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lothianjavert

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Posts posted by lothianjavert

    Lyme Disease

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Yes, we've been through Lyme 4 times. If the titer is positive and not caused by a vaccination, I'd treat. I know many vets disagree with this, but they may not have lived with a dog who had untreated Lyme and then tried to treat after the symptoms got bad. I would never take that approach again. Your heart may be broken because Lyme really can't be cured when it's too far along. One of our dogs died because we waited too long before treating. He also had the early Lyme vaccine, so he was hit doubly hard.

     

    Lots of groceries stores and even Target charge only $4 for doxy, (I'm not sure how much they give.) Here in SC Publix gives antibiotics away for free! They are probably located elsewhere.

     

    Marcia in Anderson SC who came from CT, the hotbed of Lyme disease

     

    Yes, my old vet would treat if the titer was positive, even if the dog was asymptomatic. He would also treat if the dog was symptomatic but was NOT coming up positive. (The latter had actually happened to him when he had Lyme-- he had all the symptoms, but tested negative, so the doctors wouldn't treat him. He got REALLY sick, and said screw it and gave himself a nice long high dose course of doxy. :lol And it worked.) Lyme is so prevalent in our area that if there was any possibility it could be Lyme, he would treat. In part because the treatment was safe and inexpensive, and the risks of waiting too long are high.

     

    He also did not like the vaccine for two reasons. One was the lack of efficacy. He guessed that at BEST it was maybe 60% effective. (Sebau was vaccinated, and it didn't do any good) The second was that a sizeable amount of dogs acquire all the symptoms of Lyme after vaccination, and that can be even worse to treat than Lyme itself.

    Lyme Disease

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Sebau has/had lyme. She was 6 or so the first time around, and presented with slight stiffness, and just being "off", no profound lameness or lethargy, she just wasn't "right", so off to the vet we went, and she had Lyme. She went on a long course of doxy (8 weeks), though she felt much better after just a week. She's had a few flares (or reinfections, hard to say) over the years, and all were treated with a long course of doxy at the dose of 10 mg/lb (so a 50 lb dog would get 500 mg/day of doxy for 8 weeks or so). She's now 13. We check her yearly w/ the snap, but also are very aware of the symptoms, and if she shows any, or is off in any way, in she goes.

    How Quickly Do Your Pups' Corns Come Back After Hulling?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Sully's corn makes me want to :riphair:headwall . Hulling it gives him great relief, but it always comes back, and it seems to come back so darned quickly!! It needs to be hulled on just about a monthly basis! :eek:blink: I understand why it hurts too, the darned thing is as hard as a rock-- it must feel like walking with a big, sharp pebble in your shoe. OUCH!

     

    It's just so frustrating! I hate seeing him limp, and he doesn't like getting it hulled (and it has to be done often), but I'm not sure surgery is worth it, since often they just come right back. :(

    Waking Up Disoriented In Middle Of Night

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I don't know Jen. I think the tramadol could be the culprit, but so could pain. If you are giving the doses at different times, possibly closer together, she could be feeling the side effects more. 9 seems young for old age dementia, but I guess it's possible. Some people suffer earlier too.

     

    Sebau has been having problems with waking at night and pacing, but she's 13 now. Sometimes she'll pitter patter into the bathroom and stare at the toilet and cry. :blink: Her waking up and walking around wakes me up now, so I fetch her out of the bathroom, take her out to pee, and get her settled on her bed. Usually after that she sleeps the rest of the night.

     

    I've also put night lights in the bedroom and throughout the house, and that also seems to help some. Sometimes she'll get up, and wander over to our bed to check and see if I'm still there, and then go lay back down. :rolleyes: (I've had a lot of trouble sleeping for a few months, so I -have- been out of bed a lot, so I can understand why she does that, she's always been my velcro girl)

    Interviewing A Vet

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks Mere!

     

    Philly is closer (and to pick up the dogs I wouldn't be back-tracking 90 minutes), but traffic is a huge issue there, just like it would be for the Baltimore area. Usually it bogs down by Newark, and it's stop and go through Newark, Wilmington and Philly. (Can't you just tell I love I95? :rolleyes::lol ) However, a vet in the Glasgow/Newark area in DE would also be an option. That's only about 20 minutes or so away, even with traffic issues. I didn't even think about looking in DE!! That might open up some more options, that area isn't far away and is much more populated, I'd probably have a better chance of finding a vet.

     

    Also, if it's crossing state lines, Nottingham and Oxford PA are also only about 20 minutes away, just straight up 272, so they are a consideration too. (I'm 30 minutes away from Longwood Gardens-- essentially, I'm kind of in the limbo area between everything. :P )

    Geriatric Dogs

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    We have a large variety of bedding, and they all seem to rotate where they lay. :lol

     

    Sebau has a couple coats/sweaters but she -hates- them. Even when it's really cold, she ends up panting with them on. She has a heavy double coat-oily stiff hairs on the outside, and soft fluffy lofty hairs as the undercoat (thanks to the GSD in her background).

     

    On the other hand, the boys, especially Sully, LOVE their attire! :lol

     

    She's on a regular diet-- I guess even at 13 she's about as active as the boys. When she was younger, it was almost impossible to wear her out. We literally lived by the mantra of "a tired dog is a good dog... a good dog is a tired dog..." :lol For a while, we walked/ran 9 miles or so EVERY day. :blink: Or she'd shred the house. :eek

     

    Now she seems more like a normal dog. She seems so slowed down to me, but her energy level is very good for her age. I do watch her weight. She's short and squat so she does put on weight easily. It's one reason we'd never free feed. I'd have a bunch of sausage shaped roly poly dogs! :lol

     

    This morning was a blast, she took off after our "special" squirrel (he's not the brightest) and had a great run around the yard after him. Darned near got him too. This goes on several times a day. :lol For some reason, this squirrel hasn't learned to climb up a tree to get away from the dogs, he runs clear across the yard (about an acre!-- and we have plenty large trees in the yard he could go up) and over the fence. :blink: Sad to say, I know one of these days he's not going to make it.

     

    I do hate watching her slow down, but I know it's inevitable, and I know I need to be thankful that she's done so well. At 13 the ol' gal still has a ton of spunk. I've gotten comments from other people that they can't believe she's 13, they think she's 8 or so. (but like I stated, most of the dogs around here are "outside" types, and don't get a whole lot of care. I'd guess that a lot never make it to very old age)

     

    Thanks for the tips! I'm glad I'm already doing a lot of these things (a lot of which I've picked up from reading GT over the years. I would've never known about glucosamine/chondroitin, fish oil, tripe, etc. w/o GT)

    Interviewing A Vet

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Just a PS,

     

    I know I won't find an exact copy of my old vet-- that's impossible. I grew up with him being our vet, and as a kid used to give him drawings. They used to decorate his office. :blush He wasn't the kind of vet you'd go to for a specialized surgery or delicate procedure. However, for basic care, he was great. One thing that amazed me was how knowledgeable he was, some of which he had learned by experience. (interesting some of the on the spot splints and e-collars he could come up with) Many many years of being a vet, but he was always up to date on things like vaccine protocols, Lyme disease, and would be there at a moment's notice if necessary. There were times I ran to his house on a Sunday or at night (he had a small secondary office in back of his house. He also had a large animal practice, though the last few years he retired from that part of practice-- he said he was too old for stomping through the fields in the snow or getting kicked by a peeved horse :lol ). He'd also work out a payment plan and was willing to work with you.

     

    So far he's the only vet I've ever been to that has given my greys a full physical-- just like out of Care of the Racing Greyhound. (He had treated some greys, but had treated quite a few hunter/jumpers and racers (horses) and was familiar with the types of injuries )

     

    I can't blame him for retiring-- I'm pretty sure he was in his mid-late seventies. :blush But I sure do miss him. Since he's retired his practice has been bought out several times, and it seems like the vets I like never stay, and it now takes a minimum of 2 weeks to even get an appointment. Hence, I'm looking for a new vet.

     

    We ended up at one this summer that we didn't like at all (with Sebau), and another that was ok, but was too far to drive/too short hours. :( Argh!!!

     

    Sometimes I miss the convenience of where we lived before. You could open the phone book and w/in an hours drive find lots of vets, including specialists. (We also are lacking the restaurants, stores, etc. that we were so used to before. I can't tell you how much I crave Panera, but the closest one is an hour away! :blush )

     

    I know we'll eventually find a vet, I think it's just going to be a matter of trying out local ones to see who I like. It was just pure luck that we'd found our old vet when I was a kid, and he turned out to be great. Actually interviewing and searching for a vet is a new experience for me.

    Interviewing A Vet

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    My adoption group is a couple hours away, so while they know some great vets, it doesn't help me much, since I couldn't get there at any other time than on the weekends, if they have weekend hours. Calling and needing to see a vet and getting "we can see you on Saturday three weeks from now" doesn't work. :(

     

    Most vets around here do not have around the clock care-- usually no one is around if an animal has to stay overnight. That's something we ran into this summer when Sebau was sick, and last summer too. :( I'm not sure about how many have sighthound experience. While greys were common closer to the city, I've answered so many questions about them it's unbelievable. Most people have never seen one, and know nothing about them. The average dog here is a beagle or hunting mix/lab. There's a kennel of fox hounds down the road from us. (No way you can't hear those guys baying!! :lol:P ) Most also advertise large animal practice as well, and it's still a mainstay for many vets. I really don't know if I'll find any that have any real experience with greys. We have nixed a couple vets by doing wellness visits, but it just seems like such a long process.

     

    And I'm afraid frankly of running out of vets-- there aren't that many nearby!

     

    I think grey experience is something I'm not likely to find, but a vet that is open and flexible (and doesn't insist on yearly rabies vaccinations, which seems to be the norm here) and will listen and is willing if necessary to consult w/ another vet is what I'm hoping for.

     

     

    Geriatric Dogs

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Luckily feeding isn't an issue-- she's still a garbage can on 4 feet. She'll eat ANYTHING! :eek:blink: (She's always been like that... as a young dog, that often included non-edible items like underwear crotches, socks, tissues, toilet paper, paper, mulch.. my favorite paint brushes.... :blink: She has finally grown out of that... at about the age of 10 :lol )

     

    She eats her meals with gusto and doesn't leave a scrap. Actually, I have to watch her because she'll boss the boys out of their bowls! :rolleyes: If I'm present, she won't try it, but if she thinks I'm not looking... :lol and neither Diesel nor Sully, both food hounds, will protest. They'll just back away and look pitiful. Hence, I'm always present at meal times. :lol As a benefit, I do always know who is eating and how much, though in my house, I would be very worried if someone left food in a bowl.

     

    Jasmine, the great dane, is food-aggressive, so she eats in a separate room.

     

    I don't push her on walks, and they are much, much shorter than they were even a couple years ago, but she still loves them and gets so excited when she sees the leashes come out. (all three do, walkies are one of their favorite things!) There are certain areas I avoid because of off-lead dogs, but we still manage a good mile, and she's not dragging at the end. I know that that will change, but I'll shorten the walks as the need arises.

     

    Diesel does not like to walk without her and gets very upset, so I usually walk all three together.

     

    She's ok on the stairs, but she takes them much more slowly. I think her body build is a benefit-- she's short and squat, with a low center of gravity, so her legs don't tend to slip out from under her. :blush However, she's big enough that she doesn't have to leap up the steps. ( she's dalmatian-size, but w/ a very broad chest)

     

    If necessary, in the future, Steve can build a ramp off the deck, and we can carry her upstairs to bed, she's about 60 pounds, so she's not very heavy.

     

    I just wish they didn't get old so quickly. It's not fair. :(

     

    It seems like just yesterday she was a young dog, getting in to everything, with boundless energy and clear bright eyes. :( The boys will be eight this spring. Where does the time go???

    Interviewing A Vet

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    It might be just a little too far for you, but I take Zuni up 95 to Dr. Rodney in Fallston (about 20 minutes north for me from the city). I've only seen her, so I don't know about prices, but she is definitely grey-savy. She adopts greys out of her office--the last time we walked in and there was a grey meeting a potential family. I went to see her from the list of vets here on GT.

     

    Fallston isn't too far away from where I work, so it's about 75-90 minutes, depending on traffic (it's not so far mileage wise, but factor in traffic, stoplights, bridge construction, and it adds a ton of time). The big issue is being able to get home from work, pick up the pups, and then go to the vet. In that case, Fallston would be a 3 hour round trip, and I probably wouldn't be able to make it to the vet before they closed. :( If we were still at the old house, it would've been very convenient, only about 30 minutes.

     

    I'm looking for something close to home, and I know there are a few practices around here, but I don't know much about them. Most of my neighbors don't think of pets the same way we do (i.e. many can't comprehend why on earth we keep 3 big dogs IN the house, not in the yard on a chain or roaming free. I've been told I'm cruel for having all of my pets spayed/neutered :blink: ) so I don't know who to ask for a reference locally.

    Geriatric Dogs

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    My ol' gal Sebau is 13 now, and for her age, she still trucks along pretty darned good. :P (and still keep the boys under an iron paw! :lol )

     

    However, I've noticed that she's getting stiffer,and doesn't see or hear as well. She seems to lose me sometimes, and wanders around looking for me, or gets confused. She has the most trouble at night-- I guess because it's dark and her eyesight isn't the best. I've set up night lights to help, and that does seem to make a difference. She sleeps a lot more now too, though she still enjoys her walks, and can go about 1 mile or so at a time w/o being too tired or dragging.

     

    Earlier this year we bought a dog door because she can't hold it all day anymore, and it has been a godsend. She figured out how to use it right away, and now uses it as needed (or just to go out and hang out in the yard on a nice day!).

     

    Is there anything I can do to make things easier for her? She gets glucosamine/chondroitin and MSM daily, and it does help, as well as a multi-vite, vit. E and fish oil.

    Interviewing A Vet

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I really need a new vet-- preferably one that is close enough to drive to after work on weekdays. While I would like one with good prices, that's only part of the equation. I really am looking for one that is open-minded and willing to work with you. Grey-savvy would be great, but I know that is unlikely here.

     

    I feel really strange just calling up a practice and asking questions, but how else can I find a vet? I don't want to keep taking my pups to different vets each time-- I'd like a continuum of care, to stick with a vet so that they get to know my dogs and me.

     

    What questions should I ask? I'm at a total loss. :( I've had the same vet almost all my life until he retired the other year. :(

    Thank You Thank You Thank You Ss!

    in Announcements and News

    Posted

    Sebau's gift arrived, and it was a HUGE hit!!! She got the most AMAZING embroidered blankie, in RED, one of her colors!! :colgate

     

    her blankie:

     

    sebausblankie07.jpg

     

    There were also lots of other goodies in the box, a picture frame, some awesome stuffies, lots of treats (btw, those little sausages were AMAZING... all the pups went nuts over them!! DH almost ate one, they smelled so good! :lol ) Just... WOW! Thank you!

     

    I took some short videos of the pups and their loot... but I can figure out how to edit them... :unsure:blush

     

    And yes, I will post my siggie, but first, I have to take some pics that are good enough for her to use to make it with! I'm really looking forward to it!! (thanks so much for the siggie, I have -zero- computer graphics skills :blush )

    Not Sleeping Thru The Night-help!

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    ah. AJ nailed it then. :) She's up, and wants to be with you, or you to be up and with her. It's worked for her a couple times, so now she's going to keep trying it. The exercise and the jammies are great ideas too. Tired dogs are always better behaved, and I know my guys don't sleep well if cold. Sully will actually "borrow" the quilt off of our bed. :lol (he pulls it off of us and covers himself up!)

     

    Often, they do prefer to be in the bedroom. Can you put a dog bed in the BR, and Xpen the area so she can't get to your furniture? That way, A. she's with you, and B. your furniture is safe. You should also work on teaching her that wood is off limits-- Sully tried to chew on one of our chairs when he was new, but he figured out pretty quickly that it wasn't allowed, and he hasn't chewed furniture at all in the past 4 years. All 3 of mine sleep on dog beds in our room with us.

     

    The other option, if she is just vocalizing and not soiling/trying to escape her crate is simply to put up with it. It'll be a few long nights, but she'll eventually realize that her vocalizing will NOT bring you, and the behavior will die out. Caution, some dogs can be stubborn, and it often gets a bit worse before it gets better! (also, don't run down and yell "no", because even though it's negative attention, it is STILL bringing YOU AND attention!! -- and therefore, the vocalizing WORKED, at least in her mind!)

     

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