Daisys Mum

My Vet probably thinks I’m neurotic .. the amount of times I have had my dogs to the Vet over the last few months. A few weeks ago I ordered a full blood screening for Sasha as she is 15 now and I wanted to see how she is going.. it showed she is very healthy for her age albeit a bit slow /mostly deaf and can hardly see... My Vet didn’t see the point but he did under my insistence.

I’m so sorry for your loss ... rip Sari   I remember when you got Sari,  I had only been on Dol a few months... another Dol legend gone

It’s not an easy decision to make .. I have a Cav too and it’s always a worry that she may get MVD as she is nearly 10.

You could try getting the fluid drained at least to make her more comfortable and if that doesn’t work then reassess.

Good luck with everything  

On 11/10/2020 at 11:31 AM, The Spotted Devil said:

 

They don't always show they are sore. Did your vet look at the reflexes on her back paws? Synovan is the next development of Carprofen.

Yes he did .. I did have a read up and will definitely give it a try.

5 hours ago, The Spotted Devil said:

What you are describing may be the beginning of some degeneration of the spine and nerve impingement. My Dalmatian is 13 and is now on Synovan monthly (for the spine), 300mg Gabapentin 4 times a day as required for nerve pain and acupuncture from a qualified human/dog Chiro. Huge improvement after a very acute onset.

When we were at the Vet he gave her spine a good going over but he couldn’t find any sore spots.. that’s not to say that it’s a possibility... Just had a read about Synovan as I hadn’t heard of it before... we normally give her Carprofen but will file info that away in case we need It down the track.

29 minutes ago, Snook said:

That's brilliant news.  It must be a huge relief to know she's in such good shape, aside from the issues you've mentioned. It must be a hard balance for some vets when it comes to ageing dogs. The vet we've been seeing seems to go to the extreme in the opposite direction of your vet, and wants to test for anything and everything and throw a million medicines and supplements at a dog, just because of their age and regardless of how they're actually going. It's great that your vet will listen to your requests to be more thorough with the check up though and I'm glad that it sounds like you'll get a lot more time with your darling girl. 

Thanks Snook   He doesn’t believe in vaccinating old dogs ... he prefers you to just let them be.

2 hours ago, Papillon Kisses said:

Wonderful news!  

Thanks PK

3 hours ago, persephone said:

Such good news  You must be feeling very happy. A testament to your loving care ! 

Very happy.. this old girl isn’t going anywhere anytime soon

The Vet rang and her bloods came back really good ! There is nothing that is showing up that’s any real concern ... I’m so relieved.

Oh and he said her heart is as strong as an ox ... he said she is the healthiest 15 year old dog he has seen in years, apart from her eyesight, hearing, and a couple of other age related issues she is doing amazing

2 hours ago, Snook said:

It's good that you insisted on the blood tests and I'm surprised the vet didn't think they were necessary. Most vets seem to think bloods every 6 months or so are a good idea once they get as old as our senior dogs are. 

He is really old school and has the ideology that she is old so of course she will have issues like be deaf, blind etc... it drives me nuts. He is a good Vet though, my dogs love him.

Waiting for his phone call but I won’t get a call until this afternoon I expect.

Sasha had her Vet visit today.. my Vet didn’t think having bloods was necessary but I insisted... I said if there is something that shows up we can get onto it quick and if it turns about to be really serious then we can deal with that too... so he agreed.

He is going to ring me tomorrow when he gets her results.

2 hours ago, Snook said:

That's a great update. Life must be a lot easier with fewer accidents and such a relief to have found the culprit for the diarrhoea. I hope the vet appointment goes well on Thursday. Please keep us updated on how your darling Sasha is doing. 

Thanks Snook x

Thought I would do an update with Sasha...

The gate has been a success ... she has only done 3-4 accidents since I installed it, one was diarrhoea :/ what a mess but at least it wasn’t on the carpet.

Her normal diet is diced beef and Blackhawk fish and potato and cooked chicken breast as a treat which she has had for a few years with no problem but decided to cut out the chicken and no more sloppy/watery poos.. so she must have developed a age related allergy to it  it’s only been a week but it looks good so far.

She still has the odd accident inside but at least it’s normal so I will take that as an improvement  

We have a Vet appointment on Thursday afternoon .. I will get some bloods done to see where we are at.

4 hours ago, Papillon Kisses said:

As you’ll see in the group, there is treatment for CCD (not cures, but treating symptoms, delaying progression, & improving QOL) such as medications, supplements, special diets, behaviour management & modification, and enrichment.  

http://www.crosspaws.com.au/resources/Canine-Cognitive-Dysfunction-Kersti-Seksel.pdf

https://dogdementia.com/

Thanks

8 hours ago, Snook said:

Here's the link to the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanineCognitiveDysfunction/?ref=share

 

I hope you can get some help and support from the vet. Please let us know how you get on. x

Thanks

52 minutes ago, Snook said:

I'm so sorry that Sasha is struggling with her back legs. It must be very hard to see her fall and be unable to get up. 

 

Going back to @Papillon Kisses suggestion of CCD, I've seen quite a bit of discussion in the CCD group I'm in about back end weakness in dogs with CCD. I understand your fear of taking Sasha to the vet but it might be worth trying it anyway, in case there's something they can do to help support her and give her more time with you? 

Do you have a link Snook ? 
I will take her this week or next .. depends whenever I can get an appointment.

Thanks for understanding  

On 20/09/2020 at 9:42 AM, Snook said:

How are things going with Sasha? 

Sorry Snook  I forget to check my posts sometimes 

She is doing ok... since I have had the gate up she has only done 2 accidents ... I have newspaper on the floor just for an easy clean up.

Her stools are still up and down.. ok one day but sloppy the next.

I know this post is about stools but I have noticed over the past 2 weeks her back legs are starting to go on her... she will step outside the sliding door that has a little ledge and her back legs go from under her causing her to stumble and she can’t get back up by herself.

I know I need to take her to the vet but I’m worried she won’t come home... it’s silly I know but I just want her here with me, I mean if she was unwell of course I would take her but she is still eating, drinking, loves her gentle walk ... just feeling sad today for my girl.

5 hours ago, Papillon Kisses said:

Do you think there may be an element of canine cognitive dysfunction?

I think so....  At 15 i guess it’s possible.

I will have a check up with the Vet soon and see what he says.

3 hours ago, Snook said:

That's great to hear! I hope all has been clear on the poop front since the other day. 

All clear  but that’s the normal pattern ... she will be ok for a few days and then an accident.

Its been less stressful for her and me having the gate  

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks !

I bought a baby gate with a door connecting the hallway to the lounge but Sasha didn’t want to go through the door at first.. it freaked her out.

So I rolled her ball up the hallway and in and out of the gate and after a couple of minutes she was walking through like a pro !I think also she saw Lacey walking through so she put her big pants on lol. Being a white gate it’s also stopping her from walking into the corner of the wall which is another bonus   

6 minutes ago, Snook said:

Ugh.. You poor thing. Fingers crossed there are no more poopcidents for a while! 

I guess there’s worse things to happen   I have to laugh or I will cry.

49 minutes ago, Papillon Kisses said:

Malcolm had an ironclad stomach as a youngin but developed IBD & Lymphangiectasia a couple of years ago. I can understand your vet not wanting to do diagnostics if they can be avoided, but you could treat it as a GI illness and see how she responds. So probiotics (get a special animal one not yoghurt - you want the right cultures for dogs), diet (Malcolm is on RC GI low fat, could also do a novel protein or hydrolysed protein diet trial), stress reduction if that’s a factor, and you could ask your vet about seeing if she responds to a course of metronidazole or tylan. Muscular skeletal problems also have an impact on Mal (mainly with urinating though), so you could consider a rehab vet or physio?

Today’s poo was normal.. that’s the thing, one day it’s normal and the next it’s not ... very puzzling.

I will talk to my Vet about it ... thanks

*breathe* I just went to have a shower and was only in there less than 10 minutes and I walked out wrapped in a towel and she had pooped on the slate floor...I didn’t see it as I wasn’t wearing my glasses (blind as a bat)  and I stepped in it and of course I jumped and spread it everywhere One good thing was it was normal. So clean up poop and another shower , be glad to go to work tbh   She had only been outside 30 minutes before and she was fast asleep on my bed when I went to have a shower so thought I was pretty safe  

1 hour ago, Snook said:

It's so wonderful when you see that youthful spark light up. 

 

When I had Justice on Taste of the Wild dry food, he started out great but over time, got softer and softer stools. Maybe something like that is happening with Sasha? Is it worth trying a food specifically for upset tummies or seniors? 

 

I think I might put her back on RC .... she had it  a while ago after a bad bout of tummy troubles, might grab a couple of tins today and she how she goes.

I do think your right though... her digestion probably has changed now that she is older.

I feed her Black hawk fish and potato dry food and I mix in diced beef... chicken upsets her so I don’t feed her chicken.

Yesterday was a good day... she even ended up running around like an idiot initiating play with Lacey which she doesn’t do often these days. I’m just sad because I love her so much and I don’t want to lose her  but I know it’s coming... damn the dust in my eyes !