brindlehound

Update: Yesterday i had a long day at the tax office and was out approximately 12 hours. I was a bit concerned that if Magic couldn't get up or got up and fell on the floor, he might panic and hurt himself. I got home and he was fine. He had a pooping accident, which is pretty normal these days, but nothing more. He has been able to get up the 3 steps into the house without help most of the time. I guess the most recent crisis is over. However, I alerted both of my managers about Magic's health problems. Both were very supportive. One asked if I could give him as much notice as possible so he can get coverage for me.

Magic is doing well today. He slept through the night or was able to get up to change positions. Unfortunately, the vet is the complete opposite direction from where I work and they close before I get off work so I don't think taking him to the vet office would work. I get an hour for lunch and I can easily get home and back in an hour. so I might come home to check on him. I told my manager what happened on Saturday so I'm sure she'll be supportive. Thank you so much for the support, prayers, and suggestions.

Magic is a little better this morning. He ate breakfast which I gave him as he lay on his bed. He still is unable to get up on his own but does fine when he's up. He wants to go out to the fenced-in yard but I'm forcing him to go out on leash. I was able to get him to take a tramadol which I placed in a piece of potato hamburger roll with a little peanut butter. My big concern is my long days Monday - Wednesday. I'm concern he'll want to get up and not be able to and then he'll have an anxiety attack. No one else is home during the day although one may be home tomorrow due to the holiday.

Thanks for the prayers and good thoughts. I spoke with the vet. It was suggested that I give Magic aspirin in the event that the problem may be a clot and the vet agreed. Since the last thing I wanted to do was to drive to the vet in the snow and possibly back alone and crying the whole way home, we agreed to see how Magic is until Monday. I have a back-up vet who has Sunday morning hours for emergencies so if Magic gets worse, I'll take him there tomorrow morning. On a slightly positive note, I moved one of Magic's back legs and he then stretched his back legs. I also got him up and he stood for a few seconds but couldn't walk. I also took that as a good sign since he couldn't even remotely stand earlier today.

I have a call in to the vet. Hopefully, we'll be going in today. He still is unable to stand. I was able to wrestle his assist harness on him. I'm devastated that I may be saying good bye to my baby boy today.

I forgot to mention that Magic has had one or two incidents like this over the last couple of years and has been fine after a couple of hours. I'm hoping it's the same. He's sleeping now.

Magic is having a tough time this morning. He can't get up on his own and can't stand up once he's up. I tapped one of his back legs and he didn't appear to feel it. I don't know if it's the cold or something worse. He ate some of his breakfast but not all of it. I'm really scared right now. I could use any prayers you can give for both of us.

I forgot to ask you to add SallyAly aka Sally Bumbles to the January list.

Tom and Trish, I'm sorry Paisley had to leave you. Run Free sweet girl.

As some of you know, Magic is 14 and has several degenerative issues (LS, LP, arthritis, dementia, and is deaf). I have very little trouble dealing with these issues. The last couple of days he has been more of a "momma's boy" than normal. He'll get up and come over for a petting and hug. Is it possible that he feels that the end is coming and just wants some snuggle time with me or is he just being more lovable than normal?

That's what my vet says about Magic. With him, it started when he was 12.

Run Free Mohican. If I remember correctly, you adopted Mohican the same evening I adopted Magic. I remember being greeted at the gate by two handsome brindle greyhounds. from Magic and I

Judy, I'm so sorry Bullitt had to leave you. Run free sweet Bullitt

Thanks for all the comments. Magic's dementia probably isn't too horrible. The worst is not sleeping through the night. It's not every night. He hasn't peed in the house and poops maybe once every couple of days. As far as confusion, he sometimes seems confused but even that is not severe. He has trouble backing up but that could be his LS. I gather, like his other issues, it will get worse over time.

Has anyone here had their dog diagnosed with dementia? If so, how did you deal with it? Based on Magic's behavior lately, the vet feels he has doggie dementia in addition to his other issues (LS, LP, arthritis). The most frustrating thing is his not sleeping through the night. I give him a tramadol around 9:15 or so which helps him sleep most of the time.

Gallop free, BT and Flyer. That is so sad. I'm in tears just reading this.

Magic's most recent rabies shot was in 2013 and it was a two year. Some vets in PA do every two years; others every three. I don't know if had anything to do with Magic's age - 13.5. He's due for others in November - distemper, et al.. If he is still around, I'll check to see what the vet says. Magic gets a bordatella shot before GIG in the unlikely event he encounters a dog with kennel cough either at the event or in town.

Could you add Whiskers the cat please? Thank you.

He's getting it at breakfast time - between 6 and 7 am - and supper time - between 5 and 6:30 pm. He's getting 100 mg per dose. I spoke with one of the vet tech's. She suggested that Magic's doggie dementia may have a hand in this. She also suggested that I might be inadvertently causing the anxiety because there are things making me anxious. I gave him one tablet this evening and he's sound asleep right now. I posted the same question on Facebook and several people told me that they or their dogs had the same problems Magic is having. Magic was on tramadol 8 years ago after being attacked. I don't recall his having these problems then.

Magic has been on Tramadol for his arthritis since Monday. Some of those nights, it has a sedative effect. Other nights, it has the opposite effect. Is that possible? He gets 2 pills with his breakfast and 2 with his supper. It could be his picking up on my anxiety about some things and he just wants me with him. He also may sense that he may going to the Bridge sooner rather than later and wants to spend as much time with me as possible We only have each other.

Robin, Gerrit, JJ and Dustin, I'm sorry Moxie had to leave you so young. You gave him the best possible home in his final year. Carol and Magic

Magic has had some kind of incident a few times over the last few weeks. He'll be sleeping and then will wake up and start shaking his head. He gets up and seems disoriented. Is this something as simple as sleep walking or waking up after a sound sleep? Could this be a type of seizure? He walks around but doesn't seem totally aware of his surroundings. The times I've seen it have been rather late in the evening after he's been sleeping soundly for a couple of hours. After a few minutes, he settles down again and is fine the next time he gets up.

Cindy, I'm so sorry Brady had to leave you. He was such a sweet old boy. Run Free Brady Carol and Magic

I spoke with the vet today and she feels Magic is not a good candidate at this point for adequan as his back end may be too weak to justify the cost. She wasn't sure about supplements such as Fresh Factors but she said I can try it. His last thyroid test was in April. My new vet took Magic off the soloxine to see if he'll gain some weight. She's concerned about his weight loss especially since he's eating normally. We're both hopeful that he'll make his 14th birthday in January. She was happy to hear that Magic ran a few steps this morning.

Update: Magic ran a little this morning. It was only a few loping steps but it was a run. He didn't pant heavily afterward and got in the house with no problems. Through this whole thing, getting in the house has not been problematic. It's 2 steps and he generally gets in easily; more so when he knows his breakfast or supper is ready.