ShantisMom Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Lucy...he's related to shanti. Try soloxine instead. I believe costco carries it now. Shanti had no improvements on the type legs is on. Shanti licks all the time and will get sores. You are right if he is hypothyroid his immune system is not up to snuff. I do suspect he's got done neurological misfire going. Give the boys a kiss for me! Quote The Girls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Thanks guys! No real update... the muzzle seems to be working well although I was woken up 50 times by a certain brindle boy banging my bed frame with his face He has little freakouts where he jumps up & rubs his face on everything, but then he settles down pretty fast & doesn't seem too uncomfortable wearing it. The sores are definitely healing now that he is muzzled pretty much all the time. He had his first dose of gabapentin last night. I didn't really notice any side effects... he seemed tired but he's a greyhound I will report back in a few more days. If we can get all the sores to completely heal, that will be a huge relief, and then we can go from there are far as thyroid or back issues. There is a new high tech clinic w/ some specialists that my vet recommended I take him to, so that will be the next step. I don't think the chiro or laser helped much, but maybe he needs more treatments for it to be effective. I sure wish Legs could talk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 a gratuitous pic.... here he is right at this moment, doesn't seem too unhappy He's in my line of sight so he is getting a break from the muzzle. You can also see his leg is looking MUCH better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinyMityMo Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 way to go Legs! Hang in there Lucy Quote Maureen, Sean, Molly (Garnett Madonna) and Sully (Starz Top Style) Visit LongDog Leather Works for adjustable leather martingales, wrap around leather tag bags, breakaway tag necklaces and cool leather people gear. Check out our Etsy store! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgreymom Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Awww. He looks so cozy!! Hope the Gabapentin does the trick. Keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Lucy, put a piece of moleskin over the edge of the muzzle that rests on his nose so he doesnt get a sore there from the plastic rubbing. Hope you see some improvement soon. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meandmy Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Sorry, Lucy, I just saw that you were interested in the pants. They are so simple to make! Just buy a cheap pair of jersey pants for little boys. Mine were For Tori I bought a girl's small, for Shadow (who was about 67 pounds) I think a boy's small worked for him. Lay the pants out flat and cut up the center seam, starting at the crotch, toward the waistband. When you get to the waistband don't cut through it, but follow it around on the side that you want to cut off. So you end up with one full leg and a full waistband. When they are on they don't get in the way of pottying and the waistband keeps them up. If the waistband is too loose you can pin it smaller and just wrap the pinned part in vet wrap so it doesn't accidentally open up. I'll see if I can get a rearview pic of Tori tonight so you can see better what it looks like. She hates to walk when her leg is wrapped, too, but she seemed to get used to this pretty quick. Quote Jenn, missing Shadow (Wickford Big Tom), Pretty Girl (C's Pretty) and Tori (Santoria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 Thank you Jenn & Jen! So far the muzzle seems to be working well, so hopefully I won't need to try the pants, but definitely great to know! I almost want to try them just b/c it would look so cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 If anyone is still reading, thought I'd post an update. Legs has an appointment with a surgeon a week from Monday My vet and the other vet who has been doing chiro, acupuncture & laser on Legs feel that this is the next step. I think I'm going to have an MRI done on him. I've been hesitant, b/c if I find out he needs surgery I honestly don't think I would do it. But I don't know. It just seems incredibly invasive to do spinal surgery on my 8 year old greyhound who is not in great distress. I guess I should wait to stress about it until after the appointment His sores are healing well, but he is muzzled pretty much 23 hrs a day. He somehow cut the back of his other back foot so that is wrapped now & it will mean he's muzzled for even longer b/c he's been licking that too. I don't even know if he will be able to be unmuzzled once everything is healed. I really, really hope so. I stopped the thyroid meds, they did nothing. Neither did gabapentin but I want to revisit that w/ the surgeon b/c I think the dose was too low, only 100mg a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I would discuss in depth what you might learn from an MRI and more importantly if you don't plan to choose surgery how it might affect your treatment plan. I personally don't think I'd pay for one at this stage unless I were pretty sure the results would affect treatment, but I also don't have all of the info on Legs. But 100 mg daily is a very low dose. That won't even stay in his system a full 24 hrs. I would start by working him up to 100 3x/day and see if that had an effect. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I would discuss in depth what you might learn from an MRI and more importantly if you don't plan to choose surgery how it might affect your treatment plan. I personally don't think I'd pay for one at this stage unless I were pretty sure the results would affect treatment, but I also don't have all of the info on Legs. But 100 mg daily is a very low dose. That won't even stay in his system a full 24 hrs. I would start by working him up to 100 3x/day and see if that had an effect. Quote 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...
RileysLegacy Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 (edited) I would discuss in depth what you might learn from an MRI and more importantly if you don't plan to choose surgery how it might affect your treatment plan. I personally don't think I'd pay for one at this stage unless I were pretty sure the results would affect treatment, but I also don't have all of the info on Legs. But 100 mg daily is a very low dose. That won't even stay in his system a full 24 hrs. I would start by working him up to 100 3x/day and see if that had an effect. Yes this is my plan. Thanks Jen. I do have insurance on Legs but it will still end up costing me $ to do an MRI so I won't do it if nothing useful will come out of it. My vet has been recommending MRI or cat scan for years, b/c his xrays are all inconclusive, but I've been putting it off b/c it seems pointless if I'm not going to do surgery. But he is getting worse so maybe it is time. Edited November 9, 2012 by RileysLegacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I would run the MRI--at the very least once you receive the results you will be able to rule out some conditions that are on the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greypuppyluv Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Try soloxine instead. I believe costco carries it now. Shanti had no improvements on the type legs is on. Shanti licks all the time and will get sores. You are right if he is hypothyroid his immune system is not up to snuff. I think I mentioned about this in an earlier post, but it sounds like you didn't have him on actual brand name Soloxine but probably a generic. I would suggest that before you give up on thyroid meds, try the actual Soloxine. My experience with the generic (and others I know) is that the generic worked like crap but the brand name Soloxine worked so much better. Quote Paula & her pups--Paneer (WW Outlook Ladd), Kira & Rhett (the whippets)Forever in my heart...Tinsel (Born's Bounder - 11/9/90-12/18/01), Piper, Chevy, Keno, Zuma, Little One, Phaelin & WinnieGreyhound Adoption Center ~ So Cal rep for Whippet Rescue And Placement For beautiful beaded collars, check out my Facebook page: The Swanky Hound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted November 19, 2012 Author Share Posted November 19, 2012 UPDATE: My head is spinning. Legs saw the specialist today for what I expected to be a consult about an MRI. The second he started listening to his heart, he became very concerned. He immediately took Legs for an EKG and came back and explained what about it was abnormal. He has a pretty severe arrhythmia. So... he will be going back to see a different specialist next tues for all kinds of tests on his heart to hopefully determine the cause. This guy said he didn't see anything too concerning regarding Legs' neurological system. He said there is a good chance most of him symptoms (exercise intolerance, heat sensitivity, back legs failing) could all be explained by his heart condition. Or, he could have multiple issues going on. He didn't think the heart issue would explain his licking holes into his legs, but possibly his blood isn't flowing properly or something like that. We need to get the heart issue figured out first, then we can see where we are and if we need to revisit getting an MRI or whatever. He basically said Legs could drop dead at any time, which is pretty terrifying, but at the same time I guess that is always true of any living thing They talked about hospitalizing him and doing all the testing now, but he's been having these symptoms ever since I adopted him 2 years ago, so I doubt he's going to die this week. I sure hope not anyway He is not allowed any exercise whatsoever. This is all so crazy How did no vet notice this before? Anyone know about heart issues in greyhounds? I HATE being so clueless. I can only HOPE that this time this guy knows what he's talking about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I am assuming that Legs has what they call premature ventricle contractions (vpc's). If he was to be hospitalized they would put him on a lidocaine drip to attempt a normal heart rhythm. One word of advise---check his spleen with ultrasound. I have seen plenty of these vpc's related to splenic masses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted November 19, 2012 Author Share Posted November 19, 2012 Yes I believe that it what the dr said. There were long spikes down on the EKG in between many of his heartbeats. Thank you I will ask about his spleen. What is the treatment for that if it is a splenic mass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Yes I believe that it what the dr said. There were long spikes down on the EKG in between many of his heartbeats. Thank you I will ask about his spleen. What is the treatment for that if it is a splenic mass? Splenectomy and biopsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissn333 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 And before you get too scared about that, Lucy...my friend's girl had a 7 lb. hemangiosarcoma in her spleen - she had it removed and followed with carboplatin. It has been over a year and there is no evidence to suggest she won't continue to do really well. I do believe Jennifer cooks for her though. Quote Kristin in Moline, IL USA with Ozzie (MRL Crusin Clem), Clarice (Clarice McBones), Latte and Sage the IGs, and the kitties: Violet and Rose Lovingly Remembered: Sutra (Fliowa Sutra) 12/02/97-10/12/10, Pinky (Pick Me) 04/20/03-11/19/12, Fritz (Fritz Fire) 02/05/01 - 05/20/13, Ace (Fantastic Ace) 02/05/01 - 07/05/13, and Carrie (Takin the Crumbs) 05/08/99 - 09/04/13. A cure for cancer can't come soon enough.-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mld Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Sending positive thoughts and prayers to Legs and your family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 And before you get too scared about that, Lucy...my friend's girl had a 7 lb. hemangiosarcoma in her spleen - she had it removed and followed with carboplatin. It has been over a year and there is no evidence to suggest she won't continue to do really well. I do believe Jennifer cooks for her though. Definetly! Many times they end up being hemangioma's--benign. Let me say though, vpc's can be caused by other reasons too--Legs may have a perfectly fine spleen :-)----just something to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Ack Lucy, that sounds scary. But at least maybe you are getting somewhere?? Sending lots of good thoughts that further tests reveal something easily treatable that can get Legs back to his old self. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 What Jen said. Quote 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...
RileysLegacy Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Thanks so much everyone! It all does sound very scary & I have been in a bit of a daze today. I really wish I didn't have to wait another week to take him back, waiting is always the hardest part. I'm also really confused why nobody found this sooner. We have done soooo many tests and I've spent so much money trying to get to the bottom of his issues, and it seems like someone should have thought to check his heart. But maybe it has gotten worse recently. Anyway, thanks again. It's always comforting to come here and get good advice and good thoughts from people who understand. Legs and I greatly appreciate you all tbhounds - thank you so much for all your help. Can you think of any link between this heart issue & his obsessive licking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I've seen obsessive licking in an older Dobe that resulted in her licking to the bone (it was disgusting). I remember telling the owner to put her on vitamin E and I think zinc & C. She stopped and the sore healed. I wonder if he is licking his legs whether the heart issue is affecting his circulation and his licking is stimulating. One of your vets should be able to tell you if his circulation is good. That is one of the first things my alternative vets check -- how the pulses are. After reading some of the posts, I would check his spleen (an ultrasound should do I believe) and no way I'd do spine surgery on an 8 year old. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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