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seeh2o

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    Pet Insurance

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    I have had PetFirst for almost a year, they are great at paying claims. HOWEVER, please note that if your dog develops a chronic condition when it comes time to renew the policy the next year they look at it as a brand new policy rather than a renewing policy and will exclude any claims for that condition from that point on. Excerpted from their paperwork: Exclusions include: "Continuous coverage of chronic and long term conditions that manifest in a previous policy year".

     

    When I read that initially, I thought no big deal, I've not had any dogs ever with a chronic condition. Well, now I do. Come next February they exclude any claims for Carl that are thyroid related - I believe this includes his eye condition. That's one of the reasons why I'm on a tear to get him to all the specialists (of course to get the condition diagnosed correctly and get him on the path to being ok is the #1 reason) before his policy expires in Feb. I'm just glad that I started way early as we've been to 2 vets and one eye specialist...2 incorrect diagnosis later and we're headed to a REAL veterinarian ophthalmologist at the beginning of December.

    What Brand Of Dog Food Do You Feed Your Greyhounds - Revisited

    in Food and dietary discussion

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    It would be helpful to have a None button under "What brands of canned food do you buy for mix-ins?" I never use canned food as a mix in. Mix in is Grizzly Salmon oil and/or pumpkin.

     

    Right now Carl is getting CA Natural Herring and Sweet Potato, but since they just reduced the bag size from 36 lbs to 30 lbs for the same price (a 16% increase) I think I will be switching him back to Kirkland.

     

    Treats vary, sometimes Wellness, sometimes baked Health Bars, also they sometimes get beef tendons.

     

    Eagle Pack, Eagle Pack Holistic & California Natural are kibbles that many here use and are missing from the list.

    Our Beautiful, Sweet Andy

    in Remembrance

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    Oh, Judy, I am so so very sorry to read this. It's nearly incomprehensible that you've lost him so suddenly. He missed her so much, he was so heartbroken when he lost her, it seems like it's the same for them as it is for us. Rest assured they are together now, sweet Andy is with his girl Emmy.

     

    Edited to say that after reading all your posts about Emmy's journey and how Andy was by her side through all of it, though I never met him, in learning that he is gone it makes me feel like I've somehow suffered a loss, too. He and his story, through you, touched so many of us. Such a gentle and tender soul, that Andy.

    Phaelin Had A Seizure Last Night

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    We got the lab results back on Phaelin.....the urinalysis is fine and the bloodwork came out pretty much ok too. His thyroid level is low, so I'll be taking him back in for more testing on that.

     

    Mike and I have realized that the seizure we saw was more than likely his second seizure. :( I'm hoping he doesn't have any more, but I'm a little more prepared now if he does.

     

    That cuts both ways, it's a comfort to know his labs are all good, but so frustrating that there's nothing to point to that can be "fixed".

    Taking Rudy In Today For A Thyroid Test

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    Um ... I respectfully disagree with those who would submit a full thyroid panel for a dog who -1- does not have hypothyroid-specific symptoms, and most especially -2- does not show anything even vaguely resembling a low T4. The T4 is in range for other breeds, let alone greyhounds. To say that such a dog needs a full thyroid panel is to say that every dog needs a full thyroid panel. I really don't believe that that is true, and I would challenge you to find a vet -- other than perhaps Dr. Dodds -- who agrees with you.

     

     

     

    ETA: If you read MSU's FAQ: http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/FAQ/Endocr...roid_Canine.php -- keeping in mind that these folks are the gold standard for thyroid testing in dogs -- you will find that there are some conditions where there may be a normal T4 and still be thyroidal illness. Those conditions are so few and far between that I would not even think of spending the $ for a panel in this case. The dog has no truly pathological symptoms, and nothing that points to hypothyroidism. He's a shy greyhound, newly out of kennel and in a home. Nothing pathological or hypothyroidic about that at all.

     

    That's good information. My post suggesting a full thyroid panel was based on the symptoms listed in OP (not merely what Rudy's T4 results were), which, collectively, are classic symptoms or hypothyroid:

     

    Several people suggested I have his thyroid checked. After reading about the symptoms, he has quite a few:

     

    Excessive thirst

    bacterial skin infections

    depression

    rough coat

    darkened pigmentation of the skin

    balding

    sensitive to cold

     

    Aside from that, it's sure not going to do any harm to run the full panel, the cost isn't that much more, even sending to U of M, the cost of the test (not including shipping) is listed as $41.00.

     

    I'm also responding based on my very recent (last week!) experience with Carl. He has only 1 classic symptom of hypothyroid, patterned balding. His non-classic symptom, which we are trying to determine if it is related to being hypothyroid, are corneal rings. When he started losing his fur last June the vet ran a full blood panel (not a full thyroid panel) on him and his T 4 was well within normal range, but the symptom(s) continued to get worse, so I followed up with an eye specialist. His diagnosis felt very tentative and unsure, so I went to vet #3 who ran the thyroid panel and we discovered that his T4 and free T4 values were low.

    Taking Rudy In Today For A Thyroid Test

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    I agree, I would insist on a FULL thyroid panel, there should be no disagreement as he is your dog and you are paying the bill for the test. If your vet balks or refuses I would start looking for another vet. I had to do that with Carl.

     

    Here is an excerpt and a link to Jean Dodd's page about thyroid testing. We sent Carl's blood there for testing, Dr. Dodd's does the diagnostic analysis as well.

     

    "Note, Regarding Thyroid testing:

     

    The COMPLETE Thyroid Panel is needed for an ACCURATE diagnosis and assessment of Thyroid Function. Dr. Dodds' Thyroid Panel # D8T provides the values for: T3, T4, free T3, free T4, T3 Autoantibodies and T4 Autoantibodies. The fee for that testing is $65., which includes Dr. Dodds' expert interpretation."

     

    Website link

    Monty Has A Weird Lump: Chemo Started Post 384

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    I've had two dogs, non-greys, with lipomas. They usually don't take them out as they may grow back. Sheila has had one for years, it gets smaller, then back to the size it was when I noticed it, then smaller again. They did a needle aspiration to determine what it was. It will stay put unless it starts to limit her mobility - it's on the side of her rib cage, close to her front elbow.

     

    My fingers are crossed for it being a mere swollen bruise from playing or, second best news - a lipoma.

    Taking Rudy In Today For A Thyroid Test

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by ckruzan

    Good luck to you and Rudy. Please keep us posted.

     

    Carl and I just started traveling down that road last Tues., got the results that afternoon, started Soloxine that night. He only had two symptoms of thyroid and only one of them was common - patterned fur loss. The other odd symptom has been clouding on his corneas (misdiagnosed once, maybe twice).

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