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RileysLegacy

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    Corneal Ulcer That Will Not Heal

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed Legs squinting his left eye. The night before he was completely fine, & then in the morning he was squinting. It didn't improve the next day, so I took him to the vet. She found a large ulcer (in the perfect shape of a heart, which is apparently rare since all the techs came to take pictures :lol ) & sent us home with neomycin/polymyxin B/gramicidin to put in his eye every 4 hrs. A week went by & I did not see any improvement so I took him back. The ulcer appeared worse, so she added ak-poly-bac every 2 hrs. That was 2 weeks ago. I took him in again today & it doesnt look much better at all. Now we are trying Remend 2x/day as well. She said if it's not better in 2 weeks he needs his eye sewn shut :omg:puke for a couple weeks so it can heal. I am freaking out! Legs also has multiple heart problems so putting him under anesthesia is a big risk. The cone he has to wear is totally stressing him out & he's been having more episodes where he can't catch his breath & his back legs collapse :sad1 (b/c of his heart). This poor dog can't catch a break! I have absolutely no idea what even happened. Anyway has anyone dealt with this? Is the treatment correct so far?


    Worried About Legs

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Many of you know Legs has quite a few issues with his heart including DCM, arrhythmias & premature ventricular contractions. He's on a bunch of meds which have seemed to help. He still has occasional scary episodes but they have decreased a lot since I now know what's wrong & don't allow him to run or exercise at all when the sun is out.

     

    Anyway, the last couple of weeks he has only been picking at his breakfast, which is VERY out of character. He's a total chow hound. He's also been coughing a bit here & there, but nothing too alarming - I probably would not have even noticed if it were another dog. But last night, he woke me up coughing for a good 10 mins :( I know coughing is not a good sign. I emailed my vet to see what she thinks. I'm guessing he'll need yet another ultrasound to see what's going on & if we should change/add to his meds. I'm worried. It's very stressful living w/ the constant fear that his heart will stop working at any moment. :brokenheart

     

    49a6fa6a-83a1-45da-85b7-3904bafb4042_zps

     

     

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by RileysLegacy

    Finally an update! Something happened to the lab computer so my vet just got his test results. Even without recording an episode, the report found that in addition to DCM he also has increased ventricular premature contraction (VPC) & increased super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) :( :( He is now going to take Sotalol in addition to the Vetmedin to see if it helps.

     

    eta - I have no idea what any of this means. So anyone with experience I would love to know anything you can tell me.

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Vet should be able to give you some adhesive remover if need be. BUT oil (corn, olive, canola, peanut) usually works, just takes some time. I glop on just enough not to drip on the furniture, right along the edge, and kind of rub it in along the edge, let sit for a few minutes, then should be able to peel a little. Glop some more oil on where it's still attached to the skin, rub a bit, let sit a few minutes ..... Repeat repeat.

    thanks so much, that does work. but I only managed to get 2 of 6 off so far :( He kept yelping & there is even a small cut where one corner was especially stuck. This is awful. I put a lot of goop around the edges & will try again in the morning.

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    question - he has large square stickers on his naked chest that the wires were attached to. i can't get them off! i think last time they were way smaller. i tried wetting them, and then i tried oil. they are really on there good & since he has no hair it is just thin delicate skin. how can i get them off??

    DDD25CD6-C6FA-47A8-AE87-AD46698E4088-270

    he's a tired pup! :heart

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by RileysLegacy

    Well, Legs stumped us all :blink: My vet called me yesterday afternoon saying that 3 different techs took him out running & they were all about to faint, but Legs was fine :lol I went there so a tech & I could take him to a nearby dog park, thinking that would definitely do the trick. This dog has not run in at least 6 months & is never outside during the heat of the day. He cruised around the dog park in the hot sun with a thick neoprene vest & had NO problems. :riphair Of course, this is good, but we won't know what is happening when he does have an episode. He is still wearing the heart monitor vest for a few more hours here at home. I am going to take him on one last walk & then we send it in for results. I'm sure it did record some useful info, but it is so frustrating! I swear my vet thinks I have munchausen :lol (kidding, she's seen him on video multiple times, & of course saw his heart on the u/s). I just don't understand how it can be so random & never happens when he is at the vet. I am wondering if adrenaline is having an effect, or something.

     

     

    How is Legs doing?

     

    Nadia was diagnosed with DCM at age five. She saw a cardiologist who put her on Enalapril and digoxin (both human meds). Subsequently, she had an annual cardio checkups (including an echo cardiogram). Over time she was either stable or showed some imrovement. I lost her at 13 - not to her heart, but to cancer.

    Wow, this is so great to hear. Thank you!!!

     

    And thank you all so much for checking in on Leggy. I really appreciate it. :heart

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks so much for checking in on Legs!! He is at the vet today for his testing. I have no idea if I will know anything today or not, but it's usually at least a few days before results. I am a little nervous since the goal is to make him have an "episode", but he is the in best hands so I'm sure he'll be just fine. :goodluck

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Not that anyone was reading this thread, but the cardiologist wants Legs to have an "episode" while wearing the Holter monitor. Thankfully my vet suggested that he stay there for a whole day & they will try to cause an episode so he will be under their care. I still don't love it, but if it will help get him proper treatment then it seems like a good plan...

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I will say that he is absolutely WIPED OUT from yesterday's vet visit. We were only there for less than 30 mins, & all he did was lay on the table. He has barely moved a muscle since then. It makes me kind of sad :sad1 But he seems to be feeling ok otherwise & is a very happy boy.

     

    I'm going to post some pics of him in C&F :)

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your kind words. And Kyle, thank you, that makes me feel better. The radiologist who does the u/s doesn't know much about greyhounds so it's kind of disconcerting. All anyone ever says is how strange Legs' case is. So it is very helpful to know of other greyhounds who have been through the same thing. Hopefully i will hear back from my vet today as to what the next step is.

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Well, good news & bad news. His heart is contracting a bit better, but he is having a lot of arrhythmias. So they are likely going to need to add another med &/or have him do the 24 hr holter test again (ugh). My vet is consulting w/the cardiologist today. Poor leggy.

     

    Thanks so much for the good wishes :)

    Legs' Heart - Update Post 40

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by RileysLegacy

    The vet wants to check on the progression of his DCM. It's been 4 months since it was diagnosed. At that time he started taking Vetmedin & supps to support his heart. He's been on restricted activity, so he has had less episodes, but 2 days ago he was snapping at his back & collapsing after being outside for literally 3 mins. So I'm a bit worried :(:goodluck

    Jabari 06/08/99 - 04/05/13

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Thank you all so very much. Each one of your posts mean the world to me. I can't believe Jabari has been gone over a month. I think in some ways it still hasn't hit me yet. I'm sure it has to do with the way it happened since i didn't see him sick or die. But I miss him every single minute of the day :cry1 Puzzle is doing better, but still not quite back to normal. The 3 of us have been spending a lot of quality time together. It has been nice but it always feels like someone is missing :brokenheart

    Jabari 06/08/99 - 04/05/13

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Thank you to everyone who took the time to post. each one of your comments helps.

     

    Puzzle is having a tough time. I was looking thru old photos & videos & they loved each other SO much. I might make a thread soon w/ some of the pics, I just want you all to see b/c they were sooo cute. It just doesn't seem right to see Puzz laying in a bed all alone. It's heartbreaking :brokenheart

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