seeh2o

One of my dogs has SARDS (sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome) and went blind from it. I've learned that even after they have aclimated to being blind they can sometimes become disoriented. There is a supplement that many people on the yahoo group, Owners of Blind Dogs, use with some success. Humans also use it to help lessen "forgetting". I think it's time for me to start taking it. I think it's also time for my dog with SARDS to start taking it. Now we'll both be taking the same supplements! Anyway, here is a link to a website where vet discusses it and an excerpt from it which discusses it - Phosphatidylserine. Link "Dear Dr. Shawn: ”I was wondering if pets get Alzheimer’s disease like people? I know this is a common problem in older people and I’m worried about my older dog becoming senile as she gets older.” Answer: ” While pets don’t actually develop Alzheimer’s disease, both dogs and cats develop a condition called cognitive disorder. While the condition appears new, it is not and has been recognized by veterinarians for many years. There are a number of clinical signs in pets with cognitive disorder. These signs are often accepted by owners as normal signs of aging, when in fact they are signs of a (usually) treatable condition. Owners must be taught that any of these signs warrants a full evaluation. Education must begin before the first geriatric visit. Regular geriatric examination, ideally every 6-12 months, will facilitate communication and allow for early diagnosis of cognitive disorder and other conditions often seen in geriatric dogs. Common signs in dogs and cats with cognitive disorder include wandering aimlessly, vocalizing for no reason, getting stuck in a corner, increased daytime sleeping, seeking less attention, loss of house training, and seeking less attention. Because these signs can mimic other conditions (cancer, hypothyroidism), these pets should receive a full workup prior to the diagnosis of cognitive disorder. The drug AniprylR is approved for treating cognitive disorder in dogs. It must be given daily for the life of the dog once the diagnosis is made. Side effects are rare in dogs and included restlessness, disorientation, vomiting, anorexia, weakness, anemia, stiffness, and polydipsia. The major concern among owners is the cost: a one month supply for a 30 pound dog costs about $125. There are other more natural alternatives, including herbal preparations (gingko, lycopodium, salvia,) thyroid supplement (when hypothyroidism is the cause), nutritional supplementation using whole food preparations of vitamins such as inositol and lecithin, and a specific product which combines choline and several other nutrients (choline, phosphatidylcholine, methionine, inositol, and various B vitamins.) Acetylcholine is a widely distributed neurotransmitter in the body. Choline loading using choline provides additional choline which can be used to make acetylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) is part of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells and provides additional choline for acetylcholine synthesis. Methionine and inositol also are involved in neurotransmitter metabolism. It has been suggested that aging people and pets begin to lose cholinergic nerve receptors, and certainly diseases such as human dementia and senility and cognitive disorder are most common in aged patients. Since oral choline administration increases plasma choline levels, and since brain levels of acetylcholine increase as plasma choline levels increase, using choline loading/supplementation has the ability to improve neurological disorders that result from decreased acetylcholine. Natural therapies have proven extremely effective in most pets in my practice, without the expense or side effects of drug therapy. Therapy is given for 2 months to assess efficacy (as is true with any nutritional therapy,) although results may occur more quickly."

Geez louise, I meant to type, "Poor little poopsie" not poopr. Oye. How's your little patient doing?

How about trying an unlubricated condom, then put a sock over it, then the vet wrap, then a zip lock bag. The condom will fit the paw and leg nice and snug and will surely stay put for a short trip outside. The big plus is that condoms are cheap and disposable, just make sure it's not lubricated.

I'm so sorry. I wish Scooter a safe and peaceful passage tomorrow. Make sure the people around you know what is happening, let them take good care of you tomorrow and in the days to come.

Poopr little poopsie. How is she doing this evening? Are you going to take her to the vet tomorrow?

I agree. Right now I'd try to make his diet as simple as possible. Once you figure out what works for him you can start adding things. You can get raw bones from your local butcher shop and just keep them in the freezer. Some dogs don't like frozen bones, others don't care...you'll just have to experiement. As for the couch...Carl jumped on the couch within 30 seconds of entering the house for the first time...on the other hand, it took him a month to take a treat from my hand, 4 months to jump on the bed, 5 months to sleep on the bed and just last night for the first time his tail helicoptered! Each week he reveals a new part of himself/learns something new about himself and gains new confidence in the new forever domestic world he now finds himself living in. It's an amazing process. I've had all my dogs from puppies, so adopting a 4.5 year old dog who had a career and did not learn how to be a domestic dog until now is really an amazing experience. Don't get me wrong...it has not all been flowers and puffy sleeves...if you read my past posts there were times I wasn't sure I would be able to keep him because of some really bad separation anxiety. Ultimately, he is an adult dog with puppy-like domestic-world experience. The good thing about that is that he is an adult so, developmentally he catches on quick, it doesn't seem like it is going to take him the 1 - 2 years it takes a young to dog to learn and "figure it out". He is teaching me that each dog finds his/her how pace, it's amazing to watch each layer of the onion reveal itself as it is ready. Hmmm...sounds sort of zen-like!

Thanks so much for catching that, I overlooked it. I'd also add, if there is anything on that list that makes human pooh runny it will surely do the same for a greyhound...PRUNES, etc.

I was thinking the same thing. Carl's body runs very hot, he's not a dog that needs a coat when going outside (granted it only gets down to the low 40's here in SoCal) and if I cover him with something as light as a sheet when he's sleeping he wakes up panting like mad. Even on a cool day, Carl gets hot in the car (a cool-to-me-car), I either have to open a window for him or turn on the a/c. It may just be too hot in your house for him.

Here are some other foods high in potassium, you may have some of these in your kitchen: Food, measurement, # of mg Apricots, dried 10 halves 407 Avocados, raw 1 ounce 180 Bananas, raw 1 cup 594 Beets, cooked 1 cup 519 Brussel sprouts, cooked 1 cup 504 Cantaloupe 1 cup 494 Dates, dry 5 dates 271 Figs, dry 2 figs 271 Kiwi fruit, raw 1 medium 252 Lima beans 1 cup 955 Melons, honeydew 1 cup 461 Milk, fat free or skim 1 cup 407 Nectarines 1 nectarine 288 Orange juice 1 cup 496 Oranges 1 orange 237 Pears (fresh) 1 pear 208 Peanuts dry roasted, unsalted 1 ounce 187 Potatoes, baked, 1 potato 1081 Prune juice 1 cup 707 Prunes, dried 1 cup 828 Raisins 1 cup 1089 Spinach, cooked 1 cup 839 Tomato products, canned sauce 1 cup 909 Winter squash 1 cup 896 Yogurt plain, skim milk 8 ounces 579 It made me think of Molly, too, that's why I thought it might be an instect bite or sting.

Do you have a banana? Try giving her a few bites of banana (mash it up with peanut butter). Potassium is a mineral that helps regulate muscle contractions. If she needs potassium that should make it go away fairly quickly.

Maybe try a warm compress. Can she walk on it? Maybe get her to move around and stretch it out. I'm trying to remember what I've done when I had one! So true about what big babies they can be, Carl is getting better, but when I first got him he was quite cry baby. If my foot even slightly brushed over his he'd start wailing.

Poor baby. Is it red and/or warm to the touch? Could it be a bee sting, insect bite or a spider bite?

Congratulations on your first dog...and your first greyhound! I've had Carl since mid August, he gets a drippy nose when he's excited and sometimes when he is really really happy/content. I agree with the panting as a nervous gesture, it will probably disapate. As for the loose poops, try about 2 big tablespoons of pumpkin pulp, the canned stuff you buy for pies, but without spices. Pumpkin is very helpful for loose poop. Try mixing it in with his dog food for a few days. It will probably help, it sure can't hurt.

We're pulling for you Molly! What luck that it happened in the vet's office. If it had happened at home or in the car while you were driving her to the vet it would have been even a bigger nightmare. I hope it was simply a bee sting that got infected, that would be the best news!

Those naughty dogs! My b/f's dog (a senior rott/lab mix) ate an entire 8 x 8 pyrex pan of brownies....pyrex pan and all. He took him to the vet and they gave him lots and lots of bread, water and put him on antibiotics to prevent infection. He still has the x-ray showing the glass inside of Ralph...dog intestines are spriral shaped...who knew?! He only threw up a little bit, they could hear the glass gurgling inside of him. He mostly pooped it out. Ask the vet about antibiotics for them to prevent infection if there are any cuts in the digestive tract as it passes. And more bread! Please keep us posted, it sounds like they are doing well.

That's what I have, too. It is good for at least 32 tough nails on one charge, I only have 2 dogs. It might go longer on one charge than that, it seems like it has enough juice to do it. The battery fully recharges in about 3 hours.

Whew!

I found this on another board where someone's senior pugs are having a problem: "Proin" is the medication for incontinence and "Phyto B" (made by Bezwecken) is the natural supplement. Phyto B is actually a natural horomone supplement made for women but apparently is used for animals as well, in case anyone googles it make sure to include "dogs"...anyway, those are two things prescribed by both a western and eastern practicing vet that have been successful...."

Is he developing some arthritis at the site of the injury? That can surely cause pain (it does me!). Maybe make sure his food contains glucosamin and chondroitin. Also add a supplement with both, like Longevity by Springtime.

How do they get a staph infection like this? Where can they pick it up? Fore warned is fore armed (I hope). Good luck and all our best to Latch for a speedy recovery.

That is such good news, I am so happy and relieved for both you and Dude. I cannot imagine how absolutely bone-chillingly frightening this must have been for you. Both of you, be well.

This is very good news. Please keep us up to date. Dude knows he is loved, I'm sure your visits do him a world of good. Maybe bring him some stinky tuna! You and Dude continue to be in our thoughts.

The other thing you could do is go to Target or Big Lots, buy a memory foam bed pad, cut it up into dog-bed sized pieces (I do that for my dog's beds), slip it in a trash bag, put the vet's bed on top of it or with the vet fleece someone mentioned above. That way it would give him a gentle and padded place to sleep and still allow the vet's office a cleanable surface. It makes a lot of sense to not catheter him, he could get an infection from that which is fairly common, and he needs his body to focus on fighting the strychnine. Good healing thoughts to both of you. Please continue to keep us posted.

I'm so sorry. All our best wishes for a good outcome and speedy recovery.

My non-grey senior, Sheila, started having accidents in the house. At first blush the vet thought she had Cushings, it turned out to be SARDS (sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome) which initially mimics the symptoms of Cushings. With SARDS, the dogs suddenly lose their sight and slowly, very slowly, the Cushings symptoms dissipate. Wetting in the house and weight gain are hallmark symptoms of SARDS. A year later Sheila's wetting in the house happens only very occasionally. There is no prevention or treatment for SARDS, but Sheila is on an adrenal supplement because it can cause adrenal collapse. Head to the vet and best to you and your pooch.