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Post by Cheryl on Apr 15, 2006 7:01:12 GMT 1
My cousin's daughter got a weim pup out of a shelter and sent him to me since it wasn't working out while she is in college. He's not very old, somewhere between 6-10 months old but it seems he's had a very rough time the entire short life. He has a large belly hernia, some type of autoimmune problem with the third eyelid on both eyes, thick matter coming out of eyes, and still has his dewclaws (long tail, too).
He gave a big warning when I bent down after rubbing his ears when I wanted to smell for any signs of infection and again, a few hours later. I see hair loss between toes, and pustules/bumps on his muzzle, which leads me to believe he's allergic to corn based kibble/commercial brands of low quality food.
He's a very fast learner, once he was introduced to my two weims, he was so happy there are others of his breed and within 24 hours, he is now accepting of me smelling his ears, and hugging him. He is hugging his head on my shoulder, pressing against me, getting as close as he can.
He's now adjusting to daily exercise, learning to sniff for scents, eating a corn and wheat free diet, on antibiotics and eye ointment until I can get the true eye medication or drops he needs as our vet is out of town for a few weeks and the army vet was in town so she saw him.
He needs obedience and all training, has taken to sitting for his food bowl immediately. The army vet said he most likely will need eye medication for the duration of his life. I need to learn more about this problem.
He will be scheduled for hernia repair and dewclaw removal but not until the vet is back and he's off the antibiotics - he's getting yogurt now but maybe I shouldn't be giving it to him until he's off the antibiotics?
He's accepting crate training, only in it from 8 am until lunchtime. Then he is in the vehicle w/my other two while I'm at work for the afternoon. He seems to be mentally older from having to be on the streets most of his young life. He's getting cat-r-ized, Wetdog, and doing well with them:)
With his health problems so far, I think it best to keep him, not foster and rehome. He's been lacking what he needed and now is bonding fast and hard. I've given dogs or pups to new homes like him in the past and they developed severe SA even though they went to great new owners who refused to give them up.
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Post by Wetdog on Apr 15, 2006 7:57:14 GMT 1
It sounds to me like you are doing a WONDERFUL job with your new boy. I'm happy things are shaping up.
Two suggestions, if you suspect corn/wheat allergy--try switching to to rice--it is inexpensive and you can make it in large batches, you can add some organ meats (liver is very high in protien and pork liver is relatively inexpensive usually-and some vegetables, stew vegetables work well, carrots, potatos) You can make it in large batches and freeze it if you want.
You could also try some Benadryl(diphenhydramine), check with your vet about dosage, you can get it over the counter and generic is much cheaper.
LOL--sounds to me like you are the one at the most risk of Seperation Anxiety here--I think you've bonded already. That's great--I wish you both all the luck in the world, it sounds like you two were meant for each other.
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Post by Wetdog on Apr 15, 2006 8:01:08 GMT 1
Cat-r-ized, LMAO!!!!(I like that)
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Post by Cheryl on Apr 17, 2006 21:40:03 GMT 1
Do I give yogurt while he's on antibiotics? Or do I wait until he's off and then start the yogurt? I know people aren't supposed to drink milk while on them or it won't work as well...
Wetdog, I am giving the rice mixture and stuffing the kongs with it, too. But he got many more bumps on his lips and chin after working on the kongs so I think he's also allergic to rubber. I have the ratio for benedryl since Slade has allergies, too.
He's very dominate and confident from having to live on the run and on the street! But he's very willing to listen and follow commands. We'll need to work a lot on not over protectiveness of his kongs and I think I'll change to the hollow bones being stuffed to see how his muzzle looks afterward.
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Post by Wetdog on Apr 18, 2006 17:18:40 GMT 1
Try the Diphenhydramine 50mg. 4-6 times per day. It is an anti-histimine, it blocks histimines that mediate immune reactions. It is the standard ER treatment for acute allergic reaction, it is safe and well tolerated, the most major side effect being some drowsiness. I've had some vets tell me that Tavist also works well.
There isn't any reason you cann't give him yogurt while on antibiotics unless it is contraindicated for a specific product. Usually that involves not giving them at the same time as milk products, not withholding them completely. You could check product information inserts(or with your vet)--or look them up online.
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Post by christina on Apr 23, 2006 15:20:20 GMT 1
Hi Cheryl, Don't know how, but I had missed this posting..... It is great that you have taken on this poor pup. Good for you ! From your description of the symptoms, I would certainly check the thyroids with a FULL thyroid panel ... preferably send bloods to Jean Dodds in California. - I am stressing the "full panel", as only part of one IMO is a waste of time and money. Skin problems and eye problems and hair loss are classic symptoms for Hypothyroidism. - In theory the pup is too young for a reliable thyroid check, but in practice you can see a lot even at such a young age. Please read this website www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ThyroidDisease.htm The following is an extract from it.... Healthy young dogs (less than 15-18 months of age) should have thyroid baseline levels for all parameters in the upper 1/2 to 1/3 of the adult normal ranges. In fact, for optimum thyroid function in screening breeding stock, levels should be at least at the midpoint of the laboratory normal ranges, because lower levels may well be indicative of the early stages of thyroiditis among relatives of dog families known to have thyroid disease.Btw - nothing wrong with feeding yoghurt whilst the dog is on antibiotics. Yoghurt is an excellent food for dogs, because it is a live food and full of friendly bacteria, but it is also packed with calcium, high class protein and fat, vitamins (B's and A's), enzymes and it gives energy as a carbohydrate. Yoghurt is not classed as a dairy product, because the milk sugar in it has been converted to lactic acid by a bacterial culture. Hope this helps, Christina |
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Post by rute_paredes on Apr 24, 2006 16:51:41 GMT 1
Hi Cheryl I think what you're doing with this pup is fantastic. He is a lucky by to have found you  I hope you can soon figure out what the problem is with his eye and skin. Not knowing for sure what the problem is when a dog is ill is so distressing. I'm going throught that right now and its just so frustrating. Best wishes and speedy recovery for your youngster (what's his name?!) |
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Post by Cheryl on Apr 27, 2006 6:32:59 GMT 1
Thank you, he came with the name Ducky and it fits him very well tho I would never name a weim that I think he's keeping it:) His bumps and scabs are gone already, I took him off corn and wheat. He had 5 days of twice daily ointment with bacitracin in it for his eyes, with the warning it was only a temporary fix and his ears are still smelly and bothering him.
He also has some cephalexsin ? antibiotics, twice a day, for two weeks (not done with them yet). He's scheduled to have his hernia repaired tomorrow night by the vet that is teaching the veterinarian class I'm attending. I will speak with him about the eye problem and thyroid panel, plus I want to have him titered for immunizations.
Now that the swelling is down from his eyes, he doesn't look old! In fact, he looks like "tika" in the discussion on the long haired weims... when we get back from Fairbanks I'll take and post pictures now that we have more sunlight again. He's very dilute chocolate compared to Slade & MistyRose! Looks like a reddish brown.
I didn't give benedryl, but think I should to take the flight with him, for his ears. On the conservative side, I was thinking of 25 mg per 30 pounds weight and will weigh him but feels like he's no more than 60 pounds at the most.
I tried to get him from the shelter when he first showed up February 27th but someone else got him just seconds before, it turned out to my my cousin's daughter! Her mother told me they were in over their heads with a dog, while I was at Kotzebue for the first of our lab work classes for a weekend a month ago.
I'm so happy I got a second chance to help him! I figure I have lots of learning to help he and Slade with their allergies and treating as homeopathically as I can. The reason I began this vet assistant class is because the teacher said it was to tie in with "natural remedies" and that we should always question and learn, not to close our minds...
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Post by Cheryl on Apr 27, 2006 6:48:30 GMT 1
Christina, now that I've read the article (and I read it in the past but never thought it would pertain to my lifetx!) I see why you are worried, so many symptoms relate to Ducky... I couldn't get it to print but wrote the addy down and will have the vet look it up, he has a laptop wherever he goes because he's constantly looking things up and is the most up to date vet with a very open mind to learning and discovering, etc. Thanks again, will let you know as I find out things! Cheryl
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Post by moonbeam on Apr 29, 2006 14:12:09 GMT 1
Sounds like Ducky had a rotten start in life. Hope you can get some if not all of his problems sorted out and that he grows into a happy, healthy dog.
Mariy
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Post by Wetdog on Apr 30, 2006 3:32:54 GMT 1
Ducky may have started off badly, but he's in the hands of one of the best Weim ladies he could be now.
Good for you Cheryl, I hope you and Ducky will be very happy together for a long, long time.
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Post by Cheryl on May 1, 2006 3:37:56 GMT 1
Thanks everyone. I got to see Ducky today, the whole afternoon. He's staying w/the vet that is our instructor for the vet tech class. All bumps and scabs are now gone. No more corn or wheat for Ducky. Today (sorry if this upsets someone but I am a serious horse lover, had 2 Icelandic for 12 years and only after death did we part, they were nearly 40 years old) we disected a horse that died of colic where Ducky is so to keep his mind off his stitches for the hernia repair I gave him half a hoof to knaw on. He was worn out when it was time to leave so now we are cleaned up and going to do 5 day old German Shorthair dewclaws and docking their tails. We do our test Monday afternoon, and home Tuesday morning. Then it'll take about 10 days for the lab results on the thyroid panel (they're sent out of state) and I'm having him titered, too. Then after Ducky's settled in at home again (he's wondered if I abandoned him so soon) then I'll have to deworm him. Quite a lot of stress on the poor guy! Since I have hunted and butchered moose and reindeer/caribou so much, I didn't miss much not participating in the horse action but got to reassure Ducky I'm still there for him.
On a side note, a very large weim from Florida was brought to another village to live the past 3 years but was getting progressively aggressive. When he attacked his doting owners they put him down and we also had a French bulldog with the same for our lab work. It turns out that this problem for both dogs was not something that could be remedied but we've learned so much in such a short time, I have to ask the vet/instructor to re-expain it to me so I don't report to you incorrectly... the weim weighed 150 pounds in the crate, very large!
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Post by Cheryl on May 1, 2006 3:44:46 GMT 1
P.S. I found out the previous owner dumped Ducky in the shelter because they were getting divorced and that they were given Ducky from someone in Sam's Club parking lot, and that Ducky had parvo so that tells me he was never immunized or dewormed. Then our instructor/vet's receptionist said she remembered Ducky being brought in to a neuter clinic they held because the owner tried to say he had an appointment but they didn't really (So he was done).
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Post by Cheryl on May 2, 2006 16:30:51 GMT 1
Hi wetdog, getting ready to go home this am. I asked the instructor/vet about the aggression showing up in purebred's by age two...we disected 2 dogs who showed the liver stored excess enzymes that couldn't be broken down (a missing link, notes upstairs in room, packed) and as the animal ages the enzyme storage is like a poison and the animal goes crazy and there is nothing to "fix the problem" yet...(the microscope slides we did showed in the liver and brain)
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