Very well done you for sticking to what you knew to be right and not letting yourself be bullied by a vet who appears to be lacking in compassion, empathy and all other interpersonal skills. Enjoy the precious time you and Joe have left together. You knew in your heart with your previous dogs when it was time to let go and no doubt you'll be the same with Joe.Thinking of you.
Thanks to everyone here for their support. Today is Joes first hydrotherapy. It should be interesting to say the least! He's only been in water once before, and that was over nine years ago (with me holding his lead, for a paddle). He has his swimming trunks ready (dog nappy). Will he even go in the water? He's a Lab so you would think so, but I once knew a lab who hated water. He also has a mind of his own to say the least...Recently he has been using a foot like an oar to move himself when moving to the part of the rug he uses to poo and pee. For a few days it was the left foot, but then I saw him use the right. Never both together though. The other foot drags. I've also seen him do "jumps" from his back end. He's trying to stand/walk isn't he? I didn't expect anything to happen, and certainly not before he has even started hydrotherapy. I'm a pessimist by nature, so I tend to look on the black side. It will be what it will be, so let's see how he goes on. Nev, who has been by dog walker and knows Joe very well, chuckled when he heard about Joe's hydrotherapy. He said they will have their work cut out! I'm expecting him to show me up
It went really well. He was put on the treadmill. He must have liked the water because he was really chilled out as the tank of whatever you want to call it, was filling up. He did really well. I will say though he did NOT want the nappy on. It took two of them to get it on, but having said that it takes three to do a blood test...He's booked in again for next Tuesday. He will enjoy going as I was told to bribe him with treats to get him to walk forwards. Whether he will ever walk again I don't know, but I'm giving it my best shot.
I thought I would update everyone. Joe is still with us! He was ten on the 5th of November. He is still having hydrotherapy and enjoying it. He improves every time he goes. x
Another update. Since my last one Joe has been put on Furosemide, and this week on Corvental. As I anticipated his legs continue to improve, but there are problems with his breathing. However he's still eating well, hasn't lost any weight, and is still as powerful and headstrong as ever! The vet has said to keep him on Corvental and see how he goes, but then she wants him to use an inhaler. Everyone that knows him have laughed at the very thought. The vet knows how difficult Joe is to deal with. He just won't comply. My question is how does a woman on her own with a five and a half stone dog, manage to get the inhaler mask on??? It takes two people to put Cleanaural in his ears (and that is just shoving it in). The cotton wool doesn't get a look in...I live on my own. How am I going to do it? I will ask the vet for her advice on this, but I thought I would ask on this forum. I'm in front of myself I know, but forewarned is forearmed! Thanks.
Yes, this might be tricky. However for humans who use inhalers and struggle administrating the drug, an additional device can be prescribed. It’s called a spacing device and helps to deliver the drug more effectively. Try and make it in to a game too, also ask the vet how they usually advise owners to administer the drug. Fingers crossed. Hope all goes well
Wow I've been reading your story of your fur baby and I've had the complete opposite with vets. My previous dog, Lacey, was 9 years old and started collapsing and was very weak and obviously couldnt catch her breath. Our vets told us she was fine, nothing wrong but after a month of watching her suffer we decided to put her to sleep, our vet tried to get us to do more tests but once we declined them she said "Well, she does seem to be having trouble breathing, yes this is the best thing for her" And her gums were blue too so she obviously wasnt able to get enough oxygen inside her. I wish the vet didnt just want to do all the tests and just tell us what was wrong but a lot of the vets I've been to are just interested in the money. The one we take our boys to now is brilliant! He doesnt ever think we're over worrying about our dogs, especially our lab since he can get sick a lot, and knows how to help them in the quickest way possible. Lacey (12.04.2008 - 22.08.2017) with Lucius the labrador when he was 4 months old.
I looked online on YouTube, and it shows a mask, and then what I think is the spacer you mentioned, and then the inhaler fits on the end. I looked at this last year, and presume the vet is talking about the same product (or similar). It's definitely going to be tricky...
Sorry for posting the above quote twice. My brain isn't working very well today. It's a good job I've just re-read my post, as I'd initially typed "my brain IS working very well today". I'm sorry you lost Lacey. What a lovely photo of Lacie and Lucius. Joe's vet is Spanish, although her English is really good. My next door neighbours are also Spanish so I've decided I'm going to attempt to learn the language. I dread to think what I will come out with as no doubt I'll get it wrong! I worry all the time about Joe, especially as his symptoms are changing heart wise. Having said that, up to press I have given him seven more months so far, that he wouldn't have had if I'd listened to the head vet at my previous practice. Joe even has his own steam vaporiser as I'd read on a forum it helps.
I'm happy your doing your best for Joe, he sounds like such a special dog! My Lucius was bought from a questionable breeder, I'm almost certain he was from a backyard breeder due to his anxious temperament and poor health, our vet calls him a mystery as he has so many quirks that are unexplainable (like how he suddenly began drinking water in excess and there's no medical explination for, or how he suddenly started to get more jumpy in the house) and several other people joke he is a "special needs" boy, he has possible PRA which has caused night blindness and some day vision loss as well as he is short sighted. He has food allergies and skin allergies too. Oh and I musnt forget he has a knack for injuring himself (like the time he ran into a fence and cut his eyebrow, or how he sprained his tail by playing too rough at the dog park). Our vets brilliant in all these cases and always makes sure to find out asap whats wrong, he had to stay in the vet overnight on a drip last year when he got a severe reaction to something he ate (we didnt know what it was he at but he became dehydrated and was rushed in that day) the vets told us we were lucky as another day like that and he wouldn't have made it through the night. Our other dog, a beagle, has had nothing wrong with him except an ear infection when he was a baby. Despite his problems Lucius is a sweet dog and my best friend, I know if I were in your shoes with Lucius I'd do the same thing, I hope Joe feels better soon! Lucius on our day out, loving every step of this very long walk! Our beagle, Pup, on a day out, totally dont have food in my hand
Well...This is a strange update to say the least!!! Joe had another Echocardiogram and X-rays on Thursday. He does NOT have Congestive Heart Failure, he has Chronic Bronchitis! I was told by my previous vet that his heart was "massive" and pressing on his trachea. According to my current vet, his heart is of normal size. His lungs are the problem. The medications he has been taking are still correct thankfully. He has to have an inhaler. I went on YouTube to have a look at how it's administered. It shows a vet and a really chilled out Lab. I have no idea how I'm going to cope. He won't co-operate with anything. It takes two people to put cleanaural in his ears (and that doesn't include wiping them with cotton wool!). Not only that, it a bloke that helps me. It still took two people even when he first collapsed last year and couldn't use his hind legs! Joe will need the inhaler twice a day. He will also have another one on standby in case he's really bad. I need to be able to administer the inhaler on my own as it's rare there'll be any help. I'm dreading it as he has to have it. I thought I was going to lose Joe in the next couple of months as the prognosis for CHF is on average around twelve to fourteen months. I should sue that bloody vet! She wrote him off, and eight months down the line he's still here. She said she could see "something" in his heart, most likely a tumour. There's no tumour....They said they thought he had a tumour on his spine. He can't have as otherwise he wouldn't have started walking. I'm gobsmacked at the misdiagnosis, but pleased I will have longer with Joe.
Lucan has used an inhaler for over 5 yrs for his bronchitis. He's not an easy dog to handle either but we got the hang of it with the use of treats and lots of patience. Started with just placing the mask over his nose for a second and treating, then gradually working up. He was kept on oral steroids until we mastered it. All the videos I saw showed the dog facing the owner as the inhaler was used, this didn't work for us. I found the easiest way is for the dog to sit, we do this in the kitchen facing the units with the treat pot on the worktop, then stand over his back, lean forward, place the inhaler over the nose, puff then treat. In this position you're able to use your legs to hold the dog in place if he tries to back away. It's become second nature to Lucan now, he even lets me know when it's inhaler time, leads me to the kitchen. Hope it all goes well, and brilliant news that it's not his heart.
I was thinking to use it facing him. However I will also try your method and see which one works best (if any ). I'm going to have a trial run today as I haven't received the medication yet. I have constant vertigo, so either way could be eventful to say the least...Joe, being a typical Lab is VERY food orientated so bribery will be at a premium Yes, brilliant news. I've no idea what the prognosis is now, but it has to be better than the CHF one. How old is Lucas?
@GailM I'm not familiar with an inhaler for dogs and what it looks like, but I would highly recommend teaching him to target it and to co-operate - just as we would teach a dog to put a muzzle on. There are some great muzzle-training videos out there and I'd suggest following the same principles with your inhaler. Keep it turned off at first until he is comfortable with it going on, turned off, before adding any air coming out of it. Here's a great muzzle video:
