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Patti, the Elder tree is a medicine chest all on its own. I use the berries and flowers in an elixir for flu and cold. The flower clusters can be battered and fried as a fritter, too, tho I haven't had the opportunity to try that yet. It's supposed to be delicious.
Leslie:
Do you have them growing wild where you are? I have a farm near here where you can pick them. A farmer planted a field in them. He charges to pick them or you can buy them already picked. The juice is 37.00 a quart. They are my very favorite berry to make jelly. I used to go when I was younger and pick bushel basket full in the woods at my grandmothers. Those were the days! I forgot to tell you I have been reading on Rhodiola and it is used in people to lower cortisol. It is a form of Ginsing . Just wonder if it would help a dog? Blessings
Patti
Hi Leslie,
I am so glad that Squirty was doing better and bugging you for breakfast this morning. :p I hope the rest of her day is smooth sailing for both of you. Xxxx
She's had a better day today but I've keep the Valium up at a low dose - 1/2 tablet (1mg) at lunch and 1/2 tonight. It's been cloudy all day and a light drizzle from time to time but no rain or worse. She's slept most of the day, not very active today but I'm sure the meds are playing a role there. If she does well tonite, I cut the Valium out tomorrow.
I also noticed that the cyst on her head that was refilling has burst, and I mean BURST, this time. The top of her head was bloody and it oozed for quite some time. It seems sore this time. Guess the aliens forgot to come get it! ;)
Oh poor Squirt. So sorry to hear that she was scared. Molly can tell if the pressure changes and it feels like rain/storms in the air. I don't know if it is the smell, or the pressure itself, but she doesn't want to go outside and instead of holding her tail over her back, nice and proud, she'll drop it and do a low run back towards the house. (like if we hear thunder or something).
But I don't know, if you have a nice sunny day and no pressure changes and Squirt is still acting scared, then perhaps it isn't that after all.
If we are looking at a dementia type of thing, is there something else medicine wise that could be tried?
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
Well probably good that thing burst on top of her head... better out than in! I wonder if that had a bit of infection associated with it especially as you said its a bit sore and that has upset her a little, did you squeeze it and get all the muck out? Fingers crossed for a good night and you can cut down the Valium tomorrow. xxxxx
Leslie:
Just checking in on Squirt and seeing if she had a good nite? It never rained here yesterday, but was really black all day. Tipper was acting funny too as she was aware of the pending rain. She was a little restless last nite, and up at 5:45 this morning. She has already walked and is taking a rest now. She is not as active as she normally is. The last couple weeks she has slowed down. Blessings
Patti
Thanks, ya'll. Squirt did rest well last night and no terrors. YAY! Hopefully it was the weather the other day. I'll leave the Valium off today and see how she is with the Novifit and herbs only. Sharlene, there is one more med to try, Anipryl or Selegiline (generic), and we are going to try to get started on it.
Mark came by for a while last nite and I brought Squirt in to see him - she's always loved her Uncle Mark a great deal. She seemed to recognize him and wanted him to pet her but was done with him very soon and went back to the closet to sleep. That broke my heart because she has always danced and pranced and whimpered when Mark is around, begging him to love on her and play with her. I tell myself it was because of the Valium in her system yesterday, not that she didn't know him or didn't care he was here. When I get paid next week I'm going to make sure we go out to Mark's house for a visit. She loves it out there, loves Moe and the kids so I hope she remembers and enjoys a short visit. I keep trying to find things like this that used to bring her joy and pleasure then take her there, or do something, for stimulation.
Something weird that's going on with her - her coat is changing the direction it grows. It started with a small spot on her side with the hair pointing up instead of down - almost like she slept on it wet and it dried sticking up. Now that has spread so that both sides have the hair like that - pointing up instead of down. If this keep spreading, she will have the old Spike hairdo shortly! Has anyone else seen or heard of the hair changing growth directions? She blew nearly all of her soft undercoat during the diarrhea and has lost most of the long hairs over the last year or so. That leaves just the middle, coarse coat tho she is starting to grow the soft undercoat back for the winter I'm assuming.
I do my best to find some joy for us both each day. Every day, 1000 times a day, I tell her how much I love her, how very special she is, how grateful I am that she came into my life. Every second is precious. Every breath a reason to hope. Every good moment a reason to celebrate.
Hugs,
Leslie and Squirt
Leslie,
You keep celebrating with Squirt...and let us do the same. She holds dear to all of our hearts.
Leslie, you have taught me so many lessons. This one is about love, true love. Your babies are blessed to have even spent one precious moment with you. We will continue to celebrate Squirty with you, because we all love her too. :p xxxxxxQuote:
Originally Posted by Squirt's Mom
I am so happy to hear that Squirt did well over night.
It could very well have been the Valium in her system. She recognized him, just didn't have a lot of energy or as my friend who takes Valium to fly said, don't really care what that plane is going to do after I take one of those. :) So could be the same sort of reaction. Take her out to his place with nothing in her system and bet she'll be happy as can be.
Those terrors she gets is weird, but she doesn't have them all the time at least and her quality of life is still pretty good too. She is the gift that keeps on giving :)
hugs Leslie,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
Hi Leslie. I don't need to be telling you this as you have so much experience, but the hydrotherapist told me that when Keesh is swimming and retrieving the duck or ball in the water he has a purpose in life, and his demeanor changes instantly. He's a completely different dog when swimming and for the rest of the day. I'm sure it's invigorating for him, but he's accomplished something and it changes his whole day for the better. I've had to keep him stimulated, and it's almost like having my young dog back.
I haven't given him any Valium ever, mind you most times I think I should be on it, but once it's out of Squirt's system I'm with Sharlene and bet Squirt will enjoy the trip to Marks. Of course it's difficult to find something to stimulate all the time, plus at their age they don't have the stamina or interest at times.
I really enjoy the hydrotherapy Keesh is getting. It makes me so happy to see him enjoying that time, and it's good for me physically as well. Never swam so much in my life.
I'll be checking to see how squirt is doing without the Valium.
Leslie:
I agree with Sharlene Squirt definitely is the gift that keeps on giving. I think it was the valium also. I bet when she is off for a while and you take her to visit she will be her old self and so excited to see Mark. Did you have any thoughts on the Rhodiola I mentioned? I ordered the Hawthorne from the place you suggested and the only problem is I called there and they cannot tell me how much to give her. Would you happen to know? I searched, but cannot find anything. Blessings
Patti
Patti.....hummmmm...Rhodiola....I missed that somewhere. I will see what I can find. I think I posted the Hawthorn dosing on Tipper's thread but I'll double check and post it there for you. I did remember in the wee hours of the morning recently that you had asked about Queen Anne's Lace - yes, it is medicinal. It is also called Wild Carrot. This is one of the herbs I do not wildcraft yet tho because there is a look-alike called Hemlock that is deadly poison and I am not confident enough in my IDing to distinguish them comfortably. QAL often has one single bloom in the middle of the white umbrel (cluster of blooms) that is either deep purple or red. When I see this, I know the plant is QAL - otherwise, I always question. (This single colored bloom is said to be from a drop of blood from Anne's finger when she picked the flowers, her favorite. The story I was told is that Anne wasn't very good with spinning or sewing and often pricked her fingers. She would get frustrated and sneak off to gather the flowers she loved most, her fingers bleeding from her work. :)) There is a third look-alike called Yarrow that is also medicinal. I use the dried Yarrow but I buy or trade it from a trusted source. ;) It is a staple in my wound washes since it stops bleeding and helps form the scab...among other properties. ;)
Squirt is still doing alright - no more terrors since Sunday and no Valium since Monday....well other than what is in her nighttime tea. I dissolve one 2mg tablet in 1cup water and she gets 4-6mg of this tea at night. It's just enough with the herbs to help her rest well.
It's been either raining lightly or quite humid this week so we haven't been able to walk the field but temps are supposed to start dropping soon. We'll probably go from 80 degree days to freezing at noon over night! Welcome to Arkansas! :p
Just checking in on you and Squirt
Gonna call the vet this morning and have him look at Squirt. Last nite I found her standing in the closet and there were brown drops of liquid under her. I can't tell if they are from the bladder or from the yeast she gets on her teetee. When I saw the drops and her just standing there, kidney failure flew through my mind and I vomited. I trimmed the hair off her teetee then took her out to pee - which she did on the grass. I had a white paper towel and I absorbed some of the pee from the grass - it was a light yellow color, not brown so I hope those drops were from the yeast, tho I've never seen that before. She doesn't act as if she feels bad at all, in fact, wanted to play last nite after her teetee trim and after going out to pee. Her appetite is good, she drank well, and she rested fairly well. I kept thinking about this and realize stones, bladder or kidney, could be in play as well - which would have the same result as kidney failure. I just don't think I can ask her to undergo another surgery. :(
I'll let ya'll know what Doc thinks.
Hugs,
Leslie and Squirty
Leslie:
Would you be able to get a sample off the floor of the brown liquid? Maybe the vet could test it? If not, and you see it again ask him if this is possible. You are much like me, you mind starts going as soon as something out of the ordinary happens. I hope it is just yeast and nothing else. If the vet tested it he would be able to tell if it was yeast. Would you even consider a surgery at Squirts age? I pray all is well, and that you stay well too, those babies have the best mom in the world. Blessings
Patti
Would Squirt by chance have barfed a little? I'll be waiting here to see what the doc says.
I had hoped she had vomited up some of the tea but no, it was from her teetee. We have an appt. in the morning with Dr. Stacy - Doc B is on vacation. Squirt had a minor leaking this morning and it was clear as water so what's coming out of the bladder since last nites brown drops has not been dark at all. I am really holding onto that in hopes it is just from the yeast.
If I hadn't vomited on the drops and my mind had been functioning, I could have maybe gotten a sample for the vet but...... :o
Hope it is just the yeast too. Sounds like it if next urination was clear, with no signs of anything else.
Hang in there Leslie!
hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin
Thinking of young and Squirty and waiting to hear what the doc thinks. xxxx
Waiting anxiously with everyone else to hear what the Doc had to say. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs, Lori
Dear Sister Twitcher,
I know I don't post on your thread much, but you have to know you, Squirt and all your fur babies are always on my mind and in my thoughts and prayers.
Hoping for the best and keeping everything crossed in our house.
(((HUGS)))
Leslie:
Just waiting and praying for you and Squirt. Hope it is nothing. Blessings
Patti
Hehehehe, Sister Twitcher. John, you're a hoot! :)
We're right here, waiting not so ever patiently. :)
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
Leslie:
Looking forward to a good report on Squirt today. I am praying all went well at the vets. We had a quick storm that came up last evening, with lots of thunder. Tipper was just learning to relax since there has not been any for about 2 weeks. It did not last long thank God. I heard down around you way there were tornadoes??? Blessings
Patti
LOL Most of you have missed this! :p "Twitching" is that feeling we all get when we feel something is not quite right and are bouncing off the walls, jittering with worry, herkie-jerking through the day, mind won't function, chewing nails and hair - well, you know what I mean! ;) One of those areas I am a PRO in! :D It is an old term of endearment and expression of understanding here in our family to call someone a Twitcher.
Squirt has had no more dark drops that I've seen. Her urine is either clear or yellow. She's drinking, eating, and pooping good and seems to be urinating without difficulty. And she rested well last nite. We see Dr. Stacy this morning and I'll let you know what she thinks!
Leslie:
I forgot to ask you if you were able to find out about the dosage for Hawthorne for Tipper. It should be here today or tomorrow according to the tracking.Thank you for wishing Tipper a good birthday, I appreciate it. Blessings
Patti
I posted that on Tipper's thread yesterday, honey.
Leslie:
The only one I see is the Rhodiola, I am not seeing anything for Hawthorne or am I going crazy?
Patti - look on Tipper's page # 170, post # 1699. The original post on the Hawthorn dose is on page # 166, post # 1653. ;)
I don't know enough about the Rhodiola to offer doses, nor do any of my books talk about it or dosing for it.
EDITED TO ADD: I'll make sure you have seen this, Patti, then post an update on Squirt from the vet today.
Leslie:
I must be going wacky, I don't know how I missed that!. The Hawthorne just came and it is 1:4 so how does that change things? I noticed the one you posted is for 1:2 or 1:3. Not sure now, please advise. I am going to have to get something to measure ml, possibly a syringe. Blessings
Patti
Is this an alcohol tincture or glycerite tincture?
1ml = 1/4 tsp = 1 dropperful = 1 squeeze of the bulb (glass/plastic tube will not be full)
Glycerite thank you Leslie
Ok...the glycerite is not going to be as potent as the alcohol tincture. That ratio - 1:4 - means there is 1 part herb to 4 parts solvent (glycerine), so it is weaker than the alcohol tincture recommended at 1:3 - 1:4 means more solvent (glycerine) to the herb content than in the alcohol tincture. So using the same dosing I posted for the alcohol will work just fine with the glycerite to start - that will be a lower dose of Hawthorn than the same amount of the alcohol tincture.
Hope this helps! Gotta go to the grocery store and I'll check in when I get back!
Hi Leslie,
I know "twitching" really well. In fact, I have it mastered!:eek::D:eek: I am glad to hear that your little queen has turned off her brown drips. Dang leaky faucets!!!;) Your report sounds good overall, yay! :) Please let us know what the vet thinks. Thanks, xxxxxxx
:)
~~whew~~ it's HOT out there for Oct! ugh...
Well, there was a mix up with the appt today - they have a new girl on staff and she only wrote down 2 nail trims so we didn't even have an appt with the vet - only the techs. They trimmed both pup's nails and shaved Squirt's teetee for me to help keep it dryer and less yeast hopefully will grow. I did tell them that the urine after the brown drops was a nice yellow, no odor at all, and then the leaking urine was almost clear. They said that made them feel better, to watch her and if I see the drops again or get more worried to bring her back; I can also catch some urine and take in for an analysis. Unless she gets sick or I see that brown again, I'm gonna wait for Doc to come back from vacation. It seems like when Dr. Stacy is there filling in, they typically overbook. All the exam rooms were full today, they had several come in without appts who were seen, while folks with scheduled appt's were waiting a long time passed their time. I could have waited to be worked in but neither Brick nor Squirt do well with being at the vet and no telling how long we would have had to wait...so I came home and will go back when Doc is in. They just don't understand how much it costs me to drive out there but I was nice about the mix up on her appt....this time. Next time, not so much and I will make her listen to me if she answers again.
:p:p:p I just saw Squirt acting like she was about to squat and poop in the bedroom floor. I jumped up and took her outside where she promptly started squatting in the grass, rubbing her nekkid teetee on the ground! We came back in after she peed and she sprawled out on the kitchen floor, dragging her teetee on the cool linoleum, her back legs trailing behind! :p:p:p
Leslie:
To what do you attribute the dragging on the linoleum ? The shaving? Squirt just keeps you guessing all the time. That is too bad about going all the way to the vets, and no appointment. Squirt seems to change things up a bit to keep you on your toes! Hope she does not have any more brown spotting. That must be a riot taking all of them to the vets together. Blessings
Patti
Sounds like Squirt had an itch that needed scratched! :)