MOLSON

BlackLabbie

JackieG

When is he having the surgery?

Not sure yet. We have to see a specialist and get the money together (surgery est. cost: $4,000).

Seriously girl -- we GOTTA talk.  I would be astonished beyond belief if they are considering doing both ears at once. 

They will *NOT* do them together.  They ***SHOULD NOT**** do them together.  It's traumatic -- it is a HUGE surgery.  so you do the worst ear first.  Allow healing and then do the second.  We darned near got away without having to do Muffin's 2d ear but when it slammed shut it did so fast. 

I cried -- ohhhhh I cried.  I have known sign for many years - I used to interpret in church and I've got the personal connection with Helen Keller (My cousin was her housekeeper -- plain old housekeeper -- after Anne Sullivan passed away).  But I felt for ALL THE WORLD like removing his ears for a frigging infection was like cutting off your hand because you had an infected hangnail!

WRONG

It's because once the ear canals ossify blood can NOT pass thru -- that's why antibiotics have NO effect at all. 

But I tell you -- you can not even imagine the WONDERFUL THING this surgery will be for Molson.  At the age of 5 1/2 when Muffin had his surgery -- suddenly I had a fanatical CHEWING FIEND on my hands.  He didn't hurt any more!  I can show you pictures of Muffin pre-surgery and post-surgery and KNOW which is which just by the expression on his face.  We didn't realize until AFTER the surgery how much pain he'd been in.

AND ... what's more.  We didn't have to rush the 2d surgery because one of the ears WAS worse than the other.  So he was pain-free for months until the 2d ear truly went "bad" and then we did that ear.

*sigh* THEN I really DID have a chewer on my hands.  (It was about a month after he got the drainage tubes out of the 2d ear and I came home to him having chewed a SIX FOOT HOLE in my best blanket -- YUM Mom -- I can CHEW now!! again!!)

But lets talk about surgery options and how to plan for this.  I would **seriously** talk to Cornell -- you will be amazed at how good their prices are. 

Don't mourn his ears -- they are gone.  All you're doing is relieving pain now ... really, truly. 

Trust me -- I have SO been there.  But it was MY hang-up.  cos I felt "responsible" -- but you aren't.  You've done your best and now you can move on to a new chapter!

Steph, you and Molson are at the forefront of my mind.  I can only imagine the stress this is putting on you. 

He'll be so much better after the surgery.  Callie makes yet another excellent point when she says his ears are already gone..and the priority is releiving the pain now.

I second learning sign language.  My GSD Max became deaf after years of ear issues and he was able to understand me with hand signals.  It made the world of difference.

(((Steph))) Hang in there.  You are a top dog mama, and will make the right choices for him. 

CoBuHe

second learning sign language.  My GSD Max became deaf after years of ear issues and he was able to understand me with hand signals.  It made the world of difference.

I've got a ton of books on deaf dogs.  BUT a dog gone totally deaf who **HAD** hearing previously has a HUGE advantage over a dog deaf from birth.  Molson is **used to** communicating and, in fact, he's been SO good at it you really hadn't noticed he couldn't hear!  He lip reads already -- and he follows Apollo and Patty -- BUT he's also gotten really astute at following cues that we don't even know we give off. 

TRUE STORY -- I've told this a million times to various owners.  I have always used "some" sign with my dogs simply because I try to prepare them for that potential eventuality of losing hearing when they're old.  But Muffin, in particular, really resisted sign at first.  Billy did as well (he's nearly totally deaf now too).  And after the 2d surgery when he really was completely "stone deaf" Muffin has quite the defeatist attitude for a few days (and it took Foxy to snap him out of that -- a story which I'll share with you later).

But you would have thot I was signing in Russian to him -- absolutely NO clue whatsoever.  Then one Friday night David and I were going out to eat and I crated everyone up and I signed "You + Stay .............Dad + me  + go + food".

 It never occurred to me -- but I used the same sign (food) for David and I going to supper that I used when I called the dogs to come get THEIR supper/food.

ALL OF A SUDDEN -------- LIGHT DAWNED!!!!!!

It was the sign "food" (your fingers as tho you picked up something and transferred it to your mouth).  FOOD (yes, that word WOULD get Mufferino's attention. 

***FOOOD*** -- then his eyes flicked to David and I ... to the door ... ******F*O*O*D***** "HOT DANG -- THEY'RE GONNA GO GET FOOD -- IS THERE A WHITE BOX IN MY FUTURE?????????????

I kid you not.  Absolute understanding.  He put that word food together with my simple gestures including David and I and the DOOR and the dog was ready to sit down with a napkin under his chin!  Muffin looked **EXPECTANTLY** back and forth to David and I and David looked at me and said "BUSTED!!!!" because it was so frigging PLAIN that the dog "got it" -- in fact, he "got it" better than the others!!  He so truly had visions of leftovers dancing in his brain it wasn't funny.

That was the equivalent of Hellen Keller learning that w+a+t+e+r was WATER.  And suddenly Muffin "got it" -- all the "hand stuff" MEANT SOMETHING.  And he became absolutely voracious for words. 

My husband is deaf in one ear and tends to be a bit rebellious about not learning to sign.  But David has his own "signs".  When I tell the deaf dog it's time to "potty" I use the sign "R+R" (rest room). 

David?  noooooooooooooooooooooooo -- he stands in front of the dog and hikes his leg "like they do" (girl dogs just patently think he's nuts).  But they LEARN and they adapt. 

 just saw this post tonight - I am so sorry Steph and please don't beat yourself up - you are doing your best and getting him the help he needs.  This is huge but once he heals from the surgery he will be pain free and that will be so much better than where he has been

hugs for you and lots of kisses for Molson!

keep us posted

(((((Stephanie)))))  I'm just really glad that Molson has someone like you in his corner.  You're a great doggy mom....remember that!

I wish I could reach through the screen and snag Molson from you for an hour of snugglin!  hehe

You'll both be in my thoughts.

Thank you, everyone. I've really been beating myself up over this, but I'm done today. I realized there's nothing I can do besides move forward. I'm not really sad or upset about him being deaf, what I've been most upset about is him being in pain for so long.

We're having a consultation on Thursday with a Dr. at Angell to see if Molson will even need the surgery in both ears, he might get away with having just one done because one ear isn't as bad as the other. Even if he needed both done they would not do it at the same time. We've decided to pay for 1 ear ($2,000) out of our savings and, if the other needs surgery too, my Grandma will pay for it as a gift to us. I almost cried when she told me that- it makes everything 100x easier for us.

BlackLabbie

We've decided to pay for 1 ear ($2,000) out of our savings and, if the other needs surgery too, my Grandma will pay for it as a gift to us. I almost cried when she told me that- it makes everything 100x easier for us.

Awww it almost made me cry too!  I'm sorry that Molson is having such troubles, but so very glad that you now know what you need to do to make him better!  Many folks wouldn't have taken the dog to the e-vet in the first place or be able to provide the surgery to make him better, and you're doing everything you can.  Molson is so lucky to have you guys!

I'm back, Steph.  I keep thinking of you, DH & Molson.  I just want you to know that I understand how you're feeling about Mo being in pain.  You didn't cause his pain BUT you can sure help him feel much better.  He is a very lucky boy to have you both in his life.

His T4 test came back- he's not hypothyroid. Vet was a bit astonished but said his fur loss could be due to stress (and I've been stressed and probably projecting it on Molson), low energy could be from his ears keeping him in pain.

We see a specialist Thursday morning, will update when I know more.

BlackLabbie

His T4 test came back- he's not hypothyroid

I've come to not trust T4 testing alone for a definative diagnosis of hypothyroidism (specifically with cockers).  Too bad you couldn't have a sample sent to Dr. Dodds or Michigan State University.

Good luck with the specialist Thursday.  Sending good vibes to you both.

AND...don't forget to give LOTS of scritches to him from me.

Johnny&Tessy

I've come to not trust T4 testing alone for a definative diagnosis of hypothyroidism

This.

Johnny&Tessy

BlackLabbie

His T4 test came back- he's not hypothyroid

I've come to not trust T4 testing alone for a definative diagnosis of hypothyroidism (specifically with cockers).  Too bad you couldn't have a sample sent to Dr. Dodds or Michigan State University.

Looking into this still. The vet on Weds night said he was sending it off for a more comprehensive T4, so I wasn't sure what that meant. We had a general T4 done about 2 weeks ago and he wasn't hypothyroid then either. After I talk to the specialist on Thurs I'll see what I can do about sending a sample off to have it re-tested...again.

BlackLabbie

His T4 test came back- he's not hypothyroid. Vet was a bit astonished but said his fur loss could be due to stress

Either have the vet send blood to Dr. Dodds at Hemopet or have the vet send it to MIchigan State -- seriously -- the T4 will go up and down like a bouncing ball -- and it's things like the thyroid stimulating hormone that really make it make sense.  Billy had FOUR thyroid tests done -- same reading every time.  But it was after we did the breed-specific test that we found evidence to supplement and man, what a difference for him.

I'm glad you've gotten some good counsel -- it's hard because on here we ALL are trying to do our best for our dogs and then suddenly to get kicked in the teeth and find out he's been in serious pain for "a long time" is just devastating. 

I've got pics of Muffin after his surgery so I can help prepare you for some of that (and it's better to BE prepared cos it's a honkin big surgery).  He'll be on antibiotics for a good while after -- there will be a "drain" (you'll have to do hot compresses twice a day to keep that drain going and to help it work).  But then for Molson the feel good stuff starts!!

BlackLabbie

Thank you, everyone. I've really been beating myself up over this, but I'm done today. I realized there's nothing I can do besides move forward. I'm not really sad or upset about him being deaf, what I've been most upset about is him being in pain for so long.

We're having a consultation on Thursday with a Dr. at Angell to see if Molson will even need the surgery in both ears, he might get away with having just one done because one ear isn't as bad as the other. Even if he needed both done they would not do it at the same time. We've decided to pay for 1 ear ($2,000) out of our savings and, if the other needs surgery too, my Grandma will pay for it as a gift to us. I almost cried when she told me that- it makes everything 100x easier for us.

My sister offered to help me with Kota's surgery if he should need it. It makes a huge difference to know that family supports us with our "kids".  I hope that all goes well with Molson and his surgery. I began giving Kota pain meds last Wed night and I can't believe how depressed his personality had become because of the pain in his leg, so I understand your comments about him being in pain for so long.  It creeps up on them and little bits of their personalities change but it's so subtle we don't notice until something dramatic helps us see it.

You and Molson are on the right track now and I hope it keeps getting better for both of you!

Callie, I've been waiting on calling you until Thursday when I know more. Because right now with everything swirling around in my head about his ears and surgery and hypo and fur loss and behavior change and appetite change...I just feel drained. THANK YOU so much for letting me call you!!!!!