new from europe (arthritis and vetoryl?) - Ian, Flynn and Enya have passed

yes patti, dogs are less sensitive to valium as humans.
and you are right about giving it to her before she gets into panic mode.
2 mg is peanuts, so i do not think it will be enough, but it will not harm her. do you have enough pills in case you need more when there will be a severe storm?
you can give her 2 mg before she goes into the closet tonight [if she goes] and find out how she will react.
dogs can handle a very high dosage and it is out of their body in no time.
that is aparantly a dog metabolism thing.
stesolid is a rectiole and works faster because it is "'liquid"' and has to be put in her anal region . in case you need it asap.
there is a lot of experience with it on the epilepsy [dogs] forum i am still on because i had a dog with this disease.
i once had a grown blind man as a client who used the same amount of diazepam [when having an attack] as my 10 kg dog.......weird!
but i hope these storms will pass you.
yes i hope we will enjoy the weekend despite of the tropical temp.
hope you will finally get an apointment soon at the pain clinic!

Iris:
I have a feeling that she will need a larger dose. It is good to start this way in case she is allergic, and she can be real sensitive to meds so I guess we will see Sunday as that is the next storm coming. It is cooler here in the 40s last nite and Tipper loves it this way. It is so much easier on the dogs than the heat and humidity. I am tired from all these appointments already. I am calling to see if I can track down my referral to the pain clinic yet? Good thing I ws on the heating pad a lot last nite it took the edge off of this darn pain. I am sending some cooler weather and lower humidity your way so the babies will feel better, I will skip the storms!! Blessings
Patti

unbelievable that the pain clinic is soooo slow with the paperwork!!
is the heating pad the one that you can put into the micro wave?
at least this helps a bit, but an appointment at this clinic is what you really need....
no chance of any cooler weather overhere for the next week. bleeh!
the weather is off like in your area.
hope the storm will forget to touch your area!
sleep well!

Iris:
Oh no not a heat wave over there too! The dogs will have to get in water to cool off. I hope Ian can get thru it. It is a shame the heat is so bad on cush dogs. That pain clinic is giving me a pain excuse the pun, but I am sick of it already. On Monday they will hear one irate person if they don't have an appointment for me. I use an electric heating pad, usually when I go to bed I watch some tv and lay on it for a while. If it is bad during the day I lay on it or rub it with muscle cream that gets hot. It is starting to go into my shoulder now. I am taking an easy day today, as I am not feeling real great this morning. All of your fruit trees etc. must be getting ready to bear fruit over there?? A lot of my plants have still not come out yet from such cold weather this year. Blessings
Patti

do you think your plants are still alive?
or are they frozen?
they already sell strawberries, blueberries and cherries in the orchards.
then come the prunes and after that apples and pears.
it is only walking distance for me.
i will ask my aunt to make some photographs of the dogs this weekend, so i can post them.
back monday night, so i am without internet till then.
my aunt lives close to the sea, so i hope it is not too hot overthere.
i would make it a lazy weekend if i were you with all this pain, and i hope you will find a nice and understanding person on the phone next monday. [wishful thinking?????/i hope not!]

Iris:
I am glad you are off for a weekend of relaxation. That will be great to get some pictures of the doggies. The sea near your aunts sounds wonderful, do you swim in it? I hope you just do nothing but rest and let your aunt be the hostess. I think you said last time she cooked for you both, that sounds like a good holiday having someone else cook for you!! I will be waiting for the pain clinic to open Monday and call them. I am having to do some cleaning and laundry and I do not feel like it at all. Blessings
Patti

so, we are back and the weather is still VERY hot and humid.
only lots of shorter walks for now.
my aunt was a bit moody and not feeling well because of the heat, so i did a lot of the housework and worked in the garden.
ian is doing well considering the weather, but i hope the temp. will drop soon.
i forgot to buy new catfood cans so ian had trouble taking his pills.
i used peanut butter and hope they are in.
had a funeral of one of my clients today, so i have to find new clients.
hope you will hear from the pain clinic SOON!

Iris:
Sorry to hear your aunt was not well, but that was so nice you pitched in and helped her even though you needed a rest. Hope it is nothing too much. I have been wondering if Ian was having a bad time from the heat. It just makes it so miserable for them. We are in for bad weather this afternoon so I need to time these meds just right like the last time.It is dark out now, but nothing going on. We went to the vets and got bp this morning and I am thankful it was good. I am resting today as I worked hard yesterday and I am still not feeling well. I hope it cools down over there for you all, and that Ian did not spit the pill out of the peanut utter. Blessings
Patti

hi patti, heared from the pain clinic yet? i hope so!
ian is doing pretty well. i am surprised. it was very hot after all.
we went to the river for an hour.
enya loves to swim, ian keeps his feet on the ground in the water, but it cools him down walking through it.
the temp. will be better in the weekend. [i hope they are right about it]
i hope the bad weather will pass you, but great that tipper's bp was ok.
do you have enough valium in the house in case the storms will be bad?
one short walk and then off to bed.

Iris:
My Dr.'s office left me a message yesterday and said that my referral is at the pain clinic it was all sent over. I will give the pain clinic one day to call me, then I will be calling them. I am so glad that Ian has the river to go into to cool off. That is funny how Enya swims and Ian walks on the bottom. Maybe too much energy exerted to swim?? Tipper would have loves a river to go in, she would have had a ball. I don't let her do too many things that excite her anymore because of her heart. It is mostly calm things like walking, playing ball, blowing bubbles for her, she loves them. It is early morning here at it looks like nite it is so dark out. We await yet another storm!! Blessings
Patti

ian never was a swimmer, his mom and sister and some other siblings love it.
his father did not swim too.
yes i love the river and so do the dogs.
really hope that everything is clear now with the pain clinic paperwork!
and that you don't have to wait too long for an appointment.
you must be sick and tired of all those storms..........

Iris:
The phone needs to ring today from the pain clinic or I will be calling as I know for sure they have everything they need. Tipper and Toby have walked, but it is so humid. I had a hard time breathing and Tipper has to go slow because of her heart. We are to get yet another storm this afternoon with heavy rain and it is bringing in a cold front which Tipper will love. I hope you do not have this humidity and maybe get some of this cooler weather for Ian. How did the peanut butter work, did he spit the pill? I guess you are searching for another client to work for? I hope you find someone soon. It must be hard when they pass away after getting to know them on a personal level?? Blessings
Patti

hi patti, i worked for 6 years with the last client.
it is difficult every time one dies.
maybe one day i will inherit a millione.....................
i would be very angry too if this pain clinic will not call you today. [did they?]
it is still hot and they say the temp. will drop since last tuesday, but so far not really.
we could do with some of your rain.
i did not find a pill, but i bought the cat tins again, so no more sticky peanut butter everywhere.
the dogs are less hungry because of the heat so ian is less eager to eat the pill treat, but i managed today.
even the big fish oil pill.

Cat food must be Ian's favorite if you can get the pill down him using it.

Oh that is sad when you lose people that you see so often. Hits harder. :(

Started out day out humid and unbreathable so hot, then the air did a bit switch and now it's cool, even chilly. brrr

looking forward to the weekend!
Sharlene and molly muffin

Hi Iris:
I sure wish you had the cool air we have this morning. Some places went down into the 40's last nite. It is very cool here and the dogs loved it they have already walked once. I hope it stays like this for a while it is Tipper's favorite temps. I am making some food today so I don't have to mess with things over the weekend. I am just not feeling up to par. I was awake more than I slept last nite. I may take the dogs to see the llamas today after I finish this food. This is my least favorite weekend of the year. I hate the fact that my dad is gone. I miss him more than ever, and could use his moral support now. It is hard when everyone is celebrating fathers day. It would be very hard indeed to work with someone for six years and have them pass. You have a hard job dealing with all this. Hope the babies are well and Ian is tearing into the cat food! Blessings
Patti

it was a bit cooler today and windy, so not too bad.
today i helped moving all the things out from my client's house.
the daughters rented a garbage dumpster and throw away a lot.
i told them to donate it to "'the poor"' and second hand shops.
but they are in a hurry.
so i stuffed my van with kitchen stuff and linnen/clothes etc. and brought it to someone i know will donate it to elderly people who need it.
we are not ready yet, so i will try to safe more stuff.
they gave me some new packages of bed linnen for myself and they are paying me for all my help.
i am trying to order ian's catfood cans online because the single [tiny] cans in the supermarket are .50 euro each. they are more of a snack size can for cats.
@sharlene please send some chilly weather overhere, then i will sent some hot weather to your area......
and a kiss from ian for tipper and molly.

Hi Iris:
It is cooler here this morning, but is to heat up to 84 degrees by afternoon. Tipper and Toby had a good day yesterday and have walked this morning already. Lots of dew on the grass here. The mosquitoes in the states have some kind of new disease they are passing to people that makes you really sick, it is coming from out of the country to here I believe. I try to not go out too early in the morning, and keep everyone in at dusk as that is prime time for them here. Do you have a lot of them over there? That was nice of the family to give you some linens and that you have some things for the poor. I was awake a lot last nite, I could not shut my mind off for some reason it just kept going so I am not well rested today. I am so happy that your weather is cooler, as Ian will feel better. Do you have to pay shipping when you order the cat food online? I hope Ian does not start to MEOW!! Tipper said to give Ian a big kiss from her. Blessings
Patti

hi patti, lots of mosquitoes too here and indeed at dawn and dusk they are active.
have screens everywhere in the house at the windows and backdoor.
they do not carry any ugly diseases as far as i know in my country.
i do not have to pay shipping if i order 30 euro or more.
i buy natural snacks for the dogs and canfood for the cat and ian and some food for my fish and it is already 30 euro+.
the small chicken/fish rolls are still favorite.
meowing ian is cute..........and thanks for the kiss tipper!
and not being able to shut the mind off.......i know everything about it.
so much to worry about......
maybe you can take a nap during the day, just as the dogs are doing....
hope you can make an appointment with the pain clinic tomorrow!

Iris:
Well I am staying away from the mosquitoes here as Tipper and I both need no more issues. I am waiting for the pain clinic to open up and call them. Tipper slept in the closet again last nite, it has become her go to spot to sleep now. I don't feel like even doing anything today, but the show must go on. I only order things that have no shipping on them too. I hate paying shipping, such a waste and so expensive. I love the places that try to make you order more by offering free shipping with so much of a purchase! WE are to have storms for 7 days straight. I don't think I have ever known a time like this before with so many storms. Poor Tipper she will be all out of sorts. Tipper has appointments Tuesday and Wednesday so I will be running her all over. Are you done moving things out of that clients house? Are they going to sell the house? It would be nice if one of your elderly clients left you a bundle and a house!!! Hope you and the babies have a good day and it's not too hot for Ian. Blessings
Patti

an other cooler day.
we loved it.
ian has found a football in the streets and was so happy with it.
i let him keep it.
it is flat now, but i will buy him a new one for cooler days.
the house of my client is not nearly empty, because it was full of furniture.
e.g. she "collected"' closets and stuffed them with everything.
a collegue of mine and i are going to clean the storage closets with food, soap, bathroom stuff etc. and we are allowed to keep it!
lots of toilet paper too! [and candy mmmm].
the house was a rental house, so it has to be empty and clean before july 1. [or pay for another month]
lots of work for all of us, but it means some extra money!
o, and i forgot that there is a basement too............stuffed with..............??
have a safe trip next days!

Iris:
Today is going to be miserable for the doggies and myself. High temps and humidity is really high. I am so disgusted with that pain clinic, but what can you do, it is what it is. I am glad you are getting some extra money, and some things that will make it easier on you having to buy things. There could be treasure in the basement!! I truly hope you get some usable stuff. I just love the dogs that are merle. They are so pretty, or should I say handsome in Ian's case?? It is not even 8am and my elderly neighbor is ringing the phone already! I guess I better see what he wants. Blessings
Patti

Hi Iris! Some of your people there sound like ours here. Seemingly unconcerned somehow. I was totally surprised when these people actually though instead of throwing everything away (in a hurry) they have auctions and sell everything their families had. Me on the other hand....gave to people who needed it....but I kept everything of value. Maybe, I'm a hoarder afterall. :)

I know it has to be hard after caring for someone for that long, to lose them! I get really attached to some people.

Yikes...I started this 3 days ago. :( All is fine here..HOT in the 90's. Eli and I have just been laying around doing a lot of nothing. :D

I hope you and the babies are doing OK. How's Ian doing?

Oh! Good that you'll be getting some extra money to have. That's always good! Like Patty said you just might find a treasure somewhere in there!! :D You'd be surprised what is valuable! ;)

yes, the money is very welcome. lots of bills to pay for.
no treasure yet from the basement.......
those children are in such a hurry, so there is not enough time to really sort things out.
who knows what they are throwing away??
but i do have a crate of food, and found some sharp scissors i could use.
and some old books about nature.
we [collegue and i] called a second hand shop to come and have a look and they took a lot of furniture and the rest of the books.
salvation army took the clothes. i am glad we organised this.
after this we have to clean the house...............
ian is doing fine with the cooler weather.
hope the temp. will drop in your area and no blizzards, hurricanes or tornado's! keep safe!

Iris:
It is such a shame when people are rushed and have to throw out good things some poor person could use, just such waste. Hope you are able to save some stuff in the basement for whoever could use it. We were at the vets all morning going over Tipper's operation. Itnstormed so bad on the way there the roads were like lakes, and he got to see Tipper being terrified so that was a good thing in a way. She is napping from a bad morning. The sun is out now, but not for long. Hope you don't have this horrible humidity, Ian would hate our weather. Is you aunt feeling better now? Do you plant a garden? I love veggies and they are so expensive here. Blessings
Patti

they even threw away the tv...........not a flatscreen, but it worked fine and would have made someone happy...
my garden is a sort of wilderness, no time to do much work in it.
but there are wild flowers [lots of hollyhock and lavender] and 2 mini ponds with frogs...
on the terrace there are pots with some herbs, tomatoes, fuchsia etc.
i keep them over in the winter, never have to buy new ones.
veggies are pretty cheap overhere and you can buy them straight from the farmers who have little stalls outside with free range eggs and fruit and veggies etc.
it is still rather cool overhere but dry.
we could use some rain.
hope you and your animals won't need an ark......

Iris:
Too bad about the TV. Someone could have used it! Still hoping you find a treasure. That sounds like you will have a lot of cleaning to do. It will get you extra money until you get another client though. Your garden sounds like mine, I haven't done too much this year because of Tipper and these storms I cannot take her out with me when it is too hot for her either and I stay with her continually. So forget the garden this year. It is still raining. It thundered all nite and Tipper stayed in the closet. I did not medicate her as it was just low rumbles and not the cracks like when lightening strikes something. She did well, no panic and no running in or out of the closet. Hope your temperatures stay cool for Ian. He seems to be plugging right along with the Vetoryl and doing well. Maybe you caught him earlier than Flynn? Maybe he can just deal with it better, who knows. I have to take Elvis my parrot to the traveling vet tonite so I hope this rain stops as it is about 25 miles away and I don't like driving in the pouring rain in the dark! He is just getting his wings clipped, beak done and nails and a checkup. Blessings
Patti

hi patti, ian is certainly doing very well on the vetoryl.
when looking back on how things went with flynn, i think he was suffering from cushing's disease for a long time, but he went on and on like a real working dog.
he was always eating and drinking a lot, being so active and at first he was treated for thyroid problems, which we found out later were due to cushing's.
but his arthritis was a no go for vetoryl.
ian was certainly caught earlier than flynn.
he hardly had any symptoms but weaker hindquarters with some tremors.
but i thought -as many among us on this forum- it was due to old age.
he was and is never ill. the cushing's was a surprise to me and the vet.
no treasure yet, but who knows......a millione will do.....
glad that your elvis is doing ok after his ordeal at the vet, and tipper for being comfortable in the closet!

Iris:
It is a shame that more is not know about this disease and it is not a well know fact to vets or people with dogs. It is just a natural thing to think it is age related. I know Tipper so well from having the pleasure of staying home with her all day that I just knew something was not right. I think back sometimes now if I had not let my vet say this was old age and pass it off as nothing that maybe I could have saved her a lot of muscle loss and her stomach would not hang so bad. I had to get in a fight with him to test her, when he finally did and I knew she had it I was really mad at him. I am the one who had to tell him what she had and get the right testing done. You can't go back and redo things, but it makes me mad when I think of it. I have already walked the dogs and it is to get warm out today. I hope it is not too bad over there for Ian. It can make you feel so miserable when the humidity is up. Hope you are making progress on the house, sounds like it is a real job. Old people tens to hoard things don't they? Blessings
Patti

hi patti, yes the old lady was a classic hoarder.
the house is almost empty now. they needed 3 or 4 dumpster loads to remove everything.
today we found refugees who live in the neighborhood in the dumpster and they filled some garbage bags with towels, bedlinnen and clothes. [and a toaster]
glad they caught it before the dumpster was collected.
there are a lot of el cheapo closets nobody wants, but that is to the daughters to get rid of them.
my back is broken already.........
and then comes the cleaning..............
luckily my country vet has experience with cushing's in dogs, horses and even some pet ferrets.
it is a mysterious disease i think and still needs lots of research.
ian is 99% his old self and as long as he is doing well, i do not take him to the vet.
i am afraid it will kill him from the extreme stress he gets at the vets practice.
when there is anything wrong with him, i will go of course.
all pills are down today....!
hope there will be sunshine tomorrow so you can get some sunny vitamins!

Iris:
I kind of figured since it was an elderly lady maybe she was a hoarder. Too bad about those homeless people. Do you have a lot of them in your country? Where do they go in the winter. We have a lot of homeless that sleep under over passed on the highways etc. and have tents to stay in. They pan handle for money. In some area they sleep on the sidewalks. Some buy bus passes and ride the bus all nite to have some where to sleep. I am glad they at least got some usable things before the dumpster was taken. I always help the homeless if I can. In the blink of an eye it could be me. I bet you are tired after hauling all that stuff outside. No wonder your back hurts. Do you have a heating pad you could lay on? We woke up to darkness and a slow rain. It is supposed to storm today, I am not medicating Tipper as I think she will be ok since it is not to be an all day thing. I don't blame you for not taking Ian to the vet. I think the stress level they can reach is dangerous for them. I think he is doing so well that you would know if something needed looked at. I though the old lady would have a treasure for you to find!! Maybe when you clean you'll find one. Blessings
Patti

we do not have a lot of homeless people in the country.
they are legitimate refugees who have a home but do know where to find things they could use.
they get support money from the government, but they know how to recycle things very well.
in my street there is a single refugee mom with 2 young daughters and i always ask the families with kids i work with for clothes, toys etc.
and she will give everything she can not use to other refugees.
all 3 of them are doing very well at school.
the old lady also had a lot of canned food stored, so i gave her some too. [lots of tomato soup, veggies, orange juice packs etc.]
but no treasure yet and the house and basement are empty.
but i have books, food, bathroom stuff, a side table and a lamp.
made a long walk in the forest today, so the doggies are happy.
hope you will have a quiet sunday with sunny weather!

Hi Iris:
I just had to medicate Tipper we have a nasty storm coming again. It is really hot and humid here. I bet you are hot working in that house. Was it in pretty good condition? I bet you are tired when you leave there and go home. Tipper is sitting on the bed with me, and there are some rumbles of thunder and she is doing ok.
I have Toby doing something so he does not bark and start her up. Is Ian a good watch dog? Toby goes crazy for how little he is, he hears everything. He thinks he's tuff stuff, but learned not to tangle with Tipper. Deloras son went on vacation for two weeks. She is so upset and crying. I feel bad, but there is nothing I can do. I had to run errands this morning so I am playing catch up now and doing laundry. We are getting severe storms warnings now so I am glad I gave Tipper the Valium, it is rumbling and she is still sitting here!!! What a difference it makes. I am glad I don't have to see her like that anymore. Hope you have a good nite with the babies. Blessings
Patti

hi patti, it was a 4 year old appartment especially equipped for senior citizens.
we are done now. it is empty.
i am sorry that those severe storms are still in your area, but great that tipper can handle them a bit better now.
it was hot here too, but it is awful dry. the farmers are squirting water on the grass and veggies and orchards. those pumps are powered by diesel engines that make a lot of noise and those exhaust fumes..........
the whole neighborhood smells of diesel.
i've learned my dogs not to bark inside the house.
only when there is someone at the door. a few barks and over!
i used to have 4 of them and i do not want angry neighbors.
i rent the house so i do not want trouble.
there are so many delora's in the world, it is very sad!
i used to take my dogs to my grandma's nursing home too.
even the litter of puppy's i was having at that moment. great socializing! after 30 minutes i took them to the car where they went asleep with their mom. the car [doggy van] has always been their second home and still is.
they don't mind long drives at all.
hope you and tipper will have a quiet night.
p.s. do you have an appointment with the pain clinic yet?

Iris:
Yes I have an appointment, but it is a month away!! I would be sick, as I cannot take diesel, gas, etc. odors as I have breathing problems from my Lupus. Good you are done cleaning that apartment. She had no pets? It is still storming here, it looks like a giant lake in my yard! Do you have any new clients yet? Your doggies are good. Toby is awful, he's a yapper and never shuts those jaws! Tipper barks at strangers coming to the door, but she is not a problem . Toby even talks back to me, he has this little growly noise he makes if you tell him something. Elvis was even scared tonite when the lightening and thunder got too close and noisy. They sure don't need to water the fields here as everything is bogged down with water. Hope it is cool enough for you and the dogs to walk. Blessings
Patti

hi patti, sounds as if you are having a free swimming pool outside, we do have a sahara.......
hot and humid today, but only 3 drops of rain.....
we walked through the river for 45 minutes, but then i decided to go home because it was too sunny and hot.
i've got astma, so diesel fumes are a no go for me too.
i am sorry that you will have to wait another month for your appointment...grr!
do you use some oral painkillers?
how is the weather forecast? any improvement?
luckily the old lady did not have any pets anymore.
rehoming them is such a hugh job as you know all about it.
no new clients yet so i hope the car and the pets stay healthy................

Hi Iris:
That is terrible how dry it is over there. It stormed last nite I had to pill Tipper and it rained heavy all nite and is still raining things are flooding , but not near me. Our yard is like a lake and the dogs could not even find a place to go potty this morning the water is so far up their legs they have to stand in it to go. Tipper did well with the pill, and I managed to time it just right. I am not taking her for blood pressure today as it would be a waste of time. I am going to try and get this house cleaned today, yesterday I had so many little things to do it took up my day. I hope you find a new client soon. Oh that diesel would be terrible for asthma, my condition is similar where you can't get enough air and wheeze. The dry air can't be helping either. Poor Ian I hope he gets through this extremely hot period ok. Blessings
Patti

hi patti, i will send some dry days to your area, so i hope they will arrive in the mail tomorrow...ha, ha.
ian is doing fine this summer. he is just walking slower and adjusting to the temperatures.
enya is swimming, but ian just gets his legs and belly wet.
saw a dog in a doggy wheelchair, don't know what to think about it.
former working dog, does not seem too happy with it.
going potty whilst you are almost swimming sounds odd.
do they still want to go in the water? brave dogs!
hope your garage stays dry. is it under your house?
glad that tipper is still doing ok with her pills during the storms.

Iris:
We can use some dry days in the mail, I will be looking for them! It is good that Ian goes in the water up to his tummy at least he know how to cool off! Finally no rain this morning and the water has soaked up into the ground. When you walk on it is like a rice paddy and you sink down in. I have never seen weather like this. Too much climate change, hope this is not going to be our new weather pattern. No storm last nite so I was glad I did not give Tipper meds. She slept in the closet again. Have a good day, and I will mail you and the babies some rain! Blessings
Patti

hi patti, it was HOT today and again no rain.
ian did not want any food today.
inside the house he is pacing from time to time and does not want to lay on his comforter. goes to the water bowl, but does not drink.
very strange behavior.
outside he is his normal self, wants to walk etc.
no vetoryl today of course.
i think the dogs do need some cool and rainy days. [good for my allergies too]
did our hot and dry weather arrive in the mail today?
hope tipper will have some days without storms.