seeh2o

I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience. Having to put your dog to sleep is always heartbreaking, but it should never be made more difficult. When my Chaka had to be put to sleep (a fast growing aggressive cancer took her in two weeks) they told me they would give her a sedative to make her unconscious then the second shot would make her pass. This is my vet's protocol so there was no question as to one or two shots. They did warn me that with the second shot there might be some sort of spasm or appearance of a seizure. I sat with her on the floor of the exam room, they gave her the first shot and she fell asleep in my arms. I picked her up and carried her to the back room where the procedure table was, I was crying, but trying not to make any sounds as I didn't want upset Chaka, they say we can hear when we are unconscious, so I was trying to be strong for her. I placed her on the table, everyone else (the vet techs) were all crying, too. I left before the last shot was administered because I couldn't bear to have my last memory of her struggling. By the time I left her eyes were closed and she was deeply asleep. Before I left the vet's wife (she is the office manager) came in to check on me, she shared with me that he had just gone through the same thing the day before with his own dog - it was his dog of many many years. I felt so bad for him and everyone there that they had to go through this again so soon, but I was (and still am) deeply grateful for their empathy and caring for both Chaka and me.

I have a Prius and Carl is always harnessed and belted in the back seat, even for a quick trip down to the store. He wears a step-in harness which came with a clip to a D ring on the back of his harness and the other part snaps into the seatbelt. I got this shortly after I got him. I didn't give him time to adjust to it, I just put him in it and that was it. I also leave his leash on him, it makes it easier to grab when he gets out. If he were to be able to get out of his restraint I'd feel better about him having his leash on so I (or someone else) could grab him quickly. A friend was in an accident an her dog wasn't restrained, he nearly died from being tossed around in the car. I took my lesson through her awful situation.

That's a great idea! Maybe you could make it in town sometime and join us. RainShine, I just sent you an email!

Wow! Welcome and thanks for posting that. It is a very good warning/lesson for those of us who are caffeine dependent with a BIG sweet tooth and have curious greys. Carl has been know to steal a slurp of red wine when I'm not looking. Naughty boy. I hope Panda recovers quickly.

Oh good! That's great news, I can only imagine what possibilities must have been going through your mind.

I'm glad she's doing well! Carl reports there has been no ice cream coming his way. He wants to move to Palm Springs with his REAL friends! I think he's in the other room packing as I type this.

If your close we should meet up sometime and walk the hounds together! I usually go to Griffith Park in the early evening or shorter walks at Ferndell in Griffith Park in the afternoon. Or.., maybe you have another suggestion? I live 1/2 block from Elysian Park, so Carl and I usually go on a very utilitarian walk there every morning. As much as I love some of the trails in Elysian Park, there are many many many off leash dogs, so I limit the trails we travel. I'd love to meet up and go on the jungle walk in your pictures! Is that in the Ferndell? I have Fridays off, so maybe we could go some morning or late afternoon (Carl isn't supposed to be out from 10 - 3 because of his Pannus and he really really hates to wear the Doggles). Let's do it!

I'm so glad to hear that she was able to walk out of the office on her own. It must have been heartbreaking to see her so immobilized. Carl is asking what flavors of ice cream Misty, Wayne and Ekko have had today. He's getting ideas.

Just got off the phone with the vet. Misty's thyroid level is right where we want it. He's agreed to cut the bandages off this afternoon which I know will make her feel better.Connie, she is milking this for all it's worth Wayne wants to say hi to his buddy Carl I'm glad to hear Misty's thyroid is good - whew, one worry off the table. Good luck with her bandages coming off. You DO know why she's been laying on her bed, don't you? She is waiting for you to fan her with palm fronds, of course. Carl says "Hey Wayne!" He advises that Misty and Wayne really do need lots of ice cream to get through this trying ordeal. Hey, wait, now Carl is telling me that he needs ice cream, too! I smell a conspiracy....or a frozen drumstick?!

Carl was diagnosed with Pannus in June. I bought him some Doggles, they aren't the best fitting, they look stupid and he isn't too keen on them. Like others have posted, it's just easier to keep him out of the sun between 10 - 3.

Oh no! Poor Misty! Poor Claudia! How long with the bandages need to be on? How is she holding up? Poor baby, I hope she gets some relief soon so she can start ruling the roost properly again!

I am soooo happy to hear that Sunny is doing well and has a great home. It sounds like he's close to where I live, if Carl and I are lucky, maybe we'll run into you some day! He has such a sweet face, it sounds like his name matches his personality. Congratulations to you, Sunny and many thanks to all those involved in helping him find his forever home!!!

Oh, poor Gus. We are sending lots of healing thoughts his way, and lots of "cool you jets, Dude" thoughts to Uncle.

Poor sweet little thing. She had the energy to be bright, interested and wag her tail. We're rooooting for you little girl.

I am so sorry. I'm so glad you were together at the end. Take some comfort in knowing that she absolutely knew she was loved.

Carl was on it for 4 - 5 months for SA, he had no side effects that I could detect nor any digestive problems. As I recall it took about 10 days for it to get up to therapeutic level.

That's great news, better living through chemistry!

Thanks again Claudia for keeping me from going off the deep end! I am @ Ed's in Las Vegas and it's probably as hot here as it is at your place, so it is significantly warmer than what we (my delicate flowers Carl, Sheila and I!) are used to. By day 2 of being here his fur loss looked even worse than it did at home, so of course being the Munchausen mom that I'm turning into, it has been looking worse every day we've been here (4 now). I am finishing up with the fish oil pills I brought with us and am going to take your advice and get the EicosaDerm. From what I'm gathering here it sounds like this is fairly typical for summer and he has no other symptoms of a thyroid problem. Can you hear me saying to myself, "he's ok Connie, he's ok??!!!" Now for the big decision, switch back to EP or stay with the Kirkland Costco kibble. If I switch and he gets better I'll never know, if I don't switch and it starts growing in I'll know it is seasonal. Oh the conundrum of pet ownership.

Last May I tried Carl on Costco Lamb, it was so stinky (for me) I switched him back to Eagle Pack Holistic anchovy et al. Then the price went up (along with gas prices - the store that carries "reasonably" priced EP is 45 miles round trip), so in June I switched him to Costco Chicken. Big mistake, his poop was way pudding. Last month I started switching him back to the Costco Lamb because his coat was nice and poop was nice on it...I just hold my breath when I open the lid on the container. Sometime in May or June I noticed he was starting to lose what little fur he had grown on his thighs over the winter (he came to me with bald thighs August 07). I assumed he was shedding his winter coat and it would grow back this fall. Well, his thighs are nearly smooth in back and the hair loss is creeping around his thighs. The areas of the thin skin web between his body and the top of his thighs are now both getting thin. He had a CBC with T4 thyroid test mid June, it all came back normal. Could the thinning of his fur be because of all the food switching I did? Please bear in mind that I switched the food slowly over a week or more. I'm not normally a food switcher, but things got very expensive very fast, so I was looking for high quality alternatives to the EP. He is eating, drinking, sleeping and behaving completely normal, no changes in temperament, etc. Mid June he was diagnosed with Pannus, we are treating it with Pred. drops 3 x a day. From everything I've read about the Pred drops they work locally and are not a systemic concern. Though the timing is such that it makes me suspicious. If it seems like it's a food thing I'll donate the new bag of Costco Lamb to a local greyhound group and immediately put him back on the EP Holistic. I'm considering making an appointment with a vet that is recommended by one of the local groups I work with, though my vet seems very grey savvy. Does anyone have any experience with symptoms like this? I look forward to hearing past experience and advice...thanks in advance!

I am just now seeing this. I am so very very sorry, I just can't believe it. She (and you) fought so hard, this is so unexpected. My heart goes out to you, your family and sweet Andy. She is in a much better place now.

Carl, my grey, developed Pannus in June, so it's a lifetime of medication. Sheila, my non-grey Shiba Inu/Chow mix, developed SARDS 1.5 years ago and is now totally blind. No medication needed.

Fantastic!

I don't have any info to help, but I sure am sorry for all you guys are going through.

I'm glad she's doing better. Poor little thing. Feel better soon, Zuma!

Poor baby. I'm glad it's not as bad as first thought. Best wishes for Zuma....and you!