Dog Community

Posted : 4/18/2006 11:01:00 AM

Thanks, Laura!

I've gotten him on Valerian Root tincture (ok'd by vet) a couple of times a day to keep him relaxed and the vet is really happy that we're 'training him to be quiet' during this week before his treatment. They said we could pick him up and snuggle with him on the couch, that he could be out of his crate as long as he's supervised and *calm*. We actually have our other dog taking valerian, too, since she is very intuitive that she can't play with her little friend since he's sick, so she's antsy because she's worried, AND she is used to having mass exercise with him. She'll be getting some hour + walks to keep her tired out.

We're totally getting another crate to have downstairs. My partner works from home in our upstairs (tri-level) office so we're going to have a crate upstairs to alternate between bedroom and office, and another one downstairs. If you could see into his little charming puppy eyes... Yesterday I went home for lunch and read to him out of a puppy book. It was so cute, he was actually looking at the book while I was reading.

Someone had mentioned (I don't see it inline here on my reply format) about the estimate of Katrina dogs with heartworm - I found that statistic today and it's estimated that 60% of the Katrina and Rita rescues are heartworm positive. So sad! The silver lining, it was said, is that it's making people more aware and educated about heartworm and its prevention.

It's going to be a long road ahead - we confirmed with the vet today that he'll have to be kept quiet from Day 1 (which is this Friday) until Day 120 of his treatment, which will put us out at August 18. I'm getting more educated about dogs and heartworm than I ever wanted to be. You don't realize how much you love sometimes, until the object of that love is sick.

Samantha

Posted : 4/18/2006 11:03:34 AM

Candace, that's intruiging! Probably won't have him hunting and pecking, but I am curious - what purpose does alphabet training do aside from making the dog's mind quicker?

This might be something for after he is better, as well as for our other dog who isn't sick.

I've never heard of this before and am very curious.

Thanks,
Samantha

huskymom

Posted : 4/18/2006 12:29:07 PM

I'm not really sure about the purpose. I guess just to keep the dogs brain sharp and get it thinking. It is what my friend decided to do with her dogs this summer in the off season. They are sled dogs so thier exercise is greatly deminished in the summer due to heat. I didn't realize that you dog could not be moving at all. When a friends GSD had heartworm she just was not allowed to run around outside. She was not crated. But I guess maybe she had a milder case?

Samantha

Posted : 4/18/2006 12:47:19 PM

Well, he can move, but not excessively, so I'm trying to keep him as calm, quiet, and sedentary as possible. I've talked to the vet tech, and will ask many other questions when I drop him off and pick him up on Friday.

We give him some valerian root tincture at about 7:15 in the morning, and then it tends to wear off at about 1:00, so we're going to give him his 2nd dose at around 12:45 or so. Then, at night, Hyland's Calm Forte at around 8:30 so he has a good night's rest and sleeps through the night. This is all herbal and homeopathic, and my vet's happy that I'm doing so much to keep him in a 'happy place'.

He used to throw himself against his cage/crate walls so I was very nervous about how he was going to react to the crate. But, over these last few days he's gotten much better and when he's on the herbal stuff, he's much more calm.

A big reason for him being crated more is because he and our other dog love to re-enact WWF battles utilizing the steps, the back of the couch, and the bed. He loves to get up and pounce on our black lab.

How to calm/occupy a doggie