Squirt - my Queen has crossed The Bridge

It's obvious that Squirt is very precious. Great to see a little dog so very happy!
My dog Molly is and always has been very terrified of Thunderstorms and fireworks, so I kept seeing melatonin mentioned here and realizes that should help calm her down. I asked my Vet and she gave to me right away.Well anyway, I gave it to her as presribed for the very first time on May 6th. On Thursday evening May 9th, I noticed that Molly was walking funny, that her right foot particularly was pointed almost completely out to the right of her body and she had to keep sitting down each time she took a step. As I was calling the Vet, her legs went completely out from under her.
That afternoon, I had applied Vectra 3D Flea and Tick Repellent to her and my other dog, so I thought Molly was having a reaction to that. - My other dog was fine. My regular Vet was not there so the Vet on duty just had me apply dish detergent bring her there and he gave her a shot of Benedryl.
Well she still was not acting like herself, so I looked up the side effects of Melatonin and discovered that I believe she was given way too much. Molly weighs 16.2 lbs. My Vet presribed 3 mg. in the morning and 3 mg. in the evening each day.From what I see on line, t she should have been given 1 - 1.5 mg. ONCE a day. She is finally acting more like herself today.
I am still so new at this, that I can use any advice to ensure I'm doing the right things for her. I love her dearly and my Vet is really starting to scare me.
Also, do you or anyone else on the forum know a good basic multi-vitamin I can give Molly? The IMS wants to keep her on Hills k9 w/d until she has her bladder stones removed on May 30th.
Thanks for your help,
Dodie & Molly

It does sound as if that may have been a bit much to start Molly on. I would start with 1mg and only use it when there are storms, not every day. Melatonin is used to treat a form of Cushing's called Atypical and Squirt (average of 14 lbs) was taking 9 1/2mg a day, directed by her IMS. She got extra when it stormed. But she started with 3mg am / pm and had to adjust - she was sleepy at first. But just for thunder phobia, I wouldn't give it to Molly every day and start with as low a dose as possible then increase slowly if that doesn't help.

As for the vitamins, I wouldn't worry about that right now either - wait until the stones are out and you know what type she had. The type of stone can mean that she will not need any extra of certain things like magnesium or foods high in oxalates. So if I were you I wouldn't make any changes until after the surgery. ;) Others may have differing views so you might ask about these things on Molly's thread, too. When is the surgery?

Leslie,
I have missed seeing you checking in:o I hope Squirt and the rest of the gang are doing okay. Sending love and hugs,

Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Leslie:
I miss seeing you on here. How is Squirt doing? I hope everything is ok, and that you both are just busy ahving fun! Have a good Memorial Day. Blessings
Patti

Hey Leslie

Just posting to let you know I am thinking of you all. Do hope everything's ok and your just taking a computer break to pick those wild flowers

Big hug, kisses and belly rubs to all the furlets

Mel
Xxxxx

Leslie:
I too am wondering where you guys have been. I am worried about you and hope there is nothing wrong. Blessings
Patti

Hi Leslie - long time, no see! Hoping your just on a little break to recharge the batteries and Squirty girl is doing fine. Thinking of you and the gang and hope we see you soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :)

Leslie:
Where are you?? Hope you are just having a good old time with Squirt and enjoying the summer. Miss you. Blessings
Patti

Hey,

How are things going?

Terry

Leslie:
I hope you two are having too much fun to post to us!! I am praying this is why we have not heard from you. Miss you!
Blessings,
Patti

Hey guys, Leslie is doing fine and is busy taking excellent care of her own babies and a new foster baby with some pretty serious health issues. That baby is in the best hands possible. We all miss Leslie and the energy and healing she brings to so many here, but I do understand, only too well, that we need to take a little break in our normal routine from time to time to heal our hearts or take care of things that life throws at us.

Thanks so much for the information on Leslie. She is such a wonderful person to give the information she does about our furbabies. I had been concerned that she was having a hard time with her babies since I had not seen her on the forum. So glad she is okay and hope all her babies and foster babies are okay. Love, JoAnne

Hi ya’ll!
Glynda, thanks for giving an explanation for my absence. I started to reply several times but knew the moment I signed in, I was back and I wasn’t quite ready to be back…so thanks! :)

The time came when I simply needed a break. From the moment I learned how sick Tasha was, my focus was on her and many things went to hell in a hand basket around here. After she passed, I came back to the forum too soon; I didn’t allow myself enough time to grieve as needed. Then Squirt got so sick. So I took some time just for me and my babies and our home. I’ve been cleaning house, working in the yard, walking fields and gathering herbs, making medicines, and puttering around. The plan had been to completely take a break from the computer but because of needing to stay in touch with family on Facebook, that didn’t quite work out. It has been a healing time sorely needed nevertheless.

Squirt is doing well! :cool: I believe she has reached the plateau of her recovery and there seem to be some permanent effects but nothing major. Her cush signs started coming back so I have restarted her on the Lyso on a maintenance dose – but not the lignans or melatonin. I have been slowly adding meds, supplements and herbs trying to make absolutely sure she is handling them very well before adding another. It seemed the wiser choice to start the Lyso instead of the lignans and melatonin. She rarely leaks and when she does it seems to be when she is suddenly awakened so that could a startle response as much as incontinence. Trink had a colitis flare and I got that settled then the next thing I knew she was sick again AND Squirt, Brick and Sophie decided to join her! :eek: It took a week to get the smell out of my nostrils! :p LOL They all seem to be settled except for Brick who has been having some issues for a while off and on. All I can say is Thank Goodness for SEB!

Glynda mentioned our new foster. Her name is Josephina, Josie, and she is an AKC Chihuahua with a similar story to Tasha’s. Josie’s mom passed recently and after one son neglected everything including Josie and apparently their mom, the other son came along to take control. He placed Josie on Craigslist where Arkansas Chihuahua Rescue found her and took her in. I’ll start a thread on Josie in the EE section and tell her story there.

I’ve been reading along even tho I wasn’t posting and I have laughed and cried with you all. This is one amazing family we have here.

Hugs,
Leslie and Squirt

So glad to hear that Squirt is doing well.:) I missed you, but am glad that you took some healing time away from the forum. :p As for Josie.... If I was as sick as that poor little baby, I would want you to be my foster mom too!
Hugs to you and your sweet babies,
Kathy

Hi Leslie!! So glad to see you back on the forum. I hope you took enough time for yourself though. I know it is hectic with the wee ones right now.
Still I'm glad to see you. :)
Belly rubs to all of them.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hi Leslie, WELCOME BACK

You and Squirty were sure missed around here, so pleased to see you back posting! It is so like you to adopt another little sweetpea who needs your special caring talents. Lucky little Josie, I hope you get on top of all her various problems and she gets some quality time to enjoy all the special attention you will lavish her with, she certainly sounds like she deserves it!! xxxxxx

Hi Leslie,

Boy, I cannot begin to tell you how much you mean to all of us and how much we all missed you. I wanted to stop by and say welcome home:):):):)

awwww.....thanks, ya'll! It's nice to be missed and to be back home!

Hey Leslie, I was so glad to hear from you. I wrote back to you on my site. CoCo is on Hill's canned ID Prescription from the vet. It has not seemed to get rid of the soft stools yet . My real concern is that he has lost a couple of pounds and seems to be wasting away with his bones showing. I have tried all the things for the diarrhea, slippery elm, pumpkin and fort teriflora, cannot remermber what else. Seems like when I give him more food he gets diarrhea. So glad all you family and pups are doing okay. I know you need this time to yourself and really hate to tell you my problems. Love, JoAnne

My Sweet Bebe woke up about 2am wanting to PLAY! She wanted down for what I thought would be a drink but started whining at me once she was on the floor then started tapping the floor with her front paws - a sign to play! So for about 30 minutes we played Piggies, chase, and Toro! with a blanket. She was running through the house, spinning around in tight little circles, bouncing and carrying on like a puppy! Of course, her legs slipped and slid out from under her at times, scaring me to pieces but I just couldn't bring myself to make her stop. She was soooo happy and full of it - something I haven't seen in quite some time - that I simply could not take those minutes away. After playing for a while, she went to the counter where the treats are, got her treat and took it to the closet to enjoy. After a bit, she wanted back on the bed and slept soundly the rest of the nite. This morning she doesn't seem any worse for the wear. ;)

Goodness I love this dog!

Thanks for sharing Leslie. It warmed my heart.:D
Hugs,
Kathy

Oh Leslie, what a precious gift! My heart is bursting for you two girls. :) :)

Oh Leslie: That is so precious. Makes my heart sing to know she is feeling good. You are so good and lucky to have such a sweet baby girl. Love, JoAnne

Love those happy stories, to want to play in the middle of the nite, aw, what a precious gift for you, sending hugs and prayers!!
Welcome home!!!!

That is so wonderful! Up to the play in the middle of the night. I guess when the play bug hits, you got to just roll with it, even at 2am. :) hehehehe

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

I cant stop smiling after reading your post. It just feels so good to take it all in.

Many more play nights, baby girl Squirt.

Oh Leslie, that is wonderful news!! Sending huge and loving hugs to you both.

I bet it was the super moon we had a few days back Leslie, I find I have really vivid technicolour dreams when bright huge full moon comes around and that one was the biggest of the year and the moon was at the closest point to earth :D:D Flynn wanted outside in the middle of the night then too which is unlike him and it was so bright outside!! I didn't even need the torch :eek: back to normal now though. I hope Squirty keeps her playtime up but maybe in the daylight hours so your not too tired during the day, but then we take the good times when they come don't we!! Your post made me smile too :D

Leslie:
Thank you for your continued support, you are the best! I wanted to ask you about the adequan shots. I read you have to have a series of 8. It can cause hematomas at the injection site, cause vomiting,& diarrhea. Have you had any experiences of side effects? Also it said be careful using this on dogs with hepatic impairment, and renal problems. No one has ever come out and told me Tipper had liver impairment, but her last alk phos was 158up from 35 I believe. I am going to ask the vet tomorrow about this. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patti,

We were told about the possible side effects and the vet treating Josie followed that by saying he had never had a pup have a negative reaction in all the years he had been using it. Josie was to have one shot a week for 6 weeks then one a month after that. If there was any bruising from the injections, I didn't see it. In Josie's case, we had no other options and we had to try something. We never had a chance to do labs on Josie but even with liver values sky high, and Tipper's aren't, I couldn't have withheld this possible avenue of relief from her. I wonder almost daily if we had gotten hold of Josie before that mass got so very large and had started the shots then, if they wouldn't have worked better and given her a few more years. Her original vet diagnosed her with collapsing trachea in Feb of 2012, a misdiagnosis, so the mass had already grown large enough at that point to be troublesome and it simply continued to grow until it suffocated her. :(

Awwwww! Best post I've read from you dear Leslie. I've missed a lot on my long break here, but it is always so enlightening to come back to my special place and read happy moments shared with the "bebe".

Good night and maybe the bed bugs will get your "bebe" and you up and around again sometime soon....:D

Love and tight ones.

Xo Jeanette and my Princess

Squirt has hurt her back left leg somehow. :( I was able to get the non-skid boots on her twice, then no more so I figure she slipped on the floor. :( She isn't putting much weight on it at all. She's not complaining with it, no yelping or whining, just not putting much weight on it. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it this month other than what is at my disposal at home. I get paid in 3 weeks and I'll have it xrayed then if I can't sell enough stuff between now and then. If the pin or screws are damaged again....well, I can't think about that right now.

I am so sorry to hear this Leslie. Dont think about the pins right now. Maybe she just twisted it somehow. Did you check her toes? Zoe was limping from a sprained toe, when the Gp pressed her toes, when he hit one place, she yelped.

Leslie:
I am praying for you and precious Squirt. I know one time I went to one of my vets other offices, and they were doing an xray on Tipper. I told the girl who took her to be careful how they held her for the xray, and not to let her walk on the slippery floor, to carry her to me. She came out with Tipper walking on the floor and I was furious. She said "Oh I forgot sorry". Well needless to say Tipper walked on 3 legs for days, and could not go for a walk. The girls at the other office all know not to put Tipper on the floor and watch her legs. I am so sorry Squirt is having troubles. It is so hard when you try to keep them from injuring themselves, and they want to act like a normal dog. Tipper gets really miffed at me when I carry her up the steps in the garage. She actually gets an attitude, like I want to do this myself. I do not want to risk injury to her after she fell on the steps months ago, so she will just have to lose the attitude. Hopefully after some rest off the leg Squirt will come around. I know this is serious because of the pins etc. so I am praying for her. God Bless you Leslie for all you do with these babies.
Patti

Oh Leslie, I am so sorry. I know how hard it is with our senior pups. Sending you positive thoughts and prayers for a very speedy recovery.

Leslie,

hopefully it's just a strain from moving the wrong way. I'd say it's a good sign that she's not crying out.

Crossing my fingers!

Ah Leslie,
When did this happen? You could limiting her activity by confining her to a crate or small room and force her to rest her leg. Of course, you know this already.:o Sending prayers and healing energy you way. Big hugs,

Oh no Leslie, do we never get a break. Maybe she just slipped and it is a little sore since she is not crying and a night's sleep will help it. CoCo's back legs are so weak and tiny, I think about giving him a Baby Aspirin, but with his stomach I am afraid it would hurt him, although my vet has suggested it. I hope she will be okay tomorrow. Love, JoAnne

Oh Fudge. I take it that it is the leg with the screws and pins? Well, maybe not damaged. I agree with Addy, lets not go there right now. Hoping that it's minor and clears itself up in a couple days with limited activity on it.

hugs, hang in there Leslie
Sharlene and Molly muffin

Leslie: I hope Squirt's leg is better this morning and you both got some needed rest. Love, JoAnne