I'm baaaack

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

After the unsecured wifi connection was turned off in our neighborhood. My doggy took a very long turn for the worse, which is why I wasn't even really checking my email - although, I can't get my stupid hotmail to even send a freaking email! ARRR!!!!!

Anyways, my dog started having multiple seizures (daily), sometimes back to back. And as you can guess this made for several emergency visits to the vet for blood work (even after he got meds). I missed a week and a half of school to take care of him.

He had a seizure on the way to school one day (he waits in the car with grandma when I have classes - only 1-2 hours and he gets to play in the grass as well), so we did an emergency visit to the vet. It was my first experience carrying my dog as dead weight - and 75 pounds is not light! By the time we got to the vet he could sit propped up against my leg, but couldn't really walk - which is why I had to carry him in.

We did complete blood work. Vet gave him some Karo Syrup, and we waited for him to regain his strength and be able to walk a bit more. After about an hour he could walk enough that the vet felt we could leave. And told us to give him Karo Syrup every 6 hours, and call him in the morning.

Next morning, I wasn't able to talk directly to him as they had a couple emergencies. But was able to talk to the staff which talked to him about the results inbetween going into the different patient rooms. He had really low blood glucose, and other things were really wacky. He said try doing the Karo Syrup every 8 hours and see how that went. Day 1 - One seizure, Day 2 - Day 2 - Two seizures, and a emergency visit, blood work. I got to carry him in and out again.

Extra sugar. Got diazepam prescription. One 5mg pill per day. Up Karo syrup to 6 times/day. Didn't work too well, day 1 - one seizure, day 2 - three seizures. ....... You get the picture.

So, he's definately accustomed to getting blood work done now, and me collecting his "tinkle" for urinalysis.

Few weeks later, he is finally getting settled on a regiment. 2 soloxine/day (for his thyroid), 2 Diazepam/day, neobacimyx (sp?), tear drops (fake tears). He tore up the side of his feet (and some of his worts) a bit during seizures that I couldn't get a blanket under him when he was on cement. So he also has Panalog Cream. And we are at double the Karo syrup than when we first started.

The sugar somehow seemed to give him the runs for a while. So he had Anti-Diarrhea stuff for a while. And I had to have the car detailed because of it...... yeah. And I can't even think of how many times I got "icked" from having to pick him up after a seizure. Lets just say we BOTH had to take lots of baths. But I usually had to carry him - so for a bit my back was KILLING me.

So for everyone who tried to get in touch with me I'm sorry, and this is why I wasn't able to call/email you back. I was thoroughly stressed and exhausted and often cleaning up dog messes in the car, on the dog, and myself.

I'm sad to say this is a very dulled down version of the past few weeks!

 

[mishellyshel]

that really sucks. i hope your doggie makes a full recovery. welcome back. maybe talking about it will help & perhaps you will get some ideas from someone here.

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

Definately! I'm hoping to be able to get him off of the diazepam, so if anyone has any other suggestions. I've done research on it with its use on canines and a lot of what's posted say that they build up a tolerance to it, so it generally stops working after a while. And some dogs get addicted to it. :|....

 

[CJR]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. That is seriously insane. I hope he stays okay, and I hope YOU stay okay too. Poor puppy.

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

I'm really sad to say after all the hard work we've gone through, it may be coming to an end. :cry3: He took a tumble off of my aunts very short one-step porch. We went in for an emergency visit yesterday, they did xrays on both sides of his neck. For 1, he has arthritis of the spine. For 2, He has some slight spaces between some of the vertebres in his neck. And for 3, some of the tips of the vertebre are deteriorating due to age.

He had to stay at the vets overnight, which I am unhappy about. We can keep him immoble at home and know when he needs extra karo syrup to raise his blood sugar, when he's thirsty, and when to clean him up, or turn him over. The vets has no one there after hours, they only go in once to check on them. And I wasn't too happy about how the lady handled him.

He has function of his front legs, and partial function of his back legs. He can't get up on his own for the moment, but has been trying to sit up now. The vet said he may or may not ever walk again :cry3:. He really doesn't know at this point. So for now, it's a waiting game. If the only thing that is permanently affected is the loss of motility in the back legs, we can get a support with wheels. He still has the prospect of living for a while longer if he gets past this major hurdle.

If not, we will sadly have to put him to sleep.

But, I've thought about it. And I will be bringing him home tonight. With his other health problems I'd rather have him where he can be monitored 24/7, be in an environment that doesn't stress him out (he was stressed with me still there even), and be handled more gently.

 

[Kalandra]

I'm sorry you are having to go through this. However, from what you describe it sounds like you really need to consider helping him to pass on. Really sit back and look at his quality of life, and what quality of life he may have in the near/far future. If he is in pain, can no longer walk on his own or do any of the things he enjoyed in life, its may be time.

I hope you don't get upset by my saying this, but I've been there before and wished at the time that someone would have said, "Julie, let go." I'm one of those people that will do anything for my animals. But there is a time when doing things for them is just extending their quantity of life when there is no quality of life left.

While it is always one of the most difficult things we can do for them, it can also be one of the absolute kindest acts. Allowing them to pass on, leaving a body that no longer functions and/or is in pain. It is never easy and hurts like mad, but there are many people here who have been there and can sympathize.

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

No worries Kalandra.

I told the vet when I picked him up that I would give him a day or two, and if he didn't make an improvement I'd help him pass. When I picked him up, I also made an appointment for today to do so (just in case). But I also told him as long as he was still tying, and improving, and the vet couldn't say definately that he would never walk again, then I would keep trying as well.

Within 3 hours of picking him up his temperature when back up to normal (amazing how much warmer an old dog is when he's not laying on a thin blanket on the concrete). And by that night, he was getting himself into an upright laying down position, and demanding to be fed.

And today? He's able to support his own weight when I get him on his feet, he has regained almost full function of his front legs, and partial function of his back legs. His vomiting and crying have completely stopped when I took him off his Tramadol HCL . And he is able to get himself into comfortable positions on his own. Holding up his head, stretching his legs.

 

[cindyv3737]

That is great news! I'm rooting for him. He will let you know when he is ready. They always do.

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

I will say this, my dog is DEFINATELY doing better then what I first thought. I've learned the difference of his "fake" whines and his whines of "bring me more food" and "I wanna walk a bit".... When I'm "not" watching him, he is sitting up on his hind legs, sitting up laying down, etc. BUT, almost the second that he sees me watching him, he pretends to not be able to do much.

He got used to me doing everything. lol. I'm going to record it and take it to the vet.

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

He does a really good fake "I can't get up" thing now... Can I say he's like a kid?

 

[Ashleiy]

I'm sorry that he is having so many troubles, but it is great that he is improving! Has your vet thought about a pancreas tumor? (sorry I know that sounds bad). In ferrets they get tumors on their pancreas (mostly benign!) and they cause too much insulin prodcution which in turn drops their blood sugar very low. When put on prednisone (steroid) they improve dramatically. I hope he continues to do well!

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

Thank you everyone for the well-wishes... Sailor passed away this morning at 12:45am. Either during or immediately after a seizure. I woke up to him convulsing, and then he was gone. I'm overly saddened about it, but more so knowing that he wanted to live. I tried to resusitate him for about 1/2 hour but couldn't get his heart or breathing to start again. It's truly a big loss.

 

[lauralynne]

I'm so sorry for your loss.