LuvAPuppy

it's times like this I think we should be paired up with a buddy to trade phone numbers with. I do so hope the OP has been able to see these messages and have her Zoey admitted to the eVet. Mostly posting just to keep the topic on top so it's easy to find for updates <insert worried emoticon here>

I only have one dog w/5 meds to manage so I went out too and got a weekly pill keeper. If the day is empty, I gave the meds and if it's not...oops! I also have a write on/wipe off calendar on the fridge to mark off. She gets four pills one day and five pills every three days so the calendar helps me keep track of what to put in the pill box.

That's a bit more serious then CHF It sounds like she's tamponotic, which is fluid in the pericardial space, which is fluid between the heart muscle and the thin membrane that covers it. When the pericardial space fills with fluid it makes it harder for the heart to work. Think sort of like when you hear about someone's brain swelling in their skull...it gets bigger and bigger with nowhere to go. It's a delicate procedure to tap the fluid out because, as your vet told you, touching the beating heart can cause it to spasm (dysrhythmia). and in dogs, I've heard of this mostly in cases of either heart lymphoma or hemangiosarcoma of the heart...both cancerous. Praying for better news for you!

CHF is not the worst thing in the world. Oh, it ain't great but found early it's controlled with meds and can be for a very long time. My 10yo IG w/the murmur and enlarged heart takes lasix (diuretic to reduce excess fluid in the lungs and body.) Enalapril and Vetmedin (to make the heart's contractions stronger and more effective -- in a nutshell). She still plays and eats well, breathes easy and takes her 1-2 mile walk per day. Unless there's something else causing it, like something related to one of the other conditions he has, it should be just fine; especially if it really wasn't there last week! That should mean you've caught it very early. Sit tight and wait for the tests. I'm guessing they're doing an Echocardiogram, right? AKA a heart ultrasound? That will show them three dimensional size of the heart and how well it's beating. It will show if there's any backflow through the valves (that's a murmur, it makes a funny sound when it does it).

I can't remember, do you test him with a home glucose meter or is this a vet-drawn glucose reading? If you're using a home meter and you've opened new strips, some of the older models of meter have to be coded to the strips or they won't read correctly. Since his thirst increased, this doesn't sound like the case but I wanted to throw it out there and hope it's the problem

Lizard. Is that a step up or down from frog? *Putting peroxide on the list. Mine is open and probably old.

This all usually applies to MRSA infections because in some people it can be deadly because it's so resistant to all antibiotics. I've never known of a pet to have this issue with any form of Staph or Strep or any bacteria. Susan it's a concern because he seems susceptible to it. It would be nice to know why. I doubt he's going to become septic from staph dermatitis but it would be nice to know why he's so prone to it. Does he like to lay in the yard? Like I said, everyone has many varieties of Staph on their skin. If he's getting bug bites, the bacteria could be entering the bites and causing a localized infection. Staph usually looks like zits. They're raised cysts that thin down and show a head of pus usually. When they break open they leave a little crater of no hair that scabs over flatly. At least Echo's were, hers was Staph Epi which produces green/yellow purulent drainage when they open. (Staph Aureus is fairly green too).

There are several different varieties of Staph bacteria. Most widely known is the well hyped MRSA which is one of the varieties of Staph Aureus. All people and animals have many varieties of Staph naturally occurring on their skin. When my Dane had recurrent Staph Epi infections it was the only sign we had of her onset of hypothyroid.

I'm guessing because this is not always the case. However it should be mentioned as a possibility I hope it's not always the case. I've never had it done, but every patient I've assisted with has called me the next day just positive the Dr did something horribly wrong because they were in so much worse agony. I made it a point to always tell them before I let the doc in the room because I felt they had the right to know before they decided on the procedure. Most said after the initial day-after agony they were glad they had the procedure done. Hope Sherman feels the same way tomorrow or Tuesday(fingers crossed!)

Possibly pain. I don't know for sure how vets do it, but when an MD injects a joint with novicane/marcaine/lidocaine mixed w/steroid, they usually neglect to tell the patient that the pain will be MuchMuchMuch worse for about 24hrs after the number wears off. This is because you've injected extra fluid in to an already swollen irritated bursa sac. While panting is a "reaction" or "side effect" to a cortisone shot, he could also be having worse joint pain for a day or so.

well....I've never heard of it so I looked up its generic to see if there's a human equivalent brand name I can read about. And there is. it's called Elmiron. and it's a blood thinner (very mild) and actually used not for blood thinning but for bladder spasms. I have no professional experience with it, I'd never heard of it before. but that's what I found in the medical gobbildy-gook I just read

sometimes, although usually with longer duration recoveries, they get used to not using the injured limb. then when it's healed they just don't use it. maybe it's remembering when it hurt or maybe it's just habit. once you have the all clear from the vet Friday, you might sling the OTHER leg, forcing her to use the healed one, proving to her that it's healed and safe and there for her enjoyment

as others have said it is show standard to have your dog heel or gait on the left. if you have any inclination towards obedience showing in the future, do train to the left. if you just want to own and love and walk with your wonderful pet, teach your dog to walk where you and he are most comfortable. I'm right handed and I used to show obedience so my dogs are all trained at my left and slightly behind. I always us a 6 foot lead and hold it in my right hand. when I need to open a door (to enter it before my dog -- pack leader always goes first) I switch the lead to my left hand to open and hold the door, then switch it back.

Um, tell Passion the vet may have meant warm, CLEAN water for soaking.... At least she's amiable to the soaking idea!

He's in a new situation and yes, resource guarding may play a part - you being the resource. Try some Rescue Remedy in the drinking water (he may not drink with it in there...my cat will, my Mom's will not) and try a Felaway diffuser. It's like a Comfort Zone DAP diffuser only for cats. it releases cat pheromones instead of dog ones. Eons ago when we took in a stray it upset our cat-balance and began a cascading displaced aggression amongst the cats. two of them had to be "sedated" with chlorphenaramine maleate (AKA, 2mg of chlor trimaton) twice a day until they all settled back in. It was months of walking on egg shells and kitty downers until all was more right.

hmmm, a new novel protein source?

At least two weeks I'd say. That's how long Mousie was on it when she had her first IBD bleed. Now, I cheat a little. If she flares enough that she bleeds I only use it three to four days cuz her bleeding is pretty minor.

I'd send out that thyroid to another lab...it's rare, but not unheard of for dogs to be HYPERthyroid. Cats usually, but not dogs that often.

Prayers of strength for you and Red. Are you in Ft Wayne? The eVet clinic my vet ownes has an IM specialist Dr (Amy?) Totten. If you're coming here I wish I didn't work on Wednesday, I'd meet you at the clinic for moral support, it's 5 minutes away from me.

My IG has blown glands twice, last time both at once! She never spends an excess of time licking and she never drags...I usually find a little bloody spot on her blanket and then start The Search for the source...

I don't personally think it looks like a histio, not that I have any better ideas... The histio's my dogs have had have been more button cell like, not quite as diffuse as this. and in the 2nd picture at least, I don't think I see much swelling, just the irritation.

Yes. the only symptom my late Great Dane had was recurrent staph infections. her hypothyroidism was found on routine yearly lab work and the vet didn't believe it. we redrew her and sent it to Michigan and they did confirm low thyroid. she had no weight gain, no lethargy and a beautiful glossy black coat except for her multiple skin abscesses.

You gave the ultimate gift of love....freedom from something heinous that you couldn't fix. That no mortal could fix. It's one of the hardest things in the world and one of the most self-less,

He's on Zeniquin (Marbofloxacin) for 14 days in addition to the soaking... so far, it's not upsetting his tummy or anything, and he actually seems to LOVE the Greenies Pill Pockets I'm putting the pills in-- which is great, b/c he doesn't eat most treats Question-- would this require any kind of invasive action? Like, something to drain the infection? I'm not seeing any pus or anything, and it's pretty firm if you push on it (which he's not a fan of me doing...). I guess I should just do the treatments and see what happens right? Just wondering... Thanks, S. Probably not as long as the antibiotics are the right ones for the bacteria causing the infection. Most antibiotics are broad spectrum meaning they cover a lot of bugs but certain bacteria have become resistant to some meds. If after the meds are gone and there is no improvement or if he gets worse while on the meds, it may have to be opened and cultured to get the right specialized antibiotic. I'd say 90+% go away on broad spectrum abx without any invasive action. Soaking in warm water will bring blood to the area which brings white blood cells to the area and those are the infection fighters. it also carries the antibiotics in the blood stream directly to the area.

toenails? could he have popped a nail off the quick?