Cynthia
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Posts posted by Cynthia
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"He will be walking towards the door and just stop and let go."
Monty was doing that this winter just before he got really sick. I thought he had dementia. He's still technically sick, but has come so far since the dark days. It may not be all downhill from here ,even though it seems that way right now. It's amazing what you can adjust to
Hang in there, you'll figure out the best way to make life as good as it can be for both of you. -
Katie and Monty both take Tramadol as needed for excruciating pain and it has helped them a lot - with no side effects. I prefer this to the NSAIDs for pain relief. Are you sleeping downstairs with your Monty tonight? Hope he recovers quickly and feels better soon.
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Yes, have the tick tests. You need to find out what's going on and that's a very good place to start along with a full thyroid panel.
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The x-rays are likely to rule out cancer. Trudy is correct that disc issues will not be seen on an x-ray. (You would need an MRI). My vet told me that the first time I took Katie in for back pain 7 months ago. I'm still carrying her up and down the stairs (excellent weight bearing exercise, isn't it?), her issues are more complicated and she'll have surgery this month. Hope Charlie's problem is diagnosed quickly and that he is able to be treated and feels better soon! I'd stick to the crate rest as your vet suggested. She is trying to keep him from re-straining or re-injuring himself.
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Thanks everyone. Robyn, maybe Sugarmom will come along with more advice or I should PM her. I searched on her user name and found some references, and it sounded like her pup recovered very quickly! Anyone else been through this or something similar? I hate suprises and would rather learn the easy way - through other's experience. Thx
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Katie turned 6 in August and has had back pain since April. We have spent the spring and summer and early fall seeing a neuro vet monthly and sometimes weekly. He has done every type of testing (multiple MRI series months apart, TBDs both ways, repeated blood tests and exotic lab tests that I'd never heard of, spinal and joint taps) and we have been medicating for comfort and cure of anything bacterial. The first MRI series didn't show enough damage to justify surgery, the second after a crisis a month ago did, but also turned up 'something in her brain' which was either bacterial infection or tumor. The neuro vet did not want to do spinal surgery on a 'dog who could be dead in two months from a brain tumor.'
Her personality, which has always been exceptionally 'slutty' and interactive, has waxed and waned during the past seven months. In the past month, following rounds of heavy duty drugs, her personality has returned 'full force' and I honestly haven't seen her this happy since before the pain started in April. However her rear end is completely unstable, with legs crossing or feet buckling after moving more than 30 feet. and hind end failing her and dropping regularly. I've been carrying her up and down the stairs 6 times a day all summer, and she has been unable to do even short walks for months now. The neuro vet is now willing to do a Lumbosacral laminectomy and I'm thrilled that after all the testing and meds we can finally do something that will help her condition instead of just managing her pain while quality of life suffers.
The surgery will remove the top part of her spine in the affected area and that section of the spine will be replaced with a jelly/foam type of substance to keep the spine from pressing down on her nerves. He will also do a brain biopsy at the same time. The surgery is scheduled for late November, and I have that much time to get my house ready for a dog who needs to be confined to a crate for 8 weeks. I'm used to carrying her, so taking her outside to potty is not an issue, though I do expect accidents. I'm also toying with the idea of using x-pens throughout the house so that she can be confined and kept somewhat quiet when she starts to feel better but can still be 'with us.' I also need to ensure the other dogs don't stress her by getting too close during the early part of the recovery, and wonder if the x-pens will be sufficient. It has been a challenge to keep her stimulated and socialized since her back problems started. I expect, but don't know, that it will be even more challenging to keep her brain stimulated and her body still for the long recovery period.
Has your dog had this surgery or similar back surgery? I'm wondering what to expect in terms of recovery time and set-backs. And also how to keep her stimulated mentally during a long boring period of crate rest. I do have a detailed list of 'how to prepare' from the vet, but nothing quite matches real experience, and the list is to protect her body not her mental state. Thanks for anything you can share about either
Cynthia & Katie (who wants to be a normal dog again.)
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No advice really. I just wanted to say I know how you feel, although none of my dogs have IBD (yet.) I do keep notes for each of my medically challenged dogs so that I don't imagine the good days. I can look back and see they weren't very long ago. Or not. Bad days and bad weeks seem much longer when you're going through them. I never hesitiate to call my vets. The neuro even has a special line (press #4) to leave an update. (I must drive my dog's vets crazy, but I figure I'm also giving them a banner year for revenue.
One of my dogs is on prednisone forever I think. I've come to grips with that. And of course none us want to do that, but quality of life is more important than a long (or short) uncomfortable life. I go for comfort first. -
Sometimes dogs are diagnosed with 'epilepsy' based on siezures, but other conditions can cause seizures. Dilated pupils that are not as responsive as they should be could indicate a bacterial infection that inteferes with transmission of information through the nerves, or a brain tumor. Either of these conditions can put pressure on the nerves and slow the pupils reaction to light as well as cause seizures. If this is a new dog for you, you may want to have your vet do a little testing to confirm the diagnosis you have been given. Everything you notice is valuable, so keep a list and share what you see with your vet.
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So, I would stop with him, and say "Luther, what's going on?"...that would only encourage him..He'd stop and look behind, I did the same!..all bad ideas.
That cracked me up
It does seem to happen more with newer dogs. They're learning about the environment, and for the first few weeks or months everything is exciting. When they lose the 'high' they may start to become a little fearful, or something we don't notice may have frightened them on a previous walk. Yes, there are other reasons, but I tend to think it's mostly fear based in the recently retired dogs. So be a positive leader and as others have said, don't coddle or encourage the fear by soothing him.
Several good ideas above, crossing the street and heading in another direction can work too. As does throwing treats ahead just to get his mind on something else. Katie started freezing 6 months post retirement. For 3 or 4 days we walked up and down the driveway because that's what she would do and exercise is about exercise not scenery. Then a foster dog with an attitude brought her confidence back and she's been fearless ever since. Another dog can help. Perhaps there's someone else in your area that you could walk with ocassionally?
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Pred is a catabolic steroid so muscle wasting and stomach issues with use is almost a given. Both Monty & Katie have been on pred off and on since April of this year (for different conditions). Katie's neurologist taught me to always give Tagamet when giving pred, and there have been no tummy issues for either of them. Fingers crossed that this continues to work well for them, as even a very slow decrease and then elimination of the pred for Katie resulted in severe symptoms within a few weeks.
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I read somewhere that when dogs are ill they may stop eating so that their resources are used to heal, instead of to digest. Of course the conundrum there is that if they don't eat at all they will have no energy to heal with!
Katie is ill and does not eat well for weeks at a time, but she will still 'perform' for her dinner or her treats - sitting and providing a weak 'please' via a short roo or too when I ask 'what do you say.' She is going through the motions by habit I think, remembering that this is something she used to enjoy, and I wonder if that's what's happening with Marla. I can hand Katie a meatball and she'll take it in her mouth and then put it down next to her instead of eating it.
I wonder if you've seen the article on feeding on Dr. Stacks site? It's under 'Tips for a Speedier Recovery.' Once you open the link, scroll down to 'Forced Feeding.' Maybe this will be easier.
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How much weight has she lost?
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Entirely Pets carries it. You just order it, and they will contact your vet directly for the RX. (www.EntirelyPets.com)
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Whipworm is prevalent in the area I live in. I keep my dogs on Interceptor which does prevent whipworm. Other heartworm products generally cover just heartworm, hookworm, and roundworm.) If you have your dogs on Heartguard, you might consider switching to Interceptor once things are under control.
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If your vet concludes it's LS, you would want to see a neurologist for a confirmation, definitive testing and surgery.
Surgery is generally not considered unless the dog is younger. If some of the treatments work, then I don't see the point in paying for expensive MRIs and other testing.
When I suspected that Spiff might have LS, I printed out Dr. Stack's info sheet and took it with me to my vet to talk with him about it. Then I knew that he was familiar with LS and other possible causes of Spiff's rear leg problems.
Spiff, Her dog is not 12, he's only 7, which is very young. I relayed Katie's story exactly for that reason. Reaching a conclusion without confirmation/testing in a 12 year old is reasonable, in a 7 year old it could be wrong and time could be lost treating the wrong disease. Hence the recommendation to see a neuro for a consult.
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You don't know that it's the 'scuff' on the shoulder that's causing the problem. It could be something else.
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What would you regret more, bringing her in too early or bringing her in too late?
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You might want to think about bringing him in or muzzling him when he wants to eat grass.
It isn't harmless, and it isn't good for them.
Sort of like kids, just because they want to, doesn't mean they should.
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Since you mention weight loss, has he had TBD tests?
Also, Katie (just turned 6) had what appeared to be LS 6 months ago, but early MRIs didn't show severe nerve constriction. If you do have MRIs ask them to scan the brain at the same time. We went six months before repeating the MRIs and found that while there were still some indications of LS, the severity of symptoms may be from a brain tumor or bacterial infection found during second MRI series. I mention this not to frighten you, but because sometimes hind end weakness, drunken gait, avoiding stairs, sleeping on hard surfaces can be caused by a tumor or infection in the brain.
If your vet concludes it's LS, you would want to see a neurologist for a confirmation, definitive testing and surgery.
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Suddenly, I'm really, really glad that I have girl hounds.
Wellllll........when my sweet little girl Dannie gets very happy, she um, humps the ground or my feet or the rug... It's just excitement for her. It really makes me laugh and because she's so under control most of the time I actually enjoy seeing her that happy.
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Um hmm. I say that Katie's MRIs (repeat repeat) and the other pricey diagnostics (spinal and joint taps and on and on) could have funded a complete face lift for me. But now with potential brain biopsy and if that's a go - back surgery- I could have boobs too (if I wanted them.) I just want my Katie.
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Most current research supports the need for even higher protein in geriatric dogs even with kidney disease. There are a lot of studies on this, and I'm linking a page from Dog Aware which has dozens of articles summarized and links to the referenced articles and research. I hope this helps. Your girl is just beautiful, and I know how hard this can be, but you can make her remaining time comfortable and happy.
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Dogs pant when they're anxious, hot, or in pain. It sounds like a comfortable temp in your house, and it sounds like he didn't just move to your home, so if nothing in the environment has changed (constant thunder storms or rain? or a new pet?) I'd suspect pain.
Hang in there, you'll figure out the best way to make life as good as it can be for both of you.
Please Send Good Thoughts For Monty
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
Good boy Monty
You gave your mom more things to be thankful for tomorrow!