MandysMom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Glad to hear Joe has had a better day. He remains in my prayers. Beverly. Missing my happy toy-flinging boy Sammy (Where's Mandrill), (8/12/2009-9/30-2021) Desperately missing my angel Mandy (BB's Luv) [7/1/2000 - 9/18/2012]. Always missing Meg the Dalmatian and Ralph Malph the Pekeapoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Hmm...tonight has been up and down. Why are the nights so freaking hard? He's been pretty restless and whiny for the last couple of hours -- I went ahead and gave him his Tramadol and Dex (steroid) a couple of hours early with 2 hot dogs and some yogurt. He's been weirdly "talkative" tonight, and I don't know if he's in pain (no doubt to some degree he must be) or telling me he's hungry or what. After the dose of meds and hot dogs, he has promptly sat down on his bed. My husband will be home in less than 12 hours thank goodness. Again, I pray for the wisdom to know when it's time and that my husband and I will agree on this issue. He still is so young (will be 10 in January) and it just stinks that our 5 1/2 years with him have just been too short. My in-laws have my son tonight (bless them) in hopes that I could focus on Joe and sleep...thanks for all of your support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Nights are always bad when you have a sick pup or a sick child. I haven't a clue why but it always seems like I feel worse at night when I'm sick too. Nice that you had a good day yesterday. Hopefully seeing his daddy will make him feel a whole lot better. Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HHDesigns Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Hi Laura -- so glad Peter will be home today. I know this will be a big relief to you. You are of course in my thoughts and I'm sending many hugs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) He was restless until around 3 am when I lied down on the floor with him. He FINALLY seemed to sleep and we just got up. He is looking for food and is needing meds now, so I'm making his turkey and rice and hopefully he'll settle back down. I have to head in to work for a couple of hours this morning but will meet Peter at home in about 4 hours. I can not spend another night with him like this -- if Peter wants to be with him tonight to assess what he's been going through, that's fine, and I understand...but I'm probably going to spend the night at my in-laws for my own health and peace of mind. Again, I appreciate it everyone. Please tell me how Joe manages to NOT eat 4 out of 7 pills when they're buried in a bowl full of ground turkey and rice??!! Frustrating. Edited November 12, 2008 by joedogs_mom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 You and Joe remain in our prayers. When I need to give Misty her meds, I've learned not to put it in her food, she's too wise to that. I've always had luck putting them in cream cheese because that tends to just slide down easily. Ice cream has also worked well for us. Hoping Joe has a comfortable day and you get some much needed rest! Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Joe is very clever to avoid 3 pills. I think they know which don't agree with them. My dogs have done that and did better without the pills they were rejecting. If he can do without those, maybe you can just not give those. Anything is worth a try at this point. Maybe Joe is missing his daddy. But it's true; nights are always tougher than days. I'll be thinking of you today. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 The cream cheese is a great idea -- Vicki, dear friend and director of MSGAO, suggested Liverwurst, too. I hated to leave him this morning...I could tell he didn't want me to go. Heartbreaking. If I weren't under a lot of pressure at work, clearly, I would not have come in to the office even for a couple of hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Sending more prayers and good thoughts your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I am so sorry this has been so difficult for you and Joe. The up and down thing just wears you out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I don't have much in the way of suggestions, but can I ask - since he is on NSAIDs, is he getting any acid reducers? Jack paces and is restless and unhappy all evening and half the night if he has too much Metacam or Previcox. We've worked out he does best on a quarter of the recommended therapeutic dose, but he still needs Zitac to control his stomach acid. He also does better on his painkillers given in the morning - although the vet recommends evening. I have no idea why. Here's hoping that your sweet Joe will settle soon and be more comfortable. The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I've had some sick animals over the years -- cancer, kidney failure, etc. Pain/discomfort always seems worse at night. The vets told me that it wasn't my imagination. For whatever biological reason, it IS worse at night. So I'd take that into account in assessing their functioning and in administering meds. Hope you get some rest, some improvement, some resolution, whatever you need. Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 My husband is home, and Joe is happy about that. He even barked at a squirrel out the window today. Still eating well...but the days are good...we'll see how things go tonight. My husband talked to the vet today and seriously wants to consider surgery. If we're going to do it, we have to do it fast...and we couldn't have a better vet to perform the surgery either...he is wonderful. I'll keep you updated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Barking at a squirrel -- clearly still doing one of his favorite things; Daddy being there seems to be his second; I don't know what the third is, but he's eating and that's good. If the pain is worse at night, I wonder if keeping a light on would help. Just a wild idea! If there's a surgery to fix this and you can afford it, why not do it? Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Just a quick update -- we talked more to the vet today about things. We are holding off on surgery for a few more days just to see if there's any more improvement. I am not sure I want to go ahead with the surgery, but I will probably let my husband decide. As I've said before, the days seem to be okay...it's the nights that are bad. Thankfully my husband took care of Joe last night while I caught up on sleep in another room. Thanks everyone...will keep you updated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) Back from another vet visit...we're continuing to treat Joe medically versus surgically. We'll see how it goes. He only lost 1 pound since getting back on the steroids about 10 days ago...that is good for him. He will never eat normal dog food again, I can tell you that...he eats ground turkey, liverwurst (yuck!), hot dogs, brown rice with chicken broth, cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, etc. The vet actually backpeddled today and said he did NOT think Joe was a good candidate for surgery at this point after being optimistic with Peter about it last week...his worst fear is us paying thousands for the surgery and for Joe not to make it through or not to have relief. We continue to take it one day at a time. That's the latest...thanks everyone. Laura Edited November 18, 2008 by joedogs_mom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Sending more prayers for Joe...I hope each one day at a time is a good day. Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Continued prayers here as well Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Prayers for Joe and hugs for you and DH. Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest K9_Lady Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I know what you are going through because it sounds so much like I went through with my Malinois, Arco. What finally helped him was electr-acupuncture and continued Adequan Injections. I remember many sleepless nights and I also had him on many of the same Meds Joe is on. The electro-acupuncture did so much for him as well as the Adequan/Aquapuncture treatments. Nights were the worse before he was diagnosed and received the treatments. They were not cheap but were so worth it for him. Also running and jumping were no more for him. I bought a Wiggle Wags and whiskers harness which helped alleviate a collar aggravating his neck and we went a more frequent but shorter walks. I ended up loosing Arco to Cancer not his neck/disc problem. Now my 3 and a half year old Greyhound Amy was diagnosed with a cervical nerve root impingement so I am back to giving Adequan injections on yet another dog. Hope you find something that works for Joe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FullMetalFrank Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I am glad to hear that Joe seems to be holding his own, and is enjoying some quality time. i wish I had some advice on hat to do for making the nighttimes better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 My husband just left with Joe to have him put to sleep by our vet. I am sad I can't go, too, but I have to stay behind with my toddler. We are obviously so sad...but I do have some relief knowing that he won't suffer any more. Thank you everyone for the support over the last few months. I will post in remembrance when I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreytMuse Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I am so, so sorry. My condolences to your family. Run free, sweet Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jurishound Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Oh, I am so sorry. Godspeed, Precious Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joedogs_mom Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Joe is gone and at peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts