Agnes's vet visit, 9-2-09

    • Gold Top Dog

    Agnes's vet visit, 9-2-09

    Wasn't a bad visit.  Got two chest xrays.  She has enlargement on the right side of the heart, but not the left.  Her arteries appear to be wide open and the vet said it was due to hypertension.  So we are keeping her on Enalapril.  And he thought her risk for treating the heartworm was about 50/50 with immiticide or ivermectin, so I went with ivermectin.  She will get Heartguard, and I'm also supposed to give a dose of Prednisone one hour before and six hours after, once a month.  Then he wants to test her in two months, but she will have to stay on preventative for the rest of her life.

    We had to give her the rabies, but I did no other vaccines.  I am not going to start the Heartguard until Saturday to 1) give her a few days to recover from the vaccine plus the stress of the visit and 2) so I can give her the Prednisone at the right time.  With work it is hard to.  I don't want to do the Prednisone, but vet said it will help her lungs with the dying off.  She's got a small cough and a tiny bit of fluid

    Is it safe to give her the Co-Q-10 even with the hypertension and using the other meds?

    The xray showed quite a bit of osteopenia on her ribs, so we figured she's not a day under 10, though 12+ seems more likely.  She was a trooper, though.  When I went home to get her, she walked outside on the leash as if we were going for a walk, was getting around okay, ears up, wagging her tail.

    The lumpy spot I felt on her chest is a fatty tumor, the vet said it was the only fat on her...LOL

    So I guess now we just wait and see what happens.  All belly rubs and scritches were delivered from all i-dog Aunts!

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    Well that seems like a good report - I'm no expert on all the medical stuff.  Hooray for Agnes - give her some MORE smoochies from me !!

     

    Deb W

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    The Co-Q-10's cellular -- it simply helps get oxygen TO the cells.  It doesn't interfere with anything else.

    If she's got hypertension, you may want to ask him if he's got a dog blood pressure monitor so you can watch that.  It's NOT a common thing for a vet to have (believe it or not) but if you *know* she's hypertensive, then it's a good thing to keep an eye on it.

    Glad he's open to the Ivermectin .. I was too much of a coward to do it monthly.  (cos then every single month it's like "the first time" as opposed to keeping the microfilaria killed daily or weekly).  But it's commonly done and the pred is probably a darned good idea.

    Sounds like you got a good handle on her age and her general health.  How'd she like her pretty new collar.  Did she act like she thot she was spiffy?? *grin*

    You'd better watch it -- Kee and Billy will gang up on me and email her about training Mom to take TREATS to the vet every time.  LOL (spoiled rotten they are -- I swear it!!)

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    That does sound pretty good.  Good girl Agnes for being such a trooper.  I don't think the CoQ10 will interfere with anything she is taking or will take but best to wait for the more medically savvy to advise.  I smiled at the way you described her wagging tail and happy demeanor.  She is such a lucky dog. :)

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    Callie, I'm pretty sure the vet said the dose of Ivermectin he prescribed is a little less that he would use to treat a younger, healthier dog, so that it would be easier on her.  I thought it kind of funny that before she was *mine* he was a bit hesitant, but today, no problem.  Whatever, maybe Monday was a bad day for him.

    Oh, her weight is up from 24.9lbs to 26.2.  And they said to wait 2 more weeks to re-check on the whips, even though I had poop with me. 

    She's still hesitant about taking food from my hand or when anyone is nearby - probably due to fending for herself for a while.  But, note to self - remember treats! 

    Agnes likes the collar!   She said something about a matching leash...

    Deb, more smooches to be delivered!  You'd like her - she's got a very beagle-y face and I still see a twinkle of mischief in those eyes!

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    Just for what it's worth -- my vets (BOTH the regular and the holistic) are seeing more and more dogs that have become resistant to typical wormers when they've been on HeartGuard.  I'm not sure *what* the story is but after Kee went thru that bout of hooks a couple of months ago, both Dr. D (holistic) and Dr. B (regular) vets were eager to have me actually have a fecal done about 2 weeks after the last treatment JUST so they could be sure and certain the hooks were gone. 

    I'll try to get more info on that ... I'm not sure ... it might be Pancur or Drontal that they're finding resistance (where the wormer doesn't kill the hooks/whips for some reason). 

    She'll learn to trust those bags -- and that is such an EXCELLENT way to socialize them and gain trust with the vet staff.  Even the vets truly like to be "the good guy" sometimes ... and I usually try for something "healthy" (like the little apple freeze dried pieces or even pieces of cereal or just kibble) - but it's a hoot to see everbuddy get into giving the dog treats.

    let her watch YOU pack them at home -- show her the ziplock bag and say "That's for everbuddy at Dr. ____"s to give you" -- then you hand them to the vet/staff in front of her.  She knows then it's no trick.  For the dog that is a touch hand-shy or shy of taking things from strangers, it gives them "permission" somehow  if they think they know all about it. 

    And to be perfectly blunt ... I've always figured ANY thing that helps my dog get better care is a **good** thing.  Having them be happy to see her -- they are silly little things but it tends to add up.

    Now about that Leash ... *grin*

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    Agnes had Panacur for the whips.  I will have her re-tested.  It is my goal, if we can get her heartworm free, to switch her to Interceptor.

    Bear was very food motivated, so I was a walking treat dispenser after I figured that out.  Even at the vet's, when he was done having whatever it was, he'd look at the vet or the tech as if to ask "where is my treat?".  He wouldn't leave until he got a treat and a "good boy".  Too funny.  Still trying to figure out Ags, though.

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    Yay for the good check-up and weight gain. She's definitely liking her new home with you.

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    sharismom
    Still trying to figure out Ags, though.

    When humans have 'disappointed' you in the past, you trust slower the next time.  You protect yourself -- even when it looks GOOD ... they still might ditch ya, you know??

    Just be yourself and be consistent.  She will trust you.  and you'll figure out her head just by what she does and does NOT do. 

    It too David and I two years to finally figure out "what happened in the bathroom" -- Socks was SOOOOO terrified of a bathroom.  We had bits and pieces ... but no 'story' and then one day I was IN the bathroom, she was in the doorway and David was in the hall trying to help me get her IN so we could bathe her.  The LOOKS she gave the two of us -- the CONFUSION on her face -- because we were united in our purpose and that was NOT what she expected.

    Then we put all the pieces together.  It seemed that the man would "put her in the bathroom" over her protests and likely when he was drunk so he could beat his wife (who was likely her protector).  But it was apparent she had a good relationship of sorts with the man at other times -- or at least with SOME man.  But that day, to have David so gentle and David and I united in our purpose (to get her into the bathroom without trauma) suddenly it all made sense.  It wasn't the bathroom itself she feared -- it was not being able to protect the woman if she was separated from her. Once she decided I was IN the bathroom it was ... ok ... to JOIN me.

    You'll put her story together (probably more than you wish you knew).  But she'll trust you ... and love you.