Desperate, Please Help

Any news?

I hate to say this, but an undesended testicle can become cancerous so I'd really talk to the vet about options for surgery to get this darned thing OUT.  I have an 8 month old pup who the vet keeps saying we can wait on.....but having those things UP there makes me horribly nervous......
 
Prayers for your sweet boy.

Hi, ShandyNBeau:
 
So sorry for this difficult situation you find yourself in.  I have a feline who began seizing last fall, so I know how devastating that was for you. 
 
You've gotten some great advice here already, so I'll just add that for me, and for Iggy, finding an epi-feline support group was imperative and it was life saving for Iggy.  Yahoo's k-9 epilepsy group is run by the same list owners who operate the feline group I joined - they helped me point my vets in an unusual direction based on symptoms to get at the underlying, primary illness which was leading to the secondary epilepsy. 
 
They are strong proponents of grain free and raw diets and homeopathic alternatives.  They were a life line for me - if you do not already belong to such a group, here is the Yahoo group:

[linkhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/k9epilepsy/?yguid=68394786]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/k9epilepsy/?yguid=68394786[/link]
 
Their will be members who are using alternative pharmaceuticals such as Kbr (Potassium Bromide - mentioned above by Agilebasenji) and possibly Keppra (some cats in our group are using it with much less severe side effects than Pheno - not sure if it is recommended for canines, but this group will know). 
 
Good luck - I'll be thinking of you.

You might want to check out the t.v. show that comes on Friday nights on Nat'l Geo channel, called The Dog Whisperer.   His name is Cesar Millan and he's excellent.   Many of the worlds best dog behaviorist consider Cesar to be the at the top of the list of great behaviorist.   You can also order his CD.   Good luck.

Bill 

I hardly think that CM is going to be terribly helpful with what is probably a medical issue.

Hi all..... Haven't had a chance to update lately.

We had his KBr and Phenobarb levels checked. KBr was a bit high, Phenobarb was in normal therapeutic range. The vet is unwilling to lower dosage at this point given that it has only been 6 months.

We recently learned that a dog from the same litter developed Malignant Histiocytosis and had to be put down. Our vet said that while seizures can be a symptom, usually Histiocytosis moves much faster and a dog deteriorates very quickly.

My vet said the neurologist did do thyroid tests and they came back normal.

Our dog's behavior has gotten much worse the last few weeks-- incessant barking, pacing, agitation, aggression. He knocked a neighbor over two weeks ago and the teeth missed the face by a hair. Last night he went after our female again-- we had taken our eye off him for just a split second. He grabbed her leg and flipped her over. She was hopping around on three legs all night and is due to go into the vet this morning.

I feel like we've hit the wall.

Oh, I'm so sorry.  I was really hoping. 
 
Please know we're here for you.

Yes I was hoping as well. The thyroid thing seemed to make sense and I was disappointed to hear his was all "normal."

The best conclusion the vets can come up w/ is that he has suffered brain damage as a result of lack of oxygen during all the grand mal's he has had. He lacks the normal capacity to judge social situations... the switches go on but they don't turn off. He would maul someone to death and not be able to help himself.

The vet also wonders if he is having partial or focal seizures.

I'm stumped, the vet is stumped, and I am concerned for our safety and our other dog's safety. I am wondering it is time to let him go. I did consult a rescue type organization but re-homeing him with a single person, no kids, no other dogs... but given his laundry list of problems its not really feasible... also not fair to him. I would never want him to feel abandoned.

We are going to get through the holiday weekend and consult w/ the vet again on Monday. It is quite sad to be considering euthanasia for a dog so young.

Well, this does sound very bad.  I'm sorry to hear that things are getting worse.  If you want to know more about histiosytid diseases, you might want to hang out on the Bernese Mountain Dog Boards.  Goldens are infrequently diagnosed, Berners are the biggest target, but the result, sadly, is death. If this is what your dog has, the kindest thing might be for him to pass to the Bridge in your loving arms.  You cannot rehome this dog with such a level of unpredictable aggression, even to a savvy owner who is a hermit. 

Beau is gone.

I spoke with our vet earlier today. He is a friend too-- I worked for him as a vet assistant when I was in college.

We decided it was best to let Beau go on to an eternity of peace, without the suffering. He'd really gone downhill again the last few months, he'd lost 15 pounds, was constantly laying in a pool of urine as he couldn't control his bladder, and all of the neurotic behavior disturbances.... It just was not fair to him anymore. I promised myself when he got sick that we'd keep fighting until he had more bad days than good days. We finally got to that point.

Hubby and I let work and went home to spend a few last hours with him. We went on a long walk, groomed him, and fed him his favorite treats. We got to the vet and he was as serene and quiet as he'd ever been. When his time came he went peacefully, and quietly, in my arms.

My heart aches for him and the house feels empty without his presence. Our puppy, as much as she tried to avoid him, has been wandering around looking horribly lost. I know she misses him too.

We have tons of pictures of him, and were going through them tonight. It made us realize just how sick he'd gotten. When you saw him everyday you didn't notice the changes in him physically. We had pictures of him from exactly one year ago today and the difference is striking. He was fat, healthy, shiney, and he glowed with energy. The pics we had of him from last week showed a different dog-- dull, skinny, and with a visible look of pain on his face.

I know he's up there in doggy heaven and like hubby said-- our puppy has a guardian angel. He will be sorely missed.

Shandy, I'm so sorry to hear this.  You did the difficult but most loving and responsible thing for Beau.   Remember that Beau is at peace now and knew he was loved, and that's what matters most.  He's no longer anxious or in pain.  

I'm sorry.  Come to idog and cry.  We've all been there, maybe not quite the same path, but we know.  I think you had an especially hard road to travel.
 
I don't think the dog you'd had recently was really all Beau.  He didn't want to be like that. He wanted to make you happy and be everything you wanted in a dog.  I think you made the right descision; brave, hard, but the best thing for him.  And that's what good dog people do.  Make the best decision with the dog's welfare in mind.  Please don't second guess yourself. 
 
When the time is right, Beau will send another dog for you to love.  Be on the lookout.  Loving another dog is a way to honor those dogs gone before.  You're in my thoughts and prayers.
 
 

[font="times new roman"][font="microsoft sans serif"][size=4]I'm sorry about Beau, Shandy.  Run free, buddy! [sm=angel.gif]  [/size][/font][/font]
 
We Have A Secret
We have a secret, you and I
that no one else shall know,
for who but I can see you lie
each night in fire glow?
And who but I can reach my hand
before we go to bed
and feel the living warmth of you
and touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths
and see ahead of me,
your small form racing with the wind
so young again, and free.
And only I can see you swim
in every brook I pass
and when I call, no one but I
can see the bending grass.

Shandy,
 My heart breaks and I am crying with you. You did what was best to let Beau be free. He knew your love and his calmness shows it was time and he was ready too.
 
Your wonderful memories will fill your heart to help it heal
 
{{Hugs}}

Knowing that you did the right thing, the best thing for Beau, doesn't make your heart hurt any less.  Big hugs for you and your hubby, and prayers for peace for your souls.

Run free at the Bridge Beau......Linus and Duke and Rusty, Lady, Misty, Daisey Mae, Mr. Ears and lots of others are there to greet you and make you feel right at home.