yes, barry. they are. i know how you feel about meds and 'natural', but doctors are idiots. so, my dog was doing great. she's a 12 yr old pitt bull who's an absolute angel. she goes in for routine testing last year and they freak because her CA levels are 17 (normal for her size/age is 8-10). so we monitor it for awhile - she's fine, mind you, just old and lies around - and the levels stay high and so for the past few months we've been doing IV fluids and prednisone and lasix to flush out the high levels and possibly perk her up. she's 12. she's old. she lies around. anyway, she's getting miserable-er and miserable-er. abdomen swelling, hyperventilating, scaring the shit out of me wondering when she's going to romp with jesus. so NOW.. after tormenting her with these medications, they've decided the meds are causing her more discomfort than the high CA levels did, so we're weening her off of them and will let nature take back over. AND they've suggested getting another dog for her to play with once she starts feeling better. ... so yes, doctors are idiots. fucking idiots.
Dogs can't talk. That makes it harder for the Doc. ...And the reason the Vet told you to get another dog "for her to play with" is Vet talk for "get another dog because the one you have now is on it's last hunt and it won't hurt as bad if you already have another dog in the yard." Not bad advice actually. Sinmple fact is that we live 70 years if we are lucky and dogs live 10 years if they are lucky. Anything past 70 and 10 is bonus time. You do the math - chances are you will outlive seven dogs. Don't think I am not sympathetic. The first dog I had died, and it hurt so bad I waited 20 years to get another. I am already dreading the day my current dogs dies, and she is only two years old. I almost hope she outlives me. Almost. Get another dog now, and let the current pooch transition gracefully to doggie heaven on her own time table. It will be easier on the kids if there is still a mouth to feed in the backyard once she makes the leap.
i wasn't asking for advice! i was bitching about the stupidity of putting my dog through hell when she wasn't even feeling badly! the stupidity of the doctor and my own for listening to them when i knew she was ok. i totally let them convince me, as most stupid px do with the medical profession, that she was dying and she's not! and yes i will get another dog. in fact, bubba will be lucky if he gets home from nashville on saturday and there aren't two new pups in the back yard. and then the fucking - - my parents are supposed - SUPPOSED - to be back from CA right now but their flight has been delayed. they cant fly into mobile for another hour because the leader of the poor world happens to be in mobile and trying to fly out. dick. like he can't fly out of brookley. so now i have to keep the kids up way the hell into my wine hour damnit. and yes, that's wine, not whine. ... bongo and i will be enjoying duckhorn cabernet sovignon tonight while doing research for this great new study i'm doing with a dr on fibromyalgia and abdominal trigger points.
Good to see that things are back to normal. He should be leaving soon. Me and Major put him in his place with the Wings and Bud's at Baumhowers about an hour ago. He really is Ivy league when it comes to Long necks and hot Drums. Doctors are idiots.
you dick. the wine will get me through the physician bullshit, ah, forget it. the wine will get me through your bullshit too. glad to be of service. :-*
That is correct here too, When I've been to the GP's I've self diagnosed everything I've ever had over the net (cross referencing multiple sites), I've gone to the docs, they have never told me what the problem was, I told them what the problem was, they confirm it, I tell them what I might need, they confirm it also, then prescribe what I asked for! Really you could't get any more annoying, they are pointless. I hate going to the doctors with anything.
So I take it you do your own Prostate exams as well. FYI - digital Prostrate exams are recommended annually, not daily.
ok, maybe they aren't complete idiots. or not all of them are idiots. obviously i was reacting to the discomfort my sweet puppy was in. i've had several that made a positive effect on our lives. i had one that would hold my hand until i fell asleep back when i was having surgery every 4-6 months, and when my daughter was in NICU the OB called our house every other day to check on her and make sure i hadn't killed my husband. i have this great relationship with my kids' pediatrician. i go in, i tell her what's wrong, i tell her what i think she tells me what she thinks and she allows me to be part of the process. she suggests one med i say no, i want to try ___. it works well and hasn't killed anybody yet.
What is a Ca level???? Vets don't do a residency. Which makes them alot different than what you call physicians.
thanks. since beginning to wean her off the pred she's doing better. her calcium levels are going back up but she's playful and again, at times and seems to be feeling better.
I'm sorry to hear aboout your dog! I hope she gets to feeling better after she gets all of those meds out of her system. I hate that the vet was making you feel like you needed this shit. Medicine is hard on older dogs and if she was just being her normal self, you would think that they would want to find the actual cause and not just give you some medicine cocktail to give her. I'd find a new vet. Here's a link that might shed some light in it. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/hypercalcemia-in-dogs/page1.aspx
I think it was the Predisone. Side effects seen in dogs include polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, poor haircoat, GI disturbance, diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain, GI ulceration, pancreatitis, lipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, diabetes mellitus, muscle wasting, and possible behavioral changes.
