HopeForHounds
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Posts posted by HopeForHounds
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Jake was diagnosed with LS a few months ago. Our vet would consider the depo medrol shots but has concerns about them for Jake and after hearing her out we opted not to use steroids unless necessary. Her concern is that Jake already has a compromised immune system and steroids suppress your immnue system. Plus the shot isn't reversable so if he had any issues from it, we'd be screwed. If we do need to use steroids in the future we would start with prednisone.
Right now Jake is getting Cartrophen shots (similar to Adequan) every 3 - 4 weeks for his hips since he does have arthritis. These help him almost immediately, he stands totally straight within 36 hours of getting a shot.
He also gets AntiFlam by Omega Alpha. It was recommended by a friend who raises racing greyhounds and he said his kennel would be lost without it. It's herbal and it's for horses, there is a pet version but after talking to a company rep I opted to go with the horse version. We now own a litre of the stuff!
After a bad spell in December, when we had the discussion about the depo medrol, we decided to put Jake on Gabapenten. What a difference! He does great on 2 100mg caps a day. I do add a 3rd one at the 3 week point of his shots, that is discontinued the day after the shot.
I am hoping that once winter, the enemy of Senior dogs with issues, is over we can start having some very short walks to help him regain some strength.
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How is Sammi doing today?
Jake has nerve issues in his back end plus arthritis in his hips. We started him on Cartrophen shots (similar to adequan) in October and he does well on them, but they are for the arthritis. He's been on meloxacam for quite a while, but his whole back end was sinking,and he does knuckle off and on. That seems to be from nerves in his spine being affected. In December on the advice of Dr Shelley Lake we started him on Gabapenten, and what a difference. So much so that he has now successfully managed to go a full 4 weeks between shots rather than the less desireable 3 weeks.
He walks with a very different gait now, he rolls his hips and stomps his feet down BUT his is fully mobile and actually bounds out and back in with glee. I once in a while hear a foot drag on the slider door frame, but don't see the knuckling at all now. Yay for Gabapentin. I don't know if this would help Sammi, but it's worth discussing with your vet.
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I'm sorry Mary, she was an adorable little thing.
You have no idea how adorable. My memories of her make me smile.
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Carla, Silver was an amazing boy who gave you such love. How like him to do things on his own terms.
I'm so sorry though that he had to leave at all. I find some comfort that your big boy was there to meet my little girl, your FTH crush. She loved big brindle boys and her reminds me of our Jake.
Godspeed magnificent Silver, you were loved beyond measure.
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This makes me sad, Zoe was one of my very favourite little dogs.
The name Brick Butt was given to Zoe by Alisha in 2007. I had stopped by her booth at Sandy Paws and handed her to Alisha so I could shop for Peanut's coming home collar. When I chose the collar Alisha handed Zoe back to me with an oomph and said "here you take little Miss Brick Butt, she's heavy!"
I don't have any pictures from that year as I stored them somewhere other than photobucket and they deleted them
But I do have these from SP 2008
Zoe and Brian Suzie Q's DH
With Suzie
and with her Auntie Laura
Godspeed little Miss, you will be missed for the big dog you are.
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Oh that picture is so good to see.
On wetting of the bread - no just flatten it out, you know what white bread is like when you squish it right? It just molds the way you want it. Sometimes if I flavour the bread with peanut butter or gravy he just scarfs it down. So, I may have found a way to pill him without sticking my fingers in his mouth.
Grandy says you have to bring Squirt over for a real visit soon.
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Hang in there Jason. Toby has the best medical team. He is in my prayers that he can beat this.
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I didn't see this, but I'm glad to see Bumper is home and you guys are doing okay.
I know this was rough, but really was necessary so stop beating yourself up. I'm interested to see how Bumper does once his pad heals and he's walking on it properly again.
No comment on the pee catching, but the image had me
Derek, I can't get pills into Jake by putting them in tasty things, even pill pockets. He falls for it once, but once only. We've had to pill him many, many times with usually 3 capsules at least twice a day or more even. I found a way that works, well for us anyway. Since trying to get capsules or small pills down his throat so they would stay down, I actually feared I'd lose a finger. I had pill pockets so I put the pills in it and shoved the entire package down the hatch. It worked! Then we ran out so I made my own "package" using a piece of bread. Tear off a small piece, I start with a quarter of a slice with the crust removed. Flatten it out, then place the pills or caps on one end, leaving a space to seal it. Fold the bread over and squish the edges closed, then squish it in your hand to make it as small as you can. Then, down the hatch!
Hugs to Bumper and to you.
:bighug Prayers for a quick and uneventful healing. -
You have my prayers and good thoughts.
This pulls at my heartstrings as the losing weight was Peanut's first symptom. We didn't do an ex-ray as she had fluid in her belly and that would only have shown shadows. We did the ultrasound, cost about $380.00, pretty good for around here. Praying that Aladdin's issue is something really simple and easy to fix.
to you -
I'm so pleased to read that Zuki is doing so well on the CoQ10. Dr Radcliffe is speaking at Sandy Paws again. I'm planning on taking better notes this year, he has so many great, well researched suggestions.
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Happy Birthday Larry! Look for my Peanut, she just arrived and she loves birthdays!
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Becki I'm so very sorry.
Godspeed Max
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How's he doing today Judy?
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Thank you everyone for the support, kind words, flowers and messages. You have no idea how much it all means to me.
I got the call this morning that our baby is ready to come home. I'm hoping that will help me. I have asked a friend to make a special pottery urn that will house both Foxy and Peanut's ashes.
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I'm praying you get an answer today. Hugs to Raz.
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Very nice job indeed Miss Deb. More hugs for Sam.
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Poor guy, and poor you. Wish I could send you some Scentsy through the phone line, I have a box full of bars, scent paks, scent circles and room spray.
I agree with either fasting or giving very mild foods like a sweet potato. Get something from your vet in the morning. You'll need to re give the Heartguard at some point, but not until he feels better.
Hugs to you both
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So gald to come into this late to find Sam is doing so well. Big hugs from all of us in Ontario.
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Traumeel is available here in Canada. It's my favourite go to med. I know someone who works atwith hemopheliac dogs. She started using Traumeel instead of acetaminophen and has had fabulous results.
Where do you live?
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I heard Dr Radcliff a vet from Wheeling Downs speak at Sandy Paws. He highly recommends all senior dogs be on CoQ10. He said to buy the best quality human version. So I would take from that it is safe for hounds.
If you are using it for the bennefit to the heart, Krill Oil is another good one.
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With my heart in pieces I share the news that our Itty Bitty Peanuttiest is gone.
We were planning to take our girl to OSU for a consult on Friday, but she had other plans. Peanut was in liver failure. She had the most gentle passing I've seen.
For those of you who don't know her story, I preadopted her in 2005 after seeing many, many pictures of her in Mama Caffie's or Daddy Bill's arms. It was this picture that I kept going back to over and over again before I finally sent Cathie an email asking if they were keeping her?
In 2006 I went Jacksonville to see my girl, Peanut was 10 months old at the time. I was so excited, she was not.
She did allow some kisses and played with the stuffie I brought her, until her brother Frankie stole it. Then the two of them played a game, I would throw, Peanut would catch and bury it then Frankie would dig it up and steal it. 
The following year I got the email every Follow That Hound Preadopter waits for - "Are You Sitting Down?" My girl was coming home! My friend Laura and I already had plans to go to Sandy Paws with a week following in Jacksonville Beach. We picked Peanut up the day before we left to come home. That trip bonded us completely.
She loved the snow, loved to play rough, loved her babies, loved her big sister Foxy. We loved her!
Peanut brought so many people into our lives. I will be forever grateful for our FTH family, the WFUBCC, Peanut's boyfriend George, and the many, many friends Peanut attracted like a magnet.
For Peanut's littermate's families, Judy & Mike, Michelle, Janice, Wendy and John, I know how hard it must have been waiting for updates and seeing the final news.
Please keep Mama Caffie and Daddy Bill in your thoughts too, they feel the loss of each of their babies.
As sad as I am, I'd like this to be a Happy Memory Thread. Those of you who knew her, you have your own memories, please share them here (with pictures too please).
As she left me yesterday, this is what I told her "go my little one, we love you and you will be in our hearts forever.
Fly baby girl fly! When you arrive on the other side Foxy will find you, she always knew where you were. Look for a big, black, goofy boy. He will recognize you since you look so much like your brothers.
Some of my favourite memories.
I am so glad that Peanut made the trip to Sandy Paws to pick up Grandy last March. She got to see her Mama Caffie and Daddy Bill again. Plus, of course, she made a whole new group of new friends.
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Tonight's dinner - beef chunks aux jus and baked potato out of the jacket. No, not our dinner, Miss Peanutty's dinner. She loved it. I also added some nutritional yeast.
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I missed this since I've been dealing with one crisis after another with Jake and Peanut.
Merlin honey you have to eat! I know just how your Mommy is feeling right now, and it's powerless and awful. I know you don't mean to make her sad, but try to eat something.
Kerry, when my daughter's dog was diagnosed with diabetes last winter she had no choice in the eating matter. In order to give insulin, she HAD to get her to eat. Faced with your frustrations, she went out and got a syringe then blended her food. She forced very small amounts down her throat. It takes ages, and dogs hate it, but......you have to do something when they are refusing to eat. I'm not sure if Merlin is at this point yet, but I would discuss it with your vet as an option.
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the bruising is most likely from drawing blood. felix just had blood drawn and the next day a huge bruise at the site. i hope peanut is comfortable, white lights for peanut.
Blood was drawn from her leg although.......... I forgot that they drew blood for her ACTH stim test. I'm checking where that was taken from.
She looks okay, no worse that's for sure. Bruise is about the same too, no bigger. She ate most of her breakfast too.
Came back to add that she growled at Jet when he got too near her bowl and at Wil last night when he cleaned up her cookie crumbs.
All normal Peanutty behaviour.
:bighug Prayers for a quick and uneventful healing.
It's Just A Simple Dental...right?
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
So happy to see this post after Chase was already home. Wow I sure wish I could get a dental for even close to that. Jet's is going to set us back over $850 not including his blood work. We had to delay his dental due to Peanut's sudden medical issues. Thank God for my second ....or I guess it's my 3rd job.