brindlehound

Brie, I hope Doolin and Mira are feeling better soon. Magic is on Doxy for his lyme disease (2 pills 2x/day).

Run Free Charlie. to you Kyle, and the rest of the family.

Thanks for the suggestions. Today, I covered his doxy in cream cheese and put it in with his food and glucosamine. Since Magic is one of those hounds who inhales his food, it worked. I also got some pill pockets for his novex (pain killer) which I'll take to GIG for his doxy if peanut butter wrapped doxy in kibble doesn't work.

We're back from the vet. It turns out Magic most likely has lime disease. The vet didn't do a blood test but he sees it often enough to recognize it just by feeling, in this case, Magic's ankle and neck. If he's not feeling better in the next 3 or 4 days, I'm to take him back. Now the real fun begins: finding creative ways to give Magic his antibiotic. Peanut butter didn't work tonight but cream cheese did. He does like yogurt and ice cream so they are 2 possibilities as is wet food. We're still planning on going to GIG next weekend and I'm hoping peanut butter will work otherwise I'll have to get small cans of wet food (perhaps Little Ceasar or similar.) Suggestions are more than welcome.

Just a quick update. Magic had an ear infection a month or so ago. I checked his left ear since that was the problem side this time and his ear was clean. I'll have to check his right ear as it's a little overdue for a cleaning. Also, his neck seems a little better today. As I mentioned earlier, his left front foot is a little swollen from the ankle down. In looking at it this evening, I remembered that it looks very similar to the way one of his front feet looked about a year ago when he had an infection. It's also a little warm to the touch. We'll see. Magic appointment is at 7 this evening. I couldn't get one earlier. I'm glad I went to work after all today. At least work prevented me from fretting too much.

I have small update. This morning Magic's front left leg is a little swollen from his ankle down. It's not substantial but it is noticeable. He was barely putting weight on it. I felt the area where he seemed to have pain and I got a little yelp. I got a bigger one when I bent his ankle back. I know when the vet checked his right front leg and bent that ankle, he noticed something in Magic's shoulder. Needless to say, I'm more scared now and am calling the vet momentarily (they open at 8 am).

I'm worried about Magic. I got home from work and he wasn't at the door. When he got off the sofa, he was limping and holding his front left foot up. He was not holding his head normally. There was no swelling but I felt along his shoulder area and when I put some pressure on the area near where his shoulder meets his neck, he yelped. I didn't feel anything. He was trying to shake his head but was reluctant to do so. He ate normally and I was able to put his leash on and take him out. We have a vet appointment tomorrow evening. A few weeks ago, he had something similar on his right side which turned out to be an ear infection. I'm scared. I wasn't going to post this here at least for now for fear of being scared even more but many of you gave Lucy some encouragement with Legs in another thread so I thought I would post here after all. Right now, he's acting like his neck is stiff so I'm hoping that's all it is.

to you and Joe.

Kyle, I am so sorry to read this. to you and your family.

Good news indeed. I'll be thinking of you and Charlie on Saturday.

Keeping Charlie in my prayers.

Pat, there are no words to express how my heart breaks for you right now. Your girls are together at the Bridge healthy and happily playing with all the other well-loved pets. Run Free Bell Walker and Bugsy. Carol and Magic

Sherrie and Jim, I'm so sorry to read this. Run Free Izzy. to you and Secret. Carol, Magic and Peachy

I was the "hound catcher" during the speed run at GIG last year and, despite the lure pole and squawker, there were a couple of dogs who walked or trotted down the course. Did Freddy race? If so, he may be taking retirement very seriously.

I'm glad Bill is going to be OK. Hugs to you, Bill, and the rest of the pack (including Huey). Carol and Magic

Would it be possible to email the picture to your vet and give him/her a call to see what they think about waiting until morning? Other than that I wouldn't know what to suggest.

We just got home and Magic has an ear infection. I guess it started around the time his jammies were too tight around his neck. He also has some arthritis in his right front leg which was the one he would take a couple of limping steps, stretch, and then be fine. I guess may baby boy is getting old. Magic is on an antibiotic to be put in his ear and I can continue with the doggie aspirin as needed for his leg. Thanks for the good thoughts.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, Magic started having some off and on neck problems (or possibly shoulder). His jammies were too tight around his neck. They are a little big for him and he may have been laying in such a way that it tightened around his neck. He only had pain if he turned his head too far in the wrong direction. It's eased significantly and now only occurs when he moves his head too quickly. Stretching seems to ease any stiffness in his neck and shoulder. For a couple of days he had something similar to morning stiffness if he laid in the same position for a long period. He would give a small yelp and then take a couple of limping steps, stretch, and then he was fine. After he hurt his neck, I took his jammies completely off him and when the weather turned damp and chilly the leg or shoulder problem started. I put another set of jammies on him and that stopped. He's going in for his pre-GIG flu and bordatella vaccines so I thought I'd have the vet take a look at his neck and shoulder. If you can spare a few good thoughts for my boy, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Thanks for the insight. About a year ago, the vet tentatively diagnosed arthritis is his right front leg. He's been on Get Up and Go since August. I just put a teaspoon on his food in the morning. The first couple of mornings he looked at it briefly and then gobbled his food down like normal.

This is a question for everyone out there who bakes cookies for their dogs. How much and what type of glucocamine (liquid or powder) should I use for baking? Magic currently gets a 1/2 teaspoon of Get Up and Go with his breakfast but I was thinking of adding glucosamine to home-made cookies just to give him a little more a day. Thanks.

Run Free EZ.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Run Free Sweet Girl.

Janet, I'm sorry for your loss. Run Free Peanut.

Even if it's not a high traffic area for people I ALWAYS pick up their poop. There are other people with dogs that might come along, or even me because we use a lot of the same routes and potty spots. I think it's just the considerate thing to do. I even purchased dog poop disposal bag stations for my neighborhood to encourage more people to pick up their dog's poop. There's nothing worse than stepping in it or having my dogs step in it. It's actually considered littering in my town. Just to clarify, where we walk is my housemate's property and where we walk isn't used much. By high-traffic I mean near parts of the property where we go like the wood pile or the clothes line or the garden or along the area adjacent to the neighbor's property. If I'm in a public area like a park or a neighborhood with sidewalks, I always clean up. In fact, all of Magic's leashes have a poop bag container attached to them.

Thanks for the suggestions. My housemate told me there was no need to clean up after them unless one poops in a high-traffic areas. I'll have to try both in one hand and see what happens. I forgot to mention that once we got started both just walked along like we've been doing it forever. Peachy is used to being walked with another dog but Magic isn't but he did very well. It probably helps that they are both older (11) and neither has any prey drive.