ElizabethGPAPS
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Posts posted by ElizabethGPAPS
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I think everyone has a loose stool story and something different that fixed it. Mine is as follows:
For several months Simon had a very predictable output of 2 days good, 1 day bad. Yes - drop and rolls for 2 days in a row, and then the 3rd day it was the hershey-squirts. Like clockwork. And since he's been on the same food forever (Nutra Nuggets Lamb & Rice) and done okay on it, I just knew it was something else. So he goes on flagyl. Immodium. He gets dewormed. Dewormed again. Flagyled again. Immodium/Kao/Pepto with every flare-up. Fiber added to the food. Still the same! So aggravating! Then, after reading several posts here I decide to just take a wild stab by switching him over to Iams (it has fixed much Greyhound Big D, it seems). I started giving him half Nutra Nuggets and half Iams and he has NEVER had another bout of diarrhea. It's been weeks and weeks of fantastic poop! I put poor Simon through all that squirtiness and myself through all that cleanup for want of a crappy, grocery store food!
So he's still getting half and half - I tried him on full Iams and he had loose stool. We'll just continue with the way things are then.The moral of the story being that it's all about experimentation. What works for one will not necessarily work for another.
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Oh boy. Simon lost 22 teeth in a dental when he was 9 - he was drooling long strings of blood and looking so miserable afterwards I was just beside myself. It was like he'd aged 5 years in one day. He did bounce back, and besides having to soak his kibble for an hour before serving, he's no different. I'm sure Miles will be much happier once the pain of the dental passes and he can enjoy having a healthy mouth.
A 1.5" stick!? Good grief. Fate sent you to him - he needed you. Sorry about the bill...I know that surprise as well.
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Oh, I saw the headline and my stomach dropped. Godspeed to Mimi, and how wonderful that you got so share so many years with her.
I know what you mean about it being special to have been recognized in the Suzy awards...Simon's crown, blanket and coronation photos will be fond mementos of him for a long time. I hope Mimi's portrait will bring you comfort and happy memories as well.
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I tried Longevity and my dogs did turn their nose up at it. You have to put SO much in the food and it's this dark green powder that turns the food deep green and kind of stinky. I loved the idea of it, but it made their food smell like hay and they weren't having it.
Fresh factors already has joint health ingredients, but I suppose you could add more/different. Get Up and Go Glucosamine is a good one.
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The broken tarsal bone (aka broken hock) is a really common injury, most often seen on the right rear leg. It does not affect your dog's ability to be a loving pet. It can result in intermittent lameness, sometimes for life, depending on how bad the fracture is. We've taken in plenty of broken hocks and the vast majority just needed time and rest. One girl came off the hauler with her foot literally dangling from the hock...it looked like it was only being held on by soft tissue - she needed screws and plates. A couple who met her at the Vet's office on the day of her surgery ended up adopting her. I think she still limps a little.
Here's an article by Dr. Suzanne Stack that might shed some light: Hock Fractures
For broken hock dogs we always advise the adopters to start a regimen of joint health supplements (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM) fairly early in their mature years (6 or 7) and keep it up for life.
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I'm sorry for your loss, and I know how wrenching the decision is.
If it was already in his lungs, he wouldn't have had 6 months no matter what you did. It was the right decision to set him free from the pain. I wish you peace.
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Thank you all for your prayers! Simon is much better - his gaze is now steady and he's trotting around like normal. Whew!
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When I got up this morning, my nearly-14 year old Simon is having trouble walking...he's just sort of staggering around. I was thinking maybe he just slept weird and had muscle stiffness and he would walk it off. I helped him outside and he peed/pooped like the little trooper he is (tipped over once while assuming the poo position) then came in and laid on his bed. That's when I noticed that his eyes are moving back and forth, back and forth, rythmic and constant. The reason he can't walk right is that he's dizzy.
I called our wonderful Vet (who's at home today for the holiday) and he says it's most likely Canine Geriatric Vestibular Syndrome, which strikes out of the blue and usually resolves itself just as quickly in about 72 hours. There's no known treatment; "wait and see" is the first step. If it doesn't correct itself, then various testing for what else it might be is next, but 90% of the time it's the idiopathic syndrome. I guess it's an inner ear thing. Simon ate his breakfast just fine, dizzy and all. A good sign.
We could sure use some prayers and positive thoughts - Simon's going to have a tough weekend. I can already see him learning to compensate for the dizziness and walk in a straighter line just in the past 2 hours, though (aren't they amazing?). I know he'll be fine. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences anyone has had with this, too.
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Thank you for remembering JoJo Smiler even though I didn't do a Remembrance post for her. She never made it to her home (died during spay for those who don't know) but she was loved.
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Far too young. I'm so sad for you, Sharon.
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Never mind about the FCE question...I just read some of your prevous postings and it's obvious poor Kylie had a whole lot more going on than that. I really wish you peace - second guessing now is just torturing yourself. You did the right thing.
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I'm sorry - rather than read through all the threads I'll just ask my questions: Was FCE ever looked at or considered? How long did she have the rear-end weakness?
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I gave Isabella a sedative (I think it was Ace) about 45 minutes before the Vet arrived. It was much easier for me that she was half asleep when the shots came. The Vet gave her a shot first to to make her sleep, and then the second shot to euthanize her. I couldn't stand to watch her face while it happened so I just cuddled up behind her and stroked her head and ears and talked to her until she was gone. It was hard enough that way - I can't imagine it without her being sedated.
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Valium or acepromazine are the standard storm/fireworks treatment from our Vet.
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Did you just open a new bag of food by any chance? If so, then it's probably just a batch variation and things will correct themselves in a few days. If not, I'd probably bring a sample of the pudding in to the Vet and have it checked for worms and giardia. If one dog caught something, the other probably got it as well.
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Savannah passed at 13 yrs, 9 mos.
Simon is 13 yrs, 7 mos old now and still kicking.
Both raced but retired at age 2.
When people ask me about life spans I usually tell them that, generally speaking, if the dog makes it past the "bone cancer window" of age 7 to 10 then they'll usually live to be 12 to 14.
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Yes, Valley Fever looks a lot like osteo. I also know of two hounds that had preliminary osteo diagnoses from their regular Vets but the specialists found one to be osteo-arthritis and the other to be an old break.
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Is it the Biore patch?
Simon's always had blackheads on his chest, since I got him when he was 2. He's almost 14 now and seems to be surviving
I really just don't worry about it. -
Gosh, 41 of them. My Savannah was number 16...she lived a long and full life.
It's hard to lose them at all, but my deepest sympathy goes to those who had to say goodbye to your pups before they were even old.
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How awful for you.
I don't know if this will be any solace or if it will just come off as insensitive, but: I have Isabella's ashes here, in an urn that I had made just for them...I really thought that possessing her cremains would be such an important thing. It has turned out that they hold very little meaning for me. I hardly even go into the den where her ashes sit on a shelf, but I visit my collection of photographs of her often, and while I'm looking into her beautiful eyes I think of her and talk to her. That bag of powder isn't my girl. She's right here where's she's always been
and that's where your Suenos will always be for you, too. -
I'm so sorry, and I know exactly how you feel. My Isabella's heart beat and fluttered for a long time after the shot...I know her spirit was still strong, but her body was done. When there are no better tomorrows then we have to do what's right to stop their suffering.
There are no magic words to ease your grief right now, but please know that we feel and share your pain. One day at a time.
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Many of us have walked that path, and it's the hardest thing in the world. I wish you peace. It's hard to get past what happened at the end, I know. It haunts and overwhelms. But one day you'll be able to see only the happiest of the memories and smile at the thought of your beautiful boy. He runs with angels now.
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Savannah decided to race to the bridge this morning...sometime after her morning walk and before I finished my breakfast she just fell down in the kitchen and died. Just like that, with no hint of health issues other than her upcoming 14th birthday. She's always tried so hard not to be any trouble.
Savannah was silly and happy, a veteran of countless Meet 'n' Greets and probably a couple hundred home visits. She helped many people decide that they wanted to adopt a Greyhound. I've lost count of how many adopters said "I want one just like her!". Savannah was a big girl, and despite great speed was retired from racing at an early age for interfering - a hobby that she carried into her old age, running down slower dogs at playgroup and shoulder-slamming them with a big tongue-lolling grin. She was not always the one people were glad to see coming.
I'll miss you, beautiful Savannah. Thank you for being such a good girl for the 11 years we shared. And after the long, lingering and finally forced goodbye of Isabella last year, I am sad but thankful that if you had to go - you made your exit so very gracefully.
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Simon has had a heart murmur since I first adopted him at age 2. He's 13 now and has no problems.
edited to correct spelling of "murmur"
So he's still getting half and half - I tried him on full Iams and he had loose stool. We'll just continue with the way things are then.
and that's where your Suenos will always be for you, too.
Massive Fluidy Mass
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
Abcess/infection is my guess. Is this a new dog? Any idea how long it's been there?