Attention Spaghetti's Friends

Ooops, I meant to say, Linguini's friends. This past weekend, our spotted girl, Linguini, the 11.5 year old dalmatian mix, became severely ill--notice it was the weekend again. She developed incontinence of . . . oh well, all orifices.
First thing Monday morning, we took her to the dog vet.  After a thorough check up, including a liver panel to make sure that the Rimadyl she's on long term did not cause any damage, Linguini was pronounced quite healthy (considering her advanced dog arthritis). She was prescribed  stronger pain meds to be taken sparingly ONLY as needed. She was also prescribed an anti-inflamatory drug to keep her from having dog diarrhea. She was already on DES for her incontinence, but her dosage was increased.
We're still waiting for the culture, but for now the dog vet was pretty clear:

Diagnosis

DRAMA QUEEN

The Happy End

Twink!

The Walk Of Shame

Not too long ago, our senior dog, our spotted girl, Linguini, got terribly sick,  by an adverse reaction to PROIN (also known as phenylpropanolamine, PPA, or Propalin), a drug she took daily to control her incontinence. Weeks after being prescribed a daily pill, Linguini started vomiting violently after every meal. She started losing weight and got weaker every day. Her decline was fast. The dog vet insisted that PROIN did not have any such adverse reactions and that it was probably the RIMADYL (carprofen) that was making her so ill. Through trial and error, we discovered that indeed it was the PROIN that was making her so SICK. We removed it from her diet. The vet argued and once again insisted that it was simply a coincidence and to put Linguini back on the drug. One meal later, Linguini was back to retching. It was the last time she took the drug. We got her off it altogether. A few days later she started to leak a bit, then some more, and about a week later she was leaving puddles everywhere. We lived like that for a few months, constantly mopping, cussing, feeling helpless. Linguini was suffering too, as she had to live with constantly wet bedding and fur.

The Walk of Shame

So, we did a bit of research. We found out that PROIN, an effective treatment for Canine Urinary Incontinence, should NOT be given concurrently with NSAIDs!!! How about that piece of precious information?

Linguini is currently on DES (diethylstilbestrol), a synthetic, non steroidal form of estrogen, also used for treatment of urinary incontinence in female dogs. The catch: DES is not approved for use in animals by the Food and Drug Administration, but is prescribed legally as an "extra-label" drug (the drug is registered for use in humans only). Because DES has it's own set of side-effects, careful monitoring is a must.

Our thought is that after a certain age (Linguini is 11 years old) a dog should be made as comfortable as possible. Our senior dog, our girl, is no longer ill nor does she need to wear diapers.

T--

Dog Arthritis And Blown Cruciate Update

(continued from yesterday)

Our dalmatian mix's blood test results came in, and meanwhile we were also able to locate what was making her so violently ill. It was the medication (hormone) that we had her on for her dog incontinence. Linguini had a rare reaction to Proin (phenylpropanolamine). We have already taken her off it and later, after her health has improved, we'll start looking at alternatives. The mop and bucket (along with bleach and Nature's Miracle) will have to replace the Proin for the time being. That's all good news since she hasn't thrown up once in the past 24 hours. She's already getting stronger.

The limp is a totally unrelated situation we need to tackle. We're going to give Linguini a couple more days to recover from the reaction to Proin and then put her on Rimadyl twice a day for a week. At the end of that time period, we will reconvene with the dog vet and decide for or against surgery. There is still a slight chance that the cruciate is partially torn versus completely blown. If it's partially torn and it's the dog arthritis that is mainly acting up, surgery will be postponed indefinitely to spare the senior dog from going under anesthesia.

I got some comments about dog glucosamine and chondroitin versus Rimadyl. I am grateful for all feedback, but in this dog's case, supplements will not suffice. She's already been on glucosamine for dogs, and on chondroitin,  and on fish oil for dogs. Supplements are always preferable to medication, but only when drugs can actually be avoided. Under the circumstances, the drug, Rimadyl, will potentially help avoid a rather involved, risky, and expensive surgery, so we have to give it a chance.

Twinkie

Dog Arthritis And Possible Rimadyl Adverse Reaction

Our Linguini, an eleven year old female dalmatian mix, has been diagnosed with dog arthritis. 

She's had arthritic type signs for a long time. Due to recent sudden weight loss accompanied by acute vomiting, we rushed her to the dog vet to find out why she was wasting away so suddenly. What was making her so ill? The Rimadyl, the fish oil for dogs, or Proin (phenylpropanolamine), the hormone to help control her dog incontinence? The vet did x-rays and ran a new blood test (her last one was ten months ago).

The telling x-ray

The above x-ray clearly shows that our girl's left leg is heavily afflicted by dog arthritis, as is her spine. Surprisingly, her right leg doesn't show any signs of dog arthritis! After a thorough physical, our dog vet added that the dog's probably suffering fro a blown cruciate and will most likely need surgery. 

We're waiting for the blood test results to come in before we decide how to proceed. We are also playing around with her medications, to figure out which one may be causing the excessive and violent vomiting (the fish oil for dogs is not a suspect at this point). The cruciate surgery is promising. The chances of full functionality are really good. There are rare complications (breakdown) with this type of surgery, but we are lucky because our dog vet happens to specialize in it. The cons are significant as well: with a senior dog there is always an elevated risk during sedation, the recovery is long, and the cost makes us wish we had heeded our own warnings an PSAs and gotten pet insurance!

To be continued . . . 

Twinkie

Rimadyl

What is Rimadyl

Rimadyl is the name Pfizer uses for Carprofen. It's like saying Advil instead of Ibuprofen, for humans. If you have a dog that you're told needs to be on Rimadyl, especially for a log time, skip the brand name and opt for a generic, cheaper brand. It's the same thing. Carprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug mainly used to treat dog arthritis symptoms and flare ups along with hip dysplasia in a senior dog as a long term solution. Short term use is mainly prescribed post-op to relieve temporary inflammation.

In the United States, Rimadyl (Carprofen) is available in 25, 75, and 100mg tablets, liver flavored or non. It's easier for the dog owner to use Pfizer's Rimadyl only because of the taste. Most patients will eat it as if it's a dog treat because of the taste. You need to ask your dog vet about dosage which varies according to the dog's weight.

The most effective way to administer Carprofen, in the long term, is in two doses, a morning one and an evening one.

Dangers Associated With Rimadyl

For long-term use, Rimadyl has been associated with liver and kidney problems, and even gastritis and ulcers, that's why if your dog is going to be prescribed this drug, he/she needs frequent evaluations and blood work done at your vet's office. Other side effects, include loss of appetite, vomiting, and wobbling. If your dog is just getting started on Rimadyl (Carprofen) you must keep a watchful eye and contact your vet if you notice: vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, increase in water consumption, seizures, increase in urination, drowsiness, skin changes, and behavior  changes (energy level, aggression)

Other names for  Rinadyl/ cheaper solutions

 

If you own a small dog, and you are a responsible owner, you may want to opt for buying larger pills that you cut down to the proper size. No vet will recommend that, so you have to be careful. As for glucosamine for dogs, fish oil for dogs, and chondroitin, you should know that they are not alternatives. These are supplements. They do help boosts your dog's system, but they are not drugs therefore they only compliment the use of Carprofen, they don't replace it. You can always opt to purchase a senior dog food that has those supplements in its formula.
If you are going to be using the drug long-term, there are other names, including the generic Carprofen, you should look up. They do the same job and cost a lot less. Other names include: Novox, Vetprofen, and Care-O-Pet that are available in caplets or chewable. The savings are significant. Another way to save money is not to buy it from your vet. There are companies (such as 1800petmeds.com) that offer great deals over the Internet. Do your research.

When shopping around, I recommend you look up Carprofen, a term few dog owners know.

M--

Chihuahua Pictures | Junior's Back

Junior's back with his Rhodesian ridgeback siblings. Many of you asked if we're keeping him. That was the plan, but the Rhodesian ridgeback duo would have none of that. They are convinced that he'll grow up to be a rhodie someday.
In any case, as we're trying to put our home back in order, Junior's pictures will do. M only got a few hundred of them.

Today's edition of chihuahua pictures

Junior enjoying small dog treats

Junior getting ready for his trip to Hawaii

Junior hiding from me, the teacup chihuahua, behind the spotted dog

(like the plumbers, yesterday)

 What's this?

A brave chiweenie???

Junior passing my sniff test

I have a good idea of who is Junior's favorite from my pack.

It's the senior dog. Quick update: my older sissy is now on Rimadyl and she's comfortable

.

Awww, it's The Hand, another hand, not to be confused with the hand-shaped dog leash designed by Alice Wang!

I hope all of today's puppy cuteness didn't deter you from voting (tab up top: Furry Tails) in our latest pet photo contest (4 days left). I wonder who's going to win the pawesome prizes from Clean+Green by SeaYu!

Gotta mop!

Twinkie

Dog Supplements For Our Senior Dog

Another emergency visit to the dog vet with our eleven-year-old sick dog. During the weekend, our senior dog, a dalmatian mix that weighs 64lbs, started to limp visibly and at times had difficulty getting up. After a thorough examination, I left the vet's with a $270 bill and an order to go get more dog supplements. Let me break it down.

Our senior dog developed her first of multiple dog tumors and started limping noticeably almost a year ago. I, the mom and owner, got all depressed and preparing obsessively for her trip to the rainbow bridge. I was so wrong. I lack experience in older dogs, that was all. The vet biopsied the tumor, declared it benign and asked me to put her on dog supplements, primarily dog glucosamine. I started her on those immediately and the change happened equally fast. I got my dog back. I was warned that there would be more tumors and not to worry so much. That came true. As for the supplements, I started her out on K-9 Liquid Health with glucosamine and MSM and when she "leveled" out I tried the Petco Joint Support III tablets. The switch gave her another boost. I plan to keep alternating her supplements about once a year.

Last weekend, while the vet's office was closed, my senior dog got worse than last time. She seemed unable to hold herself up. I waited patiently for my own vet because I don't trust the emergency clinic as much. I also gave her rimadyl that I had asked the vet to provide me with for emergencies.

Monday morning, we were at the vet's. Within a few minutes of our visit, the vet had a diagnosis ready. This wasn't a relapse. It wasn't even associated to the newly emerged tumors. The vet pulled a one inch piece of stick out of the front paw of my not really sick dog! But I had already checked my dog out meticulously! I hadn't missed it. It had simply pushed itself out, rejected by the dog's body, on that morning. The vet prescribed antibiotics for the affected area that was slightly pussy and swollen and proceeded to do a general exam. It is really important for older dogs to be seen by their vet regularly.

The vet was satisfied with my senior dog food choice. I have her on Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food, Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe because of the main ingredients that even a human would consume. She was also happy to hear about the dog supplements, but she said I was missing one important dog supplement: omega-3 fatty acids. For my dog of 64lbs, the vet was very specific; the recommended dosage for a dog of that size is 500mg. My vet stressed the importance of omega-3 fatty acids for older dogs. A series of studies published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) has shed light on the benefits derived by this supplement for dogs with osteoarthritis. I suppose everyone knows that an eleven year old is definitely afflicted by dog arthritis. While dog arthritis does not mean sick dog, it does mean special care.

The special care of an older dog suffering from arthritis is simple: keep the weight down (overweight dogs suffer more), consistent and regular exercise, dog glucosamine, and now omega-3 has been added to the list, along with a good quality dog food, not necessarily a specific senior dog food.

Once again, a couple of short days after the emergency dog vet visit, I see my spotted senior dog happily running around. Tomorrow I will start her again on her usual exercise regiment.

M--

Dog Arthritis | How To Care For Your Dog

There are two types of dog arthritis, degenerative and inflammatory. Inflammatory joint disease can be either caused by an infection or can appear due to immune related diseases. It's a systemic illness that is usually accompanied by fever, lack of appetite, and rigid extremities. In situations such as the one I just described, head over to your dog vet for immediate treatment.

Degenerative joint disease, arthritis caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage that protects the joints, is subdivided into primary and secondary disease. In the case of primary joint disease there is no specific cause evident. It is usually a natural result of aging and you'll see plenty of evidence of that in your senior dog. Secondary degenerative joint disease can be pinpointed and it can sometimes be treated through surgical repair. The causes for this type of arthritis are hip dysplasia, trauma, ruptured ligaments, patella luxation, etc.

General signs of dog arthritis:
Difficulty and reluctance to walk, run, jump, sometimes accompanied by whining
Overall slowing down and lagging behind
Difficulty getting up
Flinching or resisting touch from your afflicted dog
Random yelping during movement
Refusal to climb in a car

There are many drugs available for the containment and or treatment of arthritis, that's why your dog should be under veterinary care. The number one drug of choice in such instances, provided it's not long term and your dog does not have other health issues, is Rimadyl. You need a prescription for this one. I always prefer the more natural route, so I use dog supplements. The one that seems to be working so far is K-9 Liquid Health. It was recommended by a friend with a senior dog and it helped our senior dog tremendously. From limping she got to jumping the fence again. And from what we know so far, there's no harm giving your dog glucosamine.

Other measures you can take to help relieve dog arthritis include:
1. The maintenance of the proper body weight. This is the easiest thing you can do for your dog. An overweight dog will put undue stress on her joints and will suffer more. You can switch to a lower calorie kibble, or cut back on the regular portions adding some veggies or canned pumpkin to help your dog feel more full.
2. Along with the regular dog supplements of your choice, consider offering quality senior dog food and dog treats enhanced with glucosamine.
3. Make sure your dog gets just the right amount of exercise. Enough to stay fit and not too much as to strain the already inflamed joints.
4. There is a variety of products available to make every day life easier on an arthritic dog. For small dogs you can find dog steps and for larger you can find a huge variety of dog ramps to help with getting in and out of the car. For our 60lbs dog we've purchased the Solvit Telescoping Pet Ramp, that sells for about $90.00 which we've had for a couple of years now. It's sturdier than the folding type, making it easy for the dog to adjust, and it is really durable. A cheaper alternative would be the Pet Gear Bi-Fold Ramp which can hold dogs up to 250lbs. This one costs close to $60.

If you have a senior dog, chances are that she is afflicted by arthritis to a certain degree. I would recommend taking all of the above measures.

Twinkie

Hiking Without The Teacup Chihuahua | The Perils of Hiking With Dogs

Hiking with dogs is a lot of fun, until one fine day, you find yourself hiking without dogs...

I, Twinkie Twinkerson, the teacup chihuahua, messed up! I messed up big time and I'm here to confess. Yesterday, my pack joined the two rhodesian ridgebacks for a hike. Little did we know, it was going to be the dog hiking experience of the century.

We met at the creek. My pack (my senior sissy, the crazy chiweenie, and I) got there first and when the enormous rhodies showed up we were overwhelmed by the warm welcome. We said our "hellos" (picture the butt-sniff train), and off we went. Our moms are good friends and they started to chat endlessly. After the first half hour, I, Twinkie, the three legged teacup chihuahua, decided to take off. I smelled something I simply couldn't resist and I broke away from the group for just one moment. Before I knew it, I had lost my pack. I looked everywhere for them, and I was starting to panic because even though I act tough, I've not been away from my mommy since my gotcha day. In the beginning, I tried to distract myself, smelling the bushes, the horse poop, and drank fresh water from the creek. Still, no pack in sight. My little heart was sinking as I started making circles looking for my family and friends. I missed them all so much and didn't know what to do. So, I made a decision. I walked all the way back to our brand new car, which I was hoping I'd recognize. I was very lonely and I was shaking all over, I was that nervous!

I was so sad when I got to the car. Nobody was there waiting for me. I looked back and I could tell I was really far away from my pack. Since I couldn't come up with a better idea, I decided to hang by the car, which luckily I recognized, but there were three dogs on a balcony across from where we were parked and they were barking at me. If M was there she surely would have used her ultrasonic dog bark control thingy. I was desperate, but they wouldn't stop yelling and it was very hot in the sun, so I decided to hide under the car until help arrived.

Ages later, or so it seemed to this scared puppy, my auntie pulled up in her car. My auntie? My favorite auntie, here, now? I waited for her to get out of the car and went straight to her. She looked down at me, as if she expected to see me, and she took me gently up her arms. Safe at last, but what was wrong with my auntie? She was crying! I clung to her as she made her way down the creek path with me in her arms.

Out of nowhere I heard a woman screaming my name. For a split second, I couldn't recognize the weird husky hysterical voice, and all of a sudden, it hit me. It was my mom. She was looking for me. Auntie started yelling M's name at the same time. When M and I could finally see each other, something weird happened. M fell down and started to sob. I felt very bad. I knew it was my fault and I hate to watch my mommy cry. She got up fast, ran to me, and grabbed me from my auntie. Auntie took off. Then with the rest of my pack in tow we started running fast deep into the creek. Now M was yelling Hank's name, my rhodesian friend's. I was confused but at least now I was in my mom's shirt, safe and comfortable. She had taken my leash and used it as a belt, tightening it around her shirt, to keep me in place, like a kangaroo. We kept running like this for at least half an hour. Near the end M was yelling both Hank's name and some not so pleasant words. Where we lost again?

Finally, M, very concerned about all the running about and what it's effects on our senior dog would be, took us all to the car and left. I wished she'd kept me in her shirt, but at least I was safe and I was reunited with my pack. They had all been frantically looking for me.

About half an hour later, M returned, dirty, sweaty, but smiling, and she was accompanied by her friend and the rhodies. It was the rhodies' mom's turn to start sobbing. I felt so bad. I started waiving my front paws at her and when she got close enough I jumped on her lap rubbing my head all over her, trying to explain that I was both sorry and okay. She forgave me, I know because afterwards she gave me a huge marrow bone, my favorite dog treat.

I am so sorry! I will never leave my pack again. I will not leave my mommy. I will be a good girl and if I want to keep my off-leash privileges, I will stay close to my pack.

Luckily, it all ended well and we got home late that night tired and hungry. My geriatric sissy had her senior dog supplements and a Rimadyl and she's fine today.

Hiking with a tiny dog is a challenge. The perils are numerous, from large prey birds, to coyotes, fast moving water that can carry a small dog, rattle snakes . . . and the list goes on. M is not giving up our hikes. She is going to be taking new measures though. We shall see what those will be, but I know she's already made up her mind.

Hiking with dogs is fun, but one must be cautious and alert at all times

Go hug your mom!

* * *

Update for the kitten lovers: I've been getting some smart comments from furiends who are teasing me about kitten blog invasions, take overs, and coups. Enough cats on my blog for my taste. I'm going to be posting frequent updates and almost daily photos and videos, over here: Pregnant Cat Info. Today's photos along with an adorable video can be found by clicking here: Kitten Pictures.

Oh, what the pizzle! Here are some kitten pictures:

 Go away bro

Oh, fine! Hug?

My kitten sure could smell better

I guess it's bath time

(even kittens get bathed)

Marilyn's debut

(we call her that temporarily because of the beauty mark)

Okay, now I'm really done. Bye bye.

Twink!

Dachshund Pictures | What Happened to Dexter?

No, not the HBO Dexter. We all know what happened to him. *Sigh* He married his television show sister in real life, thus breaking M's heart. I'm talking about Dexter the doxie, the one who managed to get me to engage in play. Let me shed some light to my question by posting a series of dachshund pictures.

Scheming Dexter

Slowly putting the plan in effect

No worries, this doxie know what he's doing

Stop staring at the wee wee

Bare with me, there's a lesson to be learned here

I know he's stopped moving, it's part of his underhanded plan

More convincing this way . . . tongue hanging out ever so slightly

Uh-oh, the attack of the striped horse barn socks

"Whatcha doing to me?"

Just like that, the doxie was airlifted and placed in his vehicle

If those ain't precious dog training tips, what is?

A quick review: know the signals when your pack is getting ready to return home. Place self in strategic position with clear view of vehicle (you don't want to be left behind on accident). Slowly roll on your back and play dead. If you've done your homework, your biped will come and gently lift you and do the rest of the work for you. I'm working on a technique to extend the play time.

Thank you Dexter for a wonderful demonstration in dog training. Keep up the good work and make us proud, my friend!

* * *

A brief update for the spotted dog's friends. Linguini is ... better. M isn't. Here's why:

A week on Rimadyl and Linguini bounced back. With a vengeance. Our first clue: she jumped the fence and raided the neighborhood's cat and dog food bowls. She had to come in through the front entry though because she was as big as the Good Year Blimp and couldn't jump over the fence again. Tsk tsk. The dog vet ordered her to lose weight. So, due to these recent developments, M is now on the Rimadyl and Linguini in the dog house. 

Twinkie

Pit Bulls | Aggressive Dogs

We did get to go to the horse barn on Sunday too. We got up while it was still dark and M loaded us in the car. Frankie, the brindle chiweenie, sometimes jumps in on her own, when she's having a brave day. I always need a lift. Linguini, the dalmatian mix, is satisfied by getting the butt lift only.

As soon as we got to the barn, we saw Asha, the pitbull rescue. She's grown! I'll share my pitbull pictures and I'll talk to you about pit bull aggression and pitbull training.

I love Asha's tail

She's too perfect without the kink

This is Asha's sister, Chloe

A west highland white terrier

Another of the horse barn folks' rescue dogs

Notice the pit bull aggression? Not yet, huh? Wait

How about now?

Let me tell you what happened next. M started to summon Asha's parent to ask her to keep Asha from playing with Linguini. M was worried both about what the dog vet ordered and the fact that Linguini does not engage in play regularly. So, M stated, matter of fact, that Linguini does NOT play. Hmm, some other dog rescue parents overheard and one of them even corrected M. "Linguini is playing," the lady said. "No she's not, she never plays," M argued. "Your girl is playing," the lady insisted. M shrugged and backed off, holding her breath. Let's see some more pit bull aggression then. 

Oooh, that's scary!

It's scary from this side as well

I watched helplessly from the sidelines as the pitbull attack began

OMD these two are two aggressive dogs

Must be the pit bull's fault

Hmm, maybe the lady was right about Linguini playing

But aren't pit bulls the most aggressive dogs on earth?

So far, I can only prove they're professional sniffers

Maybe they got their reputation from being aggressive sniffers

Asha's sniffing, aka making friends, with Holly, the blue heeler

Beware of the upcoming pit bull attack!

Beware, happy pit bull on your rear!

Exasperated Linguini: "Move it, kids. Asha and I are playing."

Careful, what's this human peanut doing playing with aggressive dogs?

Where is her parent? Hasn't she heard of pitbull aggression?

I'm sorry, when faced with extreme stupidity and lack of information, I turn a bit facetious. I feel the need to make flippant remarks to try and grab people's attention. Boneheaded pit bull aggression myths, dismissed. All you responsible pit bull owners and lovers need to do is work on your pitbull training as early as possible and be consistent like with any other breed. The only extra thing you need to worry about with your pit bull is the burden of society. 

Our demo pit bull, Asha, has been in training for a couple of short months. She's now the ideal companion you can take anywhere. She's friendly with dogs and humans alike. She loves children and she even likes (puts up) with little dogs. Asha is a role model!

As for Linguini, we know she wasn't supposed to play due to her condition. She was a bit sore after yesterday, but she also had a big smile on her face all day long. We hope that her mental health along with the Rimadyl will contribute to her physical health. 

Adopt a dog and feel free to make it a pit bull. They're as nice as the rest of us. It's up to you.

All responsible dog owners, should carefully go over the different dog breeds, before deciding on the best match that will benefit both the parent and the dog. What's the best dog for you?

Twinkie