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4My2Greys

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Posts posted by 4My2Greys

    Osteo Thread Part V I I

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Casper went in yesterday for his CBC work and we talk about a different game plan for his phantom pain. My doc took him off 4 meds and added 2. He is still on his appetite meds (2), Gabapentin, Deramaxx (NSAID), and Diazepam (anti anxiety). Its only been 24 hours but its been the best 24 hour in a week. And he seems to be eating a bit better too. He needs to put weight on. Thank god for Ensure. I mix it with sweet potatoes or pumpkin...he laps it up!!

    I don't know how receptive you are to trying homeopathic remedies, but here is one I remembered reading about that is suppose to help with phantom limb pain after amputation.

     

    http://www.homeopathyforhealth.net/2010/02/16/symphytum-officinale-a-homeopathic-first-aid-remedy/

    Panting Episodes And Pale Gums

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Normally they are nice and pink. It's only during these panting episodes that I notice them to be grey looking and feel cold. He's been having ultrasounds and radiographs done at Auburn. At his last visit they did an ultrasound to monitor the aortic thrombus and chest radiographs to check for signs of heart failure or lung disease, neither of which were found. His blood was also tested to see if it was oxygenating adequately, which it was. We go back Wednesday for a recheck and I will be bringing this up. My thoughts are because the panting and pale, cold gums are not constant it might be that it is being caused by small clots intermittently being sent to his lungs. Unfortunately the only way to test further for this would be a CT and angiography study which would require anesthesia which due to his heart condition is not recommended.

    Osteo Thread Part V I I

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    ...Well, this year she turned 11 in May and after that it was like someone pressed a button and overnight she began to show signs of weakness. She started struggling on our walks. Panting heavily without exercise. Being fussy about eating. Losing weight, etc..

     

    So, my question for everyone would be...

     

    What are we missing here?? We are straining our brains to figure out what could possibly be causing the severe weakness in her hind leg. We know old age is a factor and also the fact that her one rear leg has been doing the work of 2 for almost 5 years now! Could it be muscle weakness and have nothing to do with bone?

     

     

    It breaks my heart to see her struggle so much, yet I know we are blessed to have her still with us! She still has that zest for life...her eyes tell me that. But she can't figure out how to make her body do what her mind wants to do.

     

    I appreciate any help or advice. Maggie-Mae does too!

    The same thing started happening to Nadir back in November of last year. He was not only panting during walks, but his backend was so weakened that the slightest nudge and sometimes not even that would cause his backend to collapse. When I had him in at Auburn in May for an abdominal ultrasound for a bladder problem it was discovered that he had a large thrombus in the aortic trifurcation. Depending where a thrombus gets lodged it can cause varying degrees of weakness and even paralysis. It is also can be very painful, which could attribute to the panting. If you haven't already have a ultrasound done to check for something like this. Right now you can check the pulses of her femoral arteries to help check for this. Nadir's is strong in his left leg and absent in his right. Indicating part or all the thrombus has migrated down his right leg.

     

    http://greytarticles.wordpress.com/medical-first-aid/blood-heart-vascular/aortic-thromboembolism-are-greyhounds-at-risk-4310/

    Osteo Thread Part V I I

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Buddy update: He is not doing well, in a lot of pain this week. I'm checking with oncologist to see if another round of radiation is even an option for him. I'm not ready, but then I'll never be ready. This boy is the love of my life! :(f8a8a8ddbb732723db2c3db0e170d5d7.jpg

    That is such a great picture of you two together. I hope the radiation gives you more time with your boy.

    Panting Episodes And Pale Gums

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Nadir has been having several episodes of heavy breathing and panting daily which the vet from Auburn has attributed either to (1) pain related to thrombus migration down his leg blocking bloodflow to his right leg or (2) small thrombii being sent to the lungs intermittently. Right now he is on 300mg of gabapentin and 50mg of tramadol 2X a day and 100mg of amantadine 1X a day, which I would think would be sufficient if pain related. What I have started noticing lately is that during these episodes his gums are often pale grey and cold feeling. Would this support the latter thought from the vet that small thrombii are being sent intermittently to his lungs?

    Buddy Has Lymphoma

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    He really is. Thank you for getting him to me.

     

    A big hurdle is how to tell the kids in the neighborhood. They literally wait for us to walk so they can pet him and get kisses. One little boy told me he had drawn a picture of Buddy and had it on his wall. A couple of months later a car slowed down, the window rolled down and a lady said "Is that Buddy? I said yes and she said "my son has a picture of him on the wall in his bedroom". At another house the little boy saved a chicken McNugget from his meals to give to Buddy. There are going to be a LOT of broken hearted kiddos up and down this block. :(

     

     

    It sounds like he lived up to his name. How sad to be losing such a sweet dog. I'm so sorry :cry1

    :grouphug

    Health Insurance - Worth It?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I looked into insurance right after losing Bruiser and Beanie to cancer. I then considered the fact that Nadir had already been documented with intestinal and urinary issues and since insurance wouldn't pay for pre-existing conditions I didn't see much worth in it so I didn't get it. Now he's been diagnosed with a heart condition and thrombus. Just 6 weeks into this diagnosis and I've already spent close to $2,500 with more tests and bills to come, which would have been covered had I opted to get the insurance.

    Oxybutynin - Anyone Have Experience

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    The reason I brought Nadir to the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Clinic is to try to get an answer about what is causing his urination problem. Bloodwork, urinalysis, and ultrasound provided no clues. Any further testing to determine a defining diagnosis would require anesthesia, which they do not recommend considering his heart condition. The vet we saw yesterday feels it is a problem with the muscles of the bladder wall not relaxing and therefore the bladder not being able to fill like it should. She wants to try Oxybutynin to see if that will help. I'm ok with trying this, but wanted to make sure no one knows of any bad reactions greyhounds have had using this drug.

    Nadir's Echo And Ultrasound Results

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I know this sounds crazy to ask but, have you checked for proteinuria??

    Tracey, at this point nothing is crazy and all suggestions and advice are greatly appreciated. I don't know if they did or not. I know when Nadir's urination problems started back at the end of 2008 he showed high levels of protein and blood in his urine. The urine microalbumin was also high, a 4.6 when it should be <2.5. I should get the discharge paperwork this afternoon from Dr. Townsell . I will email her back and ask about this.

    I did a little quick reading on it and as I understand it it is something that can occur as a result of heart disease. If proteinuria is part of his problem how is it treated?

    Nadir's Echo And Ultrasound Results

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I took Nadir to Auburn today to have a 2nd echo done to check if there was any worsening of his heart condition and 3rd ultrasound to check the status of the thrombus that was found on the first visit back in May. When I told them of the increased panting when I just walk him around the yard to use the bathroom there was concern he was going into heart failure. Thankfully the echo showed no worsening of his heart condition. We still don't know what is wrong with his heart, bloodwork doesn't give any clue to an underlying cause. They're sending blood to NC State to have a full tick panel run to rule out TBD. After that the only thing left to do would be a biopsy and considering the condition of his heart that is not happening. The ultrasound also showed good news in that the thrombus was smaller. The bad news is that one of the reasons it was smaller is because part of it broke off and traveled down and is occluding the blood flow to his right leg. Turns out the panting he's been doing is from the terrible pain this causes :(. Amantadine has been added to his pain regimen along with the gabapentin and tramadol and the clopidogrel to prevent more clots forming.

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