Well, apparently UTI's are very common in dogs. Neither of our dogs have had it before, but Addie definitely had it this past week. It started on Friday night. She had an accident in the house while we were out and we knew something was wrong as she hasn't done that since she was a puppy! But being the great dog she is, she found a rubber mat by the door to use which was the best of all places :-) She also had to go outside urgently every 3-4 hours.
Since it was the weekend and our vet was closed, we tried some cranberry extract. That actually worked pretty well until Monday when we could get a urine sample tested. It was an infection as we had assumed. Our general vet recommended antibiotics, but our holistic vet had another approach with herbal pills that did not include antibiotics. We tried the holistic route since she is on Neoplasene and we didn't want to risk any interference. Within 2 days, she was 100%, but still taking the pills for another week.
Overall, she has been very active. Taking 6-8 mile hikes with us on Sundays, playing with her toys, and generally in good health/spirits. We are at the 10 month post diagnosis mark and still counting....
The picture above is her hiking (ok running) 2 weeks ago with Shep and cousin Mazie.
4 comments:
Hello!
Can I take a moment of your time? I just had a HORRIBLE experience involving my Nikko's treatment, and Dr Fox has been absolutely cruel and unhelpful in every way. If you have a moment, I'm hoping that your experience may be able to help me to help my Nikko... I'm truly in a bad place here, and any info can help me figure things out, if you're willing.
Here is our situation: Our vet prescribed us to take Neo Oral 300 3x per day at a dose of 1.06 ml/cc per serving, for a total of 3.18 ml/cc per day. Nikko was 31.2 lbs at the time, but is now 35.3 lbs.
Last week, a tumor was found on his heart, which may very well have already been there but just never noticed before. Still, Dr Fox recommended that I bring Nikko's dosage up from 1.06 per meal (3x per day) to 1.3 and eventually 1.5 over time. Dr Fox also said that he NEVER has dogs consume Neo Oral 3x per day, but he changed the subject when I asked if I should reduce us to two times per day instead. So, I still don't know if I should make the switch or not.
In the process of raising him to 1.3 ml/cc per serving, Nikko has drastically reduced his appetite. Since only big pieces of chicken/meat appeal to him, I really can't get away with too much of the "small, ground" portions. Further, I basically have to rest the Neoplasene on top of the food, and put just some of it "inside" the food because like I said, if the meat gets cut up, he loses quite a bit of interest.
My questions are:
(1) Does it seem to make a difference whether the Neo is "worked into the food" or just sitting atop it? Nikko has become finnicky, and I'm struggling just to get him to consume this stuff.
(2) Dr Fox yelled "NO" when I asked if I could use the syringe to deliver the Neo Oral to Nikko by squirting it into his mouth directly and then feeding him right before or after. Then, a second later, he told me to put the entire food/medicine mix into a syringe and feed Nikko that way... Huh?? I can't squirt meat into his mouth from a syringe unless I am absolutely missing something here.
(3) Addie only eats and takes her medicine twice daily, right? Can I ask what her dose is compared to her weight? (She's 75 lbs, right?) And, can I pick your brain a bit in terms of how you prepare the food? I was told by my vet to boil Nikko's food all together, but others have said to broil it in a frying pan. Dr Fox gave me no solid answer.
I appreciate any suggestions that you may have, or any info as to your own experiences. It'd be nice if Dr Fox actually provided the "free help" that he mentions on his website, but all that guy wants to do is yell at people like a child.
Thanks :-) I'm glad Addie is so well!
PS -- I noticed that Addie is running several miles. Nikko is also a runner, so I asked Dr Fox if that was OK and he insisted that it isn't... He claims that "the dog needs his energy" and he scolded me for asking because "it doesn't say anywhere in the instructions to exercise, does it??" Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know that he said that so you'd know, just in case. Thanks again :)
All things considered, happy for you and Addie...she is still with you and looks so happy about it. Wow. You are so very, very fortunate to be given this time. I am still so sad that my girl is gone...nothing could have prepared me for this. Keep on keeping on. Cheers.
I was looking at apartments the other day and asked about the pet policy. They said no pitbulls or rottweillers.
I almost punched the man in the face.
(my grief translates to anger at times)
Addie's awesome! So glad she's still enjoying her life and still blessing yours!!!!
HI AND CONGRATULATIONS WITH ADDIE. THE FUNNY THING ABOUT ADDIE'S JOURNEY IS THAT I HAVE BEEN READING IT FOR 5-6 MONTHS NOW NOT KNOWING THAT I WOULD ONE DAY NEED YOUR HELP.
MY BEAUTIFUL BOY BRANDON, AN 8 YEAR OLD YELLOW LAB WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HEMANGIOSARCOMA AND HAD A SPLENECTOMY ON MAY 22, 2009. DURING SURGERY HE HAD NO VISIBLE METASTATIC DISEASE. HIS TUMOR CAME BACK AS A GRADE 3.
MAY I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT ADDIE:
DID SHE HAVE CHEMO?
WHAT GRADE WAS HER TUMOR?
HAD IT SPREAD?
ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM NEOPLASENE?
BRANDON IS ALSO 70 POUNDS - WHAT IS THE DOSE OF NEOPLASENE THAT YOU ARE GIVING?
DOES YOUR HOLISTIC VET DO PHONE CONSULTS?
IF SO, HOW MAY I GET IN TOUCH?
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I WISH ADDIE A LONG, HEALTHY LIFE. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL!
JOANNE - BRANDON'S MOM
Post a Comment