do that? I am thinking she might have whacked her face on a piece of furniture next to where the blood drops were on the floor? I cleaned her up and she acted like nothing was the matter so I gave her breakfast which she did not hesitate to eat so I guess her mouth does not hurt badly from whatever happened. What on earth??!

    Another Head Tremor

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    My 17 English setter has head tremors, and all I do is touch her or say her name and they stop. She has been to the vet about it, but at her age there is not much to be done about it. She seems to get them when she is startled or and after waking up, she also gets them when crunching on dry dog food.

    Toenail Problem, Non-Greyhound

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    She is an old, stoic girl and has not complained a bit, the only reason I knew something was wrong is because of her licking her paw. I don't want her to be in pain. It seems she chewed at it some. I thought about taping it together, but there is quite a gap and anyways the outer nail part is crumbling away. I was going to dremel the nail part back but then the quick will be completely exposed. I am hoping I do not have to take her to the vet for this, because she does not like going anywhere away from home and it sets off her colitis because she gets herself stressed out.

    Toenail Problem, Non-Greyhound

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    My 17 year old English setter has been licking at her paw. I checked it over and did not see anything causing the problem. I then trimmed the fur away from around her nails and discovered the problem. One nail has split from the quick. The "shell" of the nail is firmly attached but chips away easily with my fingernail, and there is separation from the quick. Is this hurting her? It must at least be uncomfortable. What do I do?

     

    March2010Iggy008.jpg

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