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i hope you can find something that will help tipper with her anxiety during the storms.
i think stress is worse than a mild tranquilizer.
i hope you had some nice walks with the doggies.
we walked along the riverside because it is so hot and humid overhere.
Iris:
It was cold here today with a very strong wind. Tipper likes it cold. She has already walked and is napping. My elderly neighbor is sick of Deloras cat, and wants it to go. I can't finfpd anyone, and don't know what to do. It is frustrating as I don't want any harm to come to her. I am laying on the bed with Tipper as I cleaned today and I am tired. Have you gotten any new ideas to fool Ian? You don't work on the weekend do you? Hope you have a good weekend. Ian would think Tipper was disgusting if he heard her loud snoring now! Blessings
Patti
hi patti, my dogs like it cold too and so do i.
this hot and humid thing is not my kind of weather.
i come along a lot of pets during my work that are not in the right place, but i can't save them all.
i took some [i do have 2 rescue pet mice overhere right now] but i can not save them all.
maybe graces'rescue center can take the cat if he really does not want it. a pet shouldn't be a burden on someone.
i sometimes work on saturday, if i can earn some extra money.
but after 5 days of work i am beat. always taking care of other peoples problems, and never a vacation because no work, no money.
hope you and the dogs had some nice walks in the sunshine!
Patti, Have you ever tried the anxiety wrap or thundershirt? They are for all types of anxiety. I have donated many thunderhsirts to rescue organizations and it has helped many of them over come their anxiety to different things. It does not work for all dogs but 80% of them.
He Everyone:
Well last nite I was so tired I was a bad mom and did not monitor the tremor activity. Tipper has been sleeping in different places I guess according to how she feels or her mood? I disinfected mynwhole office for the second time yesterday, and that is a job!! I was really beat when done. Now the animals can go into that room at the end of May and I will have no worries.I know my Lucky is dying to get in there and see if there is a cat in there. It will be funny to see his reaction the first time back in there. So I have 2 bedrooms and the cat room left and I am done!! My Dr.called and set up an appointment for me at the cardiologist for May 5th. So I will have to have a sitter for Tipper as I will be in there all morning. Tipper's appointment is this Wednesday and I am already a nervous wreck about it. Vicki, I have two different types of thundershirts for Tipper, unfortunately she is in the 20% that it does not work on. She is one tuff little case here!! She never makes things easy! I am taking the day off cleaning and make some home made lasagna. I will give some to my neighbor in an attempt to soften him up over the in for yum! Tuesday is Adequan day, and I will be so happy as Tipper really needs it. It is beautiful out and the doggies have already had one walk, so they will be out today. I cleaned the front porch a bit yesterday too, so I can get the furniture out and the doggie gate up. I hope Tipper is not afraid tomgomout this summer and sit on the porch we she used to love it until she started being afraid of the noise. Blessings.
Patti
i hope you and tipper will spend a lot of time on the porch this summer.
is there some shade overthere?
lots of strength with the cleaning.
maybe it is time to move to a smaller house, so you don't have to clean so much. [better for your health?]
my house is so small, i think it fits 10 times in your place. easy to clean though.
only 3 more nights till wednesday and hoping for good results for tipper.
Hi Everyone:
Well this is to be storm week so I am not leaving the vets, or IMS without something for Tipper. If they could see how terrified she gets they would understand why we cannot go on without something to calm her. She is so allergic to everything, I will be scared to death to five it to her. The bad part is it depresses your breathing and thatnisnbad with her situation, and maybe why her vet has said no to it. She was up at 5 am and I am so tired this lack of sleep and stress is getting my Lupus going. I am going to try and bathe Tipper by Wednesday. She is used to having a bath more often than she has been, and I don't like stinky and dirty with my animals. She is on alert right now as she hears my neighbor mowing. Now the mower even bothers her. It is so hard with this noise always affecting her. I am wanting to put the porch furniture out today, and hope that she isn't going to act like last year and not come on the porch. She used to love it, it's a real shame. I just want to get past Wednesday and past my cardiology appointment. Blessings
Patti
Was thinking of you while listening to the weather forecast. We have had beautiful days here and the temps have remained quite cool which is great for Trixie. The bad weather moves into our area tomorrow and Wednesday.
We will get rain but not too much in the way of terrible storms. I know someone asked you about the thundershirt. Have you ever tried it. I know some people say they work. Clothes make Trixie so freaked out that I don't think it would help us, though now that Trixie's controlled she is much less jumpy and hasn't reacted too badly to the heavy rain, though noises from the strong wind still send her under the kitchen table.
Hope you get something from the vet that might help Tipper. I hope she'll go back to enjoying time on the porch this year.
Barbara
Hi Everyone:
It is black out, and I see rain drops. I watched the weather and they said bad storms were coming toward us, just great. I will have to do whatever it takes to keep this dog calm. We may have to sit in the car in the garage with the radio blasting to try and cover up the thunder! I put the porch furniture on the porch. I invited Tipper out as I have the doggie gate up, she would not come out. I hope this is not how the summer is going to be for her. It just kills me to see her like this. She was such a care free happy dog before all this. She always wanted to be outside, and never wanted to come in. Toby could care less, he barks at the thunder. Blessings
Patti
Pray you remain safe, Patti!
So far just rain and darkness, praying my Tipper doss not get rattled.
hoping Tipper gets through tonight without getting too shaken. Maybe you won't get too much thunder and lightening...crossing my fingers it stays quiet for you.
Barbara
Hoping it is just rain and not too bad of storms. I know how you worry with Tipper's reaction to bad storms.
Wed will be a long day it sounds like. I guess they always are when you have to go to the specialist.
I think just rain coming out way. Hope anyhow and then hope it isn't too much rain. :)
Take care! hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin
hope the weather was not too bad today after all.
i can not believe the vet or specialist do not want to give you something to help tipper relax.
not unconcious, but just as much as needed to calm her.
you can not go on like this. it will affect your health too.
maybe you can video it to show them how bad tipper's reaction is on the thunderstorms?
Patti check this out, its the anti anxiety shirt I mentioned above, if it doesn't work they give you a full refund.
http://www.thundershirt.com/
I've also heard good things about this!Quote:
Originally Posted by beaglemom3
The Thundershirt helped Squirt but it is so stiff she can't move in it any more. So Sophie wears the TS and Squirt get the TTouch Body Wrap.
http://www.crvetcenter.com/ttouch.php
Hi Everyone:
We have to get ready to go to the vets. There definitely won't be a blood pressure check today!! It is just pouring, dark, and very strong wind. This will be a real fun ride in the car with her a nervous wreck. I have purchased everything on the market for her, and nothing works. I am going to tell the vet he has to givekme something today. I will look at the other thunder shirts when I get back, but have tried two already with no success. I wish I could take on this anxiety for
her as I would in a minute. I just absolutely hate seeing her reduced to a bundle of frayed nerves. She shakes so bad it is hard to watch. She will not let you try to comfort or hold her , she will snap at you. Then there is happy go lucky Toby barking at the thunder and running on the porch watching the storm!! Tipper and I were up most of the nite. I am hoping this Adequan helps her as she is really tracheal issues and still something like mucous making her hack a few times to clear her throat. I hope it does not storm like this in the morning as we leave her around 530 am, and that will be a bugger driving all that way with her a nervous wreck. Blessings
Patti
The key to both the TS and the body wrap is to get them used to wearing it when everything is calm. No rain, no wind, just nice days. This way the dog learns to associate the shirt / wrap with calm times. If you put them on only when the storm are coming, then the dog learns to get nervous when we put them on and they will not work. You MUST get them used to wearing the TS / wrap on nice days. ;)
You might also look into and ask your vet about rescue remedy if the anxiety wraps do not work.
Good luck! Patti hope all goes well at the vets.
Hoping that the shot really helps Tipper out today. I'm sure she is a bundle of nerves and you too. :(
hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin
HI Everyone:
Round number 5000 with the vet. I let him win this one as I knew he was right. As much as I need help for Tipper, I know how allergic she is, and I do know Valium is not good for dogs. I will discuss this with my IMS tomorrow. I may ask for some from her, form just the most dire of circumstances. I am going to see about L Tryptophan and Valerian . I have already asked Leslie about it. It is all that I have not tried on her. She is resting on the bed by me, but the vet got to see her about 40% cranked up. She was beside herself riding in the car thru this, at times trying to dig a hole in the seat to get down further. I have extensively researched this. Before a storm even starts a dog receives painful shocks from static build up. Besides the pressure change they can tell the change in humidity and dew point levels. A dog with severe thunderstorm phobia, only gets progressively worse. It raises their blood pressure, metabolic rate, and heart rate. None of these things are good for Tipper because of her heart, and vessels in her eyes. There is one other thing I did not try, it is a garment with metal in it called Storm Defender. It keeps them from getting the static shock. I also found out these storms make arthritic dogs hurt more. The reason a dog runs in the bathroom or goes behind the toilet is they are looking for something to stop the static shock happening. God help us, if I have to I will get some kind of sound proofing material for my closet, or rig up a box covers in it that she can go in that has a fan for air flow. I just cannot do this anymore, we are both stressed out from this. The vet agreed that Tipper needs Adequan every two weeks from now on because of her trachea. I truly hope each and everyone of us stays safe during this unpredictable weather. Blessings
Patti
Glad you both got home safe and sound! I hope you find something that is safe for Tipper to take for her anxiety. Poor baby it's heart breaking to see them so frightened.
Did you have tests done today? If so which ones? and when will results be in?
Hugs!
No tests done today Vicki, only Adequan shot done. Tomorrow is her ultra sound to check her tumor, and the eye Dr. will be doing her eye check up. We go thru this every three months. It is absolutely nerve wracking, and gut wrenching. I know you have been down this path before. It is just very hard to do this every three months, but it must be done. We will be gone very early because of traffic and weather. So I will need all the angels to watch over my girl tomorrow so she has a good outcome. Blessings
Patti
I know how hard and worrisome having those tests to check tumors are. I will be praying hard that the tumor has not grown and that it even shrunk!
You are both in my thoughts and prayers for good results!
i wish you lots of strenght and luck tonight and tomorrow.
are there more storms coming up?
hope the specialist can give you something to help tipper survive those storms.
I'll wish you good luck for tomorrow now, since I expect you'll hope to have an early night, what with the early start in the morning.
Maybe the IMS will have some idea to help calm Tipper during storms, or even the eye doc.
hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin
Hi Everyone:
Tipper is resting. I just gave her Melatonin as the weather just said get ready for thunder tonite. I don't even know what to say, I am just nervous for Tipper. I hope we are gone tomorrow when it happens. I have to try to get some rest tonite if I have to drive in the dark and in the rain, oh what fun! Please just pray for my girl. Blessings
Patti
How's the melatonin working so far?
didn't notice you started it.
Don't think it will help...dogs have much better hearing and i think it is very hard to cancel the low frequency noises.Quote:
Originally Posted by goldengirl88
Have you tried calming music for dogs?
btw...pls tell me you don't pet him when he is scared...that only encourages fearful behavior.
Riding with you today, praying for the best with our sweet girl. Please be careful on the road....and don't forget to take care of YOU.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Hi Everyone:
Well this is not the news I wanted to report. Tipper's tumor has increased almost one centimeter. The IMS actually made a comparison to her last numbers, and used the wrong ones, which made it seem a much smaller increase where as she said she was not worried. I of course am worried and just got home and emailed Dr. Bruyette. He already answered my first email, and said to get a CT scan done of her abdomen to see if she is a good for surgery. The surgeon at this hospital can from Dr. Bruyettes hospital. I asked him how many of these surgeries she has done and the outcomes. He has not answered that part yet, which scares me. This was a nasty trip nothing but blinding rain and partial darkness when we started out. Tipper was not wanting to be in the car and was really having anxiety. I felt so bad for her. At least no traffic from accidents. I am just kind of sick right now. I called my regular vet, and the IMS about the descrepency and we will see who calls back. Tipper and I are resting on the bed. She has some conjunctivitis from seasonal allergies in her eyes, so I had to stop at the pharmacy and get her eye drops. That is why there is the mucous in her eyes in the morning a lot of the time. He said her eyes are good with no changes from the previous visit. We talked about the storms and broken blood vessels, and I told him the vet and the IMS would not give her anything, so it is probably best as that tells me something. I need to work on that problem quickly.It is still pouring here and Tipper is sleeping. Early this morning at 1am the ice maker started up again, I had to get up and fix it. I could not go back to sleep and Tipper was up at 4am. I am tired and very upset so I am going to rest and post later. The roads are horrendous with pending everywhere. Glad we are back and out of that mess. I simply will not let this disease take my baby. Blessings
Patti
I am so sorry the tumor is growing so fast. :( We know the meds will not make adrenal tumors go away but always hope they can hold it at bay for a little while at least. Please let us know what the docs think and what direction you are thinking of going based on their feedback. The growing tumor may account for some of the behavioral changes in her, too.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Well, excuse me for saying, but dang it that is not what any of us where hoping for and I am just positive you are feeling sick to your stomach at the news. I sincerely feel just awful for this news. :( Was the last ultrasound 3 months ago?
I am glad you all made it home safe and sound. I wish it were a better day.
Okay, so here is a question for you.. What prognosis without surgery? Do they feel that it is a functional tumor? Has it invaded the vena cava? Do they think it could be a pheo?
Get some rest Patti and regroup. Do something none related and clear the mind. This hopefully will help to give you clarity of thought when you come back to it. I've had to do this myself several times, it feels impossible to do but if you can, it Does help. It doesn't have to be for very long, but it does have to be entirely clearing.
Sending you hugs and prayers
Sharlene and molly muffin
Oh Patti, I am so sorry to hear that Tipper's tumor has grown :( and will be keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.
I have heard that when a dog is afraid of a certain noise, like thunder and/or rain storm, that the noise should be taped and replayed back when the dog is not stressed and is doing something that the dog enjoys, starting with a very low sound and building the sound up until it is at the normal volume of a thunderstorm etc..and only turning the volume up when the dog gets used to that sound and shows no distress.
Hugs, Lori
Oh Patti!
Not good news but hopefully it is something that can be dealt with and hasn't become too invasive.
Tipper and you will be in my prayers!
Oh Patti I am so sorry to hear that Tipper's tumor has grown ;( Have they given you any idea what type of tumor it is? from what you posted it does not seem that it metastasized which is great and I have about the same questions as Sharlenes has, is it invading the vena cava? What size is it now? Do they think it is benign, a pheo, functioning or non?
Leslie has a good point maybe the behavior changes are due to the tumor growing?
I am sure you are devastated, I hope they have some answers for you so you can make a decision about having surgery or not that you feel comfortable. with.
Hi Patti,
I'll keep you and Tipper in our prayers as well! I know that's not good news about Tipper's tumor at all. I guess all we can do right now is stay healthy ourselves to fight for our babies. Get some rest. <sigh>
Hi Everyone:
I did not get to talk with the IMS today, the hospital was crazy with emergencies etc. She has never given me an opinion on what type of tumor this is only to say after seeing it repeatedly that pheos look different. I am not making a long post as I am too upset right now. I will however go back to my first feeling of this being a pheo because of the things Tipper does ikn her sleep etc. When I was researching tremors, they came up as a symptom of pheos. I have worried about this for a long time and many do not feel it is a pheo. The IMS said that nothing had metastasized anywhere I think the last two time she said that. Also she said
from an ultrasonic view the vena cava was not invaded. The fact that she made a paper error of the size of the tumor in January led her to believe this increase was miniscule. But, when I found the US from January that is not the case, she used the wrong number meaning the increase was much more than miniscule. Dr. Bruyette said to get a CT scan of the abdomen. Do not even know what that would cost. My mind is going on me, it has been a long day. I do know this Tipper is going to be 13 in October, she has tracheal issues, a heart murmur, vestibular disease, & Cushing's. The Dr.s that see her think she is in great shape. I could never live with myself, if my girl lost her life getting this tumor out, but I know what can happen from here and part of me says get rid of it. Do I have the right to put her through this when she has already had so much?? How much time would this buy her, is it worth the misery she would go thru? I have to watch this money and do not want to throw it away on a surgeon I am not confident in, and that is why I asked Dr. Bruyette about this surgeon, as she can from his hospital. I am wondering if this is why Tipper's tremors were getting worse, because this tumor was growing? My vet never even called me, I should not feel let down, because I should expect it! Blessings
Patti
Of course you are a wreck Patti. I think that is perfectly normal reaction to this news.
I think you have to have as many facts as possible and cannot even think of making a decision without them.
Money is an issue and so are all the factors involved in Tippers health.
hugs and love
Sharlene and molly muffin
Hi Everyone:
The hospital called and apologized for the mistake in the numbers. The report I looked at in January was typed in wrong by the IMS so Tipper's tumor increase was miniscule. That does give me some relief, but I am still worried. I wish this mistake had not happened as it made me awfully sick, and does change things. They want me to talk to a surgeon. I said unless it is someone who has done this procedure oodles of times forget it, as it will be a waste of money. If I am going to spend the money, it needs to be on a surgeon I would use. Blessings
Patti