I think my dog is dying - Page 6

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Glad to hear he's doing better.
Nothing worse than having a family member ill...

targa911S · 11-12-2006, 01:28 PM

Hi all,

Today's update. I think we are close to being over the infection. He has been eating and drinking and keeping everything down. The next phase of recovery may be getting him back on his feet. As I mentioned before he has really bad knees due to his age and the fact that he had TPLO surgery at an early age. Even before this incident he was a bit unstable even on good days. With him being as sick as he has been, he has fallen spread eagle a bunch of times so I'm sure he has injured himself again. He can't walk more than about 10 ft at a time then just lays down. He looks good, bright eyes and so but I do think by the end of the week with a lot of rest, we need to get him walking again as therapy.

targa911S · 11-12-2006, 03:36 PM

Not since we moved from Florida, but Ihave his hind quarters wrapped in a heating pad tonight.

KFC911 · 11-13-2006, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
Hi all,

Today's update. I think we are close to being over the infection. He has been eating and drinking and keeping everything down.... .

Oh Yeah!

JCF · 11-13-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
Not since we moved from Florida, but Ihave his hind quarters wrapped in a heating pad tonight.

I might have to try that one myself.
Great to hear H is doing better.
Let the spoiling begin.

Don Ro · 11-13-2006, 01:24 PM

If I happen to come back as a pup, I want one of the folks on this thread to show up.

Good to hear that Big H is improving.

Dad needs a break/long snooze, eh?

targa911S · 11-13-2006, 02:21 PM

I would be happy with 8 hrs. of sleep! Today he is about the same. A bit stronger on his legs and eating well. He gets to sleep all day! I probably won't make it through the game tonight! It is good to see him more himself. TT the vet today and gave her my take on him hurting his knees again and my starting to work him on walking again when he gets back to his own fighting weight. She agreed and thought pain managemnet would help. I told her no to anything that wasn't homeopathic, she agreed. I like this vet ..she's a keeper.

tabs · 11-13-2006, 03:12 PM

A 100lb Airdale is too much weigh for the Breed. I don't get why they developed the Oorangs..The Flintkots at 75 lbs are big enough. My girl at 62 lbs is still quick on her feet and agile as all get out at 11 1/2 years, even though her fur is turning gray.

In her prime she could keep up with a Whippet, and was quicker than many a Rat. A totally fierce dog, that won't lay down for nobody or nothin.

Yet in the middle of a fight with her, I say "ouch!" and she will stop and lick my nose before going back to war. Airdales are awesome dogs...

targa911S · 11-13-2006, 03:22 PM

Absolutely right Tabs. On all accounts. I can tell you he don't weigh 1oo lbs. now. But even with the weight off he just a huge animal.....errrr... big boned.

tabs · 11-13-2006, 03:44 PM

My Big Boy George..was 119lb and over time I got him down to around a 100lb..he had such a hard time getting up, he had NO MUSCLE TONE in his Back Legs, having been kept in an apartment for the first 8 years of his life with no backyard or park priveledges. When I got him he could barely walk. Sometimes on the tile he would slip and couldn't get himself up. Finally towards the end I noticed that he wasn't getting up anymore to join my girl barking at stuff in the backyard, and he would get up and head to the door pooping along the way, it was like a trail of Breadcrumbs. I could never get mad at him cause he was trying, but it was fustrating. I had some tests done and they didn't find any Hip displacement or Arthritis. The main thing I did with George is give him a place in my home and make sure that he felt like he was wanted. I just got the feeling he was a happy Boy with me.

Now my Girl will still literally jump to her feet when she hears anything out back, and here in LV there isn't much for he to do, so she has lost some of that quickness. As long as I see that she prances away with the Milkbones I give her in the mornining I know she is OK.

arcsine · 04:03 PM

Having just put down one of my great danes a couple of weeks ago, I know what you are feeling. I wish you and the pup best of luck targa911s.

tabs · 11-13-2006, 04:00 PM

George passed on July 17, 06...I think a combination of heat and his infirmities got to him. He was 11 3/4 years old.

Don Ro · 11-13-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
She agreed and thought pain managemnet would help. I told her no to anything that wasn't homeopathic, she agreed. I like this vet ..she's a keeper.

Homeo...sounds good. Does she do any acupuncture/deep massage/joint work?

My g/f, the Chiropractic Physician...oops, the BS'n rip-off artist, Willy's BBQ proprietor wannabe, back-blastin', dent-pullin' & bondo-slappin', laxative-prescribin' gypsy,

is also a Board Certified/Licensed Acupuncturist. She has had great results with her older dogs using Acupuncture ...along with joint, muscle, deep tissue work those low-life, scumbag, Chiro-frauds sell.

BTW, be interesting to hear what she thinks of Rimadyl.

notfarnow · 06:29 AM

How's he doin today?

I've been following, and it's nice to see one of these dog threads seems to be taking a turn for the better. It was awful sad to read about tab's and coolchick's dogs this summer.

I had a bad scare with Chance (our ~10 year old beagle) last week. He got kicked off the bed in the middle of the night because he was snoring and keeping us awake. Put him in the dog bed on the floor. In the morning, he couldn't stand up... kept falling over. As we went through our regular morning routine, he seemed to improve a bit so we thought he may have just had his leg asleep. We decided we'd wait and see how he was doing after work.

Well, at work the more I thought about it the more I got concerned. Called the vet, they told me to bring him in ASAP. I brushed off a day's worth of meeting and raced home. By the time I pulled into the yard, I had pretty much written his eulogy and decided where to bury him. I open the door, and he's doing pirouettes because he thinks he's gonna get fed early. He was A-1. Took him to the vet anyway, who said he has arthritis and the floor may have been to cold for him.

He had chips for supper that night, and has slept on the bed ever since.

Anyway, hope Henry is feeling better this morning... He sure has a lot of folks thinking about him.

targa911S · 11-14-2006, 08:47 AM

Hi all. Yes he sure does, and we all appreciate everyones thoughts and wishes. Went to the vets today after a long night. He had me up at 1, 3 & 5 a.m flopping around wanting to go out. He walked me way back in the woods at 3 a.m. It was kinda spooky, and me towel walking him while asleep just seemed surreal. Today we went to the vets and we were both pleased. No nerve damage and he was alert and even barked and wagged for her. I think he was showing off. She said he still is a bit infected and that he is pretty banged up and sore from all the falls and laying around. Continue the meds, and keep towel walking him. I think I may try a disposable diaper on him tonite as he still has accidents in his sleep. I will post embarassing pictures of him later. Back home and I think we both will nap today. Him all day, me for an hour, as I have 3 customer shotguns to do the wood and metal on. Gotta pay those vet bills!

rouxroux · 11-14-2006, 08:59 AM

Thanks for the update! Rest up (both of you)...Our thoughts, prayers & gris-gris your way!

tabs · 11-14-2006, 09:43 AM

He got the look of someone whose bin through an ordeal.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

keep fightin', boy!!