Thanks, Mare. I talked to Judy this morning and she said Mandy went on two small walks today to get her to go potty. When Mandy stays with me, I rarely walk her because it is hard on my back and/or I am ailing from something. She goes potty in my yard along with my dogs. I have spinal problems and I know that if I have to get up, I do but it doesn't really do me any good.
My Desi, although he is supposedly pure Chihuahua, has a very long and narrow body. He is a little taller than Dolly, but when I put my hand around their hips, he is about half as wide. I do worry sometimes that he may be part mini doxie and have back problems himself. He is a little monkey and I don't know if that helps to keep his spine flexible and maybe more likely to not have problems, or if it adds to it. My vet says he thinks that he is all Chihuahua. I guess it doesn't matter as long as I usually know when something is wrong with Dolly or Desi and I would get him to the vet very quickly. Both of mine are in an ex-pen when I go out, and I can make it so much smaller by bending some of the panels inward.if one of mine was supposed to be confined, they would. Hopefully the spine specialist will call Judy on Monday and she can get her in for an exam. A spine specialist may stress the importance more than our vet.and Mandy had the double shot a few days ago and therefore she has the initial boost quicker, but I do worry about her walking - I know on the human level what it is like. Dogs use their instincts to not let other animals know there is something wrong or they become easy prey. It took almost a month of me taking Dolly to the vet when she was shaking so bad for them to even figure out it was her knee.she was put on the floor to walk at each visit and she walked just fine. We went down the low blood sugar line of thought, we tried pain meds for a couple of days to only have her shaking about two hours past when she should have had more. Finally, Dolly was standing on the exam table facing me and the lady vet was asking questions and just saw Dolly's knee pushed a little outward and every time that she gently moved it back it would pop back out again. Her knee was so bad and she would walk like nothing was wrong, but the pain got her shaking and that is how I knew something was wrong. Judy is supposed to go to Chicago on the 12th to visit her son, and was going to leave Mandy at the Animal Hospital to be boarded. I told her that I could watch her, and she was concerned that I wouldn't be feeling well enough after my surgery. I can do it if Mandy is pretty well when she comes and I will keep her contained, but if she is already having problems, I can't get her into my car. I have a Honda Odyssey and it took me and Judy - with Dolly & Desi's stairs to get up on the bed - to get Mandy into Judy's Saturn (very low car) and she was screeching in pain. So, if she isn't doing good, I would be afraid if she got worse and I wouldn't be able to get her to the vet. We will have to see.I think it is only about a week from now. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mare Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 9:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: Difficult dog week Sure hoping little Mandy gets better and has a full recovery. I raise Mini Dachshunds and they are well known for thier back problems. That crate rest is a necessity absolutely ! Hugs,Mare~ --- In [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> , Joan Croft <joan_croft@...> wrote: > > Thank you. > > I just got home from my pain management doctor appt a little while ago. I > called Judy to see how Mandy is doing and she said she is a little more > alert than yesterday.of course because the vet gave her a double dose shot, > which may have meant that she was worse yesterday than the last time. She > was laying on the rug by the door with the breeze blowing in and she said > she is still walking very gingerly. The spine specialist hasn't called her > yet. I did tell her about your earlier email and she was a bit surprised > that Monster had to be confined to the kennel for so long. I told her that > your vet said it was imperative for him. I asked her if the vet said > anything about degenerative disk disease and she said no. I think it will > be the spine specialist that will deliver the message about just how much > she needs to be confined. I think I was reading from your email about > Monster's instructions to her on the phone. > > When I had her around the 15th or so of May, I did keep her inside the > ex-pen except for her to go out potty. She didn't go bouncing outside here, > and it was only when I got her back to her house that the bouncing began. > She has two separate behaviors for two separate homes. She always goes out > in my yard and investigates and sometimes lays down in the sun. She won't > do that at home.no one out there with her, she wants to come in. She was so > good at my house and then the minute she got in hers she was bouncing all > around and then Judy's husband took her across the street to get the mail > and she was bouncing all along again. I think that was maybe 8 days after > the first injury. I think they got back on May 16th, and now on June 2nd > she is all in pain again. > > I am praying for her.I am hoping that the spine surgeon can determine what > the problem is and let Judy know what she needs to do for Mandy to recover. > The vet did say something yesterday about always keeping her on the Rimadyl. > > I am glad that Monster is doing so well. I think if something like that > happened to Dolly or Desi they would be easier to confine because they have > a very small area whenever I go out.keeping them in there during the day > would not be a huge change to them. I can even make their areas smaller > just by the way that I let the panel joints go. > > > > From: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> ] On > Behalf Of lgorum18@... > Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 12:50 PM > To: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > With any spine problem, even if its not disk disease, the dog needs to be > confined so it can heal. Even when she starts to feel better, she still > needs to be confined because it takes 6 to 8 weeks for complete recovery. If > she starts jumping around, she can make it worse and keep it from healing. > So, when Mandy started feeling better after the last attack and then started > jumping again, she just re injured it because it didn't have time to heal > all the way. Monster was a jumper and since he was diagnosed, we have had to > teach him not to jump so that he doesn't trigger another attack. We've had > to change a lot around here for him and at first it was hard because I felt > that he wasn't gonna be happy but dogs adapt and he is as happy as he was > before even with all the changes. If we hadn't made the changes, Monsters > quality of life would be low. So, even if Mandy doesn't have disk disease, I > would strongly recommend to your friend to keep her confined so they don't > risk more damage and when they find out what is wrong they will be able to > help her. Not even walks, just outside to go potty. Tell her this could keep > her from being paralyzed. If she does end up paralyzed, she can still > recover with crate rest, meds, or surgery. Never consider putting down > before trying these things. Get 2nd or 3rd opinions if she's not sure. I > know Judy has to make the decision, but please pass this info on to her. It > is very important to me and everyone at dodgers list to pass on this info to > help dogs recover and to prevent people from putting down dogs too early. > Please tell her to ask the vet or specialist about this and also go to > dodgerslist.com. I will be praying for Mandy. > > Lorena > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > _____ > > From: Joan Croft <joan_croft@...> > > Sender: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 12:12:34 -0700 > > To: <[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > > ReplyTo: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > Thank you Lorena. > > I don't think that he mentioned disk disease a few weeks ago when the first > big attack happened. I think Judy said yesterday that the vet mentioned a > disk.not sure if she said herniated or bulging. But, I didn't hear her say > that the first time. Mandy is a terrier and that makes her a jumper. The > first few days last time she did spend most of her time sleeping, and then I > watched her while they went to visit some relatives. I had taken Desi to > the vet for his butt rash and told the vet that I was going to have her at > my house and put her in the x-pen that I usually put across the doorway for > Desi when I am gone. I told him how Desi & Mandy love to wrestle. I also > told him that Judy said she was doing better but had also told me that Mandy > might have a good day or two but that would be the result of the shot and > then she would probably slip back a little. I had her confined when I went > out, and when I was home, I had her fully closed in if Desi was in the > house, and then if Desi was outside, I let Mandy walk around the house. By > the time Judy came back Mandy was dancing all the way home and Tony took her > out to get the mail and she was pretty much bouncing then too. She was > supposed to be kept quiet but she loves to walk, and maybe the walk that the > vet said was just to get her to go potty, but Judy might have have false > confidence and she got walked a little bit further than she really should > have. > > Judy and Tony are going to visit their family in Chicago on the 12th. She > made reservations for Mandy to stay at the animal hospital to be boarded > because she didn't want to put undue stress on me. I am doing pretty well, > and if Mandy comes over I will keep her on low activity because I know about > spine problems. If Judy lets her stay at the animal hospital boarding I > know that the vet will be checking on her, but she would be on the concrete > floor, they can't put her higher because she screeches when touched. So, I > told Judy that she isn't going to be a burden on me.we had a very good > arrangement last time, and I can't walk too far so if Mandy doesn't poop in > my back yard, a very short walk is all that she can get out of me. She can > have a comfy bed and be with me and my little ones. Desi and Mandy kissed > through the bars last time, but there was no playing with each other. I > told Judy she had to weigh the pros and cons in her mind and that if she > wanted her to stay with me there would be no problem. But, if it was Dolly > or Desi, I would be thinking of the vet being there in case of a problem as > a positive for being boarded and I think that another week might help Judy > to decide what she thinks is best. > > I know that Monster is doing better and he was confined, and even at Judy's > house Mandy is not confined she can get up and walk around and then as she > got better she would start to jump to get a treat or something. Judy has to > make the decision, I just let her know that I am open to keeping her here. > > I have to tell you that Judy has, and would again, take loans against her > retirement or put it on her credit card to pay for surgery for Mandy. I > don't think that putting her down would be an option for them unless she was > paralyzed and couldn't move. It would have to be a severe case of realizing > that Mandy was in so much pain and it would be the only humane thing to do, > before Mandy would be put down. > > From: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> ] On > Behalf Of lgorum18@... > Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 11:10 AM > To: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > Did the vet mention anything about disk disease? Monster was diagnosed with > it a couple months ago. One day he started yelping when I picked him up. The > vet did xrays and found a bulging disk. Disk disease cause disks to > degenerate faster than normal and dogs usually show signs between 3 and 7 > years old. The disk can bulge or herniate causing a lot of pain and > sometimes paralysis. This is very treatable! Either by conservative > treatment (crate rest) or surgery (if severely paralyzed and caught in > time). A lot of time is needed for recovery but if strict about it, most > dogs recover fully. Some vets don't know enough about this disease and dogs > are put down when they shouldn't have been. You may tell your friend to ask > about it and if her vet or the specialist doesn't know much about it or says > anything about putting her down because of it, find a vet that knows about > it and all the options. A great site to visit is www.dodgerslist.com. It > explains every thing about disk disease. Let me know what happens. I hope > this helps! > > Lorena > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > _____ > > From: Joan Croft <joan_croft@...> > > Sender: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 00:44:29 -0700 > > To: <[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > > ReplyTo: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > I talked to Judy and he told her that it is her spine and that there may be > a herniated disk. Our vet is going to contact the spine specialist vet. > Our vet said that Mandy may need to stay on the Rimadyl and Tramadol from > now on. That is actually consistent with what Carmen was saying, except > Carmen was talking long term that Mandy would have to be put down. I am > hoping that the specialist can give her a better prognosis. Carmen said the > original injury was from her previous owner tying her out and her pulling > constantly to get away. I don't know if that means that she was on a very > short rope or what. Now, with me having back injuries, I do know that > sometimes people hurt their backs by doing repetitive things and then it is > the last straw that gives them the pain that starts the problems and then I > also know that with the spine many injuries are degenerative, so the older > she gets, the more she will have problems. She is only about five years old > based on however the shelters figure it. Judy didn't have any problems with > her until this past Mothers' Day. Mandy means everything to Judy & Tony - > and me too. I want her to get well so much, but the vet saying she will > have to stay on the meds all the time is really not a very good sign. > > > > From: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> ] On > Behalf Of lgorum18@... > Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 9:34 PM > To: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > What did the vet say was wrong with Mandy? > > Lorena > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > _____ > > From: Joan Croft <joan_croft@...> > > Sender: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 20:47:04 -0700 > > To: <[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > > ReplyTo: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > > Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > Not all heart murmurs are a serious issue. I wouldn't be able to listen to > Dolly & Desi and know a murmur if I had too.LOL > > I am sorry about the seizures. I don't know too much about that, I just > know that my sister's dog was on Phenobarbital all the years that she owned > him. So, I don't really think he had any more seizures because of the meds. > > This week Dolly has really been trying my patience. She can communicate > with my Mom's spirit, and per my friend, her spirit is with my Sister's > family (the one that passed away on Tuesday). I am willing to share, but > Dolly just doesn't know what is going on beyond the knowledge that something > is not right. I see both her and Desi looking up into the air and sniffing, > sniffing, sniffing. I don't think that I ever saw signs of Desi doing that > before, so maybe he just knew she was there and is trying to locate her. I > had also thought earlier today that maybe my sister's spirit had been her > for a while because of the degree of anxiety in Dolly & Desi. I did talk to > my friend with 'the gift' and she heard Dolly acting up and a little while > later Dolly calmed down a lot. I had given her some of the calming gel, but > if that is what helped her it took a couple of hours. Once they were both > calm, and I was dead tired, we laid down and they both are acting pretty > normal right now. I hope that it lasts because I don't think my brain is > healed enough to be able to listen to their stressful barking and try to do > what I need to do as far as medications and playing computer games to help > my brain to heal. No computer games yet.was tired, then slept, now I feel > more tired than before..I hate when that happens. > > Also, my neighbor, Judy, who is Mandy's mom, called me about 2 pm because > Mandy was screeching in pain again. She couldn't get her into the car to > take her to the vet, so I brought Dolly & Desi's stairs that they use to get > up in the bed. Using treats to lure her, she got the hang of getting up the > three stairs.and Judy said she did better going up them when they left the > vet. The vet gave her a double strength injection and is going to try to > get an appointment - Monday at the latest with the canine spine specialist > in the area. My friend Carmen told me that it isn't good and that she will > not ever really get over this and ultimately need to be put down. I want to > prove Carmen wrong with this one. Mandy means so much to Judy and Tony - > and me and Dolly & Desi, too. So, prayers are really needed for her. She > is such a sweet dog and it makes me almost cry to see her like this. > > Thank you everyone! > > Joan > > > > From: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> ] On > Behalf Of flopo > Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 8:22 PM > To: [email protected] <mailto:Chihuahuas%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Difficult dog week > > > > > > > > > > > Well one of our older dogs, Zero, (part shepherd, part pit, part lab and who > knows what else), had a seizure a couple of days ago. He's about 9 and has > never had a seizure. It was a grand mal and lasted about two minutes, > proceeded by a brief bout of vomiting. He had been in the house all > morning, so I don't think he got into anything. Within about three minutes > he had returned to normal and has been okay ever since. We'll keep a close > eye on him and see what happens. All appears to be well at this time. Then > I took my little ones in today for their first rabies shot. They aren't > required here, but if I want to take them with me into the States, they have > to have them. Well first of all they don't use the smaller doses for > smaller dogs, that didn't make me happy, then they told me since it WAs > their first rabies shot, it was only good for one year. After that, the > shots are good for three years. Then when the vet was examining Bruiser, he > asked me if she coughed much, ( I figured he heard a heart murmur, which he > did). She has those backwards sneezes, and coughs if she barks are growls a > lot, but I wouldn't say she coughs very much at all. So all afternoon I've > been trying to hear the murmur for myself, and I can't. > > > > What a day. Or should I say week! > > > > Pam > > > > > > > > > > > <mailto:xiaonath@...> >
