rascalsmom

Yes, she's still on Cerenia, as well as ciprofloxicin. I keep wondering how much is too much....if you know what I mean. She is not a young dog.

Can anyone help me figure out why Ruby will willingly eat some things--graham crackers, milk bones---but will NOT eat canned dog food (or cat food, or tuna fish) on her own? I KNOW she *can* eat--heck, she can chew up a milk bone!!--but to get 'real' food into her, we have to syringe-feed....this is getting really frustrating.

We do have a great vet. She's wonderful. The tech who gave her the fluids, who is relatively new to the practice, told us that Dr. B. is "the best vet I've ever worked with." To top it off, she studied at OSU, with Dr. C., so she's extremely greyhound-savvy. AND she is great at explaining things thoroughly.

Finally back. They did bloodwork, and it showed she *may* have a bit of pancreatitis. However, the high-calorie prescription food, being very high protein, could cause that. Everything else was okay. They gave her subcutaneous fluids. She didn't think Ruby was extremely dehydrated, but she said even if they are a bit dehydrated, it can make them not want to eat. She gave Ruby an injection of Cerenia, for nausea. We also have tablets of the same thing to start her on tomorrow. She thinks Ruby may be getting a UTI, since I saw what looked like some sort of discharge in that area (on the bottom of her tail). So she'll be on ciprofloxacin for that. She checked Ruby's bladder, and thought it felt OK, so she is probably emptying it well. In all, she said Ruby looked "a lot better than I expected her to". Today, Ruby is trying to get up more on her own. We walked her outside when we brought her home, and she was actually moving pretty well, ON HER OWN--of course with us still using the slings. She again peed outside. Dr. B. said by this time next week we'll have a better idea of whether or not she might be able to reach the point of getting around on her own. That has to be my criteria--she has to be able to do that. And of course, to give her the best shot at that, she's got to start eating!! She weighed 61 pounds in January....today she was 52.4.

Ruby is still reluctant to eat. We're taking her to the vet today, to see what's up with that. Not eating=getting weaker and losing weight=minimizing her chances for recovery.

Most definitely. How to determine how much time is enough, to give her a chance, yet not wanting to put her through too much, if she'll not be able to at least get around on her own at some point....I don't need 100% recovery, just enough that she can get around by herself. That's all. I don't mind gimpiness....Our vet has told us 7-10 days, and we should know a lot more...today is the 5th day.

I talked to our vet about the lack of steroids, and she explained that even though that always used to be the thinking--neck injury=give steroids, she said they've found that the studies don't really prove that it always helps. They did give her a steroid injection when we took her in initially. Our vet is fine with Ruby not being on steroids.

We got Ruby outside early this a.m., and she initially seemed to be using her feet a little better, especially the front ones. Then she took a nice long pee. After that, though, she was tired, and wasn't moving as well. To be expected, I am sure. She did not want to eat yet today--I tried the maximum calorie food (just let me say, what a mess that is. She prefers to lap it off my fingers instead of out of a bowl....it's like baby food with sand mixed in. Yuck.), and I tried chicken. No go. Eric said he got her to eat a lot of chicken last night, while Emily and I went to her school's musical. I didn't feel like going, but it was good for me, and I enjoyed it. I think I needed to get out. I don't know if I should try syringe feeding her...or just give it a couple of hours. I do know that I cannot do this for a long period of time...even though she's 'smallish' as greyhounds go (60 pounds at a good weight, and she is no longer that ), it is very taxing physically, to get her up and about. And we MUST use two people, there's no way to do it alone. I know, I know, it's much more difficult for HER, but I am not a spring chicken anymore either.....

Some good news to report. Yesterday we managed to get two cans of the "maximum nutrition" food into Ruby, along with things like cheese, ham, treats. She's drinking water well, too. My DH took the afternoon off, and I took DD to her piano lesson. We returned about 40 minutes later, and DH says, "you aren't going to believe what your little girl did"--I thought he was going to say she pooped all over the place . He said he'd walked out to the garage to get a beer, and in that minute or so it took him to do that---when he returned to the living room, RUBY WAS STANDING UP!! She was off the dog bed and standing there looking at him!!! Unsteady, to be sure, but she GOT UP BY HERSELF!! I am so encouraged by this!! The old gal has the determination, apparently! Today she's moving her front legs a little better when we sling-walk her, but the back legs are slower, and the left one especially is knuckling under with each step. But hey, she's making some progress! Is it common for the healing to start in the front and work its way back, perhaps?? This morning she was entirely off the dog bed--had maneuvered herself from it to the floor. I told her she can't give up--Jack needs her! He hid in my bedroom for the two days she was in the hospital, and was acting more weird than usual--as soon as we brought her home, we was out of hiding. Poor fellow was like a ship without his captain--I guess nobody told him his name was BTR CAPTAIN Jack!

Thanks, Susan. It's great to "see" you here again!

Ruby is doing OK today. Last night, we left her in the living room and before we went to sleep we heard something...I jumped out of bed, and she wasn't in her bed! I found her in the kitchen, probably 12-14 feet from where we left her! I have no idea how she got there, since she can't stand on her own...but anyway, we got her up in the slings, and took her to the bedroom with us, and she started peeing when we were almost there....all over my foot, my bathrobe, the carpet, but who cares...got that cleaned up and her settled in and she slept all night. She peed again this morning, this time in the living room when we got her up in the sling (the one sling is pressing on her bladder, hence peeing). I did get her to eat almost a can (6 oz. can) of "maximum calorie" food. Last night she ate "canine carry-out" treats, cheese, and ham for Eric when he got home. She is drinking well. One of my friends came to see her this morning--the one who used to babysit our dogs--and Ruby seemed to remember her. I talked to our vet today, and she reassured me that it's okay for her to NOT be on steroids; also told me to give it 7-10 days before we feel we need to make a decision....if you know what I mean. Furthermore, I asked her if she'd come to the house when "the time" comes for either of the girls, and she said she would. That is reassuring, too. I love our vet.

She's home, and resting. Yes, they were giving her something via IV, probably fluids. They were also syringe feeding her, since she wouldn't eat. I cooked some hamburger, but she wouldn't eat it.

I just talked to a technician. She says Ruby is unchanged . She has not eaten, and she hasn't had any water. I need to get her home, because MAYBE she will drink and eat here. If she does neither, how much longer will she have? I will not watch her starve to death. If she is ready to go, I would rather her last days were at home. Of course the tech doesn't say anything regarding chiro or acupuncture...and the vet hasn't called. This is a really bad time for my DH to be out of town. Won't be home till probably 10:00 tonight.

Chiropractic and acupuncture are two things I'm going to ask them about, for sure. I am still waiting for their call...going to call in a few minutes if they don't. They told me between 10 and 2, and it's 2:20 now. No he didn't have the treatment. I just had it as my back-up plan so if I didn't do surgery he would be more comfortable. I think I all the info that I got when Cody had his. Lots of great vets/specialist in our area. The guy in Beaver came highly recommended. I'll see what I can find if you want/need it. My vet was all for chiro & acupuncture if I wanted. Like I said he just wanted me to wait it out and see if the meds worked first. Yea, not in pain my butt, poor baby. Cody yelps at times but usually will pant heavy when in pain, that's how I know to give him his meds. This past year with his age he's taking more, but still not up to what he's allowed a day. I do have to watch his back legs to see if they drag or not as this is a sign the vet wants me to come back. I know it just breaks your heart to see them like that, still does when Cody's in pain. I took Buddy to Dr. Kneuven (in Beaver) for acupuncture. He improved somewhat, but then we found out his major problem was lymphoma--the LS was a lesser problem, and we let him go once we found out it was lymphoma...so he only had a couple of acupuncture sessions.

Thanks for the encouragement, Pam. Did Cody have acupuncture? The weird thing is, they told me they don't think she's in pain. How could you have a neck injury like that and NOT be in pain??

I think she ran into the door because she wanted to go inside and eat. It was an hour before their dinner time, and Ruby ALWAYS knows when that is....I was reaching for the door, to let Rascal out, and Ruby thought the screen was open, and smashed into it. She couldn't've been 3 or 4 feet from it, truly.

I just spoke to the specialist. She says she thinks Ruby has a traumatic disc compression, and it 'may or may not' improve. No way to know. An MRI would show how bad it is, and if surgery is indicated, but the MRI is $1600-1800, and potential surgery is $2500-2800. And Ruby is nearly 12. We are not going to go that route, due to the cost for one thing, but also because I don't know that I'd want to put Ruby through that at her age. Our other option is to bring her home, and do physical therapy here--getting her up 3-4 times a day, doing range of motion exercises, keeping her clean and turned. She said some dogs show improvement in 1-3 days, some in 4-5 days, and that if a week goes by with no change, it's not a good sign. And there's no way to predict what would happen with Ruby. So that's it. Either she'll improve, or she won't. Of course the other option is to say goodbye to her. For now, she's going to stay there another night. I am in no position to bring her home myself and I can't expect my 14 year old to be a huge help. This is horrible.

Their neurologist will be back next Monday. I saw him with Buddy a couple of years ago. Thanks for the offer of help....if I have to get Ruby today, I will take my daughter to help. DH is, unfortunately, out of town today and won't be home till sometime tomorrow.

I know of a veterinary accupuncturist in Beaver, PA, which is fairly close. I took Buddy to him when Buddy was near the end....he had LS. Thanks for all the good info, DD. I will definitely ask them about a muscle relaxer or something like that. I just happen to have two harnesses, which Buddy used. I will need something to use as a sling, as well. Maybe a towel would work for that? Still haven't heard back from the specialist.

Yesterday, Ruby got hurt. She is almost 12 years old, and she tried going through our screen door. She was not running, and she hit it head-on. She went down instantly, and appeared to not be breathing...she was conscious, but not responsive. My daughter, who had CPR last year in 7th grade, was blowing into her mouth/nose....after trying to call our vet and not getting an answer, we put her in the car and took her to the e-vet. I thought she was certainly going to die right on our patio. By the time we got to the e-vet (30 minutes) she was breathing again, and her tongue was no longer purple/blue. They took xrays of her cervical spine, since it's her front legs that have been compromised. No fractures showed up, leading to thoughts of a disc injury. Her back legs seem pretty good, and she's urinating on her own. They started her on steroids last night. She spent the night there, and is to be seen today by a specialist, either surgical or orthopedic, since the neurologist is not in this week. Then, supposedly, they will be able to give us a more accurate assessment. The e-vet told us yesterday that dogs can bounce back from something like this, and that we'd probably have to use a sling to help her walk initially; also that we should know in a couple of weeks if she's going to start to improve. Any experience or advice with something like this?

Not a greyhound, or even a dog, but my cat has been on 'kidney' food for years. We started her off on the prescription stuff (Purina n/f) and she liked it. It is, however, very expensive. I found a suitable substitute at a locally owned pet store--it's called Neo [made by Hi-Tor], and comes in cat formulas, or dog formulas, both dry and canned. I showed the label to her vet, and the vet said it seems just fine, comparable to Science Diet or Purina rx food. Hi-Tor pet food link. You can locate a store from here. For my cat, it works out to be around $25 per case (she eats canned), versus the $40+ for the rx food at the vet's.

I agree with Kathy. Rascal sometimes gets spooked if her tags hit against her bowl. She also developed a 'fear' of her stainless steel bowl, so I bought her a heavy ceramic one. It doesn't move around, and it doesn't make any reflections. Sometimes she's even disturbed by the sound of the OTHER two dogs eating; so she eats in the dining room, alone. Perhaps your dog could come here and convince my Jack that the basement is NOT a bad place --he's developed a fear of going to the basement. It's sad, because we spend every evening there, in the family room. Jack is upstairs all by himself.

My vet thinks Deramaxx or Rimadyl work better. I had asked her about tramadol, since I had some at home. Deramaxx is ultra-expensive, so Jack is on generic Rimadyl (carprofen). He takes 75 mg. twice daily (he weighs 85 pounds). Maybe ask the vet about trying that or the Deramaxx.

No, you are not crazy. I am really upset about Jack's corn situation too. It is so difficult to see them in pain with every step. I keep thinking, they can put a man in orbit for months on end, but they can't figure out how to get rid of these *$^%^*!@# corns. SOOO frustrating. When Jack has had his hulled, there is a bit of discomfort during the process but not what appears to be extreme pain by any stretch of the imagination; and like batmom says, most dogs get at least temporary relief. Have you considered a pain reliever? It doesn't eliminate the pain entirely, but it lessens it. As for the duct tape, yes you will have to make it a bit larger than the corn initially. Jack had two corns that were very large, and stuck up, and I just made the duct tape bigger, and tried to seal it down good around the edges. Like putting a bandaid on your fingertip--you have to get it down around the sides of the finger, and sort of 'gather' the edge. He did end up getting those ones hulled a few times, and now they are smaller, and the duct tape fits over them FLAT. They no longer protrude so much.

Since Jack had his corns removed the first time, back in June of 2010, I have worked at them diligently. Like win4profit, I have noticed that although Jack still has them, they DO seem to be smaller now. He's had them hulled at the vet several times, but gets very stressed at the vet...so I have started working at them myself. The vet showed me how to do the hulling, and my dentist's office gave me a tool (not sure if it's the 'root elevator', but it seems to help). The rimadyl seems to help, too. Jack does tend to stay off of the hardwood floors in the kitchen, and fortunately he doesn't really 'need' to go in there, since his food table is in the living room which is carpeted.