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lothianjavert

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Posts posted by lothianjavert

    Corns - Therapaw

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by lothianjavert

    Yes, you need to measure for the Neo-paws. If I were to get booties for all of my dogs, they would be different sizes. Heck, I'd end up w/ different sizes for front vs. back paws for one of them! Before I ordered I emailed them w/ Sully's paw measurements (which had been between two sizes) and they helped me figure out which size would be best.

     

    I chose the summer boots because they were lighter and more breathable, while still having a good sole. They came with separate neoprene pads that could be placed in the bottom of the booties. As Sully's corns got worse, I added even more padding by measuring and cutting them out from some comfort insoles from walmart. Cushy is an understatement now. :P

     

    Getting a pair is definitely the way to go. If I try to put just one of anything on one of Sully's feet, he just won't use that foot at all. :rolleyes: If you do two, he can't do that. Sully wears them on his front feet. He did not like them at first, but he learned pretty quickly that booties=walkies and therefore booties are good! :lol

     

    Sully in his booties the other year:

     

    sullysbooties1edited2.jpg

     

    ETA-- I just noticed your username. I'm Slippy is Sully's grand-sire! :)

    Corns - Therapaw

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I purchased boots from a different maker (neopaws.com). They do NOT fall off. They do take a little more to put on, and are not for around the house use. (they have a pretty thick sole, it would be like wearing athletic shoes all day. The padding really makes a difference when it comes to walks though! Sully still has a slight limp, but without the booties, he would be 3 legging it. Without them, we wouldn't be doing walks at all because he's too uncomfortable.) I got the "summer booties".

    Heartworm Prevention

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I am struggling with the question of whether to use heartworm meds or not this year too.

     

    For me it is not about the money at all but what toxic meds I am subjecting my healthy pets to. As I understand it, the meds used to treat heartworm are often the same as the ones you give monthly to prevent it and they are both nasty chemicals. Why would I want to use these on my dog when there is a very low risk of heartworm in my area?

     

    On the flip side, I also understand that heartworm is absolutely horrible and can be lethal. I am considering testing 2x per year (we only have mosquitos from about May to October) and finding good mosquito repellants for my guys to use to deter mosquitos. I am also trying DE for worms and other critters.

     

    Anyone have any thoughts on the con heartworm med side?

     

    Leanne

     

    Read the part on the treatment. While using ivermectin can be part of the treatment, it doesn't kill the adult heartworms. The treatment to kill the adult heartworms is NOT pleasant, nor is it without risk.

     

    Heartworm treatment

     

    I use a preventative (ivermectin) year round, even though we have cold winters. It's just safer that way.

    Getting Dressing To Stay Put On Knee?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Somehow D managed to scrape his knee while running around (major major happy bounding, sliding snow zoomies). It's not bad, the deepest part is a little less than the size of a nickel. It's not bleeding, and he doesn't even notice it (he hasn't licked or anything. I don't think he has a clue that he even hurt himself :blink: ) However, I would feel better if I could keep some ointment and wrap on it, especially since he's my "grubby boy" :rolleyes: and will be in the mud when all this snow melts in a couple days.

     

    I tried vet wrap, and it just slides off. The knee/thigh area just isn't conducive to vet wrap staying in place. I'm reticent to use tape though, and have trouble getting it off later. (I have both paper and cloth medical tape)

    Keep Sebau In Your Prayers Please

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks! :) She seems to be feeling a bit better. She pigged out tonight and then went to DH and begged for his pasta. :rolleyes: I'm going to keep her vet appt. for Thursday anyway, just to get her checked out (it would make me feel better to have her Lyme done again, as when it flares, she gets lethargic and "off")

     

    I'll take some photos of her tomorrow after work. It's usually an effort to get her to NOT look pitiful. :lol She's snoozing on her bed at my feet right now, with the boys just a few inches away.

    Dog I Not Well, But Out Of Clues What Is Wrong

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I would've thought thyroid at first too, with the symptoms, but it does sound like the testing was thorough.

     

    The only other thing that makes sense with some of the symptoms would be Cushing's, which has already been mentioned.

     

    Common symptoms include:

     

    weight gain (around midsection), irritability, anxiety, unstable emotions, depression, lethargy, slow healing of wounds, infections, broken bones (due to loss of bone- osteoporosis), thin fragile skin, stretch marks (striae), muscle weakness, hair loss (animals).....

    Keep Sebau In Your Prayers Please

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I hate it. I know there's nothing I can do, I can't turn back the clock. I've added night lights all over the house so that there's light all the time, and I keep the back porch light on, as well as the outside greenhouse lights so that she has light outside as she often goes out a couple times at night. She seems to have the most trouble seeing when it's dark. Carpets have been put down on slick spots for extra traction, and no furniture gets moved (she knows the layout). Sometimes she seems confused, and I'm not sure if it's that she just doesn't have full use of her eyes/ears anymore, or if she's getting a bit senile. Other times she seems pretty sharp, though I can tell she really can't hear unless it's extremely loud.

     

    Up until about a month ago she could still do a pretty long walk, but it's just too much for her now. I hate leaving her behind when I take the boys for a long walk, but she just can't do it, and at 55+ lbs, I can't carry her for long. I make sure she gets a short one (with the boys along) because she loves it, but she hates that the boys go without her for part of it.

     

    I've noticed her body changing, and it's not just the gray hairs, it's the way she moves, her posture, her rear has lost muscle and is weakening and wobbly. She seems tired now, though she still seems happy and enjoys treats, pets, and her short walkies. The boys seem to know and Diesel especially sticks close to her.

     

    I know I'm lucky to have been able to share fourteen years with her, and for her to be so healthy and active all that time. I just hate aging and the indignities that come along with it. I know we all deal with it and go through it with our pups and I'll be there in a few years with the boys and I've been through it before with other pets, but it's still not any easier.

    Let's Play "name The Growths"

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    No ideas on what those are, but I know the feeling about the lumps and bumps. I hope her vet appointment goes well and they are just "bumps".

     

    Sebau, my old gal now has lots of assorted lumps and bumps. :blush (A few pea - grape sized lipomas, a couple warty-like ones, all are benign (we had the vet check them too), but she's just a lumpy bumpy ol' gal :blush A couple of the lipomas have been there for YEARS now and haven't changed much)

    Keep Sebau In Your Prayers Please

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by lothianjavert

    ok.. I'm getting things all screwed up..... :blush

     

    Thinking of one thing, worrying about another while doing something else and well...

     

    Please keep the ol' gal, Sebau, in your thoughts. The past few months she's really been slowing down. :( I know, she's 14, and has really done great until now. I just hate seeing her get old. She's not seeing very well at all anymore, and her hearing isn't the best either.

     

    Yesterday she refused to eat breakfast, which is NOT her. She's a pig. I usually have to watch her to make sure she doesn't boss the boys out of their food bowls. She did eat today, though not with her usual gusto. She's just "off" and starting to look so old now. :( We have an appointment at the vet Thursday just to check things out.

     

    Why do they have to get old so quickly? :( Where did the time go? It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago that she was just a pup.

    Steroids Or Nsaid?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    The bloodwork can screen for -existing- kidney or liver issues, but it can't tell the vet if that dog will have an unusual reaction. Now, if the nsaids are to be used long term, then periodic testing is done to monitor the effects. However, some react very badly very quickly, and there's no way to predict that. :(

    Steroids Or Nsaid?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    NSAIDs-- non-steroidal anti-inflammatories do help relieve pain, but they also help reduce inflammation. Many NSAIDs can damage the kidneys and/or liver-- it's the same with human NSAIDS. Most dogs handle them well, but there are some that just don't. Unfortunately, you don't know until you find out the hard way. :( (same thing can happen in people too) The most common side effects in both people and animals are either gastric disturbances (upset stomach, ulcers, bleeding) and kidney impairment

     

    Tramadol is not an NSAID. It does relieve pain, but won't do squat for inflammation. It's often combined with an NSAID.

     

    Steroids such as prednisone are the most powerful drugs when it comes to inflammation. However, they have nasty side effects and you don't want to use them casually. You also cannot just start and stop steroids, you must gradually taper the dose. If they are truly needed, go for it--they are lifesavers, especially for auto-immune problems. But for a minor injury like a broken toe, steroids would not be the way to go. Keep in mind that they can also delay healing.

    * increased blood sugar for diabetics

    * increase in blood pressure

    * weight gain

    * facial swelling

    * depression, mania, or other psychiatric symptoms

    * unusual fatigue or weakness

    * blurred vision

    * abdominal pain

    * peptic ulcer

    * infections

    * painful hips or shoulders

    * osteoporosis

    * insomnia

    * severe joint pain

    * cataracts

    * black stool

    * stomach pain or bloating

    * severe swelling

    * mouth sores or dry mouth

    * Avascular Necrosis

    * stretch marks

    * nervousness

    * acne

    * rash

    * increased appetite

    * nausea, vomiting

    * frequent urination

     

    B 12 Shots Other Things

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Both budesonide and prednisone are steroids. Budesonide is often administered in different ways -- i.e. inhaler form, etc. Per mg, it is much more powerful than pred, but it's not metabolized quite the same way. It's very effective for treating specific inflammations (i.e. lungs) w/o getting the systemic effects of prednisone. Or at least effects as severe as on an equivalent dose of pred. It CAN cause cataracts, osteoporosis, etc., with a high enough dose over a long period of time, but in that sense it is much safer than pred, and those side effects are seen much less often. One thing to also keep in mind-- many of the people on budesonide may occasionally need a boost w/ a systemic steroid like pred, so that can also skew results. Thrush can be an issue though, as can infections, just like with any steroid.

     

    I would be more concerned w/ long term prednisone than with budesonide. Pred is a LOT cheaper. If the pred works, it might be worth it to try budesonide.

     

    BTW, budesonide is used frequently in humans for treating intestinal inflammation and asthma (Pulmicort & Symbicort are the two budesonide inhalers that I use) and is very effective.

    Question For Those With Amputate-toe Hounds

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I don't have any idea if the amputation could cause him more pain or not, but it's interesting. Amputation has been suggested for Sully's whopper of a corn, but I wonder if it would just cause more problems. :(

     

    He often holds the foot up and will 3 leg it. He has booties for walks (which help greatly) and booties for the house, but the house booties usually end up in odd places in the yard... or stuffed under a dog bed :blink: . They just don't stay on well unless they are so tight that they cut off circulation.

     

    He has the overgrowth/callus area around the corn that we keep filed down. It also causes pain-- it seems like it can be just as bad as the corn! They both grow so quickly that hulling/filing are now pretty much weekly.

     

    Gads... I never would have thought that something so small could cause such an issue. Hugs to you and Mork :grouphug

    I know too that corns are "minor" and I'm also thankful that it's not something bad, but when you see your pup limping and holding up a foot despite all you try, it's frustrating.

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