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Post by Kimby on Dec 23, 2022 2:30:20 GMT
Can’t remember if I have mentioned that Pearl is beginning to be hyperthyroid, according to her latest bloodwork. It’s early, but we want to try to slow it down until we can get her treated with radioactive iodine (after our 2 month trip to Sanibel to clean up after Hurricane Ian.)
The pills the vet gave us for her are tiny AND we have to split them into quarters. We mix 1/4 pill into her canned cat food each day. About 2 weeks after starting the pills we got another blood test and her numbers were improved. So far so good.
But a week or so after arriving on Sanibel, we noticed she was developing itchy bumps on her face. In no time, she had scratched them till they bled, and her pretty little face looked pretty bad. Apparently itchy sores are a possible side effect of this thyroid medicine. Anther possibility is that the mosquitos and noseeums were biting her, since our screens were all blown out by the hurricane.
We stopped the pills and after a week or two the sores started healing. Now I hope the hair grows back where she scratched so hard. She does seem happier, though.
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Post by casimira on Dec 23, 2022 11:55:56 GMT
Thanks good people.
All in all he was back to normal for the most part all day. The sun was out and he was able to get up and down the stairs without assistance. He lay in the sun and visited with some dogs walking by with their owners.
(I do think that his lying in the grass at 2 a.m. did somehow relax him and made him more comfortable.)
I placed a series of area rugs and runners down for him in the second room where he was having difficulty getting up. We suspect that he was trying to get up several times and panicked when he couldn't as well as all the effort making him sore. I hope we are right.
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Post by casimira on Dec 23, 2022 14:27:18 GMT
I missed seeing your post about Pearl Kimby. Sorry to hear but glad to know that she is on the mend and continues to do so.
The rugs I put down last p.m. did the trick with Papi able to get some traction on this floor here. I put them down in a pathlike way and it worked out well.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 23, 2022 19:08:30 GMT
Sorry to read about Papi Casi. I am sure the rugs will help. It is amazing how strong they are even after a bad night which makes you question all the things you were trying to prepare yourself for the next day and they appear as almost nothing happened. Our Jacob would come home from having surgery and tear around the property like nothing had happened and we would spend days trying to keep him out of the water!
Kimby glad to hear your dear Pearl is responding to medication and is on the mend.
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Post by lugg on Dec 23, 2022 19:19:04 GMT
Good news Casimira and Kimby.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 23, 2022 22:14:01 GMT
Kimby glad to hear your dear Pearl is responding to medication and is on the mend. Actually she’s doing well because we took her OFF the meds. Now we will have to look at the radioactive iodine treatment, since she doesn’t seem to tolerate the pills. Mia had that and it gave her 3 or 4 more years, whereas without treatment cats only live about a year. Since Pearl is 12-14 years old, 3-4 more years is almost what you’d expect, 15-18 years. We were spoiled by our first kitty Boodles living past her 20th birthday. Casi, glad your scare with Papi seems to have had an easy fix. Hope it keeps up.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 24, 2022 19:07:45 GMT
Sorry, I misunderstood. Good to read that she is doing well.
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Post by lugg on Jul 26, 2023 20:19:39 GMT
So my only remaining horse Toby is now really struggling with his arthritis . Had the vet to see him today and she has suggested we add in paracetamol to his daily meds . I don't know yet how much that will be but as he is about 500 kg I guess it will be a lot. She told me he is really at the end stage now . Just hoping to give him another few weeks , that are relatively pain free. I am finding it hard of course, having arthritis myself, I would not want someone to shoot me just yet. The main problem is I don' t think he can lie down anymore and that brings narcolepsy and the risk that if he does lie down he cannot get back up. It is so tough to decide what is best for him and to ignore my own thoughts/ feelings
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 26, 2023 20:54:35 GMT
My brother and sister-in-law lost their two horses already a few years ago. I never asked for the details, but I know it was a painful and sad moment for them.
But actually, my sister-in-law had an even worse moment when she lost her parrot Wendell. She had grown up with him and they had been together for 35 years. That must be devastating.
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Post by htmb on Jul 27, 2023 0:24:52 GMT
So sorry, Lugg. I’m sure this is painful for you. It can be such a tough decision trying to decide when is the best time to relieve an animal’s pain and suffering. How old is Toby? Have you had him a long time?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2023 1:23:20 GMT
I'm so sorry, Lugg. You've always spoken of Toby with such affection and care for his well-being. I hope the dear boy gets some relief and that the decision will be somehow taken out of your hands.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jul 27, 2023 6:36:54 GMT
This is always the worst time with our animals and judging when they no longer have quality of life. I wish him well for a while yet.
My son had to have his dear old Staffy put to sleep a couple of weeks ago and we could see in the dog’s eyes that it was time.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 27, 2023 14:23:30 GMT
This is such a sad page and I’m sorry for all your losses.
Some rare happy news. Pearl had to get blood work before getting the I-131 treatment and the new blood results contradicted the hyperthyroid diagnosis from the previous tests! So we carry on. She’s still old, and getting pretty deaf (as am I).
We old girls have to stick together!
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Post by lugg on Jul 29, 2023 19:57:52 GMT
Thank you all ...most / many of us have been here I know and I am sorry for your losses or those of your family members..
Kimby good news and yes us old girls have to stick together for sure !
Today I looked like a drug dealer ... taking a weeks supply of crushed paracetamol( now a white powder) to my stable in plastic zip lock bags . After crushing it ( that was not an easy job and a few expletives were emitted ) I was covered in a white particle film as was much of my kitchen . It turns out he needs 20 tabs x 2 a day . Anyway the good news is that I was not stopped by the police on the way there and that he ate it mixed in with his feed. Hopefully it will help him
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 29, 2023 21:08:02 GMT
That sounds like a very sobering task.
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Post by htmb on Jul 29, 2023 22:25:54 GMT
Two weeks worth! Sounds like quite a job. Hopefully they’ll make a big difference, along with your TLC.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 29, 2023 22:51:10 GMT
Fingers crossed, Lugg!
If you have to crush up any more medicine for him, try using a coffee/spice grinder. It's fast and you won't wind up looking like a bit part in Breaking Bad afterward.
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Post by mossie on Jul 30, 2023 7:19:50 GMT
I'm past the stage when I should be put down, but when I asked the doc he said that it was against the law. Bugger and damn, etc. etc.
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Post by lugg on Aug 4, 2023 19:57:16 GMT
try using a coffee/spice grinder. I think I am going to invest in one because my veg chopper is not doing the job
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Post by lugg on Aug 4, 2023 20:03:10 GMT
I'm past the stage when I should be put down, but when I asked the doc he said that it was against the law. Bugger and damn, etc. etc. Mossie ... I am sure though that there is life in the old damn dog yet
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 4, 2023 23:06:42 GMT
I think I am going to invest in one Yard sales & thrift shops are sources, too. They're great little machines. If you grow & dry your own herbs & chiles, the grinder is a godsend.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 6, 2023 20:50:34 GMT
Good luck lugg, I hope that it works and Toby gets some relief. Our dog has been out of sorts over the past few days. He seems to be having trouble jumping down from the sofa, off steps etc and gives a pathetic little 'whuff' so one of us lifts him down. His coat is still glossy and his nose is still wet, not off his food...he's sleeping a lot tho. Perhaps he's pulled a muscle. We are keeping an eye on him, maybe it's something to do with his joints...he's only 7 1/2 years old tho. Worry worry
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Post by lugg on Aug 7, 2023 19:23:16 GMT
Worry worry I am so with you there ...hopefully your boy is feeling better today.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 9, 2023 21:13:59 GMT
Django is back After a worrying few days where he was listless and uncharacteristically quiet he just bounced back this morning. Maybe he had a bug or something...anyway I am still watching him like a hawk but he seems ok now thank goodness.
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Post by htmb on Aug 9, 2023 21:31:42 GMT
Very good news!
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 9, 2023 23:27:50 GMT
Awww ~ good boy, Django!
Lugg, is Toby feeling any better?
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Post by whatagain on Aug 10, 2023 17:42:40 GMT
Good news. Fingers crossed for the others. Our dog turned 10 on July 14 and she cannot take a walk with us. We walk 2-3 hours and she just cannot follow. However she barks more and more and more strident. A real pita.
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Post by Kimby on Aug 11, 2023 1:50:47 GMT
It’s been my experience that animals become more vocal, and more strident, as they age. Could it be that as their hearing declines they have to speak louder to hear themselves?
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 11, 2023 3:54:33 GMT
Our dog turned 10 on July 14 and she cannot take a walk with us. We walk 2-3 hours and she just cannot follow. However she barks more and more and more strident. Just because the poor dog can't do one of your march-or-die walks doesn't mean she shouldn't get a walk. Can't you take her out for a 15 or 20 minute walk? That outing & exercise might mean way less barking.
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Post by lugg on Nov 18, 2023 20:46:54 GMT
A few months ago I mentioned that my old boy was struggling. Now he is really struggling and can barely get up off the ground when he does lie down; which is increasingly rare as he knows that he cant get up . Narcolepsy will follow soon (if not already) and so the time has come ...arrangements made for Monday pm ...but tomorrow I am going to spoil him with lots of treats.
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