moofie
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Posts posted by moofie
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I only heard of these recently but did think the reported uses/battery life seemed rather limited given frequency we use our PMFT unit (westville biomag).
Seems rather wasteful, shame they don't offer a battery refurbishment service.
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So sorry you lost Raffle in such a traumatic way. Its normal with grief to wonder what you possibly could've done differently, but you really did the kindest thing in letting her pass as she was already showing signs of age related deterioration which sadly can't be reversed.
There was a big dog in at the vets after spinal surgery that had some movement in his legs but couldn't stand, just prop himself upright while laying on one side only. It really is a full time job to care for such a disabled dog as they need lifting and turning frequently, maybe catheterizing, assistance with drinking, toileting, loads of cleaning and physio to stem the rapid muscle wastage from lack of use.
Big dog was a happy soul despite lack of mobility, discomfort (was on pain relief) and usual mental stimulation of getting outside but they can easily get depressed and its also hard emotionally on the carers. If they don't show signs of recovery then will need PTS as its not a good quality of life longer term, as happened with big dog after several months
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Its positive, rather than negative which is universal. My greyhound Hattie is also positive blood type but the UK pet blood bank collects both so she was a donor for many years till she retired at 9.
http://www.petbloodbankuk.org/pet-owners/faqs/#q-1444
Can a dog receive blood from any other dog and do they have blood types?- Unfortunately dogs do not share the same blood group. However they are different to humans (and cats) in that if they only ever receive 1 transfusion in their life even if it is not the same type, in very simple terms any dog can donate to any dog.
- However the real truth is that it is far more complicated than that.
- What we know and want to educate people about - is that one blood type is very important with respect to any transfusion. That is the DOG ERYTHROCYTE ANTIGEN (DEA) 1 group which used to a long time ago be termed Dog group A…… (just to confuse the subject there are 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 groups too!) DEA 1 blood group is ALWAYS relevant - and apart from in ABSOLUTE emergencies - a donor or recipient dogs DEA 1 group blood type should be known.
- In cases of first transfusion - the transfusion can be made safer and the effects may last longer and any subsequent transfusions are far more likely to be successful - and this applies to any time in that dogs life - (so think about a puppy who is badly injured at 12 weeks old - who then needs a further transfusion as he gets ill at 12 years old) .
- If the DEA 1 group is not known and we do get it wrong twice - the consequences can be fatal. Pet Blood Bank are always looking out for the well being of all dogs - donors and recipients and this is a long term commitment so we want to make sure that dog owners and vets out there know as much as possible on this subject.
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Not seen any side effects either.
My vet put Pru on gabapentin (400mg twice daily) as she's had a course of cartrophen injections for arthritis & maker advise not to use NSAIDs alongside it as reduces effectiveness. She's doing OK on it so would this be better long term than metacam?
This Vet prefers metacam as can give lower dose & not keen on tramadol though throp had no problems on it although not sure if it made any difference to him but perhaps didn't need it.
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Throp's operatation was delayed due to low platelets, i think his results were 120 which appears in normal range (was 180 few months earlier) but they only saw 2 platelets on microscope and smear used was thin. They sent bloods off to lab for coagulation tests, D-Dimer i think its called as i've had test on myself and that came back ok. He did have high blood pressure post op bet whether that was related i dunno.
Think we've less problems with TBD in UK though did see a rescue hound with post dental bleeding issues that turned out to have lungworm (relatively new issue).
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Although we had Throp euthanised on 23rd i wanted to give the thread a conclusion
Throps trigeminal nerve tumour must've been putting more pressure on the brain stem effecting the left side coordination & balance causing him to fall over and veer off course, we noticed his left ear also fairly set in one position and could see the whiskers twitching on that side as if in spasm in last few days. He'd gone from a little wobbly to struggling to balance & tired in a short period, it was heartbreaking to see so knew it was time .
Anyway i was pleased with how good his eye socket looked, we took some great photo's on his final day which could've easily been that awful mess up thread. With the muscle loss did look funny like you could just pop in an artificial eye ball in and we did have a good giggle thinking of the lady at the crematorium getting a shock as we'd laid him normal side up and had forgotten to mention it.
Vet2 came out to the meadow to do the euthanasia, he couldn't get a vein in front leg after 2 goes (throp also pulled his leg away) and tried again with hind as veins kept collapsing, could tell by vets expression he was worried in case that didn't work too, but we had faith in him so it didn't stress us out. His practice doesn't officially do out of hours work so he was very kind to come out and probably wouldn't have got home till 10pm after being at work all day. Need to get some sort of thank you gift.
I've regretted the eye op, thinking something altered that day and instead i could've enjoyed Throp being usual self and active in past few weeks instead. Although i know that there was no way of knowing the outcome and at the time we made the decision it was based on how well/active he was, that he could've had months ahead and it wasn't fair to leave him with an ulcer that wouldn't heal or choose to PTS when otherwise he was still happy. DP's mother has continually bleeted on about whether its "fair to put Throp through it" even before he'd had diagnosis of brain tumour so its a shame he couldn't have proved her wrong by going well past his best before date
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The ruffwear webmaster only having the girth clip one side drives me nuts as its difficult with the greyhounds long legs to take it off.
Glad you found something that works. I will say the Help Em Up harness has been a lifesaver for us recently. I wasn't sure which size would be best since his measurements fell into the ranges for both M & L so on their rec I ordered the M. The strap to connect the front and back is snug, but it makes it. We use the front harness daily and the back harness has been useful for when he is coming out of sedation or on slippery floors. He's a 70 lb slender male, Fwiw. Just in case anyone else looks in this thread.
I was just wondering which size would best fit a greyhound, but he' snoozing so can't measure. Did you order the U or normal band on hip harness for Zuri? It appears to be sold all as one rather than separate front/rear bits in UK
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No food after 10pm and no water after 7am day of GA
Drop off at 8.30-9am but don't think they tend to do go into surgery till nearer lunch time as usually have to ring at 1-2pm and at times its ring back later if some emergencys cropped up. Usually blood test pre-op so fasting anyway. I think with some stitching they can use a local anesthetic as i had that option with Pru but she was due a dental.
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Been to see vet2 for a check up today, he was very pleased with how its healed up and removed the stitches. It looked infection free but to be on the safe side Throp has another 5 days on AB's.
His mobility has changed so much since having the op, something i hadn't really considered
. His hind legs muscles were changing & getting little less coordinated as expected with tumour but he was still easily doing the 1+ miles walk to the park daily. I get his eyesight/depth perception will be different for him , but its like his balance is off and he veers sideways when walking at times bit like a drunkard and if he shakes he'll nearly falls over. He's still determined to go where he wants and leaps on his sofa mind -
Day 13 post op and wounds looking really good, hibiscrub wash & sudocrem doing a fine job.
Oh he looks so much better, thank goodness. Post #10 in this thread mentions the Bite-Not collar, you could try making one to dispense with the cone.
Throp
That sounds like a version of his inflatable comfy collar, i think it must be more to stop chewing the body as he could still scratch head with front leg or rear paw wearing it if he really wanted, however it is doing a great job of keeping the cone on his head and providing a buffer cushion.
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Yes much less stressed and although not there yet can see he is improving now and may get back to a more normal life for him. -
Wow-just seeing this now. An enucleation should never, ever look like that. Omg. I do hope this second vet will be able to provide better veterinary care.
It wasn't what i was expecting even though i know Throps left side isn't quite normal. I presume due to bleeding they thought better to leave scabs to keep clotted but i dread to think how it would've been if left like that till our next appointment on thursday going by the way healthier area was when fur has peeled off with blood. I
i can't believe it got to that point either.... i can't imagine what could have gone wrong... but definitely some infection.... hope ABs are working and it is looking better, even if taking fur with it... poor poor pup
please don't give up on him.... i was so worried when you mention PTS earlier.... Oh no Froppychops is far too special for me to just give up on & but last week he just looked so awful, he was struggling with walking, falling over, miserable and the wound just seemed to be getting worse with little reassurance from vets. With his brain tumour we've no way of knowing what the effects of having the OP maybe and seemed like he was just going downhill so PTS decision may need to be made far sooner than i was expecting.
Very relieved this week that he seems more himself so likely down to the infection, mobility has improved a bit and even his coat is returning to a more normal feel as it was dry, yet greasy. I've split his meals to feed 3-4x a day to be bit easier on his system and as its soaked (dry kibble falls out his mouth) it should keep his hydration levels up.
Tonight before we gave it a clean up, probably should've done pic after as got nearly all the scabby fur bits off his cheek now, but its already looking so much better. He wasn't very happy with me but some bread made it bearable.
Seen this doggy Optivizor online which looks like it would be a better option for Throp than stupid cone but i don't have the funds spare at the moment so wondering what i could sell quickly or if i could DIY a version with an old muzzle. I did meet a little bedlington x at a show last month wearing their UV mesh visor as had photo sensitivity issues but at time i didn't realise we may need one to ask more about it.
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Feel free to scroll past these
Saturday pre-vets
Today, just given it another clean, still some more dried bloody bits to come off mainly below eye socket but its sore so only manage a bit at a time. Its like tar & the bits that came off today took fur with it leaving pinky skin.
I'm trying not to get hopes up, but this weekend i think i see some improvement in his walking
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On a purely practical note, Throp isn't going to be a long-term patient for the first vet anyway, so I can't see how they could be *too* upset if you stick with vet #2 who is more familiar with him. Especially if your other dogs will continue to go to vet #1 for care.
(I hope that doesn't sound bad. I don't mean it that way. Throp is one of my very favorite dogs!
)I wish i was one of those people that didn't care/worry about what others may think, so all reasoning is good for me
Nah not bad its just fact that Throp's on limited time & while were going to the vets far too often for my liking generally its lower value stuff, the practice's owner has already made ££££s from on his dodgy leg insurance claims
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:grouphug Poor Throp - poor Moofie! Hope the antibiotics help. I would also ask the vet whether a dressing of manuka honey would be appropriate - it is very good for promoting granulation.Thanks i'll ask, i think my friends dog had manuka dressings or it may have been turmeric but does seem to be some options other than leaving it be.
Glad he's not any worse and is now on appropriate meds.
Stick with the vet you saw today. To me that is the obvious choice.
Who cares what the previous vet thinks?!
It is YOURS dog ... and YOU get to decide what vet he sees.
I use two different practices for my horses. One I have had for ever and ever and I use for the basics...vaccines, euths and teeth.
I use a different vet for any lameness issues. Each practice is very aware that I use the other.
A good friend of mine is a Vet (she treats my hounds) and says people need go with who they ...and their critters ...are most comfortable with.
Not all Vets are experts at all diseases/issues.
Your right & we will go to whoever feel will do the best by Throp i just hate the whole awkwardness of it, easier if leaving completely. I already take Terry to a different vets just for a bigger waiting area to have distance from other dogs. Weirdly it was only because our vets didn't have a staple remover after Throp had a wound patched up while at the neuro specialists that i ended up at this other practice & bumped into vet2 (i hadn't realised he'd left)
A good friend of mine is a Vet (she treats my hounds) and says people need go with who they ...and their critters ...are most comfortable with.
Not all Vets are experts at all diseases/issues.
i hope that's a common professional view as it seem difficult for it not to appear like that i'm criticising their abilities by switching mid treatment, generally i feel they do good job. With having multiple hounds they will still be getting my custom.
Hoping a corner has been turned! Fingers crossed!
Suspect the ointment is what we call SSD, silver sulfadiazine, awesome stuff. We have used it especially when a wound couldn't be stitched.
Yes it looks like it was- flamazine, i'd forgotten what it was called by the time i left the room
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Its been a better day, Throps wound had dried and hadn't oozed overnight
still stinks 
nobody offer me any mince based meals in near futureOur vets this morning said it looked better and yes there is an infection so AB's perscribed, i pointed out the smell so unsure if it would've been noted otherwise. Throp had a nice break having his massage at physio before going to 2nd vet visit..
I did wonder if maybe we were unnecessarily fretting but was relived that 2nd Vet didn't go "Oh looks fine!" tbh. He cleaned all he scabby dried blood bits off the wound & around eye area (surprisingly it didn't bleed again) as feels it is better able to granulate & heal when open to air and put on some silver based burns cream. The oozing isn't unusual & better out than in but should be straw or red watery liquid so change to darker cloudier ooze i saw yesterday isn't generally good. I was told by our vets this morning to leave scabs alone but he said i'm better to soak, remove and dry area, can use suducreme in a few days on wound. I suppose it may just be a different method. I think as he explained everything more clearly we felt reassured, he used to be Throps vet but he left for new pastures a while ago.
I asked if usual to not give AB's after & they don't use for most ops like spays etc now, unless a high risk of infection. He did suggest given throp's issues he would be a good case to have used AB's, i feel more annoyed that they weren't given when healing was looking so poor than after op though.
Now in awkward situation that we'd prefer Throp to carry on seeing 2nd vet & not wanting to upset our vets in the process as they are closer to home & good as don't demand payment upfront and do own emergency cover where most vet practices have outsourced it to vets now.
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Glad you are getting a 2nd opinion, that was going to be my suggestion at this point. If there is a bad smell that definitely points toward an infection. I think I'd be demanding ABs either way, screw AB resistance. Considering that you're often given ABs prophylactically after various surgical procedures including tooth extractions and tail amputations I'm surprised you weren't given them, especially when he is clearly having issues healing. But I'm not a vet.
Hope you get some better answers tomorrow.
Thanks, I assumed vets knew best on AB's & its likely a cleaner surgery site, but i did wonder why not at trying AB's when after a week still a mess.
At the moment i fear were heading towards PTS
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Thanks, been feeling quite down today
I am so sorry you are going through this! I wish I had pictures of Ziggy the day he had this same surgery. I will keep your poor boy in my prayers. Have you thought about taking him to another vet for a consultation? Maybe we were just lucky but Ziggy never bled or swelled.
I looked online at photos of enucleation healing over 2 week period and they had some swelling/bruising but no bleeding. Throp's visiting the vets in the morning & have booked to see another vet too because i think we need reassurance of another opinion.
Poor boy, he looks so pathetic in that cone (but they always do) Could he be taking longer to heal because of his other medical issues? I hope today is a better day
Its a possibility that the tumour is having knock on effect on bodies ability to heal, though the eye ulcer was trying hard to heal itself before op. Vet did suggest it was the low platelets but didn't mention it would effect how it would heal just potentially the clotting when found pre-op. I wonder if he has an infection tbh the patches seem moist and oozy.
I presume its because of blood but he smells like yukky beef mince
to improve the aroma for me one of the dogs (Hattie i suspect) did a ginormous dire rear splat in the living room 
its been a great day. -
for Larry BearI had 2 dogs both 10yrs go through GA's last week (one dental), though whatever age i think you can't help but worry till you get news they've come round.
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I would ask for an orthopedic specialist consult now if its been ongoing issue so long tbh
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Before dressing came loose
The soft focus blur doesn't improve it
I only cleaned off dried on blood below eye yesterday 
Day of op
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It's been a week and at moment wondering if we've made a big mistake
. Its still oozing blood and patches above below stitch line look openNot sure if he's scratched/rubbed it or its just breaking down on its own, We've had to remove the cone at times & stick with doughnut as it keeps getting in the way as he turns to lay down & he kicks it when walking which clearly irritates him. Sadly he's become more wobbly than he was pre-op too
Took Thop to the vets today with Pru (getting stitches removed) and they attempted to put a pressure bandage on but the dressing part came loose this evening and the vetwrap seemed to be restricting his jaw movement so i removed it all rather than re-do. Its warm so he does need to be able to pant properly.
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I am not trying to be alarming, but is he on antibiotics? They sent Ziggy home on them. He did not swell at all and there was no bleeding either. They stitched his eyelid closed and all was well. We had to watch him as it healed, but we had nothing like that. Does he go back for a recheck? I will keep him in my prayers! At least it doesn't sound like he is miserable.
No he's not on antibiotics, vet mentioned the issues of over use.
Throp had a check up today which was eventful, as while getting ready he must've caught scab on something and it just poured with blood (looked bit of a murder scene). Thankfully it had stopped by the time we got to the vets so they cleaned him up & the wounds doing ok. The muzzle swelling has gone down today, vet mentioned he had some bruising inside lip & to watch out if he has any nose bleeds. It is still trickling blood
Poor boy has to wear the cone of shame now, hoping he gets used to it as keeps getting it stuck when laying down.
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Or for short, Fropclops.
Hope his surgery wound is continuing to do well. Scrambled eggs and tramadol -- nom.
Fropclops! Bless he does get some nickname abuse What would've been corner of his eye is oozing a fair bit of blood today, occasionally he has rubbed something and part of wounds re-bled so hoping it just needs time to re-clot. Poor boys muzzle is so swollen
i didn't expect it to be in that area but suppose it has to go somewhere, feeling a horrible houndmum even though i know its something that will heal. Vet suggested a cold compress, we tried some frozen peas inside a towel but he doesn't want anything touching it. He's been quite happy to go out & potter round the garden at least.
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. His hind legs muscles were changing & getting little less coordinated as expected with tumour but he was still easily doing the 1+ miles walk to the park daily. I get his eyesight/depth perception will be different for him , but its like his balance is off and he veers sideways when walking at times bit like a drunkard and if he shakes he'll nearly falls over. He's still determined to go where he wants and leaps on his sofa mind
Yes much less stressed and although not there yet can see he is improving now and may get back to a more normal life for him. 
)
:grouphug 
still stinks 
nobody offer me any mince based meals in near future
its been a great day. 
for Larry Bear
. Its still oozing blood and patches above below stitch line look open
Fropclops! Bless he does get some nickname abuse
Thinking of adopting 2 at same time - Questions . . .
in Everything else Greyhound
Posted
I adopted pair of littermate boys together, they'd not always been kennelled together so although had lovely brotherly bond didn't struggle if parted. Had no issues bonding with us & we made sure to try do some things alone with each.
They came straight from racing kennels so needed some work to settle in but we managed ok as first time dog owners. Often bonded pairs end up being spilt as its difficult to find people to adopt 2.
It doesn't always solve SA if they're really wanting human company, but i think i'll always have multiple dogs as seem happier with a friend even if it appears on surface couldn't give a stuff about each other.
Using a camera to watch/listen while you leave is very useful so can judge how they're coping but should start off with very brief exits to build up and not leave for longer than able to cope with to avoid distress & SA setting in.