tydyelady

We watched Toley like a hawk the first weekend he was home (2 weeks ago), and by the end of the weekend he got it. No accidents in the house when we are home, none at night. He got that part of the training down immediately. Its just when we leave that we have issues. So this weekend will be the overload of alone training, coming and going at all hours, in and out. Our neighbors will probably think we are nuts!

Well, today was the first day we left him out again. No crate, ever again. It was definitely better than the last 2 crate days. I put pee pads down in spots where he might poop, and a belly band again with pad in it. And muzzle. He did poop, right on a pee pad, thankfully, and he peed in the belly band, but there were some positive things. 1. He did follow me to the door when I left (DH went out the garage door), but did not try to push out the door. I just left, no eye contact or anything. 2. Nothing was destroyed. 3. He did not try to knock down the baby gate to the kitchen. I left the bedroom door open today, since he seemed to want to sleep on his bed in there, but I found he jumped up and all over our bed, which I did not want. So I think I will keep that door closed tomorrow. I have been giving him Rescue Remedy, but I don't think it has done much. I will be taking him into the vet to check on that tooth. Actually it is 2 teeth, both his canines. One is only a little chip at the bottom, no big deal. The other one seems about 1/4 of the tooth, so I want our vet to check it out. Tomorrow is Friday, so will repeat what we did today, but then on the weekend will do LOTS of alone training. Stay tuned! Oh, also wanted to add, for those who are asking - he gets multiple walks. We do not have a fenced yard, so in the morning he goes out 3 times before we leave. One long walk as soon as DH gets up, then another short pee break after eating, then another walk up the block before we leave for work (we don't usually leave the house til 10ish). After work he gets another long walk, pee break after eating, and then before sleep.

Crate Fail! We cannot do the crate any more. He bent the bars, thrashed around in it, which knocked a coat rack down next to it. He pulled coat sleeves inside, destroyed one coat. I had little throw rugs with pee pads around the perimeter of the crate in case he pooped and knocked it out -- All were somehow dragged in and ripped to shreds. He also poped the lever and managed to push the crate tray bottom completely out of the crate. On top of that he broke a tooth. I see no future in the crate at all - we will have to work on alone training in other rooms of the house. The only positive thing was no poop, but he did pee in the belly band with pad in it. In the morning now he goes in the bedroom and lays on his bed when we are getting ready to leave. I am so disappointed. I though we were making such progress with him, and its done a 180, where he is now injuring himself in the crate.

Thanks. He knocks down baby gates, no matter how tight we put them. We are not gone more than 7 hours tops, most of the time less 5- 6 1/2 hrs usual. Yes we have the TV on for him. We are about to leave now (see late start time, should be home by 5-6) He has been hiding in the bedroom on his bed. We are going to be firm on getting him in there, although judging by yesterday it will be a physical fight. The only thing we did different yesterday is that we did not put his jammies on - after fighting to get him in the crate, and then realizing it, we did not want to let him out again. Today will be belly band and jammies, and kong, and treats - and hope for the best.

This whole crate business is new to us. Our first dog, Opie, who we just lost last month, hated the crate. After fighting with him for a week to get and stay in it (he escaped) we left him out and he was fine. Well, with our new dog Toley we decided to leave him out in 3 rooms. It was a disaster, things knocked over, baby gates knocked down, poop and pee in the house (he was wearing a belly band and a muzzle). So Wednesday night late, we had a crate delivered. Thurs we still left him out, as we hadn't done any training with the crate. It was a disaster. Thurs evening when we got home from work we tried putting him in the crate for short times. Then Friday we left for work, put him in crate with a kong, and we got home to a clean house, no poop or pee in the crate. Woo Hoo! Monday, after a nice weekend, we went to work, put him in crate, and we got home to everything fine again. Well today, he did not want to go in the crate. We actually had to force him and push and pull him in. He settled down when he saw the Kong, and we left. Came home to pee, poop, tray pushed out of the crate ( I left a lever down instead of up, oops) Everything in there was covered in poop, flung outside the crate. Not good. Now we are worrying about tomorrow, since we had to physically fight with him to go in there. Why would he be fine for 2 days, and then suddenly refuse to get in it? We are not gone long days, usually between 5-6 1/2 hours. We know he can hold it - he sleeps all night next to us, very quietly. Help!

Well, we are having issues with our new boy, Toley. Our Opie (who went to the Bridge last month) was a dog who hated the crate. After a week of trying to confine him, and him breaking out and almost destroying the crate, we decided to leave him out - and he was good as gold. Now we have Toley, and we tried leaving him in livingroom, back room and hallway, with other rooms closed or babygated off. Its been a disaster. He gets through any baby gate we put up, flings pillow, things on couch, spare room everywhere, knocked over a plant, pictures - and pooped and peed every day. Yes he was muzzled, and we did have a belly band with pad on him too. You would think after 4 days of us leaving he would be getting it, but it seems to be getting worse. So today we will try the crate someone just loaned us. He was crated in is foster home in the beginning, and we put him in it last night, treated, and left the room. He seemed OK. We shall see how today goes. Will leave Kong, treats, tv on, and just walk out the door.

So sorry to read this, having just gone through it myself. Hugs to you, do your research, ask questions, and do the thing you think is best for your boy. When I learned with Opie is do not be afraid to ask for pain meds, and large enought doses, to keep him comfortable. Hugs to you.

Well, we have just welcomed Toley to our home last night. Was not anticipating adopting so soon after losing our Opie, but this dog wa chosen for us I guess! Anyways, we were told he had some issues with marking inside, so we but a belly band with bladder pad on him. Last night when we got him home, there were only a few drops in the pad, so not too bad. Over night he slept very well, but DH said he heard him get up about 4:30 and walk around. I think that was when he actually peed cuz the pad was soaked in the AM. This is also around the time his foster dad got up (4:30-5), so I think we just have to retrain his schedule. This am he had a morning walk, about 8AM, had breakfast, and I was trying to watch him, but he darted out of my site for 30 seconds, and must have marked, as the pad was suddenly wet. DH took him out immediately. We will try to watch him more carefully, and maybe take him out again shortly after eating.

Hugs and good thoughts with you today, as you send Gia on her journey. I totally understand your decision, having just made it just 10 days ago. We did have 4 people there for Opie, So your xishDH loves her, he should be there. Peace to you all.

I am so sorry to hear this about Gia. We just had to make this decision too - pain meds no longer working at all. Hugs and support at this most difficult time. As far as your to be XDH - think of what is best for Gia, if there are not too many reprocussions for you.

I hope you have luck with your girl going this route. Its promising I think that she wants to play again today. She is still having fun and life is good.

Me too, just lost our beautiful Opie to cancer. It is a horrible disease. I hope you can get some more time with your hound.

Thank you all, its been a difficult week. The shock, the pain, the speed at which this all progressed, the exhaustion, the empty house. i haven't even had the strength to post in Remembrance yet. But I will soon. If anyone needs any of the meds we have, please PM me, and I will be happy to pass them on.

Opie is gone, passed peacefully today around 4:30 pm Pacific time. We went to the vet's office, as he loves it there. He perked up on the ride over, hanging his head out the window for his last ride,. He was surrounded by love - me, DH, my son, and a good friend of ours, all holding and petting him and telling him he was a good boy. Our heats are broken, the house has never felt so cold and empty, and there are signs of him everywhere - his toys, clothes, beds. I will post more in Rememberance in a few days when I am able to gather my thoughts. Right now I am just in an abyss of pain.

Opie has had a few bad nights, increased the meds of the gab - 200 mg 3X. It knocks him out, but he still wanders aimlessly and pants, and won't eat again. Last night spit up anything DH tried to give him. He has bruises on the insides of his thighs, we think he fell night before last, as heard these bangs, he was wandering at night. He continues to get weaker, and it is breaking our heats, but we think it may be time. We have a call in to the vet. We cant stand to see him like this, all the spark is gone. Please pray for us. I can't stop crying.

Yes, decided to do that since he still seems in pain - went to 3X a day, like the Tramadol. He just got doses of both now. Hopefully this will be better. DH just got some food down him too - Braunshweiger, sliced beef, and prescription food. Thanks

We got a mixture of liver and chicken pieces, slightly cooked, then chopped in the blender, green tripe and the prescription food, and some softened kibble in milk down him. DH had to put it in his mouth, but he did swallow most of it. I just looked at my last post, and the Tramadol is actually 2 50mg pills 3X. It is just killing us to look at him - our strong vibrant boy, now so skinny, not wanting to walk on his outings (we leash walk - now its just around the yard), just sort of aimlessly walking around the house. He's so restless too. After the tramadol, he seems to nod out, but laying in certain positions seems to hurt him. Don't know if its the rib tumor, or others possibly internally. He has little lumps in lots of places we can feel. The vet also thinks he might have a mass in or near his stomach -as she felt him, one side is harder, the other soft. At this point we don't want to put him through xrays, as he would have to be sedated. It won't change anything we are doing. I am starting to question if it is time - but then he gets up and seems his alert self for a bit. He even took treats from the vet yesterday, something he never does. She too said his alert moments he looks like his old self. Its so hard, hard to think about letting him go, to know when, hard to think this has all happened so fast - 1 month ago our boy was bouncing, jumping, eating, and we were just monitoring the lump on his rib. We will try ensure today, and see if there is any rallying on his part as he gets more nutrition in him. Thanks so much for all your prayers, suggestions, posts, general support. And to all of you here that are going through this journey too, my heart goes out to you.

Vet did prescribe the gabapentin. Starting with 1 every 12 hours, going to 1 every 8 hours, then evaluate for pain. This was added to the Tramadol 50mg, 2 pills, 2X) and Rimydyl(100mg 1X).. We also bought some green lamb and beef tripe in cans, and some prescription food high in calories. DH just made some chicen pieces and beef liver slightly sauted up, and putting in blender to chop. We will mix with baby good, and spoon feed to him. Also getting some boost or ensure tomorrow. Imperative that we get some food and nourishment down him to help him get some strength back. I'll let you know how he does on all this.

Going to the vet this AM. He is very weak from not eating (didn't eat much again yesterday). I don't think he has much time left.

I've written this down, and will ask when we go in tomorrow. This AM he is actually not too bad, and he decided he was hungry last niht - another wing and neck piece, and 5 cookies - Costco, and TJ's peanut butter ones. One day at a time .....

Opie is not doing well. He seems to have gone downhill so quickly, in the past week when he stopped eating. He is in pain, so we have upped his tramedol to 2 tabs every 8 hours now. We will be seeing the vet on Wednesday to see what else we can do.

Best news ever!!

We were concerned about not eating kibble, like he wouldn;t get enough vitamins or something. Today he ate beef and turkey sandwich meat, 3 slices of braunshweiger, about 4 cookies, and a chicken wing. About to give something for dinner now, and hope he eats it. Yes, he has some prescription thing for his tummy - vet did this to get him to start eating. May go back to the pepcid when it runs out, and give twice a day before meals. This is a vast improvement over this weekend, when he just refused to eat, period. He must have been in pain, as the pain meds seem to have made a big difference, and he is eating now, just not his regular food. Well, we will do and cook what we have to, to keep him eating and strong.

We don't know for sure if its osteo or what, but its definitely some sort of cancer. Will try the scrambled egg - he used to like it, but who knows what he will or will not eat now.

I have (sadly) started posting in the Osteo thread. Opie is having major eating issues now. He basically stopped eating Friday night. We went to the vet Mon AM, and got a pain med regiment, and started him on that. He is eating better, but still not like normal. He will eat turkey necks, chicken wings, raw hamburger, Burbdog Biscuits (LOL!), dog bakery cookies my son brought, any type of sandwich meat, but NO kibble. DH just force fed him, with a spoon, about half a bowl tonight, to get it down him. I don't know where this pickiness is coming from. He seems perkier, and not doing that puking type cough he also started to do this weekend (probably because he had no food in his stomach, and was coughing up bile.) Since we do not want to do any surgery, will be deciding on what other type of treatment might help. Also going to be starting him on Arteminisin (sp?) someone is kindly sending to us. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, they are so appreciated, you have no idea.