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greyhndz

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Posts posted by greyhndz

    Squeaker In Stomach

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Wow - pretty impressive! Thank goodness it came up and never caused obstruction!

     

    But I'll be the one to ask the irresistible question: when you were giving tummy rubs, did you ever hear squeaking? DId you think her stomach was doing a lot of high-pitched gurgling recently? Were you walking around, oiling all the door hinges and metal joints because you just couldn't figure out where the squeak was coming from? Did all the other greyhounds run up to her and try to shake her in their mouths to get to the squeakie?

     

    But the most important question on my mind: when the squeakie came out, did it still work?

     

    :D I'm bad today, but I'm so happy to hear you have a healthy pup. :)

    Eye Problems

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Hi Melissa

     

    Hopefully it's just conjunctivitis and will respond well to abx ointment or drops. Other possibilities would be corneal abrasions from foreign bodies, minor trauma, etc. Glaucoma is another possible but unlikely dx.

     

    Years ago, Kody was playing with one of those hard, indestructible balls when it struck him in the eye. He developed traumatic iritis, but this is painful, and I'd expect Thunder to be pawing at it and reluctant to open his eyes.

     

    I always think uveitis but that's just because I have it. :P I wouldn't assume the worst, though. If your vet has any concerns, Dr. Welch over at In-Town/Woburn was very good.

     

    Keep us posted!

    More Surgery For Bailey

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Bailey (in between snores) thanks you all for caring about him.

     

    I went downstairs a little while ago to grab a snack. Bailey woke up long enough to follow me downstairs (he's still a bit spacey). I asked him if he wanted a little baby food and I got a tiny little wag -- and he snarfed down 2 jars. :) He needs it. He's lost about 2.5 lbs in the past couple of months. Luckily he had a little weight to spare, and now he's down to fighting weight.

    More Surgery For Bailey

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thank you, everybody! Your healing thoughts and prayers did it. :)

     

    He was in and out quickly. The flap procedure went as well as it could - the defect was large and pretty grody. We hope that the flap will stay in place. He tolerated surgery and anesthesia without a problem. Because he was first on the schedule, my vet figured I would just wait, so I did. I was handed a flaccid little lump wrapped in his blankies at about 10am. (Only kidding - he was awake, just a little stoned.)

     

    We got home, he stood on his feet, and when I fed the others, he wanted to eat too, so he had a jar of baby meat. He'll be eating only pureed from now on - nothing crunchy or sharp that could damage the flap. My puree-er is warmed up and ready to go.

     

    The biopsy results will be back next week and we're hoping for the best, preparing for the worst. The goal is to keep Bailey comfortable, happy, eating, and enjoying life. Bailey has been with me for 13 years. Anything he wants, he gets, and nothing he does is wrong in my eyes. As I've always said, he's my little King of Tinkle.

     

    Snoozing a few minutes ago...

     

    bailznap.jpg

    More Surgery For Bailey

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by greyhndz

    Could you spare some positive thoughts for iggy Bailey, who is having surgery tomorrow a.m? Bailz is now 16, and if the surgery weren't truly necessary I would not even consider it, but it's essential.

     

    He had dental surgery about a month or 2 ago, when several teeth were extracted and vet used a flap to cover a fistula that had opened between the oral cavity and the sinus. He did very well, and came bouncing out the office by noon. He was able to eat pretty normally until about 2 wks ago. He started violently sneezing after eating (even soft foods) and I knew the fistula had re-opened. But it was worse than expected. His upper palate has eroded (from the site of his extracted canines to the front of the palate) and is wide open -- whatever he eats is shooting right up to his sinuses. Vet doesn't know why this occurred -- possibly chronic bone infection, possibly something more ominous.

     

    So tomorrow morning, she's doing surgery to try to cover his palate with soft tissue flaps so he can eat normally without contaminating the sinuses. The other option is to bring him to a surgeon for bone grafts and reconstruction, but this is far too invasive for my 16 yo Bailz. I don't want to put him through this type of major surgery. And, with his murmur, any anesthesia is risky. So vet will biopsy the area, and try to use flaps to close off the palate. If the biopsy is not good, we'll deal with it at that time.

     

    Please keep Bailz in your thoughts tomorrow, and send along some "benign biopsy" vibes.

    thanks

    Jordan

    --

    (Trying to pick up a babe)

    679231952805_0_ALB.jpg

    Niña 1/3/99-6/8/10

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    At Ducky's request...niña as we'd all like to remember her:

     

    dancingwiththegalgos.jpg

    Always doing something to put a smile on our faces.

     

    ejecuta guisante libre, dulce. Usted vivirá en nuestros corazones. Teo siempre será su primer amor, y tú el suyo.

    Osu Greyhound Wellness Site

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by greyhndz

    I get the sense from joejoesmom's original post that Dr. Couto et al were pressured into getting the website up and running sooner than anticipated, thus their inability to communicate the change to (or get feedback from) the GH community. I also get the sense that, because they don't have access to OSU's resources or fundraising services, they probably did not have professional guidance in how best to approach setting up a new fee schedule for their online services. I would bet it's the last thing on their mind to jeopardize their accessibility or support of the greyhound community.

     

    I think Dr. Couto is a member of a dwindling group of professionals: those opting to dedicate themselves to academia.

    The money is in private practice, but gratification and dedication to teaching vet students and residents, as well as conducting research, brings its own rewards (usually not financial ;)). It's becoming more difficult to juggle both academia and clinical practice (not to mention writing grants and fundraising efforts), and I give Dr. Couto tremendous credit for doing so. Scoop (MZH), I hope he never leaves academia, even if he has to phase out his clinical hours. He has so many talents to pass on, and doing so will expand the circle of veterinarians coming out of training with a solid foundation in greyhound wellness.

     

    I don't know if he has a professional web designer putting together the site; I would doubt that they're at the point where they can incorporate processes such as auto-payment or complex navigation based upon permissions granted to each individual accessing the site (i.e., members given access to certain areas, non-members given access only to limited areas, and opening options such as purchasing memorials easily available to all). Especially with the crush to get the site live very quickly, he probably didn't have the time to explore all of the options.

     

    I do agree completely with the idea of consults becoming fee-for-service. This is being done commonly at many veterinary schools and vet referral practices. It's usually a vet-to-vet consult for a set fee, and the request is generated by the vet. (and of course the fee is generated by the owner :lol). For instance, look at the Tufts behavioral Dept. website: Linky

    This is Nicholas Dodman's clinic. They provide paid online consults for both vets and owners.

     

    Not only does this generate funds, but it also makes Dr. Couto's services available to those who cannot get to OSU.

     

    I'm sure this will come to a compromise that everyone is comfortable with. I believe Dr. Couto's philosophy and goals for Greyhound wellness will prevail (as will everyone's bank accounts ;)).

    Osu Greyhound Wellness Site

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    WOW! I'm really surprised to hear this, especially because of the recognition it receives, and also the donations generated by people visiting the site.

     

    Please remember GreytHealth. We've been out there for years, and Suzanne Stack DVM has always been a fantastic resource for the Greyhound community. www.GreytHealth.com

     

    Also, Bill Feeman DVM has a wonderful educational site here.

     

    So don't despair -- there are plenty of excellent greyhound health sites at your disposal. :)

    Cartier

    in Remembrance

    Posted · Edited by greyhndz

    Thank you so much for posting this, Robin. I only just now opened my e-mail from Dana and was coming to post (with a lot of tears in my eyes).

     

    And thank you for posting all of those beautiful photos. I think Dana will have some very special memories of Cartier, with especially exciting remembrances of his winning his recent "Polished Pooch" title. It was an honor well-bestowed on a baby who got to live the most wonderful year of his life with his mommy. It's only a few weeks short of his 1st Gotcha Day. :(

     

    Godspeed you beautiful boy. You'll live on in mommy's heart (and ours' too) forever.

     

    :f_red:cry1:gh_run

     

    And we won't forget this: :blowcandle

    Need Prayers-Sutra Is Vomiting Blood :(

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Houston, we have poop! It's not gorgeous or anything...a little puddingish, but, for a first poop, we'll take it! He is on clindamycin too so that can cause some pudding poos. Hoping for more tomorrow (wow that sounds weird :lol)

     

    The strangest things make us happy, don't they? ;)

     

    Sutra, we're very proud of your bowels today. I really think it was the figs that did it. :P No matter... poo-1.gifpoop2-1.gif

    Neyla Needs Your Thoughts

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    cry-1.gifhugsmile2-1.gif

     

    This sucks beyond belief. BUT... remember that there are some long-term osteo survivors out there (right, Mr. Winslow?), and there's no reason you shouldn't have hope that Neyla will be one of them.

     

    You WILL get through this, and make the decisions that you know are right for you and Neyla, because you're such a loving mom. But do hold onto that hope...

     

    grouphug.gif

    Acute Renal Failure

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    There are two general types of renal failure: acute and chronic. Acute renal failure is usually pretty catastrophic - the dog is *sick*. Depression, lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, increase water intake/urinary output, but dilute urine. There may be bleeding in the GI tract and anemia, from the renal failure itself. There's no question that you would be looking at a gravely ill dog.

     

    Chronic renal failure may not even manifest symptoms, or perhaps PU/PD (incr. drinking/peeing). There may be sporadic loss in appetite, weight loss but the dog may appear to be pretty healthy.

     

    Besides checking bloodwork, hopefully your vet also checked the urine carefully (including micro exam) and ran a urine culture. If the renal functions tests are elevated, a renal ultrasound would probably be in order.

     

    I'm a huge fan of internal medicine vets. Renal disease can be difficult to manage at times, and both my vet and myself appreciated having the IM vet to consult for any problems.

     

    I hope all kidney function tests come back normal, so this thread will be unnecessary. :P Hugs to sweet Dylan!

    Need Prayers-Sutra Is Vomiting Blood :(

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    We have tramadol but I hate to give it to him as it makes him pant a lot and he gets really restless....then I can't tell if he's restless because of tramadol or for some other reason (he pants and paces when he needs to go potty).

     

    I may give him some melatonin at bedtime and maybe that will help him rest a bit.

     

    I'm making myself an omelet, so maybe he will want to share it with me...

     

    Kristin, you might ask your vet about just using tylenol #3 (codeine). I've used it for all my osteo dogs if the tramadol was no longer effective, and had no problem.

    Need Prayers-Sutra Is Vomiting Blood :(

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    What a sweet, poopy-looking face! He looks kind of stoned, but between pain meds and anti-emetics for his vomiting, I'd be stoned too.

     

    I'll bet tomorrow morning he'll be waking from the fog. Those oatmeal cream cookies are going to look a lot better then. :) (If he doesn't want them, send em over to me!)

     

    You can try a little burger, or even some of the jars of strained baby meats. They're stinky enough to get his attention.

     

    Feel better, Sutra! Feel better, Kristin! :grouphug

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