greyhndz

Ducky, I thought you'd like to know that she was wearing Niña's jammies to keep her warm on her journey. (Taken a few weeks ago) Thank you, everyone for your kind thoughts and words. Actually, Mafi was with me for 13.5 years! Probably one of the first crazy Mafi stories was getting to Dewey, and trying desperately to find Anna Clements of SOS Galgos, who had brought Mafi over with her from Barcelona. I'd been waiting 4 months for Mafi, so I was desperate to finally meet the two of them. After hours of missing each other, I finally got the message that Carla Trottier had her, and they were over at the "Secret Pals" party a few blocks away. (I'm sure there are still some SPs floating around out there who could describe what these parties were like...) I walked in to find a large group of people hanging out, a waft of alcohol and smoke hitting you in the face when you opened the door. People were pointing to the centre of the room, and there, in a small clearing from the smoke, was Carla holding the tiniest little brindle girl I'd ever seen. I could't get to her, so someone picked her up and passed her along until she got to me. (I would kill to have photos of that night if anyone had any.) That's when I knew life with Mafi was going to be very interesting... Taken at Dewey the day after we were united: A friend made her a "senorita" outfit. In the photo below, Mafi is standing with Anna Clements, probably begging to be taken back to Barcelona so she wouldn't have to wear stupid outfits. You can see how tiny she was - 45 lbs at her heaviest. Anna was giving a talk on Galgo rescue, and Mafi decided to offer her input.

It hit this morning, when I awakened, and the first thing I did was look toward her bed to be sure she was sleeping and safe. She wasn't there, and without thinking, I started to rise, thinking she might have gone downstairs to potty. She was very frail and unsteady, after having had several strokes and a very unsteady hind end which crumpled easily. But dignified and independent as she was, she insisted on doing it by herself. I'd built a new ramp for her last fall in preparation for another rough winter. She was much more secure, and liked going up and down to the yard by herself. Thankfully it was the winter that never was, so, with mom running out to shovel snow as it accumulated, and sanding it when it got slippery, the ramp was her lifeline. How ironic it was, that the onset of spring brought on tougher times for her body, which just could not keep up with her spirit. Mafi was not in her bed this morning, nor was she navigating downstairs or down the deck. She was transitioning from the Queen to Angel after her journey began last night with the help of our beloved vet, lying on the bed from which she reigned. Today was a very quiet day, her absence both silent and overbearing. She was an enigma in many ways, and one day I'll be able to share thousands of amazing, funny and touching stories. Right now is time for contemplation and acceptance. But it's also time to relive the celebration of 10 years with Mafi. Adopted 10/8/2002 - 3/16/2016. Please celebrate her life and her radiance. More of her story is on her video page. Thank you all. Jordan

all great ideas. His foster mum told me that she would lie next to him, and, while he was relaxed, gently massage down his legs to his feet, and I've been doing that. Redirecting his attention is an excellent thought, and I'm glad you reminded me about doing that. Timmy is entirely on his kangaroo diet now, and, between that and using loratidine instead of benadryl, I do think I'm seeing improvement. He's chewing less and also doing it less vigorously. Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions!

Fish... very interesting! How did you figure that out? The Kangaroo diet is in the process - no fish or chicken products, eggs, oatmeal, potato, grains, etc. The fish allergy could explain why his symptoms persisted while his foster mom in Spain had him on a fish diet. Thanks for the heads-up about the antihistamines! I'll switch over the zyrtec or claritin, both of which I have on hand. I'm keep steroids at the end of the list, since putting him on it would preclude getting a valid biopsy specimen if needed. Same for the behavioral eval -- I have no problem at all having him on psychoactive meds if needed -- first GH Kody was one of the original Prozac patients, and Dandi was on clomipramine for years. It's all about quality of life! Thanks, everyone, for great advice!

There hasn't been a full diagnostic workup, yet. It's really just over the past, say, 2 months that this became very noticeable, as I was coming home to puddles on the rugs and on my bed and didn't know what was going on -- thought someone was incontinent. But I finally watched the extend to which he was chewing and realized that the puddles were from his licking. The only correlation I could think of was a switch a few months ago to a different food -- Merrick's "Backcountry Raw Infused" red meat/lamb/rabbit. I have been introducing Zignature Kangaroo over the past week and it will be the only diet by the end of the weekend, and hope that will reduce his symptoms. He's actually seen my vet only once for this problem so we're trying out a few basic changes before moving on to sampling or a derm consult. I do think that the epsom salt soaks, if I could get him to cooperate, would be helpful. Wish I had someone who could lift him up to work on his nails, but he's probably a 3-person dog for clipping.

Sounds like something to try for all my guys. Thanks! Were Rocket's symptoms limited to his feet, or was it generalized?

No, Mary Jane -- we're not too close, at least not close enough to get there often. That's a great idea, though! Maybe I should set up a baby pool filled with salt water?!?! (might not be a bad idea -- if he'd cooperate)

Hi all (long time no C) Timmy, galgo arrived from Spain 5/15, has had an ongoing issue with licking and chewing his paws. This is a constant issue, and is compounded by his extreme aversion to having his feet handled or his nails clipped. The vet took a look a couple of weeks ago and felt he has pyoderma, possibly from food allergy, some type of environmental allergy, etc. He completed a course of keflex and was on benadryl for a couple of weeks, which I stopped because it had no effect. No SLO -- nails intact. His paws are inflamed but no obvious sores or skin lesions. I'm transitioning him onto a Limited Ingredient diet (Kangaroo) to try to narrow down the source. I may have to get him to a dermatologist, but in the interim I'd like to get his nails clipped down -- the vet held off the first day to let his feet quiet down with the antibiotics, though there's been no change. Interestingly, I've been talking with his foster mom for > a year, and she went through this as well. She had him on a fish diet, and had him evaluated by the vet without a diagnosis. He continued to have the problem until he came to the US. She began to suspect that this is actually OCD, given his traumatic history and fearfulness. A vet behaviorist may be our next stop if no skin disease is found. Anyone been-there-done=that, with either a behavioral source or skin disease? I'd like to hear about treatment plans which have been effective for you. I could also use suggestions of how to manage his feet and nails: he becomes agitated and combatitive when his feet are handled. I may wind up bringing him in for a dental under anesthesia, and have the vet closely examaie and biopsy his feet, as well as clip down his nails.

Do not make the mistakes I did... I will carry the guilt to my ashes as they float onto the waves of the Nantucket Sound. For several months, Mafi (Galga Queen, approx 14) had been licking at her L front leg. She was not lame on it and it was neither swollen nor warm, So I continued to watch it. Then, about 2 months ago, she became depressed, not eating, hunchy, and just wanted to be upstairs in bed. My gut told me this was Lyme but I didn't listen to my wise gut. This episode lasted a couple of days, and therein was my grave error: I did not bring her into the vet for testing. She improved and returned to her baseline. About 3 weeks ago, she became dead lame on that left front, and I whisked her into the vet. Xrays negative, no temp, and I found out that my gut was right all along: Snap 4 was positive for Lyme. Stupid, stupid human. I practice medicine. I *know* better, after researching TBD for years. Yet Mafi suffered because of my ignorance. Because she is very difficult to pill, and was not eating well, I spoke with my vet and researched options. Decided on Convenia (cefovecin), an injectable cephalosporin with long-acting effect -- she received 2 injections 14 days apart. It took about 10 days for her to stop limping and return to her baseline. (The maximum dose of Convenia is the 2 injections, and I want to extend her course beyond 4 weeks, so will see if I can slip her Amox now that she's eating again.) There's a HUGE moral to this story: Lyme, Anaplasma, Babesiosis and other TBDs are endemic here in the Northeast, along the Atlantic seaboard, and migrating west. Have a low threshold for having them tested and treated as soon as symptoms crop up. Mafi is an oldster now, frail, and has lived through a couple of strokes and vestibular disase. Lyme devastated her. In this area, I should have assumed Lyme and begun treatment immediately and I did not. Luckily she is recovering nicely so far, and living it up on chicken, beef stew, and hot dogs. She's the Queen in this house, and I will forever be her humble servant. (Frankly, I was doing this before Lyme, too. ) Thanks for letting me guilt out... The Queen

I am TOTALLY in love! What a sweet goofy but beautiful face! He's hit the jackpot, Ducky. He was walking the streets in Florida looking for you. Can't help it, but "Percy" always makes me think He is definitely a Ducky Dog! Congrats to both of you!

I'm so sorry to read this, Irene. I hope the surgery will relieve her pain and give her lots more time and love with her family.