Wow! LAst friday I had a HUGE test of my new abilities. My dog.... 1st dog I ever had... went blind! not slowly but within a week. Being the positive thinker I am (not!)I started thinking of all the things that could be wrong with him. As that was happening what do you think happened? Yeppers, my old unwanted friend negitive nelly came along and WHAM! anxiety attack and it was HUGE! I stated shaking, sweating, my heart pounded and pounded. I had pains I have never had before. Severe pains hard chest pains really made me feel like that heart attack was coming! It hurt like nothing I have ever felt before in my life. But just shortly after it kicked in it hit me. This is my anxiety tryiing to come back. The dirty little bastard was trying to trick me into going where i never wanted to go again. So there I am in the vet hospital feeling like "hey they people are medical doctors they should be able to save me!" So much for the worry over my furry little pal I was worried about me. After I came to the understanding that it was just negitive nelly it slowly went away. Then the vet came in said some bad things and nelly came again. This time I was ready for it and all I could see was the "Stop!"
You see, the vet DIDNT give us bad news. I was hearing what Nelly wanted me to hear. You know what else though? The vet didnt give any good news either. My dog is still very sick, still needs to have more tests done, he is still old and still blind.
Pets are family! Especially my furrball! It hit me like a ton of bricks after I got relaxed that the changes I have made, with the program and with the help of a doctor, I am now slowly reducing my meds and I was able to deal with this stress. I have had attacks with reducing my meds but nothing like this. I have eliminated one med I have cut the amount of another in third.
Folks, this program works! Use it live it love it and keep on keeping on!
Anxiety and Pets!
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Guest
Wildcard,
I am so sorry about your dog. I can relate to you. I have sick old pets too and it is very stressful. They are members of your family, and sometimes, truth be told, you actually love them more than some of your family members, because they give you unconditional love. I hope your vet gets to the bottom of the problem. Sorry I can't offer you much advice about dogs, I have only had cats. But if this vet doesn't get you some answers, do you have a vet specialty clinic in your area? I live in the 'burbs of Memphis and we have a place called MedVet that has specialists and they get the hard cases regular vets can't figure out. If your vet is still stumped, ask him about a specialty hospital or a vet college if you live close to one.
Good luck with your dog!! Hope he/she recovers soon. Please keep us posted.
I am so sorry about your dog. I can relate to you. I have sick old pets too and it is very stressful. They are members of your family, and sometimes, truth be told, you actually love them more than some of your family members, because they give you unconditional love. I hope your vet gets to the bottom of the problem. Sorry I can't offer you much advice about dogs, I have only had cats. But if this vet doesn't get you some answers, do you have a vet specialty clinic in your area? I live in the 'burbs of Memphis and we have a place called MedVet that has specialists and they get the hard cases regular vets can't figure out. If your vet is still stumped, ask him about a specialty hospital or a vet college if you live close to one.
Good luck with your dog!! Hope he/she recovers soon. Please keep us posted.
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Mon-o- this little dog of mine would NOT suprise me if he could learn to read!
Samcat,
Luckly for me I live about 45 maybe and hour from Colorado State University. They are world known for the Vet school and hospital they have. I have several co-workers that have just recently taken their dogs there. They told me that the different wings they have at the hospital would put some human hospitals to shame. Max is kind of old and I really dont know how much is too much. As long as he isnt suffering I will do what I can. After talking to the vet again yesterday we are now putting him on an antibiotic and the special diet food. She wants to see him again in two weeks to see if there are any changes in his urine. If not she wants at least an x-ray. I love that little turd more than anything, like you said, especially my in laws! I just dont know how much I can afford! I have noticed changes in him last night so I think he is starting to cope with the blindness. I just dont want to see him in pain!
Thanks guys for your input!
Samcat,
Luckly for me I live about 45 maybe and hour from Colorado State University. They are world known for the Vet school and hospital they have. I have several co-workers that have just recently taken their dogs there. They told me that the different wings they have at the hospital would put some human hospitals to shame. Max is kind of old and I really dont know how much is too much. As long as he isnt suffering I will do what I can. After talking to the vet again yesterday we are now putting him on an antibiotic and the special diet food. She wants to see him again in two weeks to see if there are any changes in his urine. If not she wants at least an x-ray. I love that little turd more than anything, like you said, especially my in laws! I just dont know how much I can afford! I have noticed changes in him last night so I think he is starting to cope with the blindness. I just dont want to see him in pain!
Thanks guys for your input!
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Guest
Thank God you live close to a great vet facility!! I know what you mean about him being old, but if he is in good health otherwise and going to the vet doesn't stress him out, then I don't see why he couldn't be tested. My oldest cat is almost 17. When I take my cats to the vets, they get terrified, but almost all the dogs are happy campers and wagging their tails and just as happy as can be. So it doesn't appear that dogs get too stressed over vet visits.
Not to be nosy, but my cats have several serious illnesses and I have spent thousands of dollars at the vets, so I am a little up on animal ailments. What does she suspect he has that she is putting him on antibiotics and changing his diet? I can't figure that one out. Sometimes, my vet says if a client cannot afford it, the vet has to do a lot of guessing. What has she tested him for in his urine that makes her think it has anyhing to do with his blindness?
Man, I wish you lived by me--I have a senior vet that is such a good diagnostician, I swear he can almost tell what is wrong with a critter just with one look. He has diagnosed wierd stuff with my one cat that other vets, even the specialists, were totally baffled by.
I hear you on the pain part--my vets have told me that cats hide their pain because it is their survival mechanism, but dogs will usually let you know if they are in pain. So you would probably know if he was in pain.
Good luck with your little buddy--I feel for both of you. Hope what the vet is trying will work of Max.
Not to be nosy, but my cats have several serious illnesses and I have spent thousands of dollars at the vets, so I am a little up on animal ailments. What does she suspect he has that she is putting him on antibiotics and changing his diet? I can't figure that one out. Sometimes, my vet says if a client cannot afford it, the vet has to do a lot of guessing. What has she tested him for in his urine that makes her think it has anyhing to do with his blindness?
Man, I wish you lived by me--I have a senior vet that is such a good diagnostician, I swear he can almost tell what is wrong with a critter just with one look. He has diagnosed wierd stuff with my one cat that other vets, even the specialists, were totally baffled by.
I hear you on the pain part--my vets have told me that cats hide their pain because it is their survival mechanism, but dogs will usually let you know if they are in pain. So you would probably know if he was in pain.
Good luck with your little buddy--I feel for both of you. Hope what the vet is trying will work of Max.
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Guest
Hey Wildcard,
Me again. I just read on webMD that if your dog goes blind, he will rely more on his sense of smell and hearing and function that way. It said not to move your furniture around and that you can walk him on a leash because you will then become his "seeing eye person". So Man of music was making a joke, but he wasn't far off on the last point. Man, I didn't know that about dogs. It is kind of amazing, but peop;e adapt to being blind--I had an uncle in his 90's who was blind and managed to vacuum his house.
Me again. I just read on webMD that if your dog goes blind, he will rely more on his sense of smell and hearing and function that way. It said not to move your furniture around and that you can walk him on a leash because you will then become his "seeing eye person". So Man of music was making a joke, but he wasn't far off on the last point. Man, I didn't know that about dogs. It is kind of amazing, but peop;e adapt to being blind--I had an uncle in his 90's who was blind and managed to vacuum his house.
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Hey Samcat,
I believe that the vet is just more concerned with the blood and low output in the urine, low output of what, I have no idea but it was one of the chemicals that gets released. She knows we are running low on funds so what she is doing is HOPING that it may just be an infection. Then after the antibiotics do the stuff they should she will recheck the urine because she is really thinking cancer. Cancer would explain why the blindness hit so fast, why there is blood in the urine and why the chemicals are messed up. Then she will do an x-ray to see what they see. She is also thinking kindney stones but some of the x-rays are pushing close to $300. So, while the antibiotics are going on we can save some $$$ for the x-ray, if needed. She really wants to do an ultrasound but, man, I cant afford that!
I believe that the vet is just more concerned with the blood and low output in the urine, low output of what, I have no idea but it was one of the chemicals that gets released. She knows we are running low on funds so what she is doing is HOPING that it may just be an infection. Then after the antibiotics do the stuff they should she will recheck the urine because she is really thinking cancer. Cancer would explain why the blindness hit so fast, why there is blood in the urine and why the chemicals are messed up. Then she will do an x-ray to see what they see. She is also thinking kindney stones but some of the x-rays are pushing close to $300. So, while the antibiotics are going on we can save some $$$ for the x-ray, if needed. She really wants to do an ultrasound but, man, I cant afford that!
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Guest
Oh bless your hearts. I was kind of thinking cancer too, but didn't want to alarm you. You can also get retinal displacement from diabetes or high blood pressure, but I guess she ruled that out. I don't think he would have blood in his urine with that. You are right, you really need an ultrasound. An x-ray isn't going to show anything with soft tissue. It sounds like the vets in your area charge a lot more than they do around the Memphis area. My vet specialist charged me $135 for a cardiac ultrasound for my cat--I thought that was pretty reasonable. Of course, she is a good kitty and didn't have to be sedated, which runs up the bill.
As for kidney stones, would that cause blindness??
Anyway, enough playing amateur vet. Most vets have to have better grades to get into vet school than you have to get into medical school, so most of them are actually smarter than our own doctors. I really hope the antibiotics work and he just has some strange infection. Just try to give him extra attention and let him know he is loved. I'll keep you in my thoughts Wildcard--this is a hard thing to go through. I have been there before and have a 17 year old cat who is terminal now. She has chronic renal failure and we have done everything humanly possible to do. We are just hoping she has one good last summer, so your family and mine are in the same crummy boat together. Our little pets are part of the family and it is hard when one of them is really sick.
As for kidney stones, would that cause blindness??
Anyway, enough playing amateur vet. Most vets have to have better grades to get into vet school than you have to get into medical school, so most of them are actually smarter than our own doctors. I really hope the antibiotics work and he just has some strange infection. Just try to give him extra attention and let him know he is loved. I'll keep you in my thoughts Wildcard--this is a hard thing to go through. I have been there before and have a 17 year old cat who is terminal now. She has chronic renal failure and we have done everything humanly possible to do. We are just hoping she has one good last summer, so your family and mine are in the same crummy boat together. Our little pets are part of the family and it is hard when one of them is really sick.
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Guest
Samcat,
We had to release Max from life today. My daughter got home from school and found him laying on the floor with blood coming from his nose and blood stained vomit on the floor. The three of us were with him during his time of passing, holding and petting him to confirm how much we loved him.
May my furry little friend rest in peace! You will be missed Max! We love you!!
We had to release Max from life today. My daughter got home from school and found him laying on the floor with blood coming from his nose and blood stained vomit on the floor. The three of us were with him during his time of passing, holding and petting him to confirm how much we loved him.
May my furry little friend rest in peace! You will be missed Max! We love you!!
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Oh Wildcard,
I am so very sorry for you, your wife and your daughter and little Max too. I really believe animals have souls and I believe Max is up in heaven right now, running around as happy as can be. When you have a pet, you realize they have enotions, they love and learn just like humans. That is why I believe they have souls and are not just "dumb animals". It is going to take you all a while--it took me five weeks with my last cat, then one day I woke up and
thought, "it isn't so bad now". My own vet has lost several dogs and he says the first three weeks are really bad, so you guys just hang in there and be easy with yourselves. Try to be extra kind with each other, expecially your dayghter.
I am glad you were with him at the end to comfort him. The best way to look at it is that you had Max to enjoy for a long time. Sending you three a big hug and my deepest condolences.
I am so very sorry for you, your wife and your daughter and little Max too. I really believe animals have souls and I believe Max is up in heaven right now, running around as happy as can be. When you have a pet, you realize they have enotions, they love and learn just like humans. That is why I believe they have souls and are not just "dumb animals". It is going to take you all a while--it took me five weeks with my last cat, then one day I woke up and
thought, "it isn't so bad now". My own vet has lost several dogs and he says the first three weeks are really bad, so you guys just hang in there and be easy with yourselves. Try to be extra kind with each other, expecially your dayghter.
I am glad you were with him at the end to comfort him. The best way to look at it is that you had Max to enjoy for a long time. Sending you three a big hug and my deepest condolences.