Jasper (12 yr old Mini Schnauzer) is now at peace

Thinking of you both today

Hi Everyone,
Jasper is hanging in there. He did finally poo on Monday morning 3/3, so things are trying to get moving again. Not near normal yet though. Last night for supper I started mixing half and half of his kibble and the hamburger/rice. I will do that for a couple of meals and then advance further as long as he tolerates it. He had a poo yesterday that seemed pretty soft again, so I am watching it. I would like to get him fully transitioned back to his food while he is still on the metronidazole. I think we have 3 more days of that. He seems to be feeling ok for the most part, but sometimes he will just sit there looking at me and looks uncomfortable. No further vomiting since Sunday evening, so that is a big relief.

I have noticed that he has a couple of small bumps on his back and head that have cropped up. One on his back has been there for a few months, and I'm pretty sure my vet glanced at it at one point and said it was a papilloma and didn't seem too concerned. It is quite a bit larger now, and he has a smaller one on his head now that looks the same, as well as two others on his back that look different. :eek: So I will need to have those checked when my vet is back from vacation next week. Always something to worry about I guess. His repeat labwork is coming due also to see how the lowfat diet is affecting his high triglycerides (hopefully it is making a difference), and follow up liver values and electrolytes.

My Nana is doing ok for the moment, sometimes it is minute by minute with her also. She has recovered well physically since her fall on Thanksgiving, but her mental status has deteriorated quite a bit. I don't know how to say this exactly without sounding unkind, but she has always had a mean streak, and this side of her seems much more apparent and prevalent now with her cognitive changes. So it can be very difficult.

Thanks for checking on my boy. Keeping fingers crossed here that he continues to stabilize. :)

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

Hi Tina,

I am glad to hear Jasper is on the mend. Does my heart good.:) Your vet cant get back from vacation soon enough!!!


Our elders seem to go through an institution dementia that can affect them in different ways, it is very hard on them when their environment changes. I went through something similar with my mom with her first fracture. They are mourning a loss and can lash out. My mom would be so mean to the aides and me sometimes.
It is very difficult to deal with.

Thinking of you both.

Hi Tina,

Yay for good poops. Hope that soft one was a one off and Jasper gets back to normal.

*sigh* Yea, I went through the same thing with my dad when he was in the nursing home. Throw in Alzheimers and it sometimes wasn't a very good situation and the aides had to be careful of him, even his dearest friends, he just didn't know who they were and would lash out. It was pretty awful. He never did to me, but he could say some awful things. I know that if he had been himself, he would have been horrified by his action and words. It's hard for sure. Just hang in there and do the best you can.

hugs,
sharlene and molly muffin

Hi Tina,
I guess we all are facing the list of doggie worries and family worries...it never seems to let up lately! It really does feel like one thing after the other..with no break.

When elderly people have a fall it really takes a toll on them. My mother was not in great shape when she had a fall last May, after that things were never quite the same mentally. She would sometimes say things to her caregiver that were not so nice and worse...completely unlike her to ever be like that...but their brains change and it isn't easy to watch that happen or to cope with it. They just lose that filter and say whatever comes to mind. It's hard.

You know they always say "schnauzer bumps" are common with the breed. Besides this thing on her paw which seemingly sprang up over night, Trixie has two tiny little bumps on her body that have been there for a few years, plus now the lipoma which came right after the Cushings. It is common for older dogs to get papilloma...which are warts. They can change, get bigger and also shrink. That sounds like what Jasper has. I've been looking at the photos of these things ever since I found this growth on Trixie's foot. I was hoping that was what Trixie had, a wart, but it wasn't. I guess later I will know the results of the test on this thing she has.
I hope Jasper's system is getting settled and that he's getting back to 100% and that the triglycerides are looking good when you next check.
I haven't started using fish oil yet but wondering how you give it to Jasper? Do you just put it on his food? When you first started using it did he have any reaction...bad poops or gas, anything you would notice? I guess you are not using it right now while he's still recovering. So happy there was no more vomiting...that's a relief!!
I keep thinking Spring is almost here and hoping it brings good health to all our dogs!

Barbara

Tina,
I'm glad that Jasper continues to do well.

As for Nana, the mean streak showing through or in some cases, the individual was never mean and now is, isn't uncommon unfortunately. Our brains do crazy things when they're impaired.

I had an aunt who was so sweet, always smiling etc. She developed Alzheimer and near the end my cousin was fortunate enough to hire a full time nurse so that Aunt June could stay at home. We all went out for lunch one day and I couldn't believe it when I saw my aunt snarl at her nurse who was trying to coax her to eat more.

Do they know the reason for the rapid change? I ask because physical illnesses such as UTIs can cause these changes.

Hi Tina

Pleased to hear Jasper has perked up again, gosh it is not nice when things take a turn for the worse, one little vomit yesterday and my worry radar went on high alert... not good! Hope our wee man has had a good few days and you are getting his food transitioned with no hiccups.

Your poor Nana and also poor you having to deal with all that. It really does take it out of you caring for rellies and our pups too, sometimes it all gets so busy and I just want to slow the life rushing by and get off the roller coaster for a bit. This weekend is quiet time for me and Flynn, I have no trips out apart from the hospital of course :rolleyes: and just enjoy a relaxing weekend, I hope you can do the same! xx

Hi Everyone,
Jasper seems to have recovered for the most part from his bout of colitis. He is currently fasting for a vet appt and repeat labwork in the morning. I checked in with my vet to let her know that he had been sick and she said it was ok to still get the labwork as planned, including the UPC. I specifically asked about the UPC maybe being skewed since he and been sick but she said it would be ok. He has been back on his food completely since Saturday morning, so she felt the triglyceride level would not be affected. I am praying that the low fat diet has made a difference and there will be improvement. He will have all the bumps on his back checked also, and a general once over.

Barbara, I add the fish oil to Jasper's food. I mix it up real good so it pretty much coats the kibble. He did not have any problem adjusting to it when we first started. No bad poops or gas. He was on it for quite a while to treat the hyperlipidemia before he got Cushings. And now it is also a critical component in treatment of his proteinuria.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement about my Nana. While her cognitive status has deteriorated, the mean streak unfortunately has been something she has had her whole life, even when I was a kid. :( It just seems to surface more frequently now, which is not surprising. There has been some meanness toward the assisted living staff also, but thankfully that is not the norm so far. Although it does seem to be increasing there as well.

Well, I better get some more shut eye, have to get up earlier than usual for Jasper's appt. All fingers, paws and stubs crossed here for some good results for my little man. :)

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

GOOD LUCK JASPER!!! xxxxx

Tina, I just thought of one more thing. I was discussing the pro's and con's of enalopril vs benzapril with Mike a wee while back and he said he has found more GI issues with enalopril. I have been considering swapping Flynn over to that but with his tummy upset lately I have put it off a month. There would be a considerable saving for me as benzapril for Flynny is around $140 per month vs enalopril of about $10. Maybe something you could ask your vet too as I do not think it is that expensive here. We get special dog benzapril, but you have to use human enalopril. x