| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 07 2013 : 2:27:45 PM
Hi girls -
Lately we've been noticing that our dear old girl seems to be forgetting things - for example, where she should go to "go," and when she just ate, she'll call us back into the kitchen and look at her bowl as if it's time to eat. She also has started doing this really weird thing at night where she'll come into our bedroom, walk beside my side of the bed, then go to my hubby's side, and then go to the stairs, whimpering and panting the whole time. It's as if she's asking to go out, so we get up in the middle of the night and head down the steps, only to have her continue going round and round to either side of the bed, then back to the top of the steps, repeating the whole thing over and over and over. I keep telling my guys that I think she has some type of doggie Alzheimers, but they think I'm totally off base with this. So tonight, when she pulled another "When are you gonna feed me?" thing just after eating her dinner, I headed right online to Google doggie Alzheimers. I was astounded. A lot of the symptoms she has been exhibiting over the last few years - things that the vet has kind of dismissed - are on the list! I don't know what to do? If the vet has been dismissing them, is it because this is all normal for an older dog and he just didn't put a name on it? OR do you think that he made a big boo-boo and we could've been doing more along the way to help her? Should I bring her in to see him? OR should I find another vet? And, do you know if they can or will even do anything for her? My poor girl! Everything is starting to piece together and I feel like we've really missed the mark. I know that they can't cure it, but if there's anything we can do for her to make things easier, I want to be sure we do it. For example, if I had known that rearranging the furniture was going to be stressful for her, I never would have done it. Now I understand why she was acting so funny last fall - she wasn't sure what to do with this new situation! Geez-oh-man my heart really hurts for her. My poor girl! I wonder how long this will go on like this? Is it the same as with human dementia? Will it progress slowly and drag on for years? Will she suffer much? Do they medicate for this? Is it even affordable? I know I should be speaking to the vet about it, but I'm not even sure if I trust his judgment anymore... I know... I need to take a deep breath. I just feel so bad for her, you know? :(
If any of you have experienced this with your pets, I really would appreciate your insight and advice. We just love her so much, you know? This is so sad!!!
Thanks so much -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| momshopsalotta |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 2:26:12 PM
Our Golden Retriever/Basset Hound/Chow, Chula is 14 1/2 now and has periods of confusion like not remembering where the porch stair are and forgetting she has just gone out. She had started to urinate in her sleep and I was afraid it was time for THE decision but medications for incontinence and arthritis have improved her tremendously. She has new vim and vigor but continues to be confused at times. I think the hardest part of having an elderly dog is knowing the right time to make THE decision. We had a dog five years ago with cancer and on the vets advice that she had another good month waited too long and that final couple of days were horrendous. The most amazing thing was that when we did have her put down it was an amazing and peaceful experience. I would have never thought I could be there but I stayed and am so glad I had those last few precious memories with her and will with Chula as well. |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 2:12:20 PM
Thanx nini
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 11:34:15 AM
She sounds wonderful, Lorena! I'm so sorry for your loss. SO hard. Big hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| queenmushroom |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 10:51:22 AM
Cat. She tolerated my hubby and son and hated the dog. She was a voracious hunter often wanting to share her midnight snacks. Once she had a rabbit waiting for me for breakfast. Anyway, there will be no other cat like her. I'm sorry. Hang in there.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 10:47:29 AM
You won't find another penny but you will find another that will fill the hole in your heart. My fancy cat went there on Tuesday. She was diagnosed with a tumor in her lung which was also affecting her liver. She was a feisty 14 yo calico and was totally my Cay.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 10:38:04 AM
Betty - I know it's so hard. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Like Marianne said, I truly hope you will find your next companion very soon, too. Big hugs to you, sister - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 02:07:51 AM
Betty, I hope you find your special pet soon. It is smart of you to save. So many people just rush out and get pets they can't properly take care of. Penny was so beautiful with her silky hair.
Thanks Nini. Things are getting better. It is quiet, though.
Marianne |
| Betty J. |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 09:18:22 AM
Since my Penny crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 7, it has been so very lonely here at home. I live alone and don't do many outside activities due to low income. However, I have been saving to try to find another pet just like Penny. I hope I will be so fortunate. She was my love and I miss her still.
Betty in Pasco  |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 08:42:49 AM
Oh, Marianne... I'm so, so sorry... SO sorry... Praying for you and your family... Love, Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 06:36:02 AM
Thanks so much, Terri. They teach us so much, including how to say good bye...
Marianne |
| HemetGardener |
Posted - Mar 12 2013 : 7:09:40 PM
Marianne,
I am so sorry about losing your dog. Don't be embarrassed to grieve and feel the loss as if it was a person.
Prayers for you,
Terri |
| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - Mar 12 2013 : 3:43:44 PM
Hi, Nini. Glad you got your gal to stay downstairs. I remember emailing with you about the towel trick, etc. We lost our gal, Mollie, this morning. She had a stroke. She couldn't stand and well, you know, she was 13 and a Lab. I hated the fear in her eyes, but we did get her calm and her trust in us was evident. I have to tell my dd tonight that "her" dog is gone. They slept together for years...
thanks for listening,
Marianne |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Feb 24 2013 : 5:16:19 PM
Nini,
Bless you and your girl. Having a senior pet can be very trying sometimes. We want to do all we can for them and it is frustrating when it doesn't seem to help. I was lucky when my old man beagle mix Mr. Bean passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was fifteen. I think I mentioned earlier the things he was going through, just like your doggie is. You are a wonderful pet owner. It is so sad how many older dogs end up in shelters. How awful for a senior dog to be dumped like that. Keep on loving her and she will let you know when it is time and if she needs help.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
I am trying to be the person my dogs think I am.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 24 2013 : 1:18:38 PM
Oooooh!!! I thought when you said "taken in 2009" you meant GracieBelle was "gone." DUH! Well, this is happy news, then! :) So glad she's still with you! :) I'll look into the "Composure," for sure! :) Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| violetrose |
Posted - Feb 24 2013 : 1:13:41 PM
Hi Nini, Thanks for your response. We still have GracieBelle, she is only 6 and BarneyBoy is 3. They keep us hopping :)! Taffy is at this moment asking for her "after dinner" treat. She might be old, but boy does she remember that treat. The other two could go without, but nope, not TaffyAnne. Sometimes when I think she is getting forgetful, I think about her afterdinner treat :)! Glad your baby is adjusting to sleeping downstairs.
Composure works well too. Can get it from the Vet - over the counter calming goodie. We have to give it to Gracie from time to time as she gets nervous in the car, and Barney get's it when there is a bad storm coming. However the "Thunder Shirt" works great on him. He even will stand to let us put it on him - he knows it helps :)
Hugs, Ruth
Farmgirl Sister # 1738
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 24 2013 : 09:04:04 AM
Hi girls! HI RUTHIE!!! I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!! I'm so sorry to hear TaffyAnne is having such a tough time of things, but I am so glad you found the right doctor and diagnosis and that she's doing much better! Isn't she just a precious beauty!!! I am sure you all miss Gracie Belle terribly - don't they look just lovely together, and as happy as can be! Please give TaffyAnne a hug from me, too! :)
I'm happy to report that our girl has spent the past few nights sleeping on the first floor without any whimpering or whining. My hubby and I just spend time petting her and talking sweetly to her in dulcet tones to calm her before heading up to bed, and it really has calmed her. The other morning, we spent about 15 minutes with her trying to coax her down the steps, and by the time it was over, all three of us were upset and exasperated by the whole thing. It was just so upsetting to see her like that. She was panting, afraid, crying, whining, wimpering...taking a step down and then heading back and running in small circles at the stop of the stairwell. My hubby ended up carrying her down, but she is just so heavy that I was very concerned that either one of them might get hurt - especially if she started wiggling. She seems to understand now that it's best just to stay put on the first floor at night, thankfully. A couple of mornings, she has seemed a little disoriented, as if she's trying to figure out who I am or where I had come from or something, but this morning she popped up as happy as can be, all bright- eyed and wagging her tail like a puppy. It was so good to see her back to her old self. I know we'll have good days ad bad, though - we just gotta keep loving her through it, that's all!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| violetrose |
Posted - Feb 23 2013 : 1:26:34 PM
Thanks for asking, here are a couple photo's of TaffyAnne. the close up one was today :) ! The one of her with her sister, Gracie Belle was taken in 2009 and she had just had a haircut..JPG) .JPG)
Hugs, Ruth
Farmgirl Sister # 1738
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Feb 22 2013 : 8:16:19 PM
Ruth, do you have a picture of your dog? We'd love to see her. I will keep her in my prayers.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| violetrose |
Posted - Feb 22 2013 : 5:39:36 PM
Hi Nini, I just saw your post - have been missing lately :( ! Glad you got some good news on your sweet girl. We have been going through lots of trial and error with our senior girl - She will be 16 this July. We finally took her to an Alternative Vet, and found out she has an enlarged heart, she takes two meds for that and one for pain. She has arthritis in her front shoulders. What a difference that made :)! I was up all night with her, pacing, panting, going in and out, just not knowing what was wrong. Thought she had dementia, but since we found Dr Brennan, she has been a different girl. Praise the Lord! She is totally deaf, but can see. Has all her teeth, and still acts like a puppy from time to time. Running up the hill and 15 stairs to get into the house. She does have trouble going down as it hurts her shoulders. She eats well, a little picky, but then she always has been :)! We just love her and are thankful for everyday she is here. We also have two other pups, one is six, the other three. All very much part of the family.
Give that sweet girl hugs for me.
Ruth
Farmgirl Sister # 1738
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
| LeighErica |
Posted - Feb 15 2013 : 3:04:08 PM
Dear Nini, So glad you have a reason for her change now!! I am thinking of you all...she is a very lucky girl to have such loyal owners. Hugs, Erica
Farm Girl #2731 |
| Betty J. |
Posted - Feb 15 2013 : 10:31:29 AM
Nini, you are doing the right thing by what you are doing. My Penny lived a long, good life. She was loved and gave love in return. It's sad to see her go, but the vet said that she had been well taken care of. It was an expensive last few days, but Penny was worth it for all the companionship she afforded me. I think you would agree that your friend has done the same for you. I'm sorry to see them go, but love her and love her.
Betty in Pasco |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Feb 14 2013 : 8:11:49 PM
I agree with your decision, Nini. Hugs to both of you. Keep us posted.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| HemetGardener |
Posted - Feb 14 2013 : 6:59:33 PM
Nini,
Good decision to just keep her home and love her. She will be happier during her last years just being in a familiar place with her regular routine, rather than going through any treatment or medication that might make her uncomfortable.
God Bless you,
Terri
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 14 2013 : 6:36:17 PM
Hi girls!
Well, our girl had her appointment today (which happens to be her 13th birthday, by the way!). The vet says she has cataracts in both eyes, so her vision has been reduced to about 50%. He said her hearing is about the same. In addition to those, she does exhibit signs of dementia. He said there are medications, but depending upon to whom you speak, they get about 50% positive results. He doesn't recommend that we go the medication route, because he personally doesn't think they work. SO, for now, we just have to keep her comfortable, realize her limitations and love her through this. He said as long as she is still eating, she's enjoying life, so we shouldn't worry. He said as far as how quickly this will progress, it varies from dog to dog, so all we'll have to watch out for is for her symptoms to become life-inhibiting, OR for her to stop eating. At either point, we'll have some decisions to make. For now, though, she's just a dear, sweet, loving old lady, and we will continue to treat her as such. We mentioned that she can't travel - being in the vehicle to get to the appointment was hard on her. He said it was understandable, but he doesn't recommend us kenneling her if we were to go away for a few days, because that would only upset her and confuse her, and the adjustment would be difficult for her. We don't really do that anyway. If we do go anywhere, it's a rare thing, and even then it's usually only overnight, and she is contented to stay here at home. Our dear neighbors who love her like their own (and whom she loves dearly) come over to let her out, feed her and then they'll take her over to their place for a little while to play with their dogs, and she's in her glory. :) I'm sure we'll figure everything out as we go. Everything will be fine.
So, I wish I could say we walked out of there with more positive treatment and care options for her, but really, that's all he was able to say and do for her. We just go on as we have been, and, I guess, realizing what's happening to her helps keep everything in perspective. She is very loved, very well taken care of, and very happy being home with her family and with her birds in the yard and with the rascally squirrel who makes her crazy and still prompts her to a chase (although they're much shorter than they used to be... but at least she's still moving, right?). It's sad, yes, but at least we understand what is happening to her, and kind of know what to expect. We'll just be taking it four happy paw steps at a time. :)
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and kind words. We all go through this, I know. It's just so good to have all of you to share with. Bless you!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| queenmushroom |
Posted - Feb 12 2013 : 2:59:48 PM
I had a boarder collie mix "Ringo " that had dimensia. She would lap at the floor and started losing her bladder in her sleep. I finally had to put her down. She was 14. That was in.2001. There's not a lot that can be done for pet dimensia. Supportive care. Sadly sometimes I think when pets get sick and there's no getting over it, it's best to let themg go. I think people hang on to them too long sometimes after a terminal diagnosis because the owner isn't ready to let them go. I'm not saying for you to put her down. It's just an observation of human behavior. I hope that her dementia is slow and you can enjoy her for a while longer.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
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