Genetic GSD Issues, are they, are they not. - Page 2

Dear Hans,
Thank you for your information...also, very lovely website!  Thank you for sharing with me.  

As you can see, we've done all the basic things, and fortunately the more involved type of testings thanks to the AKC health plan.  Did not want it but after losing dogs to Iams same day, same time, we felt that the pet insurance would be good...just never though we'd have to use it to the extent we are using it now.

So you think cooked foods and carbs (pasta) may be a good idea?  I'm willing to give it a shot...it can't help her heart and lungs, but possibly can help her bowls.  Our male is on raw, but not sure if she will do well as she cannot tolerate any type of protein...she does however, tolerate high fiber diets.  The one she was on was a lamb rice, not a low residue formula, as that did not work for her, but a high fiber diet.  

I will give it a try.  I pretty much have the pasta and meat...which one would be most digestible? Lamb perhaps or venison?  Rabbit?  Let me know what you think...the veggies I have...never heard of Greek live yogurt, but nothing is worse than not trying...Pumpkin I do have from Trader Joe's.  I'll give it a try for a few days and see...the last think I want is a melt down, but my vet is nice enough to supply me with her syringes and injectable medications here at the house for me to use, when and if she needs them, as he does not feel that bringing her in for every little thing is a good idea, as we'd rather not add add'l stress to her.  After seeing how she was being at training last week we decided that she had better not go...we stopped her for a LONG time, but she just looked so sad as she see's us taking our boy, and she wants to be part of it, but she did well, but her heart can't really take it...but honestly, it sure did make her happy though that day, and we are all about making and keeping her healthy and happy, just like our new boy who's a dream as well.

Thanks for the input, will let you know how the diet works..it can't hurt to try...

Thank you Hans, for your post...we will be in touch!


 

 Granville, I forgot to mention ... autopsy after she passes...hum...we are iffy about that.  I personally want it, my family does not...nor does the vet...he knows how much we love her, and he feels that I won't rest peacefully, as I don't want that on my mind...

But for medical reasons...part of me does wish to do it you know?  Hum..tough call, as we've been tossing that around.  It is an issue that not only affects me as the owner, but my whole family who love this girl...its hard...some are 1/2 on the autopsy, or necropsy, the others are against it...

Damn, such a hard decision...part of me does not want he to suffer, as she never really had a normal dog life...the other part wants to do it.  Again tough call. For medical reasons, sure...

I just wish the breeder would not have been so callous to me...I feel that when I heard "oh we are sorry but no other dogs in that litter are sick, and we will GLADLY put this IN YOUR FILE," well, you know...I don't want to flame or blame, its not why I am here...I am here to learn more about her, her myriad of medical issues, and I wanted answers...just "why"...why her.  

They also said "we have no puppies right now," but heck, would I honestly want to buy another dog from you? NO...I would not, and would never....we have a new dog from Errinor and are very happy with Barbar...he's a good boy, and out of paranoia, had him tested for everything, as I just was scared...he is A OK, and, now, am going to do a prelim on hips and elbows within a week or so...just want to see how they look.  I do pray he stays healthy, as I'd like him around for a long time.

Unfortunately our fur kids don't stay as long as we want them to...but I am indeed still discussing the necropsy with my family...its not only affected me, but them as well.

Thanks for taking the time to care and write...very much appreciated.  

Any lightly cooked meat, Lamb is good by expensive I'd try chicken.Skim the fat or you induce a diarrhea by too much fat.  Start with small amount of meat and rest pasta and raw blended vegetable, sea salt, and live Greek Yogurt and pumpkin puree. Pasta has about 6% protein. (Check it) . So you can build on that.  Greek yogurt with live culture you can get in Organic type farmers  ( we have SPROUTS here)market and  then you can make your own by putting a little amount of yogurt  in a ORGANIC milk
( none-organic will not do since they put bleach(!!!!!) in it to make it last longer) Then keep the milk in room temp and after 2-3 days you have a cheep yogurt. Antibiotics will kill good bacterial cultures in her gut of the dog  and that alone may/will cause problems.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

I know a necropsy is a tough decision and very emotional.  I'm not sure I could do it myself with my dogs, it would be a hard choice.  She's a lucky girl to have gotten a family who cares so much about her!

 Hi  Hans, I have not gone that route, but I'm going to introduce it later on.  

I've always given molasses and a Probiotic with every meal, as she is on medications a lot...I know the prednisone dosage is not as high as people give...but I prefer to keep her at the 15 mg per day...again, tried the 10 mg, worked nicely for 10 days, but had to up it again...she needs the theophylline 200 mg x 2 a day, for her heart and lungs.  I am happy to try this later, and most of the items I can buy here in my area, either at Whole Food Market  or Mrs Greens, they tend to carry all of that.  I am interested in seeing how she does with this.  Thank you!  I will let you know, again, with her, I will have to do it slow...my male, no, he has a stomach like a tank and for the most part, although I only have him 2.5 months, can eat and be switched to anything, without any type of fasting.  He is so much different, but thats OK:)  I balance his diet the way I actually eat, and he gets a different meat and combination of meats and herbs daily and seems to do just fine.  With her, she is sick, so its tougher...I appreciate you taking the time to help.  Everyone has been exceptionally nice, and its very much appreciated.
Thank you!
 

 Hi GV, yes, she is indeed lucky, but you know what though?  I would have done this, and gone to any lengths to learn, experiment and try...she is indeed special, each dog is different.  She deserves, as all dogs do, again I'd had done this for any dog, only because we actually really care.

I once had a woman say to me that a dog is a dog, but to me, they are more like best buddies...I had a tough year prior to now, with a medical condition.  I think if it were not for my girl backing me, I'm not sure where I'd be today.  I feel that 'she' was there for me during those massive tough times, and you'd be darned if I'd stop now.  In all actuality, she deserves that chance and same treatment.  

Its tough, yes, seems we're at a dead lock here with that...but if the breeder does not care, well, I can't change their thoughts you know?  I care, and there are things I want to know, which may not be possible until she leaves us.

I would be most happy for her to be here for the holidays with us.  She's a sweet and good girl.  Probably one of the most feistiest hard bitches I've owned, and to me, that alone is keeping her alive.  When I first got her, people hated her (neighbours)...they'd say "wow, how do you deal with her"?"  I used to laugh as to us, even with her WAY over the top drives, she was and still is very amusing to me.  

As a pup, if you'd sneeze, she'd jump on you to see if you were OK...till this day, she still does the same thing...has not changed her at all when it comes to protection.

We'll have to think about it.  I want to remember her with her fluffy coat people used to make fun of, but short coat, fluffy fuzz on the ears, she is still our little angel.  As I said, when her time is up, yes, we will get another female...the issue is that girl will be truly a hard act to follow...anyone with a heart of some kind would be doing the same things that I am, including the nights without sleep, daily visits to the vet.  It basically goes with the territory of Unconditional Love.  Don't mind it one bit.

I'll be in touch,  I ask everyone to send their good energy our way for her:)

Hi Hans,

I just wanted to say thanks for your help on the diet...it unfortunately is not working for her, as she is just having so many medical problems.  I really wanted her to live longer...we all want our pets here for a long time, but in this circumstance, she won't be with us.

I had her at the vet again, and even though all the tests look OK, I suppose due to the nerve problem, she seems and looks very confused.  Having issues with her urine, but the urine shows no infection.  Urine is fine, according to the tests, but she keeps on urinating in the house, something she has never done, and now even when out, she walks around a little dazed...sometimes she seems confused, and then snaps back to reality.

Also she never poops in the house, but it seems as though she does not even realize she is doing it.  I am assuming that because she has DM, and the Micro Cardia, that she is just failing.  Her chest today looks larger than usual, but the vet said that it is doing this to accommodate as the heart if not working well...as I mentioned, three beats and a long pause.

She seems tired, and does not want anyone to touch her.  When I go to give her a hug, well, she backs away...she really has never done that. 

We'll have to see, just wanted to say thanks.  Barbar actually loved that diet, but I have him on a full raw diet of Answers and Bravo and other things as well, he pretty much has a cast iron stomach...she never did.  We will have to see how she is doing on Monday.  I know our Barbar, although new in the household, is going to feel this...he seems to love her and he wants to be with her all the time.  I know he will feel this, as I'm assuming dogs will feel the passing of the one they have been attached to, even though they only know each other since 21.08.2010...so although 3 months, they have formed a bond.  

Thanks for your help. 

 Hi Ab,

I know what you mean.  We are lucky to have her, always felt that way, regardless of what she popped up with.  I just got a private message from someone and told them the same thing.  If we did not own her, its possible that someone else would have put her to sleep...not here.  

She's on theophylline and other medications, and just happy for our vet, as he is available to us 24/7.  Not sure what I would have done without him.  With regard to the DM, she was diagnosed with that at 10 months.  We used to find sores on the backs of her legs, and then my neighbor said that she used to walk and run sideways...never had noticed that.  I make sure her legs are clean and this winter if she is here, will be problematic for her, as not only will her legs start to bleed if exposed to the snow, it leaves her open to lung infection.  The legs we will wrap for her if she wants to go out, which I know she will.  I don't mind doing it for her, as she always loved the snow, just need to be sure that nothing hits those areas.  

She's been on trials not approved by the  FDA also.  She just has enormous problems, but we are in it with her for the long haul.  She is pretty happy, has a few bad days with the heart, but her good days still out weigh the bad.  I'm happy she is around to share in some good times with our  new boy, which just turned one year this month.  Being she can't be vaccinated, I won't take her off the property, so its nice she has someone to romp with, as well as sleep with at night.  

He's respectful of her and hows she feeling, as we are.  I guess the only thing I would have wished for at this point, was to find her litter mates...I can't seem to locate any, and even though she has a page here on the data base, nothing...her's is the only one, does not even show any siblings.  To me its a bit odd, but nothing.  I know where were brothers and a sister or two, but no one has come forward.  I just find it hard to believe that out of one large litter, why her?  

It's hard, but we are coping.  I thank god for our vet who has gone way above and beyond all he can do, and still does.  He's awesome in so much as he does not want to stress her out, so he orders me her injectable and things so I don't have to bring her in...EKG slows a slow, irregular heart beat, three slow beats with a pause, the DM is another issue but we are dealing with it.  She has only had a few instances with her not realizing she is urinating, but these are now more frequent.  She has accidents, but that surely is not her fault, so I have no carpeting due to this, its OK though, I don't mind.  

Last blood work looked OK, its the last EKG that is scary, but she still needs to exercise.  She will run a bit to try to keep up with her friend, but she will lay down in the grass and chew her toys...it makes her really happy and that is all we want for her.  For us, I still am hoping to find the owners of her litter mates, I just wanted only to compare some notes to see the health they are in, and if they are having any problems.  That would make a great holiday gift for me, I am still hoping for that...and she is here, that is a huge gift we are thankful for.  She is an incredible girl, not fair she is dealing with this, but she has us and she knows that.  Although she can't speak, her eyes tell us she is thankful.

Thank you for responding, I wish you luck with all your dogs and fur friends as well, so they will remain healthy and happy.