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I know how worried you must be...
I did something tiny - sprained an ankle - on March 22nd and it's still far from healed. I never thought it would take this long. Us older folks, canine or human, probably take a bit longer too.
Will be checking back for news from the doc visit.
Natalie
Hi everyone...thanks for all your support. Nothing earth-shattering to report. Lucy seems to be doing a little better today. Lowering her cortisone again....we'll see what happens.
Ken...enjoy the ride, indeed! Thanks:rolleyes:
She keeps shaking her head..I think her equilibrium is all off from the space left from the tumor? Or not. I guess it's all a crapshoot from here on out. She keeps eating...but not as much now. And I've had to get more creative with hiding her pills.
Take care...
Gina and Lucy
Have you had her ears checked - it's possible there is quite "ordinary" going on like an ear infection or some sort of irritation in there. Could be that something in or around her head feels "funny" too from either the tumor or the surgery - if only they could talk:p.Quote:
She keeps shaking her head..
My dog had a really advanced and nasty ear infection that would have had a human just about incapacitated by pain but (in retrospect) the only sign she showed was the occasional head shake!
Alison
Hi Alison..you're right. It's a yeast infection in her ear..probably from antibiotics...duh!! And now she's not eating again:mad: Here we go again.
I'm trying to find a canned food that she'll eat but won't give her diarrhea...anybody have any suggestions? (she can't have kibble yet because of incision.) I've been giving her Natural Balance duck and potato and fish and sweet potato...now she's turning her nose up at that. She'll eat chicken, turkey and cheese, but no dog food. I feel like we're back at square one again. Then I thought maybe she's not eating because of her ear? I swear I'm ready to commit myself to an institution.
Thanks, Gina and Lucy
Could be the ear - I've had a bad ear infection myself once (mixed yeast/bacterial most likely from the way it responded and didn't respond to certain treatments) and I couldn't eat because of the pain and had to force myself to just swallow water.
A lot of people have had success with Merrick's canned foods. There is quite a knowledge base here regarding tempting the fickle appetite so you should start hearing some good ideas pretty soon. Scrambled egg is often a winner too with fussy dogs - doesn't require much or any chewing so that could be a plus if it is ear pain.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Alison
PS: I've just temporarily changed your thread title to attract the sort of help you need at the moment.
Hi, Gina, I don't think I've talked to you before but have certainly followed your incredible story. I don't know alot medically speaking, but I have certainly learned alot about digestive problems in the past year.My bichon, Nikki, had three solid months of diarrhea and I think I have tried every canned food on the market. I finally started cooking and she hasn't had diarrhea since. I swore I would never cook for her because I am really sick of cooking for my family, but it is easy.Nikki has egg and low fat cheese with brown rice for breakfast and brown rice with ground chicken and beef with low fat cottage cheese for dinner.I also use virgin coconut oil which seems to help, too. I cook a big batch of her dinner and put meals in seperate containers for 3 or 4 days.She loves her meals. She also lost interest in eating before I started cooking. I think they put way too many additives and supplements in canned foods.It sounds like Lucy is doing great with all she has been through. It is so troubling when they won't eat. When the ear infection clears up she may just get hungry again.:o Hugs to you and Lucy
Hi Gina,
Alison may have hit the nail on the head with the pain from the infection and swallowing or chewing. Try to stick to things that don't have to be chewed, that she can lick up or just drink, like a broth. You can make a stock with chicken, carrots, celery, things you would normally use in a stock, and let her drink it once it has cooled. If she does ok with this, you can thicken it with sweet potatoes, but avoid white fleshed potatoes as they promote inflammation. Plain pumpkin may help with the diarrhea, too.
Wellness, Innova, Solid Gold...these are all good feeds and they have the canned type that does NOT have chunks. Innova Flex has the chunks that have to be chewed so try the puppy formula or the regular adult formula. With these, you can add water to make it real soupy which might make it easier to swallow.
Eggs are a good idea but be sure to cook them for Lucy. Cottage cheese and full fat yogurt are some other things you can try.
I hope and pray she will be feeling better soon. Ear infections can make one feel so bad. :(
Hang in there...we are hanging with you!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls
Hi everyone....And thank you so much for the helpful suggestions.
Nikkismom..when you cook for Nikki, does she have to take any additional supplements or vitamins?
I cooked some ground turkey and pasta for Lucy the other night, which she ate finally; now we're trying dog foods. So far the winners are Solid Gold and California Natural. Candidae she hates. She's become such a spoiled madam! Pill pockets worked for 1 day...now she won't take them even without a pill, so we're using cream cheese. (I still have to open her mouth and put it in, close her mouth and hold it.)
Her ear infection is better too, and all in all she's improving a little every day. I'm not seeing any weird neurological behavior any more (knock on wood) except when we go outside for our "walks." I still have to coax and pull her along. She's very hesitant. Still haven't figured that one out yet. And going down steps is still a problem, but we're getting there. Her personality seems to be coming back more and more. (The other day she tried to catch and bite the windshield wipers, which she always did before, so it was so exciting when she tried):)
What's definitely improved from before surgery is she doesn't tremble at all any more...even her back legs. She was doing this for about the last 2 years, now not at all. Also, her tail is generally up now, whereas for the last year, year and a half it's been tucked between her legs almost all the time. I'm wondering if that was the cushing's or the growing macrotumor, or both.
Her arthritis is definitely getting better as well. When we ran out of Cosequin I put her on Dosuquin. I've also heard about injections of something called adequan?
I'm just waiting for the day when I can bring her to the park again and she can chase a squirrel:)
Thanks so much everyone, and I'll keep you posted on Lucy's progress. You've all been such a help to us:)
Gina and Lucy
Gina! What a great bit of news. I think our Lucy is doing fantastic given the trauma her body has been through. A real walking miracle.
Yes - cushings causes hind leg weakness and trembling. With that I believe you get that tail issue. Cushings is cured with the surgery and it disappears. Hurray.
My dogs have been chowing on Solid Gold for 10 yrs now. They have quite a selection depending on age and needs. Re home cooking - I read up on that a few years ago but I do remember reading about a need to add nutrients. Others can help you with links and answers I am sure.
Adequan. Scott has been using it successfully with his dog Moria for some time. I decided to try it 2 weeks ago so my dog only has 2 shots so far but I can tell an improvement. I prefer the way it works over meds. So far so good.
Anyway I am so glad to hear an update and such a good one at that! Congrats! Kim
Hi, Gina! Sounds like Lucy is doing great! I am so happy for you both. Concerning the home cooking, I read that they need vitamin B which they get from eggs, and calcium which they can get from cottage cheese or yogurt. I supplement with milk thistle. I was giving fish oil, but the egg has omega 3, so I don't give it every day.If they get fish oil they also need vitamin E. This may not be all they need, but Nikki is so much better and happier on this diet. All canned foods gave her digestive problems, unfortunately, but not until she got cushings. Before that she always ate any canned food with no problem. At her age, 15 in July, I'm not too worried that she may not be getting all the nutrients she needs, as long as she feels good. But this is just me, so anyone else should probably research more before they home cook. I would definitely give commercial canned food if Lucy can tolerate it.Homecooking for me was really a necessity. I love reading about how Lucy is doing. You are doing a great job! Sharon