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

A Tale Of Three Dogs

Cookie, Gigi and Homer (from left to right)

When you have three dogs, there's never a dull moment. Cookie, Gigi and Homer have all had interesting situations lately.

Cookie

Some of you may remember a few months ago when Cookie hurt her leg, and the vet's prognosis was that she needed surgery. Yet, a short time later, Cookie was able to walk better. The initial thought was, her CCL was completely torn and that she would need surgery to repair the tear.

It turned out that the x-ray wasn't read as easily as it should have been. Cookie's bone structure can make it difficult to get an accurate reading on an x-ray machine.

Future Steps

While it's most likely that Cookie won't have surgery, I hope to be able to take her to get another x-ray. If it turns out to be a partial tear, then I will do conservative management to get her back to her normal self.

It helps that her activity has been limited and that she doesn't use the stairs much. It has been said that animals adapt to their environment and in Cookie's case, this is correct. I am hoping to get her an x-ray that is more accurate to see the injury more clearly. In the meantime, I'm grateful that her condition has stabilized.

Gigi

A few weeks ago, Gigi had a huge bulge in her neck. I took her to the doctor that same week and after removing some blood from the affected area, it was apparent she had an infection. The area was drained and there was a sample sent to the lab for testing.

Ten days later, I received a call from the veterinarian stating that there was lab error. Shock that the cost for these tests cost me over 40 per cent of my veterinary bill, I went to the clinic to see if I could get a refund or at least a portion of the money I paid back since both tests were inconclusive.

Two days later, I get a call from the vet tech telling me that the infection "cleared itself up on the way to the lab" and that's why the tests didn't work out. Translation: You're not getting you're money back. Part of me was angry that this happened and felt this reason was fabricated and the other part felt like it was par for the course when it came to the vet.

The Lesson I Learned

In the future, I will be more scrutinizing about lab tests. It's my belief that many doctors take advantage of pet owners' desire to give their pets the best possible care and will suggest extra tests they don't need.

When Gigi had her infection, she was tested for both aerobic and anaerobic infections. If I had only done one test, it would be an accurate enough indicator of what she did or didn't have. The extra test was unnecessary, but I didn't receive the cost breakdown till after I paid.

While this vet has always been caring towards my animals, I will be trying a new vet in the future. I was recommended a vet through a family member and think that at least, this new vet will be more upfront.

Homer

Homer is a fearless dog. He will chase any rabbit and chew up almost anything. He loves to patrol the backyard and barks with pride to protect his territory. However, the 4th of July changed all that.

Homer became a different dog. The bold dog who loved to prowl the neighborhood, couldn't wait to get home and wouldn't budge until I headed in that direction. I thought that once the holiday was over, he would be fine. However, the next few times I tried to take him out, he would act the same.

It seemed unreal. Even after the holiday was over, he would still hear noises on his walk that resembled firework sounds.

Steps To Getting Past The Fear

After talking to one of my friends on Twitter(@fearfuldogs), she informed me that you have to be proactive with sound phobias since they only get worse.

While I can't control how Homer feels about darkness, I can control how he goes outside. Last night, I took him for a car ride before sunset. He loved being in the car and being at the park put him in a neutral environment. Other options are taking him to the off-leash dog park, the dog beach and the local pet store. While I can't do that all the time, it's good to know that's an option I can use.

I think it will take time, but with persistence, I hope to get his phobia more manageable.

Let's Discuss!

Have any of you experienced problems that were similar to the ones written in this post? If so, how did you handle it?

Related Posts

A Rough Road Ahead
Cookie Update
The Unforeseen Affliction
One Little Firecracker

The Unforeseen Affliction

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been posting as much because I recently started a full-time contracting job and am in the middle of redesign of a website that is pretty work-intensive. With my schedule on overload right now, I'm going to try to blog on the weekends only until I finish this website.

The Mysterious Bulge

Which brings me to today's topic. On Monday, I came home from work and went to greet Gigi. While I was petting her on the back of the neck, I hear a tiny cry from her. I felt around and felt a hard lump that was about three inches long. It didn't help that she didn't have much of an appetite either.

My first thought is the lump came as a result of Homer's roughhousing. He loves to play with Gigi because she's so easygoing and she's only a year older than he is. However, because Gigi is so docile, Homer never knows when to let up.

Originally, I heard that dogs will tend to get a little rough but they monitor themselves and one will tell the other when it has had enough. Yet sometimes that isn't the case. As it turned out, with Gigi's curly hair, it was hard to notice the lump was there and when it actually appeared.

Time For A Vet Visit

I wound up taking her to the vet with my mom today. We also brought Cookie for her routine shots. The doctor said that bulge was soft in some parts and hard in other parts. After taking a blood sample, it was obvious that it was an infection.

The doctor took Gigi into another room to drain the pus and excess blood from the affected area. After 15 minutes, she came back and told us that she had to send the samples out to be tested. There were two types of infections: anaerobic infections (which are caused by a bite) and aerobic infections (which comes from within the dog itself).

While it isn't 100% certain that Gigi's infection is from Homer, it was a huge wake-up call for me. Since Homer seems to pick on Gigi when I come home, I have to watch him much more closely. He's come a long way since we've first had him, but he still has some time till he matures.

The Road Ahead For Gigi

The doctor gave us these steps to take with Gigi:

1. Give her antibacterial medication for the next two weeks.
2. Watch her so she doesn't scratch it. She was itchy at the vet office, so I had to really watch her.
3. Get her a t-shirt! Because she is itching from the infection clearing out, it's best for her to wear a t-shirt. Also, since Homer has such a strong nose and tends to lick, it would make it harder for him to do that.

Heading for Healing

I went to the pet store and picked up three t-shirts for Gigi. It was even better that they were on sale. The red one that you see in the picture says "What part of woof don't you understand?"

One thing I noticed is that the incision came very close to her collar. Until the wound recovers, I'll be keeping the collar attached to the leash, since she's so well-behaved in the house. Right now, Gigi is resting comfortably and living a dog's life.

Accentuating the Positive!

Cookie's weight is down to 26.3 pounds (11.9 kg) and is in excellent health. I really have to step up her teeth brushing because she seems to get tartar easily. Still, the weight loss is reason to celebrate.

Gigi's infection will heal in the next couple of weeks, and she'll be able to make a 100%recovery.

Let's Discuss!

Have you ever had a mystery illness happen to your dog?

Canine Blood Donors

Photo: Albert Lozano

With the improved technology out on the market, pet blood banks are on the rise. Surgeries are more common than ever and having extra blood on hand can make all the difference.

Blood Banks

Now, dogs are donating blood in order to give other dogs an improved quality of life. Most dog blood donation programs have strict requirements so that the donor is kept in the best condition for donating.

Some of the requirements include:

• Dogs should be between 1 to 8 years old.
• Dogs must weigh around 50 pounds but, the weight will vary with blood banks.
• Blood is drawn from the jugular vein in the neck.
• Dogs should be between 1 to 8 years old.
• They must be able to lay still for 10 minutes.
• They must be current with their vaccinations.

Dogs are fed after the procedure and recover much more quickly than humans. They don't feel faint or dizzy. If the donor is a cat, they must be sedated before donating.

It's ideal if your dog has the universal blood type which is known as DEA 1.1. Dog breeds known for having this blood type are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. About 450mL of blood is collected during the donation.

Pet Blood Donation Websites

Pet Aid in Burlington New Jersey
Banner's Blood Bank (Oregon)
Blue Ridge Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank Virginia
Critical Care Vets in Washington State
Washington State University
Animal Blood Register, Hertfordshire, UK
Iowa Veterinary Specialties, Des Moines, IA
Pet Blood Bank United Kingdom
Hemo Solutions, Colorado Springs, CO
Animal Blood Banks in California
HemoPet, Garden Grove, California
Oakland Veterinary Services, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Dove Lewis, Portland, Oregon
Chicago Veterinary Emergency, Chicago, IL
Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists, Florida

These are just a fraction of the pet blood banks that are now everywhere. The Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine is also a good resource to find blood banks.

Let's Discuss!

Has your dog been a blood donor or ever needed a blood transfusion?

Related Post

The Oscar Foundation

Guess Who's Going On A Diet?

Photo: Joanna Redesiuk

Yesterday, my mom and I took Cookie to the vet for her exam. I knew that the minute she was getting on the scale, it wouldn't be good. Sure enough, it turned out that Cookie weighed 28 pounds(12.7 kg). Cookie may not be a big dog, but when we first got her she was underweight at 16 pounds. Her ideal weight is 22 pounds (10 kg). The 10% increase— compared to her weight last year(26 pounds)—is also affecting her injured leg.

Why This Happened

The main reasons Cookie had gained weight is the fact that we had increased her treat intake and that as she's getting older her metabolism has slowed down. Ever since Homer has joined the family, he's had a knack for chewing everything that looks interesting to him. Part of the way I get him to relinquish his finds, is to give him a treat so I don't have to fight him with his teeth clenched on whatever object he has.

In doing this, I had a guilt complex of not giving the other dogs treats so I would give them something too. It's so hard when you look at those questioning eyes that just don't understand. In talking to our vet, we learned that giving your dog a jerky treat should be the only thing the it receives all day aside from food.

Looking Into The Future

The doctor provided us a simple routine for Cookie as well as, Homer and Gigi. These are the steps we're going to take to help them shed the pounds(Yes, they all are a little heavier than they should be.)

• Limit their treat intake! Each dog will be getting one big treat or three tiny ones a day. My mom has been apppointed as the boss of the treat jar so we don't get confused if they were given treats or not. When Homer has dog obedience, we will be cutting down on his meal and not feed him until after his class.
• Reducing their food consumption.This will apply mostly to Cookie. We will also be picking up their food bowls if they haven't eaten their food after 30 minutes.
• No more people food! Since Cookie's health is at stake, their will be a ban on people food for the dogs. This will help with their begging too.

It will be interesting to see how this will help the dogs keep their weight down. I'll keep you all posted.

Let's Discuss!

Do you have an overweight dog that you've put on a diet? What are some things you do to help them shed pounds?

Weight Loss Resources

Diet Tips for Obese Dogs
Putting the dog on a diet
Managing an Overweight Dog Through Diet
Dog diet tips from Dog Time
The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats
The Dog Diet, A Memoir: What My Dog Taught Me About Shedding Pounds, Licking Stress and Getting a New Leash on Life
Fitness Unleashed
My Fat Dog: Ten Simple Steps to Help Your Pet Lose Weight...

Related Posts

At The Vet's Office Part I
At The Vet's Office Part II
When Your Dog Is Beyond Chubby
Project Pet Slimdown

At The Vet's Office Part II

Hello TKD Friends!
Sorry I have been a stranger. I came back from being away for a couple of days to find out from Mom that Cookie (my little gray dog) had injured her rear leg. She loves to jump down from this table that she perches herself on when she looks out the window. The table was about three feet high. She was excited to see me but was holding her rear left leg up when she was walking.

We took her in this afternoon and the vet had to take some X-rays to see if her CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament) was torn. At best we could hope for a sprain. At worst, surgery would have to be completed. When we returned, after the tests finished, we went back to the office. Since Cookie is the breed of dog that has short legs, the vet had difficulty with the X-rays. After some time, they were able to get a fairly good result.

It turns out that Cookie may have a slight tear. It's not 100% torn but the knee joint is very inflamed. The doctor told us we could wait it out and see her back in a couple of weeks or have the surgery. Since the X-rays weren't 100% definite, Mom and I chose to wait it out. We have to take her back on the 13th.

Anyhow, I just want to thank you all for stopping by. If you would like to see my other vet's office post check out this link here.

At the Vet's Office

Yesterday, I had to take Cookie to the vet. We went to see if she had lost any weight. Unfortunately, not yet. Since we've cut back on her food, the exercise needs to be increased. I can't wait till it warms up, because then I'll be able to take both dogs rollerblading. Until then, it's two walks a day.