My Poor Dog - After Surgery

[da.gee]

Glad Scottie is doing okay. Hope he fully recovers.

My dumb dog (Millie) likes to chase and eat bees/wasps. When she was a pup she wasn't so good at it and would regularly get stung sometimes with the results below:

After a couple years now she doesn't swell up any more. Either she's gotten better or developed an immunity. However, yesterday she did have to go to the vet after eating four bees. She was eating grass, throwing up, laying around under the shady bushes like she had a bad hangover. She had to get a antihistimine shot.

She hasn't been out yet today so I don't know if she'll get back to it. I suspect so. She's a persistent thing.

Here she is as a "normal" English Setter with my teenage son's hairy legs.

 

[jch79]

LOL! da.gee, I don't mean to laugh, but as long as Millie is OK, that's pretty darn funny. Eating FOUR bees at once! :ooo: Jeez.

Do you guys carry an Epi-pen around, just in case she eats more than that? (if Epi-pens can be prescribed to animals?)

:thumbsup: john

 

[Nite]

LUX, as a dog owner myself I wanna offer my get well soon to your baby.

this can be very stressful I know from personal experience. Not just expensive...

I have pug named peepers, (my service dog) and he has one detatched retina (advantix got in his eye as a baby) and now requires cataract surgery in the other eye.

over the past year or two i have spent about 10,000$ including upcoming surgery.

that figure includes the damage done when he almost lost his blind eye when my gf and I were hit by that drunk driver. My car wont be the same, nor will my GF or dog...

that drunk was on felony DWI probation, they let him go after hit and run, with 100 days more probation since that was going so well for him.
maybe he will do 3 weeks for driving with no lic, or 6 days for hit and run. But he didnt get punished yet, nor was his probation violated.

my baby is only 6 and already he is going blind.

heres a 2 year old pic when he could still see fine out one eye.

good luck with him lux

 

[LuxLuthor]

Glad Scottie is doing okay. Hope he fully recovers.

My dumb dog (Millie) likes to chase and eat bees/wasps. When she was a pup she wasn't so good at it and would regularly get stung...

What a beautiful dog! I know you can give OTC 25mg Benadryl to dogs orally if you can cover him before he starts vomitting. (Cheaper than a vet visit and shot.)

One major problem I just had with Scottie yesterday was a major thunderstorm most of the day. With that and 4th of July fireworks, he goes beserk, running around barking like he is on crack. His default behavior is to run outside chasing after the direction of the thunder. The flashes of lightning make it worse, but even if I take him into another darker room, he still reacts to the thunder. He can sense the pressure/environmental changes of the storm coming before I do.

The Vet's only answer is to prescribe Xanax and/or Benadryl. What is astounding to me given how it affects humans is that I can give 0.5mg Xanax to this 23lb dog, and there is no apparent effect. Supposedly, the Vet says I can give up to 1.2mg Xanax + up to 50-75mg of Benadryl, but I am not willing to do that pharmacologic experiment on my buddy. The only practical solution I have found is putting him in his crate.

I have tried homeopathic shirt wraps, Bach "Rescue Remedy," "Peace & Calming" oil, Valerian Root, Rose Hips, Xanax 0.5 + Benadryl 25mg (1 hour before storm), desensitizing by playing recordings of thunder (he is desensitized to the recording :o), using Cesar Milan's "Calm Submissive" dominant techniques (including keeping on leash and using "Tssst"), white noise generators, loud TV/radio, holding him, etc.

Otherwise, Scottie is a total dream dog. After a lot of training, he never bites/growl at anyone, great with small children, able to walk on/off a leash on a city street, gets along with all other dogs, follows voice commands to not go after cats, squirrels, skunks, intensely loyal, playful, and loving....everything I would ever want in a dog.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Lux, have you tried giving him his favorite toy as a thunderstorm approaches? Maybe you can get him to associate the sound of thunder with something positive.

 

[da.gee]

Are you kidding jch79? Once we knew she'd be fine we laughed and laughed at her. What's funnier is she's still going strong two years later perfecting her technique. Surely she was taking notes this last round: "Hmmm, four bees make tummy hurt. Maybe stop at three." She will walk on two legs or stand and balance on them to search the taller bushes for bee snacks. Freaked me out the first time I saw her walking around. She is hours of entertainment. A fly in the house? Don't even ask.

No Epi-Pen. Our vet has never suggested it. I will ask him about it.

Lux: Wasn't that face eating chimp on Xanax? Lookout!

We gave Millie Benadryl after the sting picture and keep it handy. Usually she is unfazed by her bee hunting activities except for some muzzle rubbing on the grass after a "kill". Either she got a real nasty one or four at a time is just too many to snack on. Moderation they say...

She is back to her old self today although she did take the day off yesterday from her bee patrol duties.

P.S. Nite that sucks!

 

[LuxLuthor]

He did really good with suture removal today! He's chilling now.

 

[jzmtl]

It even looks happier than your first post!

 

[Nite]

Yay for Scottie.

Peepers says hi also.

congrats on a great recovery!

 

[Robocop]

What a great story and happy to see your friend is doing well. The way I see it is if you have the money you may as well use it on something that gives you great joy. Much better to spend the cash on a loyal friend than to buy toys or other things that will lose their use over time.

I recently found a beautiful yellow lab wandering the neighborhood. It walked right into my yard and was covered in dirt and ticks. I spent a little time with the dog and he is simply a great dog. My g/f took him to the vet for a checkup and to see if anyone had reported a lost dog. The vet confirmed the dog had heartworms and hook worms and we had no luck with finding the owners.

My g/f spent close to 600 dollars treating the dog and we kept him at our home for a few days. A co-worker with children decided to adopt him and he is now living a good life running and playing in his new home. He is so gentle he is the perfect dog for someone with small kids....his new name is Sarge and he was worth every penny. It makes me feel good to know that we had the money to spend on him however even better feeling to know he is happy now. One of many strays in the world and if I could I would save them all.

The Westie is an awesome breed and known for their loyalty. Much similiar to the Skye Terrier which is also an incredible dog. Good for you on helping your friend as he would do the same for you. You will find it was worth every cent and if I could have one more day with my old friend I would give all I had to do so. If you want to read a story of just how devoted a dog can be you will enjoy the story of "Bobby" This is a story of true devotion and from what I have found is indeed a true story...see the link below.

http://www.findoutaboutdogs.com/Greyfriars_Bobby.html

 

[TKC]

Poor baby!!! I am glad that you dog is doing much better. But he sure does look pitiful.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Thanks for the kind words. The hardest thing to manage is him going out in "his" fenced in backyard and protecting us from the squirrels. He will sit-stay if I am there to give the command.

He is still having pain, so the vet recommended continuing Rimadyl (doggie motrin), and Tramadol (has some effect on the Mu opioid receptors, and Seratonin effects), as well as Cosequin (glucosamine) long term. Apparently there is also a new owner does the SubQ injection regimen of Adequan which improves joint lubrication and function.

Best thing is I can get him swimming today.

 

[gorn]

My Rottwieler had to have surgery done on both of her rear legs. If she was owned by someone who couldn't afford the surgery or didn't want to get it done she would have had to have been put down 4 years ago.

In those 4 years she has given my family enough love to prove that she was well worth the time and money spent getting her fixed up. Her name is DJ, but I call her my Harley. With the money I spent on those two surgeries I could have purchased a Harley.

And yes, she is worth every penny.

 

[QtrHorse]

Glad to see that dog is doing well now.

I have been to the 24hr emergency pet clinic a twice for my dog. They are not cheap but are great when something goes wrong on a weekend or late at night. Our 24hr animal clinic even has a pet ambulance...LOL

Both times that I have been to the 24hr emergency animal clinic, there has been at least 6 different animals in there. I was surprised how many people visit late at night for animal emergencies.

It's amazing how much joy a animal can bring you. The majority of my friends laugh at me when I tell them how much $$ I have spent on my dog (easily $7000 plus over the years) but she has been with us for 8+ years and has been a great dog. As you stated, I could not put a price on the joy she has brought me and continues to bring.

 

[LuxLuthor]

LOL! Great picture. I can hear her saying: "Come on Dad, get this thing started and let's go!"

 

[PhotonWrangler]

LOL! Great picture. I can hear her saying: "Come on Dad, get this thing started and let's go!"

I was thinking exactly the same thing! :laughing: What a neat picture.

 

[HarryN]

I decided to remove my post, as it seemed to be too much of a conversation killer in this thread. Sorry if it offended anyone.

HarryN