Ahhh!! Giardia

At least I think so.

The thing with Dante’s IBD is that he never had diarrhea.  He had mucous and blood in his stool. 

So I come home on Friday and he’s pooped in the basement.  I’d noticed he’d been a bit runny for the last few days.  He’s also been gassy (holding nose…).  So I don’t think it’s his IBD flaring. 

I was out in the yard weeding the garden and he mosied over to one of his bowls I left out there.  It’s been out there for a while so who knows what was in that water.  I yelled, “Don’t do that!”  Then I remembered that he’s done that a few times in the last few weeks.  Two + two = giardia.  He’s had it in the past and immune system deficient dogs (the IBD puts him in that category) are more prone to this.

I have so many doggie drugs in this house I could be a canine pharmacy.  Seriously.  So I remembered I have a full perscription for flagyl so I gave it to him today and will continue to do so for 5 days.  That usually does the job.

He’s doing well as far as the Chiari is concerned.  He is still on Nuerontin x3 but that seems to keep him stable (for the most part) and happy.

The more I think about it I think his belly might have been bugging him to cause the bad day recently. 

We shall see.

Mr. Poodle is settling down with his bone now.  I love this dog.

I should have become a vet!

Managing a Multiple Health Issue Dog

It’s interesting.  You need to be a detective. 

So I’m worried about a bad day regarding the SM with Dante.  But I realize that he’s been having gas for the last day or three and rejecting food.  Dante has IBD, which for the most part has resolved to no treatment in the last month.  For whatever reason that seems to be the issue here for the bad day.  I gave him the steriod (budesonide) and he’s doing good now.  Eating, playing, etc.

Now here’s the twist; his IBD seemed to resolve when Dante’s pain became controlled.  Suddenly he’s symptomatic but still on Nuerontin x3 a day.  So I think, a bad SM day because the IBD is showing. 

What to do except guess?  I gave him the steriod today and will do so for 4 more days and then see what happens.

The multiple health issue is frustrating.  Not because it is a bother but because I hate to see him feel bad.

Currently he is feeling good.   He’s a black poodle with a white nose from doing duty on a compressed rawhide for the last 4 hours.  At one point (I was on the computer) I walked out to see what he was doing and he was out like a light with the bone hanging out of his mouth like a big stogie.  When I called his name he looked around confused, then happy and got back to trying to chew down the bone.

I don’t really know what to think, but, having read the problems on the IBD board and the SM board I know I’m lucky to have him healthyish for now.  What I keep reminding myself is that I have to keep in mind that this ain’t going away.  I hate that.

Bad Day

After a good stretch of a new dog we seem to be entering into a bad period here.  No crying out but I noticed a slight head tremor yesterday and he seems awfully painful in the back legs.  I know this is happening when instead of lying down, he plops down on the floor.  A big clunk!

We had a bit of weather (rain) yesterday and it’s been awfully humid so I’m thinking this may have contributed to this downturn.

I also can tell when he is painful because his belly goes south and he develops a bit of gas.

I feel bad for him.  I know that there are ups and downs but I have to admit I was hoping the up was permanent.  He still needs Nuerontin x3 so it’s not as if he was cured by the surgery but I thought we got him stable.

I think I’m going to get this big ox up on the bed and rub his belly to make him feel a little better.

Good Dog!

I couldn’t help but share this artice.  What a good dog.

Family Dog Saves Toddler Playing

On Rooftop

(CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA A Southwest Philadelphia family’s dog is being called a hero after sounding the alert when he saw their toddler playing on the roof.As the child’s parents slept in their bed Sunday, in the 6300 block of Reedland Street, two-year-old Philip Redman Jr. crawled out of bed and on to the roof of the family’s home with Alfie, the family dog, in tow.

Family members say the boy’s parents placed a playpen in front of the broken window to keep Philip safe. Littlie Philip was able to move the playpen and climb out of the window.

“He climbed out, he literally just pulled himself out of the window,” said Philip Redman Sr., the child’s father.

Alfie followed little Philip out of the window and began barking. It was his barking that drew the attention of neighbors and Philip’s sleeping parents.

The little boy and Alfie were spotted running across the rooftops of several homes.

“I saw a baby running across the window, then I said that can’t be true, but then I saw a dog,” said neighbor Tina Mitchell.

Witnesses say it appeared Alfie was running along the outside edge of the roof in an attempt to protect the toddler from falling.

The police were called to the scene, but it was all over before they arrived.

A neighbor was able to reach out of her window and grab the boy as onlookers gasped for the toddler’s safety.

Neighbors say although they were upset, it appeared little Philip enjoyed his experience.

“The baby was having fun, having fun with the dog running across and playing,” said Mitchell.

At the end of the scary ordeal, little Philip was okay and Alfie was toted a hero.

No charges were filed against the parents, who say they could not help but feel responsible.

“I kind of feel irresponsible, kind of embarrassed, everyone knows that you are the parents that had the child running across the roof,” said Philip Sr.

 

Watch the Head!!

Dante can be such a dope sometimes.  If I am eating anything, he tries to get right underneath me practically.  So, if I am having a yogurt and surfing the internet he is right under the office desk.  Of course if I move the wrong way or lift the spoon he jumps up and slams his head on the desk.

“Dante, watch the head!!  I paid good money to fix it!”  That’s what I say to him   The worst part is that if I tell him not to do something he’ll only do it more so.  If I leave the room where will he go?  Under the desk.  It’s amazing how much will he has.  I love his stubborness even when it is annoying.

I’m thinking we may be able to reduce the Neurontin soon.  I was sick yesterday and skipped the bedtime dose the day before and spaced the morning dose as well.  He really wasn’t that bad off.  I think he still needs it for now, he just seemed a little uncomfortable in the back legs, but I can envision a day where we don’t need it. 

I’m going to try and get a good picture of him up here later today.   He really is something else.

Dante is status quo

He’s still doing very well.  He’s full of life and is pouncing again.  That’s one puppy behavior he never really gave up until he got sick.

He can’t just fetch something he has to run and pounce on it before he retrieves it.  It’s pretty funny to watch this massive poodle do that and he knows it amuses me because he always looks back to see if I was watching him do it.  I love it.

He’s still taking the Neurontin x3 a day and I’m going to wait another couple of weeks before trying to limit that.  I don’t care if he needs it for the rest of his life but it would be great if we can get rid of that also.

Also, Dad’s tests came back and both worrisome spots ARE GONE.  It’s truly miraculous and I am so relieved.

The only other issue with Dante is he has ears again.  No big deal.  The SM certainly has given me perspective on treatable dog issues.

Back To Virginia

Dante does well in the car.  He has no problem with a 10 hour drive as long as appropriate rest stops are made.  What a good dog.

He’s doing good.  We had a happy accident of sorts.

Things at home (at Mom and Dad’s in N.H.) were good but we are all on pins and needles awaiting test results to be given tomorrow.  This is hard.  Being so distracted I was giving Dante what I thought was his Budesonide for his IBD daily.  The Budesonide looks exactly like Cisapride.  The Cisapride is to be given three times a day.  He hasn’t seemed to need it as he is going #2 just fine.  So I had stopped that before going to NH but brought all of his meds with me just in case there was any change.

Sooooo….  He was getting 1/3 of his Cisapride and none of his Budesonide for the last five days.  The Budesonide is a steriod which passes the liver before breaking down and works directly on the GI tract.  It was instrumental in healing his gut.

Bottom line, his #2 has been fine.  No problem.

The IBD MD thought his problem might have been exacerbated by the pain from the SM and surgery.  That definitely seems to be the case.  He now seems fine without the steriod.

He is also getting more and more spunky and is awake and playful.  He is 95% his old self and I love it.

I’m beginning to think this is more than just a series of good days.  He’s back to his old habits and is jumping and playing more.  In fact I just saw him go into the bedroom and jump up on the bed.  He’s done for the day.  As usual he’s laying exactly where I will have to move him from when I go to bed.  Rotten!!

I hope this continues.  I also hope my Dad is well.

Happy 4th America

Dante and I are up in New Hampshire for a week visiting with family and friends. 

He over did it a bit yesterday by running around non-stop with my sister’s dog all day.  It caused him a few tremors and squeeks as well, but all in all and good day.  Especially when you compare it to two weeks ago when his symptoms were much worse without any activity.

Tomorrow I want to take him to the beach and let him swim.  That should be fun!