claudiav

nothing but hulling works... here's an excellent video of it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdVWFUAT_4w my vet used to charge $75/corn to do this... I learned how to do it myself, and did this every 3-4 weeks for the rest of my corn-dog's life... my pup had surgery initially, and the recovery wasn't that bad, but the corn came back in 6 months, so it was a waste of $1000

I went to see my baby tonite... he is doing so much better!!! he came right to me and stuck his head in my armpit He didn't eat for the vets in the afternoon, and he wouldn't eat for me (three different types of canned food: hypo-allergenic, or the I/d or w/d... don't remember which one).... I expected that.... he was nervous and kept trembling, but he was feeling and looking better... he even trotted down the hallway in the hospital... YAY!!! the bleeding is coming down... and they expect it to be gone by tomorrow.... and he will get the feeding tube put in... I learned that he will still be able to eat regular food, even with the tube, so that's good... I will have to still limit his food, but glad that he won't be drooling when I feed Leyla... About the bleeding... they said it was the lining of his stomach/intestines that broke down and was regenerating a new lining... the danger was that while the lining was breaking down, he was liable to get bacteria in the blood and get infection or septic... but with all the fluids and three ABs, he's doing well... I asked about his lack of eating... he hasn't had a thing to eat since Saturday nite, but they said he's getting the nutrients he needs in the fluids... fingers crossed he continues improving and gets the feeding tube put in tomorrow, and from then on he will start to get the nutrition from the food, without the fuss over the taste... he needs to put on some weight... The search is on for a food that will be good to his tummy... not cause any inflammation... and I'm reading that high in fiber is good as well...

All the symptoms fit.... I just emailed the ER vets to ask if he's been tested for canine enterocolitis (we already know both, small and large, intestines are inflamed, though not due to parasites). Bacteria was found in September and we thought we got it under control with 6-8 weeks of Zeniquin... but the constant food change/variety just continues to ruin any progress we make with ABs... I give him weekly shots of B-12, in addition to Pred 30 mg (15 mg 2 x day), and famotidine for upset tummy... appetite is there with these... but he is so darned picky and turns away from mostly everything I offer him...

yup... surprisingly, even Leyla is walking away from canned tripe... I never thought I would live to see that day.... Sarge only like tripe for a day... He liked PetFresh cooked beef & veggie (in fridge @ supermarket and pet food stores).... for a week... that was the longest I think... I still have 15 lbs of it in my freezer chest...

I'm sure he's getting some kind of pain meds, though I don't know which one. We did try Royal Canin Hypo-allergenic kibble and canned. Also, a low residue diet also by Royal Canin. We tried venison and potato vet diet, and Natural Balance (He hated both). I even tried raw venison, and he wouldn't go near it... he acted like it was diseased or something... He liked these raw rabbit sliders, for a little bit... but couldn't even finish the 15 lb bag before he wanted no more... What is this: IV hetastarch drip & this:TLI?

I'm guessing he'll be strictly tube fed since we can't take the risk of anything upsetting his sensitive tummy... and since he's so darned picky... but I do feel sorry if he can't even enjoy his small milk bone biscuits... he loves those...or at least he loves them when he's feeling good...

I don't know if they're giving him any food directly in the vein... I doubt it... they are trying to stabilize his bleeding first and foremost.... and tomorrow, when they expect he'll be done, he'll get the feeding tube put in... they said it's a fairly simple procedure...

I though I was losing Sarge yesterday and last nite. He is my first IBD pup, adopted 5.5 months ago @ age 11. He lost his home of 7 yrs to mom becoming disabled and going into nursing home. I have his vet records from those 7 yrs and, if it's possible to believe, it is half a page long. He raced and was adopted out at 78 lbs and only went to vet for annual shots, where every year he lost one lb, and for SA meds. When I got him 5.5 months ago he was 70 lbs and a bag of bones. I took him off SA meds over the course of 7-10 days, as I felt he didn't have SA and didn't need them. He was in foster care for 3 weeks before he came home with me. Foster mom said he ate fine and had normal bms. I got him home and immediately changed his diet to raw, as I hate commercial dog food. On day five, he started explosive diarrhea and became very dehydrated. I waited too long to see my vet, and he was admitted for fluids and iv meds. Since then, it's been a rollercoaster of weight loss and weight gain, never to get out of the 60s, and with intermittent food strikes, dehydration, and two more hospitalizations for rehydration and iv meds. He was initially diagnosed with campylobacter infection in his small and large intestines, as well as IBD. We have tried more foods than I can count. The problem has always been Sarge's appetite and loss of interest in any food he previously liked. He likes something for 3 days, a week at most, and then he refuses to go near it again. After 3 different antibiotics (Flagyll, Tylan powder, another I can't remember), we finally found one that worked and got him better (Zeniquin). Ultrasound showed it was slowly working, but infection was still lingering, so he was on it for 6 weeks, or so. Prednisone on and off to get his appetite stimulated so he would eat. As soon as Pred was dialed back, he would stop eating. Of course, throughout all this, he would refuse one kind of food, and I'd have to change to something else he would eat. Thru it all, he was not allowed to eat raw, but he drooled watching Leyla eating raw. After our vet thought he was well enough, and he stopped eating any and all dog food (kibble and canned), she gave us the ok to slowly introduce raw and see how he tolerates it. He did well, had good poops, but after 7-10 days, refused raw too. Refused to eat anything! Went back to chicken and started another of the bad reactions that caused him to get dehydrated and hospitalized for the 2nd time. So know for sure he is allergic to chicken now. Still won't eat vet food. Tried everything and only canned cat food was successful. Alpo canned, sliced beef in gravy, was other thing he liked, but never in concurrent meals. He wanted Alpo for bkfst, but not for lunch or dinner. Gave cat food, milk bones, or anything he would eat. Next day, he wanted Alpo, but not the treats. and on and on... I know the constant variety in his food is bad, but what am I to do when he won't eat, and he can't afford to skip meals??? he would gain a pound, lose three... I have run out of ideas... It's killing me... Saturday nite and all day Sunday, he started moaning while sleeping. Constant moaning. Inhale, moaning on the exhale. I didn't think it was right, but I didn't know what it meant and my vet was closed. All day, he would not get up out of bed, when normally, he is attached to my hip and follows me everywhere... can't stand to have me out of sight. Found a vomit pile with some of the Alpo beef slices in it. When he would go out, he vomited some more, and would stand there confused as to what to do next. If I didn't open the window and call him back in, he would just stand there trembling. He would come to the doggie door, but not know what to do. I had to hold the flaps open for him to come inside. He drank a bit and later on, would throw it all up. Late afternoon, early evening, he started leaking bloody diarrhea... he didn't even know he was going on himself. Thru this all, he was still moaning and he started panting very hard, so I finally took him to the ER vet. Right before going in, I took him around the parking lot to pee/poop and he exploded bloody diarrhea. Inside, they took his weight, 27 kilos, 59.5 lbs, no fever, high bpm, heavy/fast breathing, disoriented, lethargic, sat down on the cold floor and started moaning again... Vet came in and noticed his tongue was purplish and admitted him right away before telling me he is in very very bad shape and we could lose him. I freaked out and burst into tears and beat myself up for waiting 8 hrs to take him in. She said the moaning was b/c he was so uncomfortable, and in pain, so I am beating myself up over not knowing he was in pain all night and all day long. Sarge spent the night at the ER and he's still there. My vet is open today, but it makes no sense to move him, and he's continually leaking bloody diarrhea. At 1 am, the vet called to tell me he's severely SEVERELY bleeding and it's critical. At 7:30 am, he'd perked up a bit, was still bleeding, but it was more like a paste. Bloodwork came back as expected, he was very dehydrated, not absorbing proteins from food, etc. X-rays showed thickened intestines, consistent with dehydration. Radiologist felt his chest x-rays also showed slight bronchitis. He's been treated with 3 different antibiotics, pred, etc and something for bronchitis thru iv. They're going to try feeding him @ 4 or 5 pm, will see how that goes.... though I don't hold out much hope. They said he's not moaning anymore, but b/c the bleeding diarrhea won't stop, he won't be coming home tonite. I can't wait till work is over and I can go visit him in his kennel. he didn't seem to recognize me last nite @ midnite, before I went home. He was out of it, his eyes seemed sunken in... I hope he recognizes me, or at least looks better tonite. So the last part of this book......... the ER vet and my vet feel that he is ready for a feeding tube. We can't keep going on the way we have been. We can't keep having these episodes every few weeks (this one having been the worst of many). I can't force feed him and cause both of us the awful stress.... Feeding tube is the way to make sure he gets the nutrients he needs, no risk of choking, or getting pneumonia from fighting the forced feeding, and it'll be like he's wearing one of his many collars. Weekly vet checks to make sure the hole stays clean, and don't have to deal with his food pickiness... best for him, best for me... So does anyone have any experience with feeding tubes? Any advice? Things to look out for? How should I deal with him when he sees Leyla eating, but he can't eat regular food? I imagine he'll get jealous and upset he can't get what she's having. How vigilant do you have to be to keep the hole clean? How long does it take to feed? I assume 4 smaller meals will be the new feeding schedule. How will he handle it all? Last, but not least, here are some recent pics of my heart

OMG... they look so happy together.... I love that!! My girl has never bonded with any other dog... she is so anti-social but I do sleep with one on either side of me... best sleeps!

I wanted to say the same thing.... I have had various sleep startle growliness, and I just yell back "HEY!!" really loud and scare them... and it never happens again...

can't wait to read more about his progress in the US with retired racers... and see more pics

my girl does this constantly cause he hates coats

Rob, I am an atheist too, but I like to think of my Remy, stolen from me by OS only three months ago, up there at the bridge, reunited with his past buddies, his mom and siblings. I hope I will see him again too. It kills me to think I will never be with him again. I hope Malcolm and LuLu are together, running zoomies and playing. There has to be a better place than this for them. they are full of love and deserve nothing better. Please bring another houndie into your life... sooner rather than later.... it doesn't do any dishonor to your memory of Malcolm and LuLu.... but it does help you with the grief... I couldn't dwell in the heartache of losing Remy.... I added Sarge to my home and he's done a grey job of mending my broken heart... sure there will always be a piece missing, it will never be put back together, but it helps to have another soul to help, and to honor their memories...

I know how you're feeling... having read up as much as possible to be prepared, and when it hits, you are paralyzed... I felt the same when I found out, on my birthday, that Remy had OS. I already knew he wasn't an amp candidate and felt horrible that I could do no more than palliative care for him. But we had 14 more weeks together, and he had 14 more weeks of being absolutely spoiled rotten.... 9 of those weeks were fantastic since we were ahead of the pain... the last 5 weeks were awful as he continued to get exponentially worse... I am so so sorry you area dealing with this... you are in my thoughts. get him home and spoil him... take load of pictures... create happy memories... take him out while he can still enjoy walks... take advantage of the time you have left and make the best of it....

congrats!!!! what a hunk!! you'll soon be introducing your second they're a joy and they love to be with their buddies...

I'm so sorry... try scrambled eggs, liverwurst, whipped cream, ice cream... anything she wants... I know the Pred side effects too... Sarge has been on it since Thrusday, and I have not had a quiet night since then, waking up at least 5 times to get him back upstairs to sleep in bed with me... he goes down the stairs on his own, and uses the doggie door to do his business, but he needs to be helped up the stairs... so I know the constant need to wake up and let her out to pee from the excessive drinking... thinking of you...

never heard of this... how awful... and sad...

if they are truly broken, he needs to go for a dental and have the root(s) removed. That means surgery. cannot leave root in there to rot and infect his mouth and head... Vet should see him first and tell you if surgery is needed.

it takes a good year to gain their trust and for them to feel comfortable enough at home, with their new family... however, I still think this is not the dog for your family... You need a much more MELLOW dog as a first time greyhound family with a child... JMHO.... I said it before, and i'll say it again.... there is no shame in bringing her back to the rescue, telling them about the three incidents, and ask them for an older, more mellow grey.... Cleo needs to be in a home with experienced gh owners, who know how to work with her.... and you need your first greyhound to be much more accepting of people and kids... this should not keep happening, and you should not have to live with the fear of a worse accident from someone that doesn't know better (visitors, other kids, etc..) or she could be in a much worse place where The Lexus Project will have to interfere on behalf of a dog that has been unfairly labeled as "BAD" or unadoptable... please bring her back so she can be with people that have experience working with dogs like Cleo

I AGREE!!! If I need something now, i'll go to the store to get it.... but really, there is nothing that urgent besides produce... And I am completely against paying a membership to enter a store (BJs, Costco, Sam's).... they should be happy I enter the store and buy their overpriced products... I will not pay to enter.... and why the hell is the membership TAXED??? can someone tell me that?? it's not a good that we the consumer should pay tax on... such fraud....

love them!! order all my tripe, tripe sticks, tripe bones, and some dog food. shipping is unbelievable. it's at my door two days after ordering.

instead of muzzling them all day, can you just separate Fred & Henry? either with x-pen or different rooms with baby gate? I know several people who separate the bully from the rest, for the pack's safety

just curious..... how does the exercise disk help his toe? never heard/seen one before...

first time I see this and am crying my eyes out at work.... just want to go home and be with my senior pups.... Remembering Remy the exact same way... it's only been 3 months and I can't stop saying his name....

I think all above look healthy... without seeing ribs and points...