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grab bag of health issues

369K views 3K replies 81 participants last post by  OscarsDad 
#1 · (Edited)
My 10 year old girl is hitting the wall of problems. I know that with age, comes the risk for more health problems and we're now staring down several. I've searched the threads for more information, and hoped that putting it all together would help me and I know that members here have a wealth of experience as well.

In late May, she was having loose stools (things had never been "good and firm" since she had been on Blue Buffalo, but at the time she had been vomiting her previous food and it was the only one she would eat, so I kept her on it).

We had a checkup with our regular vet (#1) to check the stool. As a precaution, she was prescribed flagyl until the fecal exam came back. I also had a them run a urinalysis from a free catch sample as a precaution (her urine looked darker, but no other symptoms). During the exam a cataract was discovered. However, because of a likely cancerous mass, we were referred first to a local surgeon and told to deal with the cataract later. At the meeting the morning of the surgery, the local surgeon referred us to a teaching hospital because of the location of the mass.

In the meantime, the fecal came back negative for parasites and bacteria, but no change in the poop...everything from liquid to formed but too soft to pick up. So we upped the flagyl. The urinalysis showed blood and bacteria, so we had a sterile sample drawn from her bladder during the cancer surgery. The mass was removed and, although they did not get a clean margin, it is a slow growing tumor and we are doing monthly checks for regrowth instead of chemo or radiation. They also submitted another fecal. The results of the fecal were all negative and the urinalysis showed some elevated numbers, but "not enough to worry about" at the time.

In discussions with the oncologist, he suggested we see a dermatologist because of her more atypical allergic reactions and general history. He was thinking autoimmune disorder.

The loose stools continued so we got a second opinion (vet #2) who suggested we drop the flagyl and started us on probiotics. We had a slight improvement for 2 days and then right back where we were.

We recently had a check for a vaginal discharge, recheck the stool, free catch urinalysis and then vet #1 referred us to have her blood pressure checked. Free catch shows high protein. The vet (#3) we were referred to did a sterile draw and also checked the blood pressure which was about 150 (?) and they want to do it again when she's calmer. Friday afternoon I learned the urinalysis protein/creatinine ratio was 1.8, but they gave me no more information except they think it is glomerulonephritis. Vet #1 said if it's kidney disease I will need a referral, but the Vet #3 said I didn't need one and they could prescribe medications. :confused:

We're addressing the loose stools now as a food intolerance and she's been on a new diet for two weeks now and we do have improvement. Maybe 70% normal. If no permanent improvement, we'll look at digestive enzymes, etc.

Past history....She's had allergies problems since she was a few months old - not just itching & breakouts, at times her feet were so swollen the pads would start to peel away from her toes. Vet #1 has always handled this problem. Around two, she started allergy shots and within a year, combined with steroids and antihistamines, she began to have a real quality of life. (I cannot afford Atopica and she has had to remain on a low dose maintenance steroid.)

A few years ago, her thyroid was tested. In order to show a reading on the thyroid panel, we worked up to 3 times the basic dose and she hit the lowest reading. Unfortunately, this sent her allergies into overdrive and I was having to increase the prednisone so much that she was miserable. I opted to taper her off the thyroid medication.

Around the same time she had ACL surgery and during recovery, her skin infection finally cleared up. We tried rounds of antibiotics, but she would have a skin infection within a few days - so she's on a maintenance antibiotic too.

I feel like the priority is the kidneys since the cancer care is a monthly lump check. Even though it's a drive, I want everything to be going on at the teaching hospital. At least that way, the oncologist, dermatologist and internal medicine doctors are in the same building and can/will freely talk to each other. Of course, everyone's off for the holiday weekend, so I'm stuck waiting until Tuesday for phone calls to be returned.

I can't change any decisions I've made in the past, but each decision was made with love and with her in mind.

If you've read this far you are incredible!.....Anything I should be asking about as we head forward?
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Thank you so much! It's like controlled chaos sometimes. I know it sounds unbelievable so I didn't include it originally, but shortly after her clearance from the oncologist, my formerly feral cat was attacked by something and spent 4 weeks at the vet. He's been confined on my porch for several additional weeks while everything continues healing and is VERY unhappy.

You are doing a fantastic job of managing so many conditions for your girl!

Some thoughts about various issues:
Being hypothyroid is miserable. I tell you this from living it myself, so I would consider adding back a thyroid med.

The loose stools could be caused by sensitivity to wheat gluten (in humans this is often caused by celiac disease, which also occurs in some animals). Since you have to move to a low-protein diet for the kidney disease, maybe a food that is based on rice would work? Somewhere I have a recipe for making your own low-protein dog food and I know it's based on rice. I'm sure I can find it if you need it.

Except for the cancer, a lot of what you describe sounds like some form of autoimmune disease. Hypothyroidism and gluten intolerance are both in that category. Probiotics are helpful, so that's a good start.

And you'll hear from a lot of other people who know a lot more about these conditions than I do.

Holding you and your sweetheart in my thoughts and prayers,
Lucy
Thank you! I appreciate you insight and ideas. Vet #1 suggested last week that I consider a non-flavored thyroid tab and see if perhaps she was reacting to an additive in the flavored tab. I'm open to it certainly. I wondered if there were tests for immune disorders or if the diagnosis is really symptom based. Again hindsight is 20/20.

Since we just got the kidney news, we haven't swapped to a kidney diet yet, but I know it's coming. She's just moved to lamb & rice. We tried a turkey & potato food first, but she was itching and chewing like a maniac within an hour of eating it so we dumped it. The original food was chicken and rice. I hope we can get her tummy settled a little more before the kidney food transition. I'm going to look through all her treats for gluten tomorrow - it certainly can't hurt.
 
#3 ·
You are doing a fantastic job of managing so many conditions for your girl!

Some thoughts about various issues:
Being hypothyroid is miserable. I tell you this from living it myself, so I would consider adding back a thyroid med.

The loose stools could be caused by sensitivity to wheat gluten (in humans this is often caused by celiac disease, which also occurs in some animals). Since you have to move to a low-protein diet for the kidney disease, maybe a food that is based on rice would work? Somewhere I have a recipe for making your own low-protein dog food and I know it's based on rice. I'm sure I can find it if you need it.

Except for the cancer, a lot of what you describe sounds like some form of autoimmune disease. Hypothyroidism and gluten intolerance are both in that category. Probiotics are helpful, so that's a good start.

And you'll hear from a lot of other people who know a lot more about these conditions than I do.

Holding you and your sweetheart in my thoughts and prayers,
Lucy
 
#5 ·
You are making so many decisions and doing what is best for her out of love. I am quite confident that they know that on some level. She is so lucky to have you for her advocate. Take care of BOTH of you!
 
#6 ·
Just a couple of suggestions to talk to your vets about -

For allergies, my Joey takes a low dose of Temaril-P (contains trimeprazine (5mg) and prednisolone (2mg)) in the a.m./Cetirizine HCI tablet in the p.m.

I have had two dogs in the past diagnosed w/ chronic renal failure. I used Azodyl w/ both and had good success with both.
 
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#9 ·
Thank you! I'm going to ask about those allergy meds. She's currently on 10 mg on MWF and then either 10 or 20 on Sat and Sun (depending on the time of year and her breakout level) - in addition all the benadryl. We had gotten down to a 10 mg tablet a week prior to starting the thyroid medication. Even after stopping I've not been able to ween her back down - she just falls apart. :(

It's so good to hear about success with kidney disease....we've usually got a LOT of hope here, but sometimes things build up and seem like they're going to topple over. BUT, I haven't started grinding my teeth yet so, it's not too bad yet! :)
 
#7 ·
Gosh, you are dealing with a lot of multiple issues. Poor Hannah and thank goodness she has a loving and diligent owner like you!

What type of cancer was she diagnosed with?

I've not dealt with kidney issues in a dog but am currently treating Toby for a digestive enzyme deficiency (cobalamin and folate), which presented with loss of weight and lots of loose stools. We are still dealing with it, with slow improvements. I can share our experiences (and the tests) if you end up testing for that.

Toby was just placed on hypertension medicine in preparation for his cataract surgery. His pressures were always very high in the clinical setting, and high normal to elevated under sedation, and normal to high normal at home during home testing. It may be Hannah's hypertension and the kidney issues are related, because I've read here it they tend to go hand in hand (we haven't seen that with Toby). I hope they can help you find a kidney friendly diet that helps the skin/allergy issues and the possible hypertension issues. You might ask the vet who did the cancer surgery to check and see what her pressures were during the surgery to remove the mass. That should give you a pretty good idea of her pressures when she's not overly stressed out. The hypertension medication prescribed to Toby is a human medication that I get at Walmart for $6 a month.

Toby's thyroid bounces like a ball based on seasonal changes. We get his medication from KV Supply (thyro tabs). I checked but cannot tell if they are flavored.

I think you are making a good choice in concentrating her care at the cancer center, at least for now, while you are chasing down so much.

As far as the cataract surgery, it's a good approach to wait on it and get these other issues under control. Toby's ophthalmology vet calls it elective since many dogs live good quality lives being vision impaired or blind.

Give Hannah some ear rubs from me.
 
#8 ·
Gosh, you are dealing with a lot of multiple issues. Poor Hannah and thank goodness she has a loving and diligent owner like you!

What type of cancer was she diagnosed with?
Thank you! It's called hemangiopericytoma (realized I never said what it was) which is locally invasive and usually doesn't metastisize, but goes to the lungs if it does.

I've not dealt with kidney issues in a dog but am currently treating Toby for a digestive enzyme deficiency (cobalamin and folate), which presented with loss of weight and lots of loose stools. We are still dealing with it, with slow improvements. I can share our experiences (and the tests) if you end up testing for that.
She's never had a problem keeping weight on. Since her ACL surgery (at 80+ lbs), I've gotten to a stable weight of 67 lbs (orthopedist was THRILLED). I had noticed your posts before about the enzyme deficiency and that is the next step if a food change doesn't bring normalcy.

Toby was just placed on hypertension medicine in preparation for his cataract surgery. His pressures were always very high in the clinical setting, and high normal to elevated under sedation, and normal to high normal at home during home testing. It may be Hannah's hypertension and the kidney issues are related, because I've read here it they tend to go hand in hand (we haven't seen that with Toby). I hope they can help you find a kidney friendly diet that helps the skin/allergy issues and the possible hypertension issues. You might ask the vet who did the cancer surgery to check and see what her pressures were during the surgery to remove the mass. That should give you a pretty good idea of her pressures when she's not overly stressed out. The hypertension medication prescribed to Toby is a human medication that I get at Walmart for $6 a month.
Great idea to call the teaching hospital! I've added that to the growing list of things to do. It would provide an excellent reference. :crossfing

Strangely, the Walmarts around me are sort of out of my way. Unlike everyone I know, I probably go 5-6 times a year. LOL! However, I don't know how I overlooked their rx program. All the medications (dog and cat) are on the $4/$10 list!

Toby's thyroid bounces like a ball based on seasonal changes. We get his medication from KV Supply (thyro tabs). I checked but cannot tell if they are flavored.
I think it's a human version, but I'm not sure.

I think you are making a good choice in concentrating her care at the cancer center, at least for now, while you are chasing down so much.

As far as the cataract surgery, it's a good approach to wait on it and get these other issues under control. Toby's ophthalmology vet calls it elective since many dogs live good quality lives being vision impaired or blind.

Give Hannah some ear rubs from me.
Thanks again. I think if I keep considering the opthalmology issues it's a way of looking forward beyond the current problems. :)

OOOooOO if you could hear her grunting in pleasure from those ear rubs!
 
#12 ·
Boy, the remnants of Lee worked us like you wouldn't believe. We've been without power & phone since early yesterday afternoon and they think it will be at least Friday before we get it back. The houses across the street are on a different circuit and the trees laying on the lines caused several transformers to spark, burn and ultimately blow out after about 6 hours. The winds and rain were strong and almost continual for about 20 hours - I was getting scared. But SO glad to finally have rainfall, no trees on the house and no wildfires like in Texas.

Anyway, talked with the vets when I got to work. DallasGold - I checked with the oncologist about her BP and he said that she was so nervous (she had to wait 4 hours during a storm) before surgery, that he didn't think it would be an accurate assesment.

He agrees with Vet #1 and #3 that the kidneys should be a priority. Vet #1 said that he'd prefer I get the kidney situation investigated before changing anything with the thyroid or allergies and would recommend not changing too much up at one time. The referral coordinator at the teaching hospital agreed and said they would prioritize her as kidneys and allow an appointment with dermatology, but probably no testing until kidneys were evaluated.

With the storms blowing through yesterday and today, we didn't make it to recheck the blood pressure, but hope to do it on Thursday morning. Before losing the phone yesterday, I was amazed at the number of clinics without a machine....I found one and their pump was broken. So, now...we wait for the blood pressure recheck (wish they weren't so expensive or I'd just buy one) and then decide the next path. The good news is that she's had good poop for the last two days!

GoldensGirl - I don't know why it never connected that the thyroid, etc are autoimmune issues (???) :doh: I knew this, but somehow it never registered. Thank you for mentioning this so I don't continue to say to doctors something so contradictory :)

Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers. I'll be checking in as I can, but nothing regular until the power returns - I really want a generator :)
 
#13 ·
It sounds like you have a good plan, attacking the kidneys first, then approaching the others. It seems so overwhelming, then to deal with lack of power on top of that--ugh... I hope you get your power back soon. What a major hassle.

I agree about those blood pressure machines. After checking one out I decided I'd like to just buy one and went online to search for one (a Pet Map) and a used one was about $950! I thought about just using a human one but it doesn't give you all the numbers the canine one does, like the mean arterial pressure.

I'll be checking your thread for updates.
 
#14 ·
My Toby has had similar urine values for protein for over 3 years. That should give you some hope! He has never been put on a kidney diet because he has IBD, and in fact we supplement his protein with cooked chicken (small amounts) to help prevent the ongoing muscle wasting in his back legs.
One thing his vet did was tell me to give him 1/2 a baby aspirin daily, apparently it's quite kidney protective. You might want to inquire about that? It's below the level where they expect gastrointesinal side effects.
The food problem sure sounds like an intolerance. I hope the prescription food helps.
 
#15 ·
My Toby has had similar urine values for protein for over 3 years. That should give you some hope! He has never been put on a kidney diet because he has IBD, and in fact we supplement his protein with cooked chicken (small amounts) to help prevent the ongoing muscle wasting in his back legs.
One thing his vet did was tell me to give him 1/2 a baby aspirin daily, apparently it's quite kidney protective. You might want to inquire about that? It's below the level where they expect gastrointesinal side effects.
The food problem sure sounds like an intolerance. I hope the prescription food helps.
Oh that's great to hear! :)

Vet #1 said in an email that we might have to have a "sit down" if the numbers remained high - I didn't realize this when we spoke on the phone or I would have asked about that phrase. I found out last night when I stopped by the library to use the internet.

I'll check on the aspirin when we get the BP rechecked. Thanks!

We were back to super mushy poop today, but with all the disturbances in the neighborhood, I'm not too surprised. I hope things improve on that end when the power comes back on - I saw power company trucks when I went home to give lunchtime meds so I'm thinking positively!!! :crossfing
 
#16 ·
I hope you get power back tonight.

I bet Hannah is stressed by everything going on without power, vet visits, etc. Plus she's probably sensing your apprehension over these things. Dogs pick up on our slightest emotions...my vet had to remind me of that a couple of weeks ago when I first started preparing for Toby's surgery. She's right, of course, but it's so hard when we worry about them so much.

If you get to take a machine home let me know. I can find the form I use to note the pressures and email it to you--pm me. They instructed me to take a series of 4 or so at once and do several series per day. I usually did 4 or 5, noting the readings, Toby's demeanor, the time, if he exercised before, if he had eaten before, and his position. I also noted where I took the reading--front or back legs, what side, etc. They showed me how to take it on his tail but Toby wouldn't have that at all. They also wanted a couple days worth of readings. They took all of those readings, averaged them, through out highs and lows and came up with an overall assessment.
 
#20 ·
I agree about those blood pressure machines. After checking one out I decided I'd like to just buy one and went online to search for one (a Pet Map) and a used one was about $950! I thought about just using a human one but it doesn't give you all the numbers the canine one does, like the mean arterial pressure.
I've searched around, but haven't found anything I understand (too technical). Do you know why the doppler (with the sensor held between the pads of the foot and cuff on the leg) might be used over the oscillometric (pet map type)? I couldn't get a straight answer on this.

I started making her food myself. It was hamburger boiled with carrots and peas and then instant rice put in at the end. I let it sit for 1/2 hour and dished it into containers. Once cooled they went into the freezer. I made a week's worth at a time. She lived until she was 14 1/2. The vets were amazed that she survived.
What a wonderful gift you gave Polly! I discussed diet some and he mentioned we would have to be very careful if I started manipulating it. I think if I have to take this route, we'll consult a nutritionist too. I never cook meats so I wouldn't know if I was doing anything properly! :)

I am so sorry your girl (and you) are having to go thru all this. She is a beautiful girl.

I don't really have any suggestions as everyone else has already posted the things i thought about. I will say, i am super low thyroid myself and it is miserable. Even on meds i get so darn tired. But then i am also anemic and have diabetes, and problem with my blood pressure just dropping to unreal levle.s my fireman/emt brother said he doesn't see how i am even able to walk when it drops to like 60.42.

So i feel for your girl and i hope you can get an answer.
Thank you so much for posting. You've got a grab bag of health issues too! I have to agree with your brother and am amazed that you keep going with such a low reading.

I hope we can readdress the thyroid issue with Hannah once we've started kidney care. Hearing stories like yours and others about their own thyroid experiences make me want to try to find a solution for Hannah and give her the best quality life I can.
 
#17 ·
I don't know if this is relevant or applicable but our first Golden, Polly, had sensitivity issues in the form of hot spots. At age 6 she was diagnosed with liver cancer (via exploratory surgery) and given a month to live.

I started making her food myself. It was hamburger boiled with carrots and peas and then instant rice put in at the end. I let it sit for 1/2 hour and dished it into containers. Once cooled they went into the freezer. I made a week's worth at a time. She lived until she was 14 1/2. The vets were amazed that she survived.
 
#18 ·
I am so sorry your girl (and you) are having to go thru all this. She is a beautiful girl.

I don't really have any suggestions as everyone else has already posted the things i thought about. I will say, i am super low thyroid myself and it is miserable. Even on meds i get so darn tired. But then i am also anemic and have diabetes, and problem with my blood pressure just dropping to unreal levle.s my fireman/emt brother said he doesn't see how i am even able to walk when it drops to like 60.42.

So i feel for your girl and i hope you can get an answer.
 
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#19 ·
Just checking in. You are getting tons of good advice. It's so hard to handle all of this, but it does get easier with practice. And there's a lot to be optimistic about!

Continuing to hold you and your sweetheart in my thoughts and prayers,
Lucy
 
#21 ·
We finally got our power back late last night/early this morning!!

I took Hannah in to get her BP rechecked this morning too. I called before we went, but then we still had to wait for nearly an hour for them to check it. I started to leave and come back another day, but didn't. I'm so glad too. They use a doppler BP machine which sent her over the top as far as her nerves. It was SO loud! I was on the floor with Hannah (they wanted her standing) and as soon as it was turned on, she jumped forward and buried her head in my chest. It sounded like a thunderstorm and as long as that's what they check it with, I don't think we'll get a good reading.

She still read at 150. Vet #3 came in and wanted to know if I wanted to get started on the rx. I asked about supplements, dietary changes, etc., but kept getting vague answers...."you can"..."it might"...etc. I asked what Hannah's BP should be and was never given a direct answer.

Am I expecting too much to have them say: these are you options, here are other tests you might consider, this is what I recommend, we'll need to follow up in "x" weeks, etc? I almost felt like I was pulling teeth and wouldn't get an answer unless I committed first to the prescription.

Maybe it's a difference in personalities....I understand this isn't so cut and dry like the cancer, so maybe I'm expecting too much??

I hope to set up an appt at the teaching hospital for a second opinion and hope to get her in during the next few weeks.

For those of you who've dealt with kidney disease....did you rely on the bloodwork and urinalysis alone? have further testing (i.e. ultrasound)?
 
#22 ·
Those doppler machines are loud and our Barkley acted just like your Hannah with it. It doesn't help they made you guys wait so long too since the waiting only increases the anxiety levels of both of you!

Here is an article I pulled up on canine blood pressure: Canine Blood Pressure. It mentions 180 as a high mark, but our vet wants Toby's in the 140 range but preferable lower than that. Unfortunately he gets so excited we see them much higher. He isn't showing signs of kidney disease yet, but the ophthalmologist convinced us he needs to be on hypertension medication for the upcoming cataract surgery since he's trying to keep the ocular pressures much lower to prevent bleeding and help him heal faster. His sedated pressures were high, as they were with his sedated dental, so we decided to go ahead and do it. So far I can't tell any changes other than he is actually more compliant with obedience and I'm not sure that is related to the meds!

Another great website for health conditions has this article: High Blood Pressure
Both Barkley's onco vet and Barb (Hotel4Dogs) recommend this website for a variety of health conditions so I bookmark it on my computers!

We didn't consider the "natural" remedies first because of complications they might cause with other medical conditions.

It's my understanding the dopplers get the most accurate readings, but don't quote me on it.

If I were in your shoes I'd probably get a second opinion, but if Hannah has evidence of kidney disease I'd probably start her on the hypertension medication, just because the hypertension and kidney disease go hand in hand. I'd probably ask for an ultrasound as well to check out the kidneys. With Toby they check everything they can out in the abdomen during the ultrasounds--basically for my peace of mind but also because it's part of the cost of the procedure, which isn't cheap to begin with. :( I want to know what is going on everywhere in his cute little abdomen anyway.

I don't like to be treated like a number in a factory assembly line and it sounds like that's the treatment you two got yesterday. I'm so sorry--it's frustrating not to get answers and I usually stew about it and then get a second opinion.

On a brighter note, I'm glad you finally got your power back--that is just such a frustrating experience! I'd be a lunatic to be without power that long!
 
#24 ·
I don't think they've ever taken Toby's BP with him standing, whether they used doppler or the surgical monitor.....
 
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#29 ·
The ultrasound is in the $300 range at our veterinary clinic, and they charge out the wazoo for everything. I suspect it will be a little less expensive elsewhere.

They never sedated Barkley, my nervous nelly, for his ultrasounds and Toby is so mellow in them he sleeps through most of them! Go figure, my little energizer bunny falls asleep in the cushioned device they put him in for the abdominal. He wakes up for the echo cardiogram but that is because they roll him over and the thing they put him in is a little more precarious. Toby is actually good for the doppler part of the echo, where they take his pressures, but Barkley almost jumped off the table for that part. I'm allowed to stay in the room for these procedures and I usually stand at the dog's head and just stroke it, trying to send positive energy to them to remain calm.

They don't take our dogs pressures standing either, simply because they won't stand for a thing wrapped around their legs. Toby tends to kick out and move and Barkley was always so nervous they could barely get one on his leg while he was down on the floor. Once they used his tail to get one.

I was reluctant to start Toby on blood pressure medication, fearing it would cause a whole host of other issues. So far, so good, but I'd caution you to discuss the other medications Hannah takes with the vet beforehand to make sure there will be no adverse reactions. We still aren't sure if we will keep him on the meds after his surgery and recovery--my guess is we'll do a round of monitoring before deciding. This time though I'll be inclined to keep him on them if it shows his pressures are consistently in the normal ranges. I think I was attributing things I hear about human BP meds to dogs and that was making me hesitant to start them on him.

You are such a caring and loving owner, and I hope you get a good plan of action for Hannah very soon.
 
#30 ·
Before you do too much else, I'd ask to have her BP taken with her lying down. I seem to recall my vet saying at one point or another that you can't get a valid number with the dog standing....
 
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#31 ·
I find it interesting how human doctors approach taking blood pressures. One doc makes me stand with my arms over my head, another insists on taking it with me sitting, arm out, another doesn't care and just takes it. One only will do it on the right arm, the other only on the left. :uhoh:

Sorry, off topic, but there is a lot of inconsistency with blood pressure readings.
 
#33 ·
Good for Hannah and I'm so happy for you! I hope the cooler weather continues to mean she is improving each day.

BTW, at my last visit with Toby's vet she said they were seeing a lot of dogs with health issues (nausea/vomiting) due to ingestion of cicada shells....just wanted to throw that out. Toby, go figure, is freaked out when he steps on them on our walks!
 
#34 ·
Thanks for mentioning it. The vet said she would probably throw up, but thankfully in 10+ years, she hasn't. It's possible (but not likely) she's not really "eating" the shells, but chewing them (I usually find a leg hanging from her lower lip)...but the actual insects, she chews and chews on them. I fight her for the wild mushrooms, but I gave up on the cicadas.
 
#36 ·
Both doppler BP meters that have been used on my Toby have VOLUME control! Ask them to start with it very, very low and then slowly turn it up just enough that they can hear it!
 
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#38 ·
I send love and prayers your way.
I once had a German Shepherd/collie who at 13 years could no longer hold her bowl movements. Some people told us to put her on rice and hamburger (home cooked) to help her stomach. After a few weeks, an accident all the time, and her being miserable we had to put her to sleep. But the food did help some.
I also had a Shih Tzu with major health issues. Asthma, horrible allergies ( allergic to everything, even fleas. He once ate his whole rear end. No fur just a bloody sore.) Barfed yellow froth with every asthma attack, inflamed skin, eye infections everything. He was also allergic to meat. Also had terrible separation anxiety. The vets couldn't do much for him. We gave him every day Kefir, cottage cheese, good fats. The probiotic helped his coat, and his skin and made it easier for him to digest his food better.
Here is a list of cancer fighting foods:
All Herbs
All vegetables ( especially carrots. broccoli, cauliflower, red and yellow peppers, and leeks)
Apples
Brown Rice
Butter (no so sure about this one)
Fish
Garbanzo beans
Garlic ( Also not sure about this one, some people say its bad for dogs)
Lentils
Parsley
Olive oil
Organic chicken and turkey
Seeds and nuts, especially sesame and almonds
Tomatoes
Wheat bran
Whole grains
Yogurt with no sugar
Turmeric
(This list is out of the Natural Dog magazine.)
I hope some of this helps.
 
#39 ·
Just a brief update...
Sunday afternoon Hannah took a BIG spill while running through the kitchen - I had been cleaning during the day and not laid the rugs back down for her :doh:. When she got up she wouldn't bear any weight on the leg (the TPLO surgery one).

I worried and fussed over her and planned to call the orthopedist on Monday a.m. By Monday she was bearing weight and the ortho said to watch her and keep her calm. She's much better today although still a bit "off" in her stance.

We finalized everything for her referral to the teaching hospital. Unfortunately, between their schedule and my work schedule, it's going to be two weeks before we get in (29th). So, we're going to start her on the blood pressure medicine now (enalapril 20 mg - she weighs about 70ish) and see what the bp reading is at that appt - provided there are no adverse reactions in the meantime.

On the good news front, we still have power and her stools are nearly normal! :)
 
#40 ·
Sorry to hear she took a spill. I bet you are worried too, and I hope she improves.

Let us know how Hannah does on the BP medication. I hope it shows improvement at the next check up.

Sorry you must wait for the appointment, but these things happen...life and schedules interfere with the best of plans.
 
#41 ·
Oh how it hurts us when they fall. I ache for you, as well a for Hannah. Is there a place nearby that offers canine swim therapy? Perhaps we discussed this before, but I don't remember. I'm having senior moments of my own! Anyway, in this area there are places where dogs can swim in a pool for maybe $30 per session - enough to help them recover mobility and have a fine time, without bankrupting human servants.

Getting in to see vets at a teaching hospital within two weeks is pretty amazing! I think there was a 4-6 week wait when we last went through this. Plainly you and Hannah are blessed!
 
#42 ·
Oh how it hurts us when they fall. I ache for you, as well a for Hannah. Is there a place nearby that offers canine swim therapy? Perhaps we discussed this before, but I don't remember. I'm having senior moments of my own! Anyway, in this area there are places where dogs can swim in a pool for maybe $30 per session - enough to help them recover mobility and have a fine time, without bankrupting human servants.

Getting in to see vets at a teaching hospital within two weeks is pretty amazing! I think there was a 4-6 week wait when we last went through this. Plainly you and Hannah are blessed!
The only swim therapist near us is someone with the underwater treadmill which will not work for claustrophobic girl. ;) I wish we had a small therapy pool that we could use. I was checking out photos and video of the meetup in Dallas with jealousy! :p:

Thank you for the reminder of our being so fortunate to get into the hospital...it's always nice to have a reminder to help put things back in perspective. :)
 
#44 · (Edited)
Thanks for checking in. Sorry to be away a while.

I was thinking about all the furbabies though, especially when I was behind a minivan from out of state with (I think) 4 goldens in the back!!! I wondered it it was a rescue transport. We were stuck in traffic and they were taking turns looking out each window. It was a merry-go-golden! :p:

Hannah's doing ok. Since starting the BP med (enalapril), she's had a softer poop - and we were just back to normal, but otherwise ok. I think she's put on weight on the new food, but since she'd had diarrhea before, I guess that's to be expected, so I might have to cut her food a bit.

Our appt with the internist at the teaching hospital is this Thursday, so I hope she can be really rested this week as the travel really wipes her out. I'm interested to see what her BP and weight are and hopeful that the ultrasound shows only the lipomas in her abdomen. :crossfing
 
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