It's not a spray, it's an additive for their drinking water. I have not tried it yet. I use apple cider vinegar in their water and it helps.
Never buy a spray with xylitol! Sent from my iPhone On Apr 12, 2011, at 12:01 AM, Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> wrote: > Oh my gosh! How could you not love such a sweet face! No wonder you fought so > hard to save her. What a darling little lady! By all appearances in the > pictures, one would never know that she has so many health issues. > > So does that tooth spray really work? If so, can it be bought from a store? > > <Z-5067~1.GIF> > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Kari > Date: 4/12/2011 12:26:37 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > > It pays to be your pet's own advocate because they can't speak for > themselves. I've done the same and just try to do my best. Pollie had already > had two hip surgeries when I found out about her heart. And i INSISTED they > run tests on her because she was not breathing well and she would hardly > interact with me. They tried to dismiss it and i told them i was not leaving > until i knew what was wrong so they started taking xrays and found out that > her heart takes up more than 50% of her chest cavity and they'd missed it > during the first two surgeries. I'd paid for blood work to be done but they > don't routinely do xrays. I'll know from now on if i ever have a dog with > even a minor deformity to insist on xrays. I took Pollie to five different > vets before i found one who thought she'd live. All of the other vets said > she'd die because she had water on her brain. She never had water on her > brain. She had a HUGE molera and other deformities but she wasn not > hydrocephalic. Had i listed to the first vet or the 5th vet, Pollie would > have been put to sleep. I always go with my gut feeling but I do listen to my > vets and research what they say. > > I've been worried about Pollie's teeth because she's so tiny and it's so hard > to get in her mouth. Dr. Smith wanted me to try some liquid you add to their > drinking water. I flipped it over and looked on the back and guess what.... > XYLITOL. i said no, and you don't need to be selling this. It kills dogs. So > because I research, I teach them. He gave me a different one without Xylitol > and he did not charge me because i brought it to his attention. > > This is my favorite picture of Pollie in her stroller: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/karimogensen/4610310876/ > > > This is what Pollie looked like the first day I brought her home. > http://www.flickr.com/photos/karimogensen/2889907553/in/photostream > > > > > Kari and the P-Crew in Arkansas > (Piper, Pollie, Presley, Peyton and Paris) > http://www.flickr.com/photos/karimogensen/4864136189/in/set-72157625357712241 > > > --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 11:12 PM > > > Thanks Kari. I did call those two Vets that she went to and blasted off at > them, and of course would never use them again or recommend them. I paid a > lot for a full senior profile and test on her because she wasn't acting right > for a couple of months. So much for all their test, all I got was it was old > age. They are sounding more like human rip off doctors. I guess that's the > reason why I try to do so much research and educate myself as much as my > brain can handle because I really don't trust and believe everything Vets or > Doctors say anymore. I have had so much negative feedback from them through > the years it is depressing. Plus the more I hear from other people and their > experiences, it doesn't help to build my trust in them. I think our gut > feeling holds more water then their dumb test. I have learned more from other > people and doing my own research then I ever learned from a Vet. Now I tell > them what I think it is and why! > > > > > > Peggy & The Girls > > Don't Buy, Adopt & Save A Life! > > <chiDrawing3Mini1.jpg> > > "Until there are none...Rescue One" > -------Original Message------- > > From: Kari Mogensen > Date: 4/11/2011 11:54:55 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > > > Peggy, I agree with you about being on the phone calling the vet. Beth you > should consider at least calling and asking those questions. Who cares about > a remodel when Smidgen’s life is way more important! > > I’m sorry about Gidget Peggy. But that was good information to know so thank > you for sharing. Pollie carries around excess fluid but so far doesn’t take > any medication for that part of her heart problem. I try to let her do what > she wants as much as possible. I don’t send her outside when it’s cold. She > uses puppy pads. I can’t afford to get her out when it’s really windy or cold > because she gets easily congested. > > My vet here in Arkansas put the first pacemaker in a dog and the dog lived > another 7 years. It was a small dog. I need to get him to tell me the story > again. I’ve considered it for Pollie but somehow I think that’s just putting > her through too much. God only knows how much I love her. She’s rattling now, > laying on her bed. It’s like she’s always congested. I keep an electric > blanket for her so she doesn’t get too cold. she loves snuggling up in it. > > > > From: Peggy & The Girls > Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 6:54 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > > > Wow, I can't believe that they didn't keep monitoring her heart!! Not only > that, but a lot of Vets won't put a dog under even with a grade 3 murmur > because it is just to risky. Me?....I would be on the phone asking them to > look at her records and see if they actually did monitor it through the years > and just when did it jump from a 3 to a 5? And why weren't they monitoring > it? Also why didn't they tell you to put her on a strict diet when she was a > grade 3...which is a big warning sign to begin with! > > Anyway, when Gidet had a heart attack, I thought it was a seizure, because > they do the same thing. She was constantly asking for more attention and > wanted to be on my lap and she didn't seem to be able to settle down, so I > guess she knew something wasn't right. I had put her down on the floor > because I wanted to see how she really was and if she didn't start acting > more normal I was going to take her to the Vet again in the morning. Bear in > mind, I had no idea that she even had a heart murmur condition, as she was to > two different Vets within the previous couple of months and neither one said > anything was wrong with her heart. I put her down and she walked in circles > for a minute and then she started to jump all over the place and cry out with > a high pitch sound. I grabbed her up and held onto her until she stopped > jumping and threw on my coat and ran her up to the Emergency Hospital at 2am > and he immediately knew she had an heart attack. She did feel much heavier > and bloated in her stomach, a squishy feeling, blubbery type of feeling. They > kept her their for hours, while I waited. They had removed almost 3 pounds of > water from her body. They weighed her first and asked me what is her normal > weight before she started to feel like she was gaining weight. I told them > that she had always been 7 and 1/2 pounds. Well she was almost 10 that night > and was back down to 7.25 when I left with her.... all excessive fluid! Her > grade was beyond 6 when I brought her in. > > So a weight gain and that bloated feeling and breathing are all indications > as to whether she is getting worse or not. I think you should monitor her > weight every couple of days, to see if the meds are working or not. If she > gains then the meds are not working and the Vet can remove the excessive > fluid before it leads into a heart attack. Had I known all of that, the > outcome may have been different for my Gidget. > > A couple of days later she started to get that water gain again and they > switched her meds and I tried the boiled chicken and rice and Nutra-Cal to > get her appetite back. A couple of more days went by and I called the Vet and > they said that their wasn't to much more they could do and he felt she wasn't > going to make for another two weeks, unless I wanted to put her through a > heart transplant, She didn't..... a full week after the first heart attack, > she apparently had another one in the middle of the night and I found her on > the floor in the living room. She was 14 and 1/2. A lot of maltese's live to > 18 and one is on record for 21 yrs old. > > Smidgen is still young and they do have Heart Specialist for dogs. It may pay > to consult with one. They could probably tell you a lot more and may be able > to give you a better diet, alternative therapy etc. I think I would rather > pay a Specialists then a regular Vet, only because the regulars don't seem to > be qualified as to how to really explain it all and really help a dog. > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Beth Michl > Date: 4/11/2011 5:38:40 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > > Peggy, I am not sure they followed her heart in her past check ups. Just > would have the normal check ups, teeth cleaned shots, Emergencies, like when > her toes were bit off her front foot the 1st day I moved in too my house 3 > years ago. Then when she had to go in for her glands that ruptured. The only > time her heart was brought up is when she was 12wks old, and I was just told > it was a murmur. From then on nothing was ever said to me. They did do blood > work up in 05 before her teeth cleaning, but said nothing about her heart. > So this was all of a shock to me! I was just under the impression it was just > a murmur. > To my knowledge she has not had any heart attacks.. What should I watch for, > and what should I do if she does? > The vet said the pneumonia aggravated her condition, and it would have happen > whether I had brought Vida home or not at some point. > Smidgen doesn't go to many places, We use to take all the dogs with us when > we go to the river, in the summer, but she won't go any where now unless its > too the vets. But if I do have to go some where, I would rather take her then > leave her with a sitter, cause I think she would be less stressed with me > then with someone. We just won't be planning any trips for a while. > Beth > > --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 2:02 PM > > > I think it is just a coincidence that she seems worse because of the KC. KC > in itself does not make a heart worse. It's the fluid build up from the > pneumonia that made it worse. That's why in a previous post I asked if you > had a history of dates as to when her the grade was increasing. I kinda > figured you were blaming the KC and yourself. You can't do that to yourself > Beth, it is not fair for your own well being. You had no way of knowing that > Vida was harboring KC for that long before it showed up. For your own peace > of mind, why not ask the Vet for a copy of her records? Most Vets will comply > and then you can see how and when the grade level increased. > > I have a feeling that she has had the enlarged heart all along, and maybe > your Vet did not explain things as well as she should have to you all along. > I also thought that she did have an enlarged heart when you said that you > could hear the squishing sound just with your own hearing. I remember with my > Gidget the Vet said that she must be kept as quiet as possible, no excitement > at all, not even car rides because that does excite them and increases the > heart beat and thus increases the fluid build up, which increases the heart > size. It's hard, but I would think unlike my Gidget who had heart attacks, > Smidgen has not had any so maybe she has a better chance of surviving much > longer. You could always ask the Vet what her prognosis is, that way either > you will have time to prepare yourself , or it may eliminate any fears if the > Vet says the meds should make a big change in her condition and bring her > back to where she was before the pneumonia. > > You know, selling your jewelry was exactly what I did too!, twice in my life > for my dogs. Another time I borrowed on my insurance. > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Beth Michl > Date: 4/11/2011 3:58:09 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > > Hi Peggy, > Well they don't say allot about the prognosis, just more about treatment. He > put her on some medication that is suppose to make the heart work slower, and > more efficient. But the medication is also hard on her other organs. > I feel terrible, it seems this all started cause I brought home Vida.... > I went and sold all my old gold in my jewelry box, to help pay for the vet > cost.. I my chickens to start laying golden eggs real soon.. > Beth > > --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 11:54 AM > > > Sorry Beth, I know it sounds scary, but what did the Vet say her prognosis > is? It's great that she got through the pneumonia, that's a good sign. Maybe > the new meds will help the heart? > > <PEG&GI~31112.GIF> > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Beth M > Date: 4/11/2011 11:41:15 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update > > > Smidgen had her re check on Saturday. She doesn't have Pneumonia anymore, > they did an x-ray and her heart is very enlarged, rated a 5 out of a 6. I saw > the x-rays and her heart is so big it is pushing against her lungs. She is on > three medications now. Has any one else here gone through with this? > Beth > > > > > > >
