On 1/13/2008 KGVRN wrote:
Hi Marty and Annie, Has been a rough couple of weeks for Forrest and I!! New Years morning, Forrest couldn't stand, support weight, etc... Took him to the emergency vet fully prepared to say my ultimate goodbye, layed next to him on the floor crying like a baby, I might add... Good news for us, Forrest had exasperated an ongoing degenerative spinal disease issue that has not bothered him in over 2 years... Once he was sufficiently medicated, we brought him home and hoped for the best, he did recover nicely with his mobility, but he has been 100% urinary incontinent since. My regular vet says this is due to disease progression -vs- degenaerative disease. We have handled this with kids "pull up's" wrapped around his waist, we do what we have to do, right? My question is, have you had any adverse effects with Annie and the peroxicam at all? You have such an amazing success story with her!! My continued supprt for you and your pup, and thanks for your input in advance, Karen
Hi Karen!
I'm sorry to hear you've had such a rough run of it this new year! Anytime anything has happened to Annie, I have always assumed it was cancer related--she had a limp once (the only time in her life) and we were at the emergency room ourselves. By the time the vet could see us, the limp was gone. So we got a chest xray (long story) and that made me relax that the cancer had not gone to her lungs. When I finally saw her oncologist, and shared my fear of bone cancer, he told me that although a spread was possible, it was a very painful cancer and not likely the cause of her limping for an hour and a half! My biggest regret is how much I worry (it is my husband's biggest complaint).
Last Tuesday, Annie had terrible diarrhea and it recurred again on Wednesday--pure liquid running out of her. (This is the first time in her life anything like this had happened) We went to the regular vet who shot-gun treated her with deworming medicine, anti diarrhea medicine and an anti microorganism medicine. Now had this happened with my other dog, our golden retriever, I would still be nursing her with rice and boiled chicken--but not Annie. Things got worse when Annie lost her appetite--we used to joke that we knew the end was near when she stopped eating. It was NOT funny at all , when that really happened. The nurse at the oncologist's office had us stop her piroxicam and that is killing me as I believe so much that it is what keeps her alive. In fact, her peeing has been much worse this week, but I think it's because she is in such distress. I THINK we've turned this corner, however. Her appetite is coming back and her poop is starting to firm up (I can't believe we write about such things!!) When I'm sure she's back on level ground, I'll be getting that piroxicam into her as fast as I can!!
In my heart of hearts, I don't think it's the piroxicam that has caused this latest crisis. She'll have been on it three years in just a bit and it has never bothered her. (I do give it to her in melted cheese every night after dinner. My theory is that she was taking it on a full stomach and the cheese would help as well to coat her stomach) I also do not believe it is yet her time, but of course, like everyone here on the board, I fear the worst. I'll be watching her closely the next few days and in all likelihood we'll be visiting the oncologist again so that he can reassure me (I HOPE that is what he'll do).
As for Forrest, my oncologist has always told me there is less to worry about as long as they are passing urine (as opposed to being unable to at all). He also said that if and when Annie was worse and having more trouble urinating, he could catheterize her. In some dogs this debulks the tumor just enough to improve things for the pup. I don't know if that's an option for you or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
I am not an overly religious person, but in addition to the piroxicam, I have taken to praying every night with Annie. We will remember you and Forrest in our prayers tonight.
Good luck, Karen
Marty