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#1
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Stalker pup update
Hi folks!
Last note I posted on Mabel Anne was positive test for cancer and a series of non-invasive tests to attempt to get an idea of the level but the vet that we needed wasn't available to read them. Today we had a booster shot appointment and another check on her ears (infection slowly yielding but it's one of the harder ones so they say the progress is much better than they usually see at this stage for the level she had). Her behavior for the vet was exemplary! He asked how we had her trained and we demo'd asl (down, sit, stand were the ones he needed). She looked at me once for approval to follow him and got a pet and smile then followed his directions the rest of the time. Well done Mabel Anne! Then again, we've had her 2 months so progress is to be expected as I imagine she's relating this to the sounds she once knew for those things. We are now working on a 'go there' kind of signal. I probably have the wrong words for it but you just sort of point in a throwing motion and it means anything from 'up' (as into a car) to 'out the door' (when it's wet and messy or snowy to go in the yard and pee while you stay inside) to 'move out from under my feet you little Stalker pup'. Anyways, the vet pulled the records for the scans and matched with the tests and was smiling. He says there are no promises but she may have something he described in laymans terms as more like human female endometriosis aka 'fibrous growth, non-cancerous' that is showing for the most part on the scans. He saw one spot that looks like a smooth tumor but just barely attached to the colon. More like an internal hemorrhoid or polyp is how he described that. It's apparently very easy to get at and may be the source of the abnormal cells on the tests? She's slated to have that dealt with during her dental if once they look at it closer (has to be under to do that) it's easy to remove and won't cause major complications. (peeking to see if they can do it is free, removal ranges from 200-400$ estimated). The abnormal bladder feel is gone. She has a series of antibiotics which were for both the ear infection and the Lyme disease. He thinks she may have had a sort of bladder infection which the antibiotics have cleared. They are still going to do the clean sample bladder test (free, part of plan) when she's asleep for her dental to rule out something one vet may have felt that the other can't see, but it's looking much better from here! For dental, he's going to have a talk with the doggie dentist (marked in her records already) as he doesn't want any molars pulled unless absolutely needed. She shows no sign of any tenderness in the mouth and the possible infection at the one tooth is now gone best he can tell. Earlier, it was looking like 1 pull and a root canal down from earliest assessment of 3 back molars pulled. Now it's down to no pull (unless really needed) and *maybe* one root canal? Her records are now flagged to make appointments if possible with the vets at the place who are especially familiar with geriatric dogs. Weight today, 25.4 lbs. Estimated proper weight, 28-30 (not a purebred beagle but small designed compared to Cash). |
#2
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Stalker pup update
"cshenk" wrote
Her records are now flagged to make appointments if possible with the vets at the place who are especially familiar with geriatric dogs. Weight today, 25.4 lbs. Estimated proper weight, 28-30 (not a purebred beagle but small designed compared to Cash). Wish her well. She's now at the vets having her dental. It was delayed before. She's 25.8 lbs and the vet says 2 more lbs would be good but she's better off being a little under than a little over. Today is 'geriatric doggie dental day' mostly. They have the team most used to working with elderly dogs on station. It's still a risk, but the risk is higher to not have it done this time. I gave them a quick run-through on her version of ASL (pretty much common sense signals, fairly standard). She's much more spry than in November which seems to be related to good diet and lots of both natural and additive Glocosamine/chondritin. In her case, it seems the additives help so we are keeping her on them. The vet says the combination effect is what seems to be working so well. I have 1 week of special soft grind and it's bone free just incase they have no choice but to do at least 1 extraction. Now, I wait. |
#3
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Stalker pup update
Odd to have a clinic working on Sunday. You're lucky. Only our
emergency clinics work on Sundays.... and only until noon on Saturdays. Didja know that it was the horse vets who also did some small animal work that turned everyone on to the glucopolysaccharide supplements? I originally used the horse version of one of the green sea mussel compounds. The dose for my 20 lb range dogs was a whopping 1/4 teaspoon sprinkled over food.... alfalfa and all. It looked like you had a stash if you got it from the vet instead of ordering a larger amount in a tub from a vet supply house. Then the glucosamine came out and we just added it to the other.... and I think the results were somewhat better than most of the similar products with the addition of chondroitin, MSM, and whatever else. Not sure why.... but something got lost in the process. Jo Wolf Martinez, Georgia |
#4
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Stalker pup update
"Jo Wolf" wrote
Odd to have a clinic working on Sunday. You're lucky. Only our emergency clinics work on Sundays.... and only until noon on Saturdays. Big city and all that. We've even got emergency vet clinics 24/7 here. So the regular vet weekend hours are 8am-7pm Saturday and 9am-6pm Sundays. Sunday is mostly dental and minor surgery day. No word yet which is probably good. Normally they are calling for pickups by 3. It's almost 2pm here. Didja know that it was the horse vets who also did some small animal work that turned everyone on to the glucopolysaccharide supplements? Yup, you told me about it ;-) Meantime, her dinner is defrosted and ready. Deboned chicken thighs and a little skin plus a bit of pork. All fine ground. Not being sure of her teeth, we went boneless for a batch on fine grind so it's much like a normal can of wet. A few days won't matter if she doesn't get bone and this way no possible splinters to deal with. |
#5
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Stalker pup update
On 1/25/2011 7:25 PM, cshenk wrote:
Hi folks! Last note I posted on Mabel Anne was positive test for cancer and a series of non-invasive tests to attempt to get an idea of the level but the vet that we needed wasn't available to read them. Today we had a booster shot appointment According to the vaccine manufacturers a vaccine is not to be given to a sick dog. I would call cancer an illness wouldn't you? What is wrong with your vet? Did you know there is no such thing as a "booster" shot? Giving more than one of any vaccine does not boost immunity. Indeed, it can reduce it. What was the vet trying to boost and why? Char |
#6
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Stalker pup update
On 3/6/2011 1:57 PM, cshenk wrote:
A few days won't matter if she doesn't get bone and this way no possible splinters to deal with. It will natter when she gets the shits and you have to clean it up! ROFLOL! You can take egg shells, dry them and crush them up to add to food and that will prevent the problem. |
#7
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Stalker pup update
"Jo Wolf" wrote
Odd to have a clinic working on Sunday. You're lucky. Only our emergency clinics work on Sundays.... and only until noon on Saturdays. Well Jo, She's taken it like a trooper. The bad news is she has to have 3 teeth out. Once they got in there to really check, they are very bad. She'll be able to eat a small amount tonight and I'll get the rest of the info when we pick her up (4:45 pm). They also removed the growth and are sending it for study. It was isolated and came out really easy. The nurse said that normally is a good news but we'll await the results to be sure. She'll have pain meds and antibiotics for a bit but it sounds like she's gonna be fine (grin). |
#8
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Stalker pup update
"Char" wrote
cshenk wrote: A few days won't matter if she doesn't get bone and this way no possible splinters to deal with. It will natter when she gets the shits and you have to clean it up! ROFLOL! You can take egg shells, dry them and crush them up to add to food and that will prevent the problem. Char, thanks for trying but the plan is to mix it with pulverized Blue Wilderness and bone stock to make a slurry she can handle. Tonight though, just a small amount and only as much and what they tell me she gets. Don't forget my vet is a fan of raw feeding. Tonight may be just stock and a little meat. They will let me know. |
#9
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Stalker pup update
"cshenk" wrote
"Jo Wolf" wrote Odd to have a clinic working on Sunday. You're lucky. Only our emergency clinics work on Sundays.... and only until noon on Saturdays. Well Jo, She's taken it like a trooper. The bad news is she has to have 3 teeth out. Once they got in there to really check, they are very bad. She'll be able to eat a small amount tonight and I'll get the rest of the info when we pick her up (4:45 pm). Turned into 4. When they got the really bad one out, the root of one next to it was a serious issue and if not dealt with now, would have resulted in another dental within 6 months, something I don't want her to have to go through. It's too bad as earlier estimates before they could really get in there, had them possibly saving all the teeth. Well, it's better to save the dog IMHO. They think though if all else in tests turns out well, my little lady may hit 16 or more now that she's had her teeth properly fixed. She took the process *very* well though she was a little slow to get function back (as expected in an older dog). They use a different set of meds on ones of her age. I have a pharmacy of things she'll need but it's pretty simple really. Antibiotics and age appropriate pain killers. Watch for constipation (a side effect of tramadol). I just gave her a small dose (as directed to do when I got her home if she would eat yet). She had a little cold meat (they want everything as cold as reasonable to help the mouth), about 1.5 TB and some ice water. The tramadol was wrapped in a little ground beef. Later, she gets a little more food if she keeps down what she has (no issues so far at 45 mins) and her first antibiotic pill. Tomorrow if all goes well, she gets 3 TB pulverized blue wilderness, 4 TB of the fine grind meat, and enough bone broth to make it well soft for breakfast, then the same again about 2 hours later. Since they know we feed a 'nooner nosh' to add more meat to hers and a bit of the pulverized BW again. Dinner as normal amounts for her except keep to the really soft mix and watch for constipation from the meds. The infection in her ears is deep seated so they did a special cleaning while she was under. That and they've swapped her meds a little to see if a slightly different combo works better for her ears. Ok, yeah, sue me. I just spent 957$ to have her teeth fixed and get her meds (some were refills for Cash and her for flea stuff). |
#10
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Stalker pup update
Yeh, we have two 24/7 emergency clinics, and come to think of it one of
them does routine work the whole time, too.... Over the years, I've used both. The dogs that live to her age are Tough. That's why she's made it this long, with all she's faced. Glad they worked on those ears. Such a misery.... I struggled with Fred's ears for about 10 of his 15 years. We tried everything.... Then they came out with OTC Lotrimin drops for athlete's foot and the vet had me use them with the other drops and abx we were using at the same time, and Bingo! Gone! For the first year, the vet had me use that Lotrimin when I cleaned his ears, just to make certain that the yeast didn't get started again. About the same time, I just happened to get him off all beef, and I suspect that had been part of the problem for him, too. Once her mouth feels better, you may have a "new dog"! Jo Wolf Martinez, Georgia |
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