My dog is slightly better

[Scarlett]

I called the vet and she prescribed tramadol.....it was what they gave her when she was boarded over the weekend and the vet seemed to think it takes the pain away so the dog can walk and pee and poop. Anyway after a few hours she at least would walk outside and pee and she ate and drank.

 

The vet agreed though if we can't get her feet well.....it is the end.

 

My Xh drove almost 2 hours to see her one last time. :(

Edited November 17, 2016 by Scarlett

[debinindy]

:grouphug:

[MercyA]

  :grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug: , Scarlett.

[Selkie]

I'm so sorry.  I hope she is able to pull through.   :grouphug:

[Spryte]

I'm so sorry - it's so hard. I hope the tramadol helps!

[Pawz4me]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[Scarlett]

Tramadol seems to help. She went outside and did her business and she drank water, but she won't eat. I think the next few days will tell us a lot.

[Spryte]

Tramadol seems to help. She went outside and did her business and she drank water, but she won't eat. I think the next few days will tell us a lot.

I'm glad she's a little better.

 

My boy isn't eating his regular food, but I've been making boiled chicken (shredded) and rice, and he'll eat that. Maybe if you haven't tried it already, you could try that temporarily? Just a thought from another mom of a sick dog at the moment.

[Scarlett]

I made her an egg this morning. She quite liked that. :). Last night I made her some oatmeal which she also scarfed down. I have never given her human food so I guess it is a treat for her.

 

I bought her some canned food just now. Hopefully I can get her to eat it.

 

She just really has to be coaxed to go to the bathroom. I think the grass really hurts her feet so she just tries to avoid it altogether .

[The Governess]

Hope she keeps improving!

[Scarlett]

Thanks everyone. She ate the new food I bought her. And paced around the house a bit wagging her tail...I hope she can kick this infection.

[StephanieZ]

FWIW, tramadol works nicely in a synergistic fashion with NSAIDs (Previcox, Rimadyl, etc -- doggy ones, not people ones). My dh uses it as an adjunct with those, especially in end stage painful conditions. . . He says that it isn't very potent on its own, but does well in combination. 

 

Also, do know that tramadol is very prone to abuse by people/teens/etc, so keep it locked up and out of sight. (Treat it like you would any narcotic.) People steal it, deal it, etc. (I'm super careful about these things, knowing too many sad stories.)

 

[Scarlett]

FWIW, tramadol works nicely in a synergistic fashion with NSAIDs (Previcox, Rimadyl, etc -- doggy ones, not people ones). My dh uses it as an adjunct with those, especially in end stage painful conditions. . . He says that it isn't very potent on its own, but does well in combination.

 

Also, do know that tramadol is very prone to abuse by people/teens/etc, so keep it locked up and out of sight. (Treat it like you would any narcotic.) People steal it, deal it, etc. (I'm super careful about these things, knowing too many sad stories.)

That didn't even cross my mind.....thank you.

 

I am violently allergic to all those kinds of drugs. The thought of taking it for 'fun' makes me nearly pass out....but I forget there are people who get on that stuff easily.

[Scarlett]

FWIW, tramadol works nicely in a synergistic fashion with NSAIDs (Previcox, Rimadyl, etc -- doggy ones, not people ones). My dh uses it as an adjunct with those, especially in end stage painful conditions. . . He says that it isn't very potent on its own, but does well in combination.

 

Also, do know that tramadol is very prone to abuse by people/teens/etc, so keep it locked up and out of sight. (Treat it like you would any narcotic.) People steal it, deal it, etc. (I'm super careful about these things, knowing too many sad stories.)

I just counted them. All there. Lol.....I have another pain med from last week the vet gave her...gabapentin. Do you know if I can give that to her while she is taking the tramadol? I give her the tramadol at 10 a.m and 10 pm.....she seems to be in pain sometimes in between. I will call the vet in a bit and ask but I thought you might know.

[StephanieZ]

That didn't even cross my mind.....thank you.

 

I am violently allergic to all those kinds of drugs. The thought of taking it for 'fun' makes me nearly pass out....but I forget there are people who get on that stuff easily.

 

You are entirely welcome.

 

Living in the heart of the opioid epidemic . . . and having a husband with a DEA license . . . and owning a vet hospital that necessarily stocks controlled drugs . . . you hear every sort of story and learn a lot about how dangerous these drugs are.

 

I figured that since *I* know tramadol is prone to theft/diversion/abuse, likely the thieves/abusers know about it, but ordinary people wouldn't likely know. I mean, if I wasn't in the field, I'd really have no idea that tramadol was any more worrisome (abuse-wise) than the dozen other vet prescriptions I might get . . . And you aren't TAKING it, so you aren't going to automatically know what it's like and that it might be prone to abuse . . .

 

I really think we have to do a better job warning people about these things. I guess it's a balance between warning clients to be careful with the drug . . . and thereby alerting the occasional nuts who would, instead of securing the drug, be more likely to try it themselves! 

 

Anyway, I'm sorry about your dog's decline. (((hugs)))

[StephanieZ]

I just counted them. All there. Lol.....I have another pain med from last week the vet gave her...gabapentin. Do you know if I can give that to her while she is taking the tramadol? I give her the tramadol at 10 a.m and 10 pm.....she seems to be in pain sometimes in between. I will call the vet in a bit and ask but I thought you might know.

 

*I am not a vet*, but I believe that yes, you can (and should) combine them. Double check with your vet, for sure.

 

But, my guess, assuming I am understanding correctly that this is an "end stage" illness, you'd be best advised to keep all prescribed drugs on a schedule, unless/until there is an adverse effect.

 

It is great that your vet is doing such a good job being aggressive with pain management. There is no reason for your dog to suffer. (((hugs))) 

[Scarlett]

*I am not a vet*, but I believe that yes, you can (and should) combine them. Double check with your vet, for sure.

 

But, my guess, assuming I am understanding correctly that this is an "end stage" illness, you'd be best advised to keep all prescribed drugs on a schedule, unless/until there is an adverse effect.

 

It is great that your vet is doing such a good job being aggressive with pain management. There is no reason for your dog to suffer. (((hugs)))

Thank you. I feel pretty sure we are at the end.....I think the vet does too but she wants to do one last final push to get rid of this feet infection. And the only way to possible get her well is to control the pain. Because once she is in so much pain, she stops eating and refuses to get up and use the bathroom.....big frustrating circle.

 

I have kind of made up my mind to get through this round of antibiotics and if she isn't MUCH better I think I have to consider letting her go. Her quality of life sucks right now..,,between the cone and her desire to lick....she licks the cone constantly because she can't reach her feet...and the repulsion she feels to touch the grass....just not a way for a dog to have to live.

[StephanieZ]

Thank you. I feel pretty sure we are at the end.....I think the vet does too but she wants to do one last final push to get rid of this feet infection. And the only way to possible get her well is to control the pain. Because once she is in so much pain, she stops eating and refuses to get up and use the bathroom.....big frustrating circle.

 

I have kind of made up my mind to get through this round of antibiotics and if she isn't MUCH better I think I have to consider letting her go. Her quality of life sucks right now..,,between the cone and her desire to lick....she licks the cone constantly because she can't reach her feet...and the repulsion she feels to touch the grass....just not a way for a dog to have to live.

 

Poor thing. I know how hard it is to see your pet suffering. 

 

Sounds to me like she's a lucky dog to have such loving and responsible owners. It is really hard to know when to let go. My husband encourages owners to make a short list of the things your pet enjoys most in life, and then to keep an eye on those things to know when it is time to let go. Even knowing that and going through it a million times with clients, it is still super hard to do it for ourselves.

 

We lost one of our dogs just last week, my husband's favorite . . . and it was really, really hard to know when to let go. Even when you are the expert. It's still heartbreaking. I always tell myself it's better to end a pet's life a little too early than a little too late, but it's still really hard to make those decisions when the time comes. It's just really hard to make that decision. Your dog is lucky to have people who love her. 

 

Fingers crossed that she improves dramatically, and hugs to all of you. 

[debinindy]

Thank you. I feel pretty sure we are at the end.....I think the vet does too but she wants to do one last final push to get rid of this feet infection. And the only way to possible get her well is to control the pain. Because once she is in so much pain, she stops eating and refuses to get up and use the bathroom.....big frustrating circle.

 

I have kind of made up my mind to get through this round of antibiotics and if she isn't MUCH better I think I have to consider letting her go. Her quality of life sucks right now..,,between the cone and her desire to lick....she licks the cone constantly because she can't reach her feet...and the repulsion she feels to touch the grass....just not a way for a dog to have to live.

 

This makes me so sad  :(

 

She is lucky to have you...more hugs

[Scarlett]

This makes me so sad :(

 

She is lucky to have you...more hugs

Me too. I am trying to hold it together. I just bathed her feet in that special shampoo. I sat in the floor with her in my lap and put first her front feet in and rinsed and rinsed for about 7 min. Then I rinsed in fresh warm water and did the same for her back feet. She started to shake and by the time I finished she was just a heap in the floor asleep from what I suspect is pain. I also cleaned her face up because she has been licking the cone so much that her face and mouth is raw and bleeding.

 

I sang a silly song to her in my best soothing voice. Stephanie mentioned thinking about her favorite things.....and I realized how she use to ( just weeks ago) stand at the front window and watch squirrels or bark at the neighbors or dogs walking by. She hasn't made a sound for weeks. She can't get into her crate bcause of the cone and she is miserable because of that bcause she always sleeps in her crate at night.

 

I took her out to try to get her to go pee and poop......she won't leave the concrete....so I carried her out in the middle of the yard and she just stood there for about 5 minutes looking at me. She finally inched her way back to the house taking the shortest route to concrete possible and faltering in her step once or twice.

 

She doesn't even cry out in pain. She just begins to shake and then goes into a deep sleep.

 

She does get pretty excited about this new wet gravy food I got her....but other than that I think she is just miserable.

 

Her feet look black. It is just terrible.....I don't even think I can make her make it through this antibiotic. It will end over thanksgiving weekend. I am leaning heavily toward taking her Monday when my son will be out of school. This is so hard.

[hornblower]

have you considered an online consult with a veterirnary dermatology specialist?  As a last ditch? I personally would question the diagnosis & treatment plan if you're not seeing improvement. 

 

:grouphug:

[Scarlett]

have you considered an online consult with a veterirnary dermatology specialist? As a last ditch? I personally would question the diagnosis & treatment plan if you're not seeing improvement.

 

:grouphug:

Well. Honestly I think she just got an infection that her old body can't shake. She is almost 13. She is on the third round of antibiotic.....stronger each time.

[hornblower]

Oh I didn't realize she was this old. My guys are over 13 too so yeah, I know.

 

With a skin thing that's not clearing, I'd be wondering if you're looking at something fungal though.... 

If it is bacterial (do you have a confirmed culture?) & you're looking at last efforts, have you tried injections of  gentamycin? It's ototoxic but with an old dog, losing hearing is not really a reason to avoid it. 

or try steroids. Steroids will often buy you more time to sort things out. 

[Scarlett]

Oh I didn't realize she was this old. My guys are over 13 too so yeah, I know.

 

With a skin thing that's not clearing, I'd be wondering if you're looking at something fungal though.... 

 

If it is bacterial (do you have a confirmed culture?) & you're looking at last efforts, have you tried injections of  gentamycin? It's ototoxic but with an old dog, losing hearing is not really a reason to avoid it. 

 

or try steroids. Steroids will often buy you more time to sort things out. 

 

 

she had a round of steroid pills and then a shot of steroids a week later.  The shampoo is antibacterial and anti fungal.   And we are putting cream on her too.  Not sure what the cream is though and I am too exhausted to go check right now.

 

I washed her feet and she is still in the same spot 2 hours later.  She is on clean towels and covered up with her blanket.  She just looks done.

[Scarlett]

And no we didn't do a culture.

 

My boss had two pugs who went through this same thing....not their feet so much as their skin....just round after round of steroid and antibiotics.  He told me he thinks he should have not let it go on so long.

[prairiewindmomma]

You've taken such good care of her. (((Scarlett & dog & family)))

[Pawz4me]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[debinindy]

Oh, Scarlett, please know you have our support here.  Trying to determine when enough is enough is one of the most difficult things there is...especially when they can't tell us how much pain they are in.  I wish I could say something to make it easier.

[Scarlett]

Oh, Scarlett, please know you have our support here. Trying to determine when enough is enough is one of the most difficult things there is...especially when they can't tell us how much pain they are in. I wish I could say something to make it easier.

Thank you. I talked to the vet and she prescribed a tranquilizer type drug....can't think of the name of it....she said it will help her get through the weekend and we will know Monday if she will make it or not. And she said I could give her both pain meds too.

[Scarlett]

After two hours she got up and went to her bed where a heat lamp is...,she laid there not moving for another 3 hours. I left the house at 4 to go to the vet and another errand....just before I left she moved slightly off her bed on to the concrete floor....I assume she was too warm. 3 hours later when I returned she literally had not moved. Her little feet were pulls in to her in an unnatural fashion. When I saw her through the window I thought she was dead. 😥 But I came in, removed her cone,,,,,rubbed her body and talked to her....she got up and I gave her the sedative....with some treats along with the yummy gravy food....then I took her outside....for the first time in weeks she stepped off the sidewalk into the back yard and did her business. I couldn't belive it.

 

Brought her back in and had to put the cone back on her.....she got on her bed with the heat lamp about 3 hours ago and has barely moved.

 

I don't know what to think.

Edited November 19, 2016 by Scarlett

[dirty ethel rackham]

Thinking of you, Scarlett.  This has to be so hard.

[Scarlett]

Thinking of you, Scarlett. This has to be so hard.

Thank you. The sedatives are hilarious. I gave her more meds just now and she was not cooperative. I tried to add a treat....she just let it melt in her mouth. She is really out of it. Hopefully she will sleep through the night and not lick incessantly.

[Scarlett]

Ok sorry to keep posting obsessively.....but I brought her water to her....she laid on her belly and lapped up a bit of water. It was rather comical if not so tragic.

 

Sedative is good stuff. The goal is to keep her from licking.....

[Scarlett]

Well. This is so hard. I gave her her second dose of sedative this morning around 7:30, along with her pain meds and antibiotic. I took her out to pee this morning....poop too....but at 2 I worked with her for half an hour or more trying to get her to pee.....she can't walk. I think it is from the sedative....but I also think her feet hurt. I forced her outside....she wouldn't leave the concrete. She just collapsed several times. I brought her back in and fed her yummy food....which she seemed to enjoy....but she kept falling down as she ate and drank.....

 

I.....just don't know. It is just tearing me up to think about driving her to the vet Monday and having her put down......but she can't go on like this.

[Pawz4me]

Can you cut back on the sedative just a bit and see how she does?

[Scarlett]

Can you cut back on the sedative just a bit and see how she does?

Vet told me a pill and one half and go up to 2....but she hasn't had any since this morning when I gave her pill and a half. Maybe I will not give her any at bedtime and see if she can walk in the morning.

[MercyA]

I am so sorry, Scarlett. I will pray.  :grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[Scarlett]

I am so sorry, Scarlett. I will pray.  :grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

 

Thank you.   It is now 5.  I carried her out to the yard and she stood there for about 10 minutes....finally pooped a little bit....she still didn't pee that I saw.  I made her walk back in which felt necessary yet cruel since she seems to be in a lot of pain.

 

It is just mindblowing to me that I have to make this decision.  Ok, so Monday morning's schedule is that we take our dog to the vet to be put down.   :scared:   Really?  

 

I just don't know what to do.  

[MercyA]

Is it the grass specifically that hurts her feet or just walking? If it's the grass, can you find a soft patch of soil for her to use instead? IDK, just a thought.

 

Does the sedative seem to help with the pain? If so, maybe you should continue giving it regularly until you can get to the vet. I always think of that Herriot story in which he deliberately kept a dog sedated for several days to give her a chance to sleep and heal. I wonder if you could give enough sedative to help her sleep through the night and put a diaper on her if necessary. 

 

Please keep us updated as you can. The poor baby. It's so hard, I know.

 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

 

[MercyA]

With a skin thing that's not clearing, I'd be wondering if you're looking at something fungal though.... 

 

I'm wondering about this, too, because antibiotics could make a fungal infection worse (possibly steroids, too, if they lowered her immunity). Fungal infections can also be very painful.

 

I'm surprised the vet hasn't done a culture already. You might want to ask for one, Scarlett, if you can manage to get and keep your dog's pain under control. I'm pretty sure my dog once had to take oral medication for a fungal skin infection.

 

:grouphug:

Edited November 20, 2016 by MercyA

[Spryte]

I'm so sorry, Scarlett.  So, so sorry.  You are a good doggy mommy, and she knows she's loved.

 

This is making me all teary.  We're losing our boy right now, and just focused on keeping him comfy and knowing he's loved.  I make his food for him, and right now he seems content just being with us, but we will be thinking of making that appt soon, too, and reading your pain ... I just want to hug you, and tell you you're not alone.   :grouphug:

[debinindy]

I'm so sorry, Scarlett.  So, so sorry.  You are a good doggy mommy, and she knows she's loved.

 

This is making me all teary.  We're losing our boy right now, and just focused on keeping him comfy and knowing he's loved.  I make his food for him, and right now he seems content just being with us, but we will be thinking of making that appt soon, too, and reading your pain ... I just want to hug you, and tell you you're not alone.   :grouphug:

 

Me too for both of you! 

 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[MercyA]

I'm so sorry, Scarlett.  So, so sorry.  You are a good doggy mommy, and she knows she's loved.

 

This is making me all teary.  We're losing our boy right now, and just focused on keeping him comfy and knowing he's loved.  I make his food for him, and right now he seems content just being with us, but we will be thinking of making that appt soon, too, and reading your pain ... I just want to hug you, and tell you you're not alone.   :grouphug:

 

I'm so sorry, Spryte. I had to say goodbye to my boy about two years ago and know how difficult it is. Huge  :grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug: .

[Scarlett]

Dh put the cream on her feet and some socks instead of the cone.

 

I gave her the sedative 12 hours ago....I dont think she should still be unable to function from that......not giving her any tonight to see if she can walk by morning.

 

She is having trouble walking period now. Doesn't matter where. She can't stand up to eat her food or drink or anything, we took her out again but she hasn't peed since morning.

[Scarlett]

I'm so sorry. I don't know if this would help, but we used an alternative to a cone when our dog needed one for an extended time to stop her licking leg wounds. We used this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0045Y1JGG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479600731&sr=8-1&keywords=kong+cone&pi=SX200_QL40 From reviews, it sounds like some breeds still manage to reach their legs with it, but ours couldn't at all. She wouldn't be able to lick the collar, and she might be less miserable than in the cone (could still go in kennel).

 

I thought Mercy's idea about keeping her sedated and using a diaper might help also. So sorry you're all going through this.

That is a cool collar.

 

I think it is too late now for anything else.

 

 

I took the cone off but she couldn't get in her crate. She collapsed outside of it. So we carried her back to her memory foam bed that has a heat lamp on it.

[StephanieZ]

Thank you.   It is now 5.  I carried her out to the yard and she stood there for about 10 minutes....finally pooped a little bit....she still didn't pee that I saw.  I made her walk back in which felt necessary yet cruel since she seems to be in a lot of pain.

 

It is just mindblowing to me that I have to make this decision.  Ok, so Monday morning's schedule is that we take our dog to the vet to be put down.   :scared:   Really?  

 

I just don't know what to do.  

 

I'm so very sorry. 

 

Just keep loving her, carrying her, and giving her treats  . . . 

 

She's telling you it is time. Just keep her comfy over the weekend. If your vet takes after-hours phone calls, she might be able to guide you in adjusting drug dosages tonight and tomorrow if you feel she's still suffering. At this point, there is no worry about over-dosing. 

 

You are doing the right things. 

 

(((hugs)))

[Scarlett]

I'm so very sorry.

 

Just keep loving her, carrying her, and giving her treats . . .

 

She's telling you it is time. Just keep her comfy over the weekend. If your vet takes after-hours phone calls, she might be able to guide you in adjusting drug dosages tonight and tomorrow if you feel she's still suffering. At this point, there is no worry about over-dosing.

 

You are doing the right things.

 

(((hugs)))

Thank you. She wouldn't even eat the yummy Gravy food just now....just nibbled at it and collapsed to the floor. Dh put her water in front of her and she lapped a bit while on her belly. We did get her pain pills down her at least.

 

This is so sad.

[MercyA]

I think the socks are a wonderful idea, Scarlett. 

 

I agree with Stephanie. Just keep her as comfortable as you can and talk to a vet if possible about adjusting her meds. Be careful she doesn't get too hot under the heat lamp, as she might not be able to move away from it at this point. Just be with her and love on her.

 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

 

[Scarlett]

I think the socks are a wonderful idea, Scarlett.

 

I agree with Stephanie. Just keep her as comfortable as you can and talk to a vet if possible about adjusting her meds. Be careful she doesn't get too hot under the heat lamp, as she might not be able to move away from it at this point. Just be with her and love on her.

 

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

It is really cold here and we haven't turned our heat on yet so I know she isn't too hot under the lamp.....she has a blanket on her too. I keep going in to check on her. She is awake but not moving.

 

You know she is really my Ds's dog. He has had her since he was 4. When we got her his dad was very against her being in the house. So the first night she was in the garage in her crate. At some point in the night ds went out and drug her crate down the hallway to his room. We found her there the next morning.

 

But he is 16 now and busy with life. He knows the end is near and he just said, 'well mom you knew it was coming'.

[MercyA]

It is really cold here and we haven't turned our heat on yet so I know she isn't too hot under the lamp.....she has a blanket on her too. I keep going in to check on her. She is awake but not moving.

 

You know she is really my Ds's dog. He has had her since he was 4. When we got her his dad was very against her being in the house. So the first night she was in the garage in her crate. At some point in the night ds went out and drug her crate down the hallway to his room. We found her there the next morning.

 

But he is 16 now and busy with life. He knows the end is near and he just said, 'well mom you knew it was coming'.

 

I'm glad she has you to look after her so well. I am so sad for her and for you, but I know she is in good hands.