kaos

I am so sorry for your loss Kristi. Warm hugs and sad emphathy coming at your from Ontario. It sucks how big a hole they leave in our lives, but eventually the memories fill it up nicely. Sara

You are up north right? It is still hunting season isn't it? Any chance he is hearing gun shots that you aren't picking up on? Sara

I'm so sorry Liz. I hate Cancer. Sara

Tea: i think they were joking about not mentioning it.. kinda like a sopranos answer to what do you do if a guy....?

Why a pup? Why not go for a nice young adult from rescue so that you will have a better idea of the family dynamic right off the bat? Pups are basically a crap shoot. Sara

I'm so sorry Ben, she was beautiful and had such expressive eyes and ears. Sending loving hugs from Ontario. Sara

Oh Ben, I am so sorry for you both. Give Lu lots of gentle love and I have to agree too soon is definitely better than too late. Sara

Lots of mojo coming from here. Give her lots love and treats. Sara

I am very sorry for your loss. Hugs and sympathetic thoughts coming your way. Sara

I am so sorry for your loss. The bench sounds like a wonderulf idea. Sara

Your so silly Ben.... made me giggle! Sara

Sorry to hear this, hugs from Canada. Sara

My girls used to have interbitch aggression. Kaos would redirect any of her anxiety into a rage at Sam, after lots of meds and counter conditioning we were able to get Kaos to pick up a toy and kill it when she felt anything above a sigh. However, given a choice she would always go for Sam. The only thing we could do for the past 6 years or so was to keep them completely separated. Each one in a separate floor of the house. One locked in the bathroom while the other walked by to go for a pee outside and vice versa. Not fun, but it sure helped my ulcers and their anxiety levels. Sara

Hi Linda, I was exactly where you are. I hate that I waited for her to loose the light in her eyes. I hate that I made her find that low point before I helped get her release. The pred is wonderful, enjoy the time it gives you and when you feel that she isn't having more good times than not, you will know it is time. Hugs, sara

We brought Sam in to the vet to be PTS today. She was so tired, it was good to see her sleep. I love her and will miss her so very much. Samiad Penny 1997-2009

Sammy is gone now, my heart feels so empty. I miss my best friend. Sara

Hi every one, I thought I would just update the boards on my Sammy girl. Her seizures were found to be due to hypo thyroid and after one more night of seizures, while the meds were setting in, she was fine. Then about two weeks ago, I noticed that she was still picky about her food and that her tummy area, where she normally had a fabulous tuck like a whippet, had started to enlarge a bit. No one else could see it and they all told me I was paranoid. After three days, it enlarged ALOT and she began vomiting up any thing she could eat. Our vet said it presented like pyometra, but as she is spayed that was clearly not it. Then she said it was either a) failure of an internal organ that was leaking fluids into her abdominal cavity Peritonitis (I was really hoping for this one, it actually is somewhat curable) c) a rapidly growing tumour most likely of the liver, spleen or pancreas So, after failed xrays (because the fluid wasn't clear and a TAP test that showed no cancer cells, we tried to put her on antibiotics. Sadly she was allergice to them and in the four days I tried to get her to take them she lost so much weight from vomiting that she now had the physique of a cow. All backbone, hip bones, ribs and shoulders with a large, firm bulbous tummy. Which brings us to the now, she is on heart meds to try and help her grade two murmur which she has always had, and to stop the heart from leaking fluids, if it is the heart, steroids to help her feel better and stimulate her appetite and her thyroid meds. She is now in a sort of holding pattern: she is still losing weight daily, though she can now keep her food down and is eating about 6 meals a day of straight meat and anything else that she thinks looks appetizing, and she has accidents in the house, no biggee.... carpets can be cleaned so who cares, and she sleeps a lot and breathes fast. We are just trying to enjoy whatever time she has left and to listen to her when she decides she has had enough. She is my best friend, I can't imagine life without her, but I owe her a safe and loving end. I will not let her be in any pain or discomfort and am heaping on the attention and cuddles. Sadly, Sara

Do you think they may have tried to shave him down in a silly attempt to control their son's allergies? Sara

You may want to reconsider the dynamic of having two bitches of similar ages in the house. Search inter dog aggression on these boards to see why. It might be a better choice to go with an adult male to try and avoid future problems. Sara

It is horrible when they are in such obvious distress and there is so little we can do to help them. Sending healthy vibes to Gunnar. Sara

I am so sorry for you loss. You gave her the kindest final gift you could. Sara

Hello All, We have received the blood work results and she is Hypothyroid. She is now on Eltroxin (I think) and her appetite has improved immensely and she is back to being her old self... I hadn't realized how long she had been so melancholy. Now that she is obviously feeling better she is certainly back to her old behavior. I am so very happy. The vet noted that her blood sugar level was so incredibly low that it may have caused the seizures so we are not letting her get away with not eating her food. Not that its that hard to convince her now. Thank you every one for all your help and support, I really appreciate it. Fingers crossed she doesn't seize again any time soon so we don't have to go the phenobarb route. Sara

Best Canadian mojo coming your way. Hurry up Sam! Sara

I'm so sorry for your loss. damn foxtails, there has to be a better way to detect them. Sara

Hi Every one, Thank you so much for the replies. She is my heart dog and has pulled me kicking and screaming through some very difficult times. Don't worry I wasn't writing her off, I was just terrified that she was having clusters and not recovering very fast. My MIL's dog went from one now and then to constant uncontrollable clusters...so I guess that is why my mind went to doom and gloom. We are still waiting on the blood results but my vet seems inclined to place her on phenobarb if she seizes again within a month's time. Thanks for the tip about the ice cream, I will keep some on hand in the future (have to keep it hidden from the Dh and kids) She wouldn't even lick a bit of peanut butter I tried to give her, she is a phenomenal food hound so that was a major red flag for me. I live in Ontario, Canada and am pretty sure Walmart charges a lot more for prescription fees, I will certainly check it out. I wish we could get a prescription filled at the pharmacy, Kaos (our BC mix) is on Clomipramine which at $37 dollars for 60 tablets and two tab twice a day is an expense I would love to be able to buy bulk. Why wasn't I born rich instead of beautiful? (snerk) I am really hoping that Sammy's seizures are caused by something relatively easy to fix, she has been through enough in her life (Ex research dog at the University of Guelph) ... she deserves a gentle and worry free retirement! She is finally almost back to normal, walking properly and her eyes are sentient again. She is still off her food but I am going to grab some nice meaty lamby bones for her and see if we can't tempt her hound side to dive in. Thanks for all the support, you guys are wonderful, I knew I could count on you all. Sara