The Return Of The Bladder Stones

Hello everyone. I know it's been awhile since you've heard from me. Right now, I live in a place that doesn't have dogs. However, I'm lucky enough where I can see Cookie, Gigi and Homer when I visit my family. Luckily, it's not too far of a drive. So, when I blog, you'll be hearing stories about me blogging from experiences outside of my home. It's my goal to do things more frequently and finding a balance between marriage, family, friends and my world online. Anyhow, this post is more about Gigi, so here we go.

In October 2014, I noticed that Gigi was having accidents in the house again and not eating. Not only that, but she would lay on my mom's bed all day and not budge. So it was time take her to the doctor again. Unfortunately, I had to switch doctors because the original one I had taken her to didn't have weekend hours. So I took her to the Petsmart in the neighborhood.

When I took Gigi there, they checked her over and we had x-rays done. From the x-rays, it was obvious the stones were back. They had prescribed Clavamox and she was eating the prescribed food. Taking her back on regular visits, there was little improvement and the doctor suggested that she may need to have surgery.

It occurred to me knowing that she had struvite stones, which are able to be dissolved, this place did not look at all the options. They looked at surgery as the be all and end all. There was no suggestion of a urine culture or other non-invasive treatments. I knew in my heart it was time for a second opinion. It also didn't help that the staff wasn't very compassionate either. For me, compassion goes a long way when it comes to those you love and the people who are responsible for their care. I also felt like I was being judged.

Time for a Second Opinion

One year later, I knew things shouldn't be this way When I got home, I decided to check my old vet's website. After seeing the hours, I noticed he now had Saturday hours in the morning. I quickly called to make an appointment. I brought Gigi in to get an exam and asked the doctor if it would give her the medication that he did in the past, because it seemed to work. I was hesitant about getting an X-ray because I knew in my heart from the way Gigi was behaving and struggling on walks that they were still there.

As the person taking her to the doctor, I had made some mistakes. I got a urinalysis first to see where things were and took a plan of action. It was getting scary because Gigi had become resistant to the original antibiotics. I shouldn't have tried to outguess my doctor. Because the urine culture wasn't done right away, it was hard to tell if the medicine was working properly or not.

So it turned out that the doctor ran the urine culture to see if there was any medications that Gigi's would accept. Out of the seven types of possible medications he ran against her blood chemistry, there was one in which she wasn't resistant. I realized then and there, it was time to me to let go and go all in with what the doctor was saying. We instantly switched the medication and I told my mom that she would need to give her a half pill twice a day.

This was a very long process, but after a couple of weeks, I took Gigi back for another test to see if the medicine would work and her body didn't build up another resistance to the medication. A few days later, I got another call and the doctor told me that the medication was working. We both were relieved.

Lessons that I Learned

This experience with Gigi and her bladder stones has been frustrating and incredibly fulfilling at the same time. I learned that no matter how scared you are, you can't try to second guess your doctor. I also learned that you have to go with your instincts. It's also important to build a foundation of trust with your vet and not to let incidents of the past cloud your thinking. Not all vets are the same. Because of my second veterinarian's unyielding commitment to finding a solution, Gigi didn't have to have an unnecessary surgery. I will always be grateful to him and his staff for their excellent care they gave my dog.

And Gigi? Because the stones came back after the first treatment, she will have to have prescription food for the rest of her life. The food is available by prescription only but it's a small price to pay to know your dog has a good chance of not getting the stones again. I'll also have to take her for a follow up visit in about four months.

Let's Discuss!

I love to hear what you have to say. So here is my question for you. Have you ever gotten a second opinion for your pet and how did it make a difference?

I appreciate you guys always coming here to support my blog. Have a great weekend!

It's All Related!

Gigi's Battle with Bladder Stones
What you need to know about Bladder Stones

Gigi's Battle With Bladder Stones

We never know what ailment our dog will have. All that we do know is we hate to see our dogs having any pain or discomfort whatsoever. Over the past month, Gigi (pictured with Fancy above), was diagnosed with bladderstones.

What are Bladder Stones?

Bladder stones are crystals that form in a dog's bladder when there is a ph level imbalance. Most bladder stones have an excess buildup of alkali caused by a bacterial infection. In Gigi's case, it was a staph infection. As a result, dogs who suffer from bladder stones will urinate more frequently and may have accidents in the house. They will also strain when trying to eliminate holding themselves longer than usual.

After the dog is diagnosed with bladder stones, the veterinarian will examine a urine sample to see if there are any crystals floating around. By pinpointing what types of crystals are existing in the urine, the vet will determine whether or not the bladder stones can dissolve on their own or they need to be surgically removed. Vets will x-ray the area to better see the bladder area. In Gigi's case, there were no crystals at all so the results were inconclusive. So we took the conservative route to try to dissolve them by giving her a combination of food and antibiotics. It did start to make a difference because Gigi had more of an appetite with her new food and was having fewer accidents in the house.

When Gigi had her first x-ray done, her bladder looked like they had a handful of marbles inside. An example similar to what Gigi had is included in the photo on the right. Today, I just took her to the vet to get a second x-ray because I spotted blood in her urine. Many times, bladder stones will irritate the lining of the bladder while the process is dissolving the stones. As a result, blood in the urine is a side effect of this. After Gigi received x-rays a second time, it seems like the stones that didn't dissolve much.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

However, there were a few on the bottom that were smaller. The doctor also informed me that in some dogs, it takes longer to break down the crystals.

Looking Down The Road

It seems that surgery is probably going to happen. Gigi has been undergoing this treatment for only three weeks. I'm going to wait and see if more crystals dissolve in order to do surgery as a last resort. My vet advised not waiting longer than 6 to 8 weeks so by then, it should be around six weeks. I'll keep you guys posted as time goes by.

Let's Discuss!

If any of you have had a similar situation with one of your dogs, like I did with Gigi, I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks to all of you who stop by.

How Walking Our Dog(s) Helps Us

Photo: Chris Reynolds

There are many benefits to walking your dog for dogs. Many people fail to realize how it will help them as well.

Here's what I've learned from walking three dogs continually:

1. It unites you with nature. Because walking brings you down to a certain speed, you get to hear the birds singing, flowers blooming and seeing the wildlife around you. Nature has an effect of calming and tends to lift our moods.
2. It gives you time to sort out your thoughts. Many times, we are on a solid routine of work, downtime, sleep. While this is ideal for most of us, being out with your dog gives you time to destress and organize your thoughts. You may rush through a walk sometimes, but even on days like those, you know it's going to help your dog.
3. It lowers the bad (ldl) cholesterol and raises the good (hdl). Continuous walking will keep your cholesterol levels steady.
4. It keeps your blood pressure down. High blood pressure is a key factor in accelerating heart disease. Walking will help to combat this.
5. It improves bone density. Postmenopausal women who walk about one mile each day have higher bone density than women who walk shorter distances. It also is effective in slowing the rate of bone loss from the legs.
6. It helps keep your brain sharp. Walking is known to increase brain function and keep cognitive thinking higher.
7. It helps people to live longer. In a 1998 study in the New England Journal of Medicinenon-smoking men between the ages of 45 and 68 who walked each day 1 mile or less, the mortality rate was 43.1 in 100. On the other hand, men who walked 2 miles or more, in the same period of time had a mortality rate of 21.5 per 100. That's quite a difference
8. It reduces your carbon footprint. Walking causes no pollution compared to driving in your car. Even with picking up after your dog, it will leave a much smaller footprint in comparison to driving frequently
9. Minimal equipment is required. When you're walking your dog, all that's needed is a good leash, a pooper scooper and a good pair of walking shoes. No special gadgets are needed (although pedometers are helpful).
10. It makes your pooch happy. When dogs are given something to do like walking, it eliminates their excess energy. They sleep better and have a more structured routine. It keeps them in shape and helps them to live a longer life.

Get Started!

It's simple to get started. Even if you can't do long walks, doing 3 10 minute walks a day is just as beneficial as walking 1 30 minute walk a day. A useful guide to how your neighborhood rates for walking is WalkScore.com.

Let's Discuss!

How does walking your dog benefit you?

It's All Related!

The Benefits Of Walking Your Dog, Part I
The Benefit Of Walking Your Dog, Part II
5 Tips For Walking Senior Dogs
4 Things I've Learned From Dog Walking

All dogs need insurance

They say that a dog is a man’s or woman’s best friend. The second we bring a pet dog into our lives is the second that we welcome them into our family as one of our own.

This is why dog insurance is so important for protecting your dog’s health. The sad fact is, that many dog owners have had to put down their dog simply because they could not afford the veterinary bills.

Unfortunately veterinary costs are rising all the time. If your dog broke a bone for example, the x-ray alone would cost in excess of $200. Dental surgery could cost over $160 and if your pet dog was unfortunate enough to catch an ongoing disease such as diabetes or asthma, the ongoing treatment for the lifetime of the dog could reach up to $10,000.

In this video from MoneySupermarket, Sheila from one of the many pet rescue centres talks about the importance of insurance for your pets.

Pet insurance video courtesy of moneysupermarket.com

What a dog insurance policy can cover

A dog insurance policy covers much more than just the veterinary costs. Here is a list of everything that a dog cover policy can include.

Vet Bills – As discussed whether your dog as a one time or a life time injury or illness your policy can cover you from the associated costs.

Death Benefit – This can be paid out to you if your dog dies of an illness or accident. The payout is usually the price you paid for your pet or its market value.

Accidental Damage – If you dog was to cause damage to a third parties personal property this will cover the costs to replace the damaged property.

Third Party Liability – If your dog was to cause a car accident and someone was seriously hurt, you could be held liable for any damages and costs.

Theft/Straying – If your dog is stolen and not found usually after 28 days, the price you paid for the dog or its market value can be paid to you.

Advertising/Reward – Carrying on from the last point, your dog insurance will help pay towards the associated costs involved for advertising your missing dog and offering a reward.

Boarding Fees – If your dog has to have a prolonged stay in hospital then the costs for keeping them overnight can soon start to add up. Your insurance policy can cover these costs for you.

Holiday Cancellation – If you have a family holiday planned and paid for and you had to cancel it due to your dogs health, then your insurance will cover the money you would have lost. This only applies if your dog needs life saving surgery.

So, as you can see a dog insurance policy covers a lot more than just your dog’s health.

Today's post was written by Stefan Mustieles. Stefan is the proud owner of a Yorkshire Terrier called Ben. Writing for the price comparison website MoneySupermarket.com., he currently writes a number of diverse articles on all aspects of pet ownership.

Let's Discuss!

How has having pet insurance made a difference for you?

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A Tale Of Three Dogs

Cookie Update

Today, I took Cookie to the vet to check her weight. As I'm still not able to have surgery, I've taken some steps to conservatively treat Cookie until surgery is possible. As it turned out, Cookie has lost about 1.4 pounds. While she still has a way to go, it's a step in the right direction.

Keeping Quality Of Life A Priority

In addition to working at getting Cookie to lose weight, I've been taking her along in the car while I do dogwalking. Since she can't walk big distances, she loves her car ride and with the weather still being cool, she doesn't mind waiting while I do my work.

She is walking better too. We've been giving her fish oil and Dasuquin (a joint supplement) every morning to help keep arthritis at bay. I've had the best luck with the salmon oil I picked up at Pet Supplies Plus. At night, she gets 200IUs of Vitamin E along with her regular food.

Looking Forward

Her walking is now more secure, and she still tries to jump up on furniture. I am hoping to be able to do surgery at the end of the summer, but right now, everything is tentative.

Thanks for all of you who've stopped in. Hope you are enjoying the week.

5 Signs Your Dog Isn't Getting Enough Exercise

Photo: Matt Rutledge

When a person brings a new dog into their home, it's expected that a dog will adjust effortlessly. However, some dogs take longer to adjust than others because they have a high energy level. When a dog doesn't expend enough energy, behavior problems ensue. This can be quite a challenge for the owner.

One way to keep this at bay is to make sure your dog is getting enough exercise.

Here are five tips that have helped realize when it's time to get out and about with your dog

1. They bark just to bark.One of the biggest causes of nuisance barking is the fact that they are not getting enough exercise. When this happens, a decent walk can make all of the difference.
2. The dog is whining or crying for no reason.
3. The dog is trying to get outside. They may do this by jumping up and hitting the door or if they're talented enough, bringing you their leash.
4. They destructively chew. When a dog picks up the newspaper just to chew it into shreds or will find your favorite shoes, it usually means that they are needing more of a physical challenge. Dogs can learn right from wrong when the owner is patient and vigilant.
5. Your dog is fat! This is one of the best indicators that your dog needs more exercise. My dog Cookie has slowed down in the past couple of years. She doesn't have the stamina and with all of the treat-motivated training I've done with Homer, she's put on quite a few pounds. Since she has an injured leg, I will be looking at hydrotherapy as an alternative.

Let's Discuss!

Well these are my signs that dogs don't get enough exercise, what signs do you have?

Related Posts

When Your Puppy Is Too Peppy
4 Reasons Dogs Like To Destroy Your Things
Making Headway With Homer

When Your Dog Is Beyond Chubby

The Aha Moment

I decided to take both dogs on a long walk on Halloween. A huge part of this was to tire Cookie out so that she wouldn't be barking like a maniac when the trick or treaters came to visit. It turned out to be a day full of surprises.

I had found a grassy area and decided I would run them for a little. Cookie tended to get tired out easily but Gigi came to life running in a set of circles just like she did when I got her a year ago. In that moment, I realized that I had not been doing enough to give my dogs adequate exercise. I was being cautious with Cookie because of her injury. However, time has passed since then and she has recovered pretty well and Gigi's higher activity level was not being met. Both wound up calmer that day and weren't as antsy as they usually are.

Our Society Today

The way our dogs live, is a direct result of how we raise them. We all slack off now and then. I myself have done so on more than one occasion. However, four out of ten dogs are either overweight of obese in the U.S. While there are medical factors as well as some breeds having a disposition to a slow metabolism, this post isn't about those dogs. Some of the breeds that tend to gain weight easily are: Golden Retrievers, Bassett Hounds, Pugs, Cocker Spaniels (like Cookie) and Collies.

For some dogs, giving them an extra dog treat a day is like us having an extra candy bar. Giving them table scraps isn't much help either. It can just make them more finicky and throws their feeding schedule off track. Dogs are best when they have a solid routine for feeding and exercise. Our society has changed from having a more physical workday to having a more sedentary one, especially with all of the technology we have.

Even now, there's even a drug by Pfizer called Slentrol which was created for dog obesity. I think any drugs for that should be used as a last resort, but after cruising their site, they do have a great obesity risk indicator.

If you feel that your dog doesn't have the energy that he did compared to when you first brought him or her home, then you may want to step up the exercise regimen and/or reduce calorie intake. Doing this gradually is the best method. Dogs don't become obese overnight and it's not healthy for them to lose weight that way either.

Steps for prevention

Watch the fat content! Dry dog food can contain anywhere from 11 to 16 per cent fat. If you feel you're feeding them the right amount of food, then you may want to switch to a food with a lower percentage fat content. Some of you may want to make your own food for them. When you do that, there's less preservatives involved but it can be time consuming.

Make time for exercise! Many days can be really stressful. Sometimes the last thing a person wants to do is go out and exercise. Really, it helps both the person and the dog because it helps to release the stress.

While Cookie is overweight, she is still healthy enough to enjoy a run or chase the neighborhood squirrel. Anything extra I'm doing for her now, is to improve her quality of life as she gets into her senior years. Also, I aim to keep Gigi as active as she used to be.

Have any of you been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do?

Well thanks for stopping by. I hope your week is off to a good start.

Related Posts and Articles
The benefits of walking your dog part I
The Benefits of walking your dog part II
Obesity in Dogs
Preventing Dog Obesity

The Wonders of Brushing

Brushing is something that should be done for all dogs. Even hairless dogs such as the Chinese Crested, should be looked after because they have a small area of hair that grows on the head and the legs. For dogs that don't shed such as the poodle, brushing is a good thing to do for them it keeps their hair from matting.

If you have a dog with a huge coat like a Golden Retriever or Siberian Husky, it helps them shed alot of their winter coat and gets them ready for summer. With those type of dogs, it's good to stop a little before you're done. Shaving isn't a wise idea because the hair that grows on those types of dogs, although it's massive, acts as an insulator for them by keeping the heat out. When you shave a dog, it actually can get hotter, especially if it's an outdoor dog.

I would say the two most important benefits of brushing your dog is the fact that dander is greatly reduced and that it keeps shedding to a minimum. Some dogs are impatient when it comes to brushing. I've had the best luck by starting out by doing it for 3 minutes. Make it a great moment of bonding by petting your dog by sliding your hand along the area you brushed gently. Tell your dog that he's a good dog and reward him or her with a treat if they are good sports.

Most dogs love brushing. There are different kinds of brushes to use. Slicker brushes are great for dogs like Cocker Spaniels, Poodles and Bichon Frises. If you have a long haired dog such as an Afghan a pin brush with rounded metal bristles would be more effective.

Another post on grooming you may want to check out is Brushing your dog's teeth. Now I must walk the pooches before Gigi goes nuts. Have a great night and feel free to share your thoughts. :)

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog-Part II

Previously, I had written about the benefits of dog walking in this post. After taking them on a long walk (45 minutes), I thought of additional benefits that I had not realized.

Here are some more reasons it's great to walk your dog:

1. Walking makes your dogs less irritable. Dogs are cooped up in a house or yard all day. Walking is an adventure for them and is a natural instinct for dogs. Dogs love to explore and they never know where they are going to end up on a walk. Only you do.
2. By letting dogs sniff the ground during the walk, they pick up all the scents of the neighborhood. Their sense of smell is so distinct, they remember exactly where they are because of these smells and it helps them find their way home.
3. They sleep better and so do you.
4. Walking is a low-impact exercise. It's great for increasing joint mobility and blood circulation.
5. It helps stave away heart disease. I had found this comment from Steve Freed, R.Ph., CDE of diabetesincontrol.com to be very insightful:

   For our newsletter www.diabetesincontrol.com we did a study with 5 patients with diabetes who would not exercise.
   We called their vets and had them tell the patient that they had to walk their dog 40 minutes twice a day to prevent heart disease and all 5 patients did for their pets what they would not do for themselves.

Weather.com has a great tool that helps you calculate how many calories you can burn on a walk. Check it out here!

I also found the neatest gadget to make walks more inviting. As you know, human pedometers have been around for quite some time, and now someone came up with this brilliant creation.
Pedometers Australia carries a pedometer made specifically for dogs. It slips onto their collar and measures the number of steps you take. It measures the steps they take and it can be used even when you're just playing a game of fetch.

With summer just around the corner, if you've been hesitant to get on the bandwagon, now is the time. As always, feel free to share your thoughts. I hope you all have a great night.

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog, Part I

Dental Hygiene

Hi All,

Today I am going to tackle a subject that some may consider disgusting, but necessary. Yes, that's right--brushing a dog's teeth.

I always in the past, would laugh off brushing a dog's teeth, until I took Blackie, my dog from my college days to the vet. His teeth were so badly damaged from tooth decay, that he had to have at least three of them extracted. That act itself was incomprehensible to me. Worse yet, dogs are similar to humans and dental infections can adversely affect other parts of the body such as the heart or other vital organs.

Ever since then, I hit the toothbrush aisle in the local pet store and haven't looked back. They carry toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental sets, specially geared for pets. You should see the toothpastes. Petrodex makes a special beef toothpaste as well as a chicken flavored one. Just giving the dogs a taste is a great way to start.

Cookie is not fond of this, but she'll let me do it. She's been pretty good over the years and the results have been well worth it. She hasn't had one tooth extracted and we are entering our sixth year of owning her. Gigi, is new to this and is more laid-back about it. Since I've bought the type of toothbrush that has one big brush and a little brush on the other side, I find the smaller brush works better for Gigi since her mouth is pretty small.

If you're really on a mission to be tartar-free, a scraper works great, but the noise can tend to be stressful for the dog. The vet does offer teeth-cleaning as well but at about $300 USD, which includes putting your dog under anesthesia, it may be a little high for your wallet. I've done it a couple of times, and the end result is well worth it. The last time I had it done, the vet told me that she hadn't seen a dog with such great teeth for a dog Cookie's age.

My cat will not let me near her with a 10 foot pole so I'm lucky if I can put some toothpaste on her chin and have her clean herself. Cats are probably handled best by the veternarians.

Anyhow, if you've always been on the fence about this topic, and you can handle a few minutes of squeamishness, there is nothing better for improving your pet's quality of life and it's great for building up the bond you have with your dog.

Below you will find some more information on this topic:

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-brush-your-dog-s-teeth/page1.aspx
http://www.suite101.com/blog/charladawson/how_to_brush_your_dogs_teeth
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3687099n


Have a great day all!