CindyandThunder

Thank you to everyone who posted ... I don't have the heart to read through them all right now but wanted to thank everyone who has contacted me privately and who posted here ... it means a lot ...

Today I helped my beautiful Thunder go peacefully to the bridge. I feel like I need to start at the beginning ... In May, 1999, I was approved to adopt a greyhound and I told my rep I wanted a BIG BLACK male as young as possible. They brought one on the home visit and he wanted to kill my sister's boston terrier. It was several weeks later that Katie Traxel called me to tell me about a cat safe dog available. He was male, and cat safe. But he was 5, all white with just a bit of fawn on his head/ears and tiny (raced at 68-70 lbs). I begrudgingly agreed to at least meet him, even though I knew he wasn't for me. I took my sister's dog with to make sure they would get along (I was living with my sis at the time) and after 5 seconds, "that dog" leaned on my leg and became my dog. It took literally 5 seconds for me to know that Thunder was meant to be my dog. My companion. On June 12, 1999, just days after his 5th birthday, I adopted Showtime Thunder. Thunder was the perfect name for him as he was petrified of thunderstorms! Thunder was a little shy at first and didn't come out of his crate right away. After a while, he became more confident and joined us in the livingroom on his bed for naps and eventually on the couch and in bed. In his youth and even middle age, he was a roaching machine and LOVED to roll in the grass He spent more time upside down than right side up ! Thunder was a magnificant GPA embassadog and went on countless home visits, did hundreds of Meet and Greets and was an all around perfect hound. Sure, he ate anything, edible or not (plant bulbs, candy, burritos, peppermints) and sure, he would hog the bed even though it is a king size with plenty of room. And even though he was nothing that I thought I wanted, he was everything I needed. He's been with me through moves, boyfriends, countless fosters, the introduction of one brother, then another, my own medical issues, my first house and even introducing a cat into the family. Through it all, he's been my constant companion and my best friend. As he aged, he lost some of that spark but none of his silliness. Right through to the end, he bought a smile to my face and a laugh to our household. In the last year, he stopped being able to see well and hear well and finally, stopped roaching, but never lost his ability to make me feel good and know that no matter what, he loved me, and I him. In the end, my magnificant and stately Thunder was unable to navigate the hallway without tripping or bonking into the wall -- LSS had degrated my strong, handsome guy to a shadow of his former self. The weight slipped away, even though the appetite remained and through many, many tears, I decided it was time to ease his pain and help him to be at peace. On Saturday, November 22, 2008, my magnificant companion joined all those who went before him and is running with wild abandon through the tall grass chasing bunnies and playing with all of his friends who met him on the other side. I will miss you always and never forget how you changed my life. The dogs I've saved, the lifelong friends I've made ... all because I took a chance and met that tiny, 5 year old boy. I love you, my Sundaro.

I'm the hookworm goddess here (its not a good title, I assure you). Copper, we believe, has encysted hookworms (they are dormant in non-intestinal tissue and every so often awaken adn migrate to the small intenstines to complete teh lifecycle). We treat every month and more aggressively in summer. Interceptor is better, I've found than HG+ for hooks. Also, about 2x per year he gets a treatment of straight injection of ivermectin, with a repeat 3 weeks later. I go interceptor, HG+ back and forth all year. Anyhow, they say that direct sunlight adn a drought will kill the larvae in the soil. Maybe there will be a hot,dry spell this summer adn take care of your yard! Anyhow, if you want any tips or advice, let me know!

BJ, I'm sending tons and tons of good thoughts your way. Do you think you could put Black Jack on a grain-free diet? Its supposed to be good for dogs with or presumed to have "c" ... I'm not sure if that's an option for you or not ... my friend did it and said it was very very helpful for her dog with osteo and this was years ago. Regardless, I'm praying its a soft tissue injury adn that you'll have years and years with your Black Jack

Thanks everyone for your input and thoughts -- it means a lot. I'll talk to my vet and see if she can do the shot at my house and about some of the other suggestions made. I REALLY appreciate your help/thoughts ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEEPY!!!! What do you do when your at work? Soemtimes at night, when he tries to get onto the bed himself, he misses -- I'm right there to help steady him and get him going again. I am so paranoid that he'll fall and get stuck when I'm at work. I can't block him from the bedroom -- its the only place he really rests comfortably. I also can't crate him (he said no thanks to the crate about 6 years ago by breaking off all his canine teeth). Do you make special accomodations for Peepy during the day?

I tried a ramp when he broke his foot last year. He does NOT like that!! Wow, he did not like it! I was like "ok, guess we're NTO going the ramp route." Wouldn't even walk on it when it was flat for practice! I should also add for general knowledge, T is on every supplement known to mankind. Colodin (AWESOME for old dogs!!), glucosomine, chondroiton, MSM, B Complex, metacam daily ...

My vet uses an ear one and I know once did both ear adn rectal ... the temps were very similar (off by maybe .1). ?? Maybe some are better than others or we just got lucky !!

I HATE LS. Thunder, who will be 14 next month (WOO HOO!!) has it, to the best we can tell. He also now has a complete fear of the car and gets so worked up even on the 15 min ride to the vet that he poops, panics and is breathing so hard, I swear he's going to have a heart attack. THe injections are therefore not an option ... What can I do at home for him? This is where we are: His general attitude is awesome. He eats a full meal every time offered and has never turned down a treat. He seems like he's in good spirits for a dog his age That's the good part. He can't stand for more than 2-3 seconds before sinking down ... when he's eating, I now sit right next to him and keep propping him up. Drinking is the same. He will NOT eat laying down ... silly boy. His tail has little/no movement That is hugely sad for me. He sometimes falls when pooping. I have to help him about 2-3 tiimes a week and yesterday he fell over really hard mid-poo. Peeing is no trouble at all, thankfully. He needs help getting into bed and will not lay on the chair/couch any more Has a really hard time getting up from laying down. I know, I know. I've posted lots of negatives and trust me, I've thought about the inevetable with my vet and friends/family. Wiht his overall happy attitude and the fact that he can still get up, even if slow, and still eats a full meal, licking the bowl clean ... I know its not his time ... yet. The reason for posting is to get tips on how to help him be happier and enjoy life more during the the final weeks/months. Can I just say it sucks huge that his body betrays him like this ... Any thoughts/tips/etc would be MUCH appreciated.

I've used it with Thunder for t-storms. 5mg tabs, I believe. I used 1/2 tab before a storm and it helped TREMENDOUSLY in easing his tstorm phobia (was awful -- he'd injur himself, he'd be so scared). He would be quiet and sleepy but not completely doped up. HOpe that helps.

I used it with Copper for many months and was unimpressed. If you miss even 1 application, you're pretty much screwed.

I've tried raw iwth copper several times ... its not a pretty sight. Thunder was raw-fed for 5 years and it was great. Coppe rhas never done well on raw.

What's a dosage of pepcid for an 80lb hound?

How can you tell the difference between mouth stink and stomach stink?

Poor Copper. He had a dental about 2 months ago and the vet reported that he had bad gingivitis and his teeth were pretty rank (its been 1 year since his last dental). I have been brushing daily (except when I was on vacation last week, he got 0 brushings at the pet sitter). Sometimes I do 2xdaily brushing. I also use a chlorhexidine rinse daily. Additionally he gets chewies that are from the vet adn are purported to reduce the incident of tartar formation. Ok, there's the history. Copper's breath is RANK again. I mean, really, really nasty. If he breathes too much in an enclosed space, the odor is obnoxious. I have checked his teeth and none appear to be damaged and there is just a small amount of tartar forming. A water pick was recommended by some friends and I've not tried it yet ... Copper was afraid of it and I've been desensitizing him to the spraying water. Any thoughts?