DaisyDoodle

Please take a look at this thread about Daisy's toe/neck/limp. We went around for years trying to figure out what was going on. Linky In the end, we had the toe amputated and she still has issues with her gait occasionally but she is 95% better.

We had some success controlling stool incontinence with acupuncture--directly into the rectum. It apparently improves muscle tone in the rectum. Once you get past the odd idea, it really is helpful. The other thing that I found was helpful was to control the diet in order to keep the stools firm. It's much easier to pick up a firm stool than a pudding plop. Another way that I've seen someone with a paraplegic dog handle the situation is to wear a glove or finger cot and directly stimulate the rectum. The problem with losing sensation in the rear is that a dog can't tell it has to go until it's too late, the entire colon is overly full, and there's no time to get outside. One other problem I regularly encountered was dropping stools in the car. If I couldn't get Lucky to poop before we went for a ride, the first time she had to steady herself (sometimes before the first stop sign), she'd often have a poop accident in the car. I would try to get her to poop before we left, but she often wouldn't go and we'd have to stop and clean the car. Another thing to try is to take Ava outside as soon as she finishes eating. That was another time we'd have problems with Lucky dropping stools. Walking around might stimulate the colon, and encourage her to poop. At least if her colon is full, it might come out outside rather than in. Good luck. I understand how you feel. I couldn't euthanize a dog just for having accidents in the house either. Hugs, Donna

I'm so sorry.

Daisy has had a benign polyp like that. It's called an epulus (sp?). If it's one of those, I'm not sure you even have to remove it. I think they can even go away by themselves, IIRC.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Regarding OSU--I'm pretty sure that they'd be willing to help any sighthound, but I recommend that you get in touch with JoeJoesMom, who lives near OSU and has regular contact with them. Regarding chemo--yes chemo will definitely blast the immune system. The vets will do blood work before each treatment, I believe to check both the white cell and red cell counts. I would ask for any kind of immune booster that is available. I'd also ask about doing prophylactic antibiotics if they won't screw up other things. If you add those, I'd also add yogurt and/or probiotics to keep the good flora happy. My CoCo was on the modified Wisconsin protocol for a year, then we settled on a "salvage" (secondary) protocol of CCNU for the second year. From the time I found her nodes enlarged she lived 28 months, and went to the Bridge primarily because I mismanaged her long-term prednisone dosing--a long story I can tell you another time. Is there a reason the vet won't start your boy on prednisone right away? Short-term, proper use of this drug can be effective. I'd also ask the vet and OSU about CCNU as a first-course treatment. It's a pill, and the side effects were mild compared to some of the components of the modified Wisconsin profile, IIRC. Be sure, too, to make sure that the vet is familiar with "sighthound dosing". The vet who treated CoCo was very conservative with both protocols compared to what the standards called for.

One way to check for knuckling is to stand the dog upright, then turn one foot so that the knuckles are on the floor. The dog should immediately right the foot so that it is standing on its paw pads. If the dog remains standing on the top of the foot, it indicates that there is decrease sensation in that foot. Do the same on the other side. Given the age of your new dog, I would guess allergies and associated licking/chewing too.

Oh my gosh, this sounds horrible and frustrating. My Cosmo had lymphoma, but it was a straightforward case. If I were you I'd immediately get all slide images, blood work, etc to Dr. Couto's group at OSU. They have done studies on lymphoma there. I would ask OSU and the local/university vets you're working with about starting prednisone. Unless there is a different disease that hasn't been ruled out that would react badly to prednisone, the pred would hold lymphoma and other inflamatory processes at bay 'til you/they can figure out what is going on. If the vets say you're not suppose to give pred first (before chemo) with lymphoma, ask them to contact Dr. Couto. He's written a paper on research about timing of use of pred and chemo in lymphoma cases. I would also consider a chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasound. These will provide more information quickly if something really serious is going on, and will give you peace of mind if they are both normal. The only other disease that comes to mind is cutaneous hemangiosarcoma, which is not as dangerous as the internal kind. (Note-I'm not a physician, don't play one on tv...) Not sure if the symptoms and labs would point that way?? Good luck. Please keep us posted.

My Cosmo kind of looked like that after she got bit by a venomous snake, but after the antivenom.

I am so sorry.

Aw, Pam, I'm so sorry. Scoop up Poodle and give him a kiss or ten for me.

Pill gun? Hmmm, I may actually have one of those somewhere--forgot I had it. Next time (hopefully not soon), I'm going to try a pill gun followed by a syringe of water!

Ask the vets to check her for Cushing's and diabetes. Look these both up online to see if she has other symptoms of either. I'm not familiar with the Sx for diabetes, but Cushing's includes a pot-bellied appearance (but not always), patchy coat/loss of clumps of fur, unsure gait, excessive drinking (which is a Sx of both). Cushing's is a hard one to catch because its symptoms mimic other things. You may have to press to have the bloodwork and challenge test done. If you can rule out all other serious causes of incontinence, then you can put her on PPA/Proin or DES. Either of these can be used to control canine incontinence. I would not restrict water until you have the medical work-up done. Lack of water can make some disorders worse. Instead, I'd put up an x-pen on a tile or vinyl floor with washable bedding like old bedspreads. I usually buy them at the Salvation Army or similar store. Good luck. Please let me know if it's Cushings, I can give you more information. DD

Silverfish--thanks for all the excellent suggestions. Prosciutto? Wow, I thought my dogs were spoiled. I just realized that I feel limited because Daisy has food allergies but we don't know for sure everything she's allergic to. I avoid most meats and grains for that reason.

I just finished giving Daisy a month's worth of antibiotics. I'm here to tell you that it isn't as easy as many of you are making it out to be. Antibiotics smell and taste GROSS! I got away with sticking the pill directly down her throat for a week or two (after cream cheese and peanut butter were rejected as "poison"--I assume because she began to associate them with the AB or because she could still smell the AB through the disguise). Then she learned how to gack it up. After a couple of times down and back up again, the capsule breaks up and there's no giving that smelly, yucky powder to the dog. There was no "making her swallow". I think I would have suffocated her before she would have swallowed. Anyone have any strategies specifically for antibiotics? I really feel for anyone having to give them.

Hmm, I've never tried that. BTW, I've never heard anyone other than my MIL--who was born in central PA--call it "potted meat". Do you use devilled ham or Spam? Devilled ham is creamier--that would be my guess.

Try covering it _completely_ with creme cheese. Antibiotics smell and taste awful. I also have some success with mashed sweet potato.

I'm not sure white chocolate is even "chocolate" at all. I'm pretty sure it's candy with vanilla flavoring in it. I, personally, wouldn't worry. The important question--were there macadamia nuts in the cookies? Those can be toxic to dogs and are often found in white chocolate chip cookies.

Had a breed snob in the group I used to work with. He didn't like my mix Lucky. Unfortunately, I knew he didn't like me/us/Lucky, but when he was adopted, he was adopted by another board member who boarded his dogs at the adoption kennel for doggie day care (and I boarded Daisy & Lucky when on vaca). Between myself and my husband he nipped/bit at least three times--he ripped a coat, bit my husband but didn't break the skin and ?? on the 3rd incident. He was the only GH I've ever seen who did anything like that.

Cushing's is related to hyperactive adrenal functioning, rather than thyroid. Will thyroid values be off with Cushing's?

Judy, Mike, Kevin, I am so very, very sorry. Donna

Could he go with you? Ride in the cabin of the plane? Would that be much more than paying $20? a day for someone to visit for shots? If he does that, I think you need to pimp out his mohawk first--bright pink or something

I second what Cathy said--it certainly could be a medication issue. I'd ask them to stop what they were giving her and see what happens.