LBass

This wicked disease sounds a bit like the GME that Piper had in that for some dogs the disease responds to available meds and can actually be managed long-term. Yet for other individuals, that response to meds just doesn't happen, leaving us floundering around trying to figure out why we can't "make it work out" for our beloved dogs. Robin, you know this is not your failure. This is a disease that is sometimes fatal and is sometimes manageable. You have no control over how Reagan's body is going to be able to respond to treatments. You are giving every available treatment a solid try to see if it can help him. That is really and truly all you can do. The response to treatment is not on you. You are just left with the hugely difficult decision of when to "call it".

Welcome home, Saint!

That report sounds very positive. Sending warm, healing thoughts for your Henry.

Welcome! Your girls are lovely. Very nice that they can go in to work with you. Greyhounds are top notch supervisors.

Welcome to GT from another SC grey lover. Odin is a knockout.

I am so very sorry for the sudden, shocking loss of Clifford.

I'm glad to read that your boy is settling into his "new normal".

We've found that both the dogs and the cats drink far more water since we've added 2 ceramic waterers with electric pumps. We've got 2 of these: http://www.pioneerpet.com/product/6023-raindropdrinking-fountain-stainless-steel-60-oz-copy-copy/ They hold enough water for the dogs to drink from comfortably and are still low enough for the cats to use happily. I think the appeal is that they keep water cooler and the flowing water is appealing as well. The initial cost is a bit steep but they work well. You also have to buy filters and we've found that the pumps need replacing frequently, even if you are careful about cleaning the bowls and pumps. Also, they've got to be filled frequently--if the water level gets low the pumps burn out. I realize it sounds like I'm damning them with faint praise, but in spite of the trouble and expense, the fountains really do seem to cause our animals to drink more. If you don't want to go down that road, I'd suggest getting ceramic water bowls since I think the ceramic alone keeps water a bit cooler.

I'm so sorry that Chase was gone so quickly.

I spoke with the oncologist last night, asking specifically if it might work for pain control to go ahead with the amputation of the toes. She said that the fact that there is already lymph node/system metastasis significantly reduces the average survival time we can hope for, no matter what we do. Her guesstimate is 2-4 months. She said that healing from the toe amputation surgery would likely be significantly more difficult that from a full amputation, because of the physical stress put on the foot through walking, even with restricted activity. Mo had a toe amputated on the non-osteo rear leg several years ago, trying to treat a large, stubborn corn, and I remember that healing that was a lengthy, difficult process. I think that the upshot of all this info is that, if I ask them to amputate her toes, she'll spend the remainder of her time with me trying to recover from that surgery. I don't want that for her. I talked to my own vet's office--they'd asked for an update on Mo--and learned that the vet's own pitty girl, Charlotte, has osteo. I've made an appointment to talk with him next week. I figure his informed, educated veterinarian's brain has been sorting through all the options and he'll be able to share his thoughts, information, and instincts with me. I'm so sorry his family is facing osteo with their girl too. I remember her hanging around the clinic when she was younger--a really sweet girl. At this point, with what I know of Mo and what I've learned over that last couple of week, this is the plan: --pain control with meds, adding more as needed --IV bisphosphonates from the oncologist. This can reduce the bone loss/deterioration that seems to be the source of pain and can help avoid fractures. --all the fun I can give her for as long as she's comfortable --careful leash walking --I'll take a look at acupuncture, Artemisinin, immune boosters, etc. and if anything seems likely to increase her comfort and is available then I'll provide that. An then there is going to be the making if that decision we all dread.

Thank you all for the kind thoughts and commiserations. The surgeon who first saw Mo and did the biopsy confirming the OSA diagnosis was suggesting that he could take the affected outer toe and the toe next to it. That surgery would have been followed by chemo. As soon as the mets in the lumph node were confirmed, however, the oncologist shifted from talking about removing the toe and doing chemo, to looking at palliative care--radiation, bisphosphates, and pain meds. I've got a call in to her now asking about the possibility of having the surgery to remove the toe as a pain control measure.

And sadly, MoMo's lymph node does have metastasis. Now the possibilities of Tramadol, Caprofen (?), Gabapentin, bisphosphonates, palliative radiation, etc. are dancing through my head.

Twiggy looks absolutely vibrant in those lovely pictures. Her face in the first photo is so full of light and life and enthusiasm. I got the biposy results yesterday for MoMo and it is indeed osteo on the outer toe of her left rear leg. Additionally, the oncologist sent out a sample from a lymph node on the affected leg for pathology--she took a sample yesterday and looked at it herself and didn't like the look of it. I should get results today, but I'm honestly not expecting good news about that node. The oncologist said that LN involvement reduced the time we could expect to get from any kind of treatment. I'm sad, and worried about my girl, and very uncertain about what the best course of action will be.

It's highly likely that MoMo has joined the osteo "club". She has a surgical consult at the specialty clinic tomorrow and I'll likely get a definitive diagnosis then, but even to my untrained eye, the x-rays look awful. I can't imagine that it's not osteo. I'm worried that Mo may not manage an amputation well. The probable osteo is in her left hind leg, between outer toe and ankle. My concern is that her right rear leg has long given her problems--she's only got 3 toes on that foot and the leg shakes when she stands and bears weight on it. She certainly uses that problem leg, but I think she relies more on the osteo leg. I'm asking for thoughts and experiences on amputation for hounds when the remaining limb of the pair is somewhat compromised. She's comfy on Tramadol at the moment and seems very much her happy, confident self. TIA, Lucy and MoMo Meany Pretty Pants

I'm so sorry. Those FTH babies--there is something very special about them.

Oh no. I'm so sorry your one of a kind boy is gone. But never, ever forgotten.

Pudding poo after a seizure was common for my Piper.

My 10 year old girl, MoMo, has had a shaking right leg ever since she came to me at just under 2 years. My vet has checked and rechecked her range of motion. There is really not a sense that this shaking is the result of pain. I've found no answers and do solution but as with DofSweetPotatos hound, there also doesn't seem to be a serious problem cause the shaking.

I do think it would be a good idea to make sure that his drinking doesn't indicate a medical issue. My boy, Spirit, drinks a lot in the evenings after dinner and then needs to go out 3-5 times between 7 & 10. He got a clear bill of health from the vet so it just seems to be a habit with him. I tease him that he has a teeny tiny bladder to go with his teeny tiny brain. MoMo, my female, probably pees 3 to 4 times a day. It is not at all unusual for her to ask to go out only to flop down on her bed on the deck without ever even going into the yard to pee. I'm blessed right now with a big fenced yard and dogs who'll go out there to potty. Many dogs ago, in the days before the fenced yard, the usual schedule was: 1st thing in the morning (6) Just before I left for work (~7:30) Right after I got home from work (~5:30) After supper (maybe) Immediately before bed (11ish)

What good news that Buttercup is home and dong better. Sending all good thoughts her way and yours. When my vet and I were trying to manage Piper's cluster seizures I first took Piper to a neurologist about 2.5 hours away in at the Univ. of Georgia. He gave initial recommendations and was to serve as a telephone consult resource for my vet, a UGA vet school grad himself. Unfortunately, the UGA neuro never ever returned calls or responded in any way to questions. My vet reached out to another neurologist in Charlotte, NC. That wonderful neuro gave my vet very helpful advice on managing Piper's cluster seizures, answered questions, and gave advice on a couple of other seizure-related issues through the years--all without ever seeing Piper and without charging--just a nice friendly consultation between 2 professionals. I know Piper and I were blessed by both of these vets. Perhaps your vet will be able to find a similar consultative resource by phone or internet.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/causes_seizures.htm Tracy, this is a listing of likely causes of seizures by age of onset that might help give you some ideas of what to look for. I'd second the idea of getting a neuro consult. http://find.vetspecialists.com/ A site that can help you locate a neurologist. If the distance is too great, your vet may be able to talk to a neurologist about Buttercup and get some guidance on how to proceed. I hope all the news to come is good. Cluster seizures are scary and exhausting.

Oh Ducky, I'm so sorry Percy's gone. I'm glad he had a great year with you. I'm glad he had fun until the end. I especially love that beautiful buck-toothed picture of him. His spirit and character will linger with us for a long time to come.

I'm so very sorry. Run free, Kahn.

I'm so sorry for your heartbreaking loss.

It does sound as if Miss Grandy is feeling better. I'm so glad.