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How do you know . . .
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Miranda
Ideal_Rock
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Thanks, Miranda. I agree . . . when he doesn''t have any pep left, I think I''ll know it''s time. Meanwhile, I can console myself with the fact that he DOES still try to play with us, and he IS still excited when it''s time to eat! It really does seem like he still gets some enjoyment out of life, and I''m hoping that will only increase when we find the right medication to help with the arthritis!
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Hi! I just wanted to check back in and update everyone on Caesar. He went to the vet on Monday evening, and she did some x-rays. She was specifically trying to rule out bladder stones so that she could prescribe some medication for his urinary incontinence, but she wanted to take a look at his whole pelvis just to see what she could find. She was able to get two good images of his pelvis. (She tried to get a third image with him laying on his back, but he wouldn''t do it for her.)
From the x-rays, she could see that he did NOT have bladder stones. Also, she was able to see that the vertebrae in his lower back are fusing together. Evidently, this is pretty common in older dogs, especially large-breed dogs. This is causing a condition called "lumbosacral stenosis," which is what I had suspected all along. Basically, his spinal canal is narrowing to the point where it''s putting pressure on his spine. That explains the weakness in his hind legs and the bowel and bladder control issues.
Also, she examined his hind legs and told us that he has SEVERE arthritis in both knees. In fact, his are the most arthritic knees that she''s ever seen. Poor guy!
So she prescribed some medication for his arthritis (Deramaxx) and some medication for his bladder control problems (Proin). We started him on those meds right away on Monday evening and . . . HE''S DOING MUCH BETTER ALREADY!!!
He seems more comfortable, and he''s much more active and better able to get around. Also, we haven''t had any pee in the house since we started him on the bladder medication. That''s right . . . NO PEE in the house for about three days now!!!
I just want to thank everyone again for all your support . . . I don''t know what I would do without you guys! And if anyone has any experience with either Deramaxx or Proin, I''d love to hear about it! (Bee*???)
From the x-rays, she could see that he did NOT have bladder stones. Also, she was able to see that the vertebrae in his lower back are fusing together. Evidently, this is pretty common in older dogs, especially large-breed dogs. This is causing a condition called "lumbosacral stenosis," which is what I had suspected all along. Basically, his spinal canal is narrowing to the point where it''s putting pressure on his spine. That explains the weakness in his hind legs and the bowel and bladder control issues.
Also, she examined his hind legs and told us that he has SEVERE arthritis in both knees. In fact, his are the most arthritic knees that she''s ever seen. Poor guy!
So she prescribed some medication for his arthritis (Deramaxx) and some medication for his bladder control problems (Proin). We started him on those meds right away on Monday evening and . . . HE''S DOING MUCH BETTER ALREADY!!!
He seems more comfortable, and he''s much more active and better able to get around. Also, we haven''t had any pee in the house since we started him on the bladder medication. That''s right . . . NO PEE in the house for about three days now!!!
I just want to thank everyone again for all your support . . . I don''t know what I would do without you guys! And if anyone has any experience with either Deramaxx or Proin, I''d love to hear about it! (Bee*???)
tlh
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Miranda
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bee*
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Hi Irishgirl! I''m so glad to hear your pup is doing better!
Here''s my story:
My (big) baby Buster has severe arthritis in his knees. He''s almost 13, I''ve had him since he was 8 weeks old!
It started about 2 years ago, he suddenly lost ALL of the muscle in his left hind leg. It was confirmed arthritis by the vet and now he takes 1 Deramaxx/day ever since. I have read some horror stories about it but it has made his life so much better, I''ll just take it as it comes. He gets regular blood tests to check for any liver problems.
In the past year he has lost the muscle in his right leg as well. I still give him a glucosamine supplement to help prevent further loss, not sure if it is helping but I''ll do whatever I can
I also massage him daily.
Here''s a picture, I know he doesn''t have very much left here in this life...but he''s still the sweetest guy
Here''s my story:
My (big) baby Buster has severe arthritis in his knees. He''s almost 13, I''ve had him since he was 8 weeks old!
It started about 2 years ago, he suddenly lost ALL of the muscle in his left hind leg. It was confirmed arthritis by the vet and now he takes 1 Deramaxx/day ever since. I have read some horror stories about it but it has made his life so much better, I''ll just take it as it comes. He gets regular blood tests to check for any liver problems.
In the past year he has lost the muscle in his right leg as well. I still give him a glucosamine supplement to help prevent further loss, not sure if it is helping but I''ll do whatever I can
Here''s a picture, I know he doesn''t have very much left here in this life...but he''s still the sweetest guy
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TLH ~ Thank you! Your little guy is adorable!
Miranda ~ Thanks! Yes, the Proin is a WONDERFUL thing! Glad it is working for your parents'' pup!
Bee* ~ Thank you!
Shimmer ~ Buster is PRECIOUS! Thanks for the picture! I''m glad to hear that the Deramaxx is working for him, and that it has continued working for two years now . . . that''s great! I''ve also heard that Deramaxx sometimes has some pretty bad side effects, but like you said, it really seems to help. So far, Caesar has been tolerating it well, so we''ll see!
Miranda ~ Thanks! Yes, the Proin is a WONDERFUL thing! Glad it is working for your parents'' pup!
Bee* ~ Thank you!
Shimmer ~ Buster is PRECIOUS! Thanks for the picture! I''m glad to hear that the Deramaxx is working for him, and that it has continued working for two years now . . . that''s great! I''ve also heard that Deramaxx sometimes has some pretty bad side effects, but like you said, it really seems to help. So far, Caesar has been tolerating it well, so we''ll see!
Lauren8211
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Thanks, Elle! He even slept upstairs on our bedroom floor last night for the first time in about two weeks! (We had been shutting him in the kitchen because of the pee issues.) So DH and I were really glad to have him back upstairs with us again!Date: 2/13/2009 12:01:41 PM
Author: elledizzy5
I somehow missed the update yesterday, but I''m so glad to see he''s feeling better! That''s awesome news, IG!
mia1181
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YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!! So glad to hear this!
I am so happy for you and Caesar! That is so awesome.
Oliver has been doing better too. We have been crating him at night, and he hasn''t pooped in the crate, so maybe it was behavioral?
We let him on the bed last night and no problems, but I think we''ll keep crating him for a while to be sure.
I am so happy for you and Caesar! That is so awesome.
Oliver has been doing better too. We have been crating him at night, and he hasn''t pooped in the crate, so maybe it was behavioral?
AmberGretchen
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Mia ~ Thanks! I''m so glad to hear that Oliver is doing better!
Amber ~ Thank you! We were really happy to have him back upstairs!
Unfortunately, he peed in the house three times yesterday. I think maybe the Proin isn''t fixing his bladder control problem 100%. I was afraid that would be the case, since his incontinence seems to be neurological, and not so much a problem with the muscles around his bladder (which I believe is what Proin treats). BUT, when he does pee in the house now, it seems like it''s more "leakage" than a full-on pee, so that''s at least some improvement! I had a back-up plan just in case the Proin didn''t completely fix the problem: I was planning to get him a belly band, which is like a diaper for boy dogs that only takes care of pee issues (not poop). It looks like a cummerbund, if that gives you a good mental picture! LOL! You just put a human incontinence pad (like a Poise pad or whatever) into it to absorb the pee. I think we''re going to order him one. Wish us luck!
Amber ~ Thank you! We were really happy to have him back upstairs!
Unfortunately, he peed in the house three times yesterday. I think maybe the Proin isn''t fixing his bladder control problem 100%. I was afraid that would be the case, since his incontinence seems to be neurological, and not so much a problem with the muscles around his bladder (which I believe is what Proin treats). BUT, when he does pee in the house now, it seems like it''s more "leakage" than a full-on pee, so that''s at least some improvement! I had a back-up plan just in case the Proin didn''t completely fix the problem: I was planning to get him a belly band, which is like a diaper for boy dogs that only takes care of pee issues (not poop). It looks like a cummerbund, if that gives you a good mental picture! LOL! You just put a human incontinence pad (like a Poise pad or whatever) into it to absorb the pee. I think we''re going to order him one. Wish us luck!
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