holly

[christina]

Tthank you polly and jo.
Glad polly that your dog has stabilized on the 10mg every 2 nd day.
Yes,jo,im sooo glad holly is still here.
Her inflamatory condition worsened a couple o weeks ago and she was in real pain.
Vet increased pred to 10 mg and on 2 antibiotic,2 anti sick meds
It took a while but her system now coping better on higher pred still hot at night and sore but not as sore or not gagging and bringing up fluid as much
The milk production has lessened re false pregnancy too
And shes,not so upset and whiney though her paws very sensitive and my god she could pee for scotland!!
Poor girl
We have to move again start of august that will be very stressful
Had to get enviromental health in as landlady not fixing sewage leak in old pipes outside our flat
Its,sad we have such a bad landlady as we both like it here
Not easy getting a rental flat with a dog,
But id never part from my girl....
X

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

I'm sorry you are having accommodation problems, but at least Holly is better than she was so that is one less urgent worry. It is good news that she is more stable.  Good luck with your move. 

Jo
   

[polly]

Hello Christine,
I hope you are able to find long-term pet friendly accommodation very soon. 

It must be difficult managing a sick dog who pees a lot when you live in a  flat in a cold and damp country.  You say that Holly "pees for Scotland" so I assume that is where you live.

It was summer here (Australia) when Jasper was so unwell that he found it difficult to negotiate the doggy door  flap and needed to pee a lot.   On days when it was 50 degrees C in the back garden and there was bushfire smoke  in the air I worried about him getting sunstroke  if he couldn't get back inside but I could leave the back door open at night.  It would be difficult doing that living in Scotland  in a flat.

In a previous post you mentioned fleas.  A friend has given me a pot of a herb called Tansy. She says that it repels fleas - you crush the leaves and rub them on the dog and put them  in the dog's bed. Don't know if it works because fortunately Jasper has not had fleas.
Sounds like things have been difficult for you and Holly for an extended period but hopefully life will become  easier soon. I hope that you are having a better  summer than the one I experienced when I visited Scotland in 2012.
Polly

[christina]

Thanks jo and polly
How is jasper polly,hope he is ok!
We managed to find a ground floor flat with a back door and tiny garden for holly and she likes it
But she is not well again just now burning up.stomach feels very hot ,sighing,leathargic eyes strained and really very sore inflamed paws swollen and limping
She is on 7.5 mg of pred  and 2 antibiotics and zantac
I upped her antibiotic last few days hoping would help and rubbing coconut oil on.paws n give coconut oil internally but shes getting worse
Have apointment for her vet on wednesday but may have to.go to another before tgen
Tonight.im worried re immune disease shes lying beside me burning up
Thing is her body so used to the antibiotic she gets every day flagyl.and oxycare
Maybe they losing effectiveness
I cant walk her much restricted paws so sore really inflamed today
I think.her wee immune system just not healing her
:-(
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[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

I'm sorry Holly is unwell again.  I wonder if the antibiotics are the appropriate ones for the bacteria she may be fighting? You may need to change her antibiotics.  Do you know why her paws are swollen.  Has your vet checked for demodex mite?  Sometimes dogs on long term steroids get Demodex because their immune system cannot keep it under control - just a thought. 

Her symptoms seem very like they were last December.  Can you remember how you stabilised her then?

I hope she improves very soon.

Jo

[christina]

Thanks jo,
I think because the steroids thin the skin and she had been running on gravel last week and she does get cuts n bleed very easily .
And regularly her paws get a bit inflamed but not to this level .
Interestingly and sadly it has not helped as 2 weeks ago ran out of her evening primrose and cod liver oil capsules...so obviously that will play a role also..they obviously help.
So i have ordered more .but waiting for them to arrive
Meanwhile ..i do give coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil for omega 3s .
But it isnt just the paws shes very warm even ears very warm and stomach and nose warm ,lethargic
I think doxycycline antibiotic helped her before
Im going to ask the vet about that
But she will need to be examined first.as vet doesnt like doxy as a drug
Poor holly her wee heart speeding as she lies beside me with her mitral valve disease and shes very warm n clingy and hangy
Its been 2 n a half years we have been together and that in itself feels like a bit o a miracle as i only had her 3 months when she collapsed!!!
I have always been grateful for this site jo!
Made me feel not alone in it ,many a time!
Thanks :-)

[polly]

Hello Christina,

Sorry to learn that Holly is very unwell yet again but pleased  that you have found more suitable accommodation. Jasper remains well. He is still on 10mg of Pred every second day but no side effects from that dose and his blood results (in regard to red cells| remain in the  low normal range. |I hope that after your next visit to the vet Holly's health rapidly improrves.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

Just a thought, the daily dose of pred won't be helping her heart and it could be contributing to her heart beating faster.  Best mention it to the vet when you go.  A change of antibiotic may also help. 

Wishing Holly better.  I'm so pleased you find the forum helpful. Having a chronically sick dog can be a very lonely place.

Jo

[christina]

Thanks polly,
So glad your jasper is coping thats great!
Yes thanks jo,its an excellent site and im very glad that its,here!!!!:-)
Poor holly she was feeling  better but yesterday after exercise her right paw became extremely painful she is yelping and cannot walk on it at all ,growling when touch and in pain
Im.phoning vet at 8am
Oh hope she doesnt have IOHC i think it is ,as spaniels prone to this
She cannot be operated on because of her significant heart disease
Hope,it can heal itself
Poor baba
Using cold compress intermittently
Her inflamed bowel playing up with the stress also ..
Phew
:-(

[christina]

Hi
We were at vet today
Its hollys elbow that is the problem
We had a terrible night lastnight
Shes on morphine and if not better by thursday vet said need xray but im scared re holly under anaesthetic when she has heart disease
She wont put the paw down at all:-(
Oh i hope it heals itself and she not need xray
Its a worry x

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

I do hope Holly's improves.  She really could do without a GA.

Fingers crossed.

Jo

[christina]

Thanks jo!
Well it didnt seem to be improving and i was very upset phoned vet saying can she not be sedated i feel i cannot authorize anaesthetic unless theres no other option.
Was waiting to speak today
And then just last night holly began now and again to put the paw down so slight improvement
Yes!!!
Well she got many.kisses!:-)
She druggy with morphine but coping better with pain though hasnt moved from bed 1.20 pm and still no need a pee,i read it affects ability to pee by 90% sometimes
Back at vet later...she will have to get off her bed
I had a major op n was on morphine drip
Oh how i hated it
I dont think she likes it but excellent to see some slight improvement!:-)x

[christina]

Hi there
Im really upset as vet says holly may have IOHC
I am extremely worried
She already has MORE THEN ENOUGH with mitral valve disease,immune mediated disease,inflamatory bowel and if she does have this she woyld have to have anaesthetic to xray..risky..then a operation..risky
At present still on morphine for another week
No walks
And,see how she goes
Also she in the last month has developed small lumps all over her body that are getting bigger
Vet said ..shes not too concerned at the moment,but im worried re them too.
Oh and shes such a GREAT AND WONDERFUL LITTLE DOG ,A WEE FIGHTER FULL.OF LOVE ,JOY AND FUN
I want to bubble like a baby as she has too much crap too deal with and yet has such a lovely sunny nature
X

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

I know the news from your vet is not what you want to hear, but given you have no surgical option, the very best you can do for Holly is to address the clinical signs and make her feel happy with her life and as pain free as possible.  Thankfully, she doesn't feel the same stress, about it, as you do.  Certain conditions, like her elbow problem, you have to accept that you cannot resolve because of the other underlying diseases,  and sometimes just advancing age prevents a condition being resolved.  I have been in this situation several times and it is not nice, but all we can do is to optimise their good health. I think you are doing that already. 

Our dogs are so stoical they just seem happy to be with us, and we are so lucky and blessed to have them.

Jo

[christina]

Thanks jo
Do you have dogs at present?
You must have a tremendous love for them setting up this website!
Well,they are pretty wonderful arent they !:-)
Yes ,very stoic ,put humans to shame really.
But holly is miserable just now.
Vets cant give aspirin because interacts with the pred so they say only thing is morphine.
She is ..glazed..
Elbow..clicking
Still sore
Vet said if doesnt heal enough or gets really bad again we will have no option but to xray and has to be under general anaesthetic and there is a risk cos heart
And may need operation after that ..risk too
Because holly cant get anti inflamatories as on steroids
Cant stay on morphine forever
So xray surgery only option
Im very scared re heart so now im trying to limit her jumping and will put on lead at all times when we do start walks again
Have ordered a memory foam matress pad for her
Need try limit her jumping on sofa n bed
She will still do it ..but try limit it
Day at a time damage limitation
As dread anaesthetic
X