Kasey, New to group- intro (9-10 y/o min poodle)
I've spent the last few days reading through a couple threads..
My name is Tracey, owned by two poodles (Kasey the probable cush dog, Turner, 5yrs) in Central Ohio
Kasey- 9-10 yr old min poodle
History- He has been on thyroid meds since he was 4 or 5yrs old. He had some sort of episode right before, his eyes were tracking (jiggling), head tilting, had trouble keeping his balance, partial facial paralysis that has improved over the years. He has to blink with his inner eyelid. (The thyroid meds helped with the eye tracking, balance, head tilt)When I had a better job, I took him for acupuncture/chiropractic. It definitely helped the paralysis .
He has always had concentrated urine, rarely any infection. The vet recommended low protein diet but for both dogs wasn’t really feasible. When I got him from the rescue, they warned me that they had not been able to housetrain him. I of course that that I could.. ha ha.. There was no rhyme or reason to his accidents. The last couple years, I have just used belly bands on him. My mom comes over during the work week to let the boys out mid day.
Present day..
About 3-4 months ago, he was rather quiet, not wanting to eat (extremely unusual), so to the vet we went. The vet put him on two weeks of Simplicef, boiled chicken/rice. He improved. About a month later he was bloated/retaining water. Back to the vet.. He is now on Lasix. He said to let him know how he did. He improved greatly, surprisingly his accidents became less frequent (assuming the Lasix was forcing his bladder to empty?). Few weeks later (after being so paranoid).. he seemed that to be having labored breathing, back to the vet. He is now on Enalipril, another trip he is now on Vetmedin. My vet suspects congestive heart failure. If I had the money to spare, I would absolutely have it verified by a cardiologist.
Kasey’s thyroid med was increased so I had to get his levels checked. I asked about getting some other levels checked (bun, creatine etc), they were supposed to ask. The tech, popped her head out and asked if he was “ravenous”? I said all the time! They said with his thinning hair, pot belly….. they wanted to get a urine sample to send out for a cushings test. Few days later, I got the call and the indicators (not sure what they were) are there. Next step is the ACTH(?) where he will basically spend the day at the vet. If he thinks I am late with his food, he stomps his feet, snorts and will bark. I have a few choice names/descriptions of this. It makes it VERY hard to give meds an hour before a meal! Periodically, I give in, choose my battles. I read in one of the threads that you can’t give the Veteryl when they have CHF? Or is it just a specific med interaction? What about the lysodren?. I know the acth test is $100+? Does that price go down after diagnosis? At least two of his meds I can get at Walmart for the $4..
Tracey & Kasey
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