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4My2Greys

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    Pseudomonas (joe)

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I know we have to have some bloodwork done on him so I shall ask them to do this as well. (um stoopid question - this is a blood test right???)

     

    Cricket had problems with her spinal cord white matter and neurological symptoms in her back end. It was tagged as "autoimmune disease" -- Angell memorial neurologist thought perhaps it could have been from untreated TBD. She was treated with long-term Prednisone and I walked her every day and made sure she got exercise to keep her muscle tone. The initial onset was pretty severe and she did cry out in pain. Once it settled down, she didn't seem to be in a lot of pain but she eventually grew worse and had a lot of weakness and knuckling over of her paws and eventually loss of bladder/bowel control. It was so sad watching her deteriorate from a very strong, confident healthy 4 1/2 year old dog. We had to say goodbye to her just a month after her sixth birthday because she lost the ability to use her front legs too.

     

    Not sure if it helps, but I remember reading about DM and thinking that her symptoms overlapped some.

     

    Donna,

    This is similar to what Nadir was experiencing just a month ago. He had lost all bladder control and was urinating on himself when he was lying in his bed. The pain had gotten so bad that he would attempt to get up when I'd try to get him to go outside but then would just drop back down. I was at the point of seriously thinking about having him put to sleep unless something could be found. One of the things they found on his bloodwork when I took him in was that his WBC count was extemely low. This happened a year ago also about the same time when he had a previous bad episode, his WBC count was extremely low then too. The vet I took him to then was able to get his immune system built up and I guess it put the Toxo in a sort of remission. She though like the others never thought to test him for tick borne diseases.

    When you take him in ask that they run a titers for tick borne diseases. This is different from the regular bloodwork that is done. You also want that done though too in order to check his immune system. This may not be Logan's problem but the charge for the tick borne panel titers is not that expensive. I know with Nadir when I took him in for the neuro exam it was $1,300 and they couldn't spot anything on the MRI. They could pinpoint the exact area he was having pain through manual manipulation of his spine but other than that nothing showed up. It wasn't until they got the result back from the tick titers a few days later that they found that he showed positive for Toxoplasmosis. I got billed separately for that later and the charge for that was only $130.

    Pseudomonas (joe)

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Donna,

    I hope that the antibiotics prescribed for Joe T. will knock out that nasty pseudomonas. I can't bear the thought of my favorite reporter with the GINORMOUS heart not being well.

    Just thought I would mention that I had been trying to find the cause of Nadir's recurring severe back pain for over 2 years now. I had taken him to 4 different vets and recently took him for full neurological exam at the University Vet School. X-rays, MRI, and spinal tap came back showing nothing. Turns out he showed up positive for Toxoplasmosis when they ran a tick panel. The toxoplasmosis was affecting Nadir's central nervous system. If Logan hasn't already been checked for something like this you might want to think about it. I wish one of the vets I had taken him to prior had thought to do it. It would have saved me $1000's and Nadir years of pain.

    Hugs to both your boys :grouphug

     

    Judy

    Monty Has A Weird Lump: Chemo Started Post 384

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Poor Monty and poor you. As you may know if you have been through a big surgery with another dog, the first days are the hardest - the surgery site is so new, and you and he need to get into a routine and smooth ways of doing and handling. If you live alone, see if someone can come and stay with you for at least the first day or two, if only to keep an eye on Monty while you have a break or run an errand.

     

    Here are some other things that helped us when Rickie had his surgery for hemangiopericytoma - he must have had a 100 staples - they had to create a skin flap because of the amount if tissue removed.

     

    - you can get people incontinence pads at the drugstore that are plastic on one side and absorbent on the other, if that helps with the bedding instead of / in addition to the plastic underlayer on the bedding

     

    - we confined him to one room (the kitchen) where there was no furniture to climb on, and where he could be in a safe corner but still where the action is

     

    - my husband or I was with him continuously for the first 2 weeks - we are fortunate in having jobs that allow us to work at home when we need to

     

    - we were religious about putting a cone on him except when we took him out to potty (like you, leash only in the backyard for the first while); tried the bite not and the soft cone but found the rigid one worked best - YMMV - he had no spare tissue so it was crucial that he not tear open the incision

     

    - we got one of those soft compresses from the drugstore that you can heat or chill and we used it, wrapped in a dish towel, alternating warm and cold, several times per day - the cold for swelling, the warm to encourage circulation (may not be an issue for you - it was for us because of the flap needing to maintain blood supply - we didn't want to lose any skin). Check with your vet if you like this idea, because with the drains etc., it may be contraindicated in Monty's case.

     

    - we turned the dining room into a bedroom - pushed the table and chairs into the living room and closed it off, then moved a mattress to the dining room, along with multiple dog beds (again, nothing to climb on)

     

    It does help in the early days that the pups are on so much pain medicine that they don't want to do too much anyway. I hope things go smoothly. You and Monty will be in my thoughts and prayers.

    These are amazing suggestions and i am printing out your post. I have not been through this before. I forgot to ask the vet if he can go upstairs but I bet he can't, oy vey. We will all have to sleep in the living room with him.

    I have a bite-not collar as he gets frantic with the E collar. I know it will work and doesn't freak him out as much. I am going to buy the incontinence pads you suggested.

    We will make the couch un-climable with pillows on it.

    My husband and son will help with his care, although they are gone all day tomorrow.

    thanks again, Karen

     

    Wanted you to know that Monty and you will be in my thoughts as you wait for his pathology report. Regarding the incontinence pads I thought I would mention that I got some for Nadir when he was having problems with incontinence. They were the 39" x 54" size pads for $9.99 at Target and for $7.99 at Wal-Mart. I know they were about a 1/3 of the price of the ones you get from the medical supply stores.

     

    If You Have Any Prayers Left...

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I don't think Misty has quite forgiven me for dropping her off at the vet this morning for her ACTH.I am trying to make it up to her with marshmallows :lol I think she has actually lost her interest in ice cream so can't use that anymore.

     

    How is your precious girl today?

    Mist has been renamed by a Gt'er who seems to know her well. She is now the Divine Miss M(or so she thinks) Big hugs to Lola and Rudy

     

    Thinking about the Divine Miss M and hoping that her test results come back good.

     

    Maybe you need to dress up that boring ice cream a little. Make it a double scoop sundae with marshmallow topping :thumbs-up:chow

     

    Gidge

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    We are picking her up at 12:30. Platelets are excellent. Bruising has spread, no change in urine. No results yet on the culture. They are testing for a TBD.

     

    Please keep her in your prayers.

     

     

    I'm so glad that your able to bring your sweet Gidge home. I hope that the vets soon find what is ailing her and treatment can be started so she's back on the road to better health. Continued healing thoughts :hope:candle and hugs :grouphug are coming both her way and yours.

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