Itās been “pet” week at the old homestead this last week.
*sigh*
My senior-aged beagle, Daisy, has been under the weather. Her back leg sometimes just suddenly gives out, and sheās lame. This is her second bout. š Because sheās so old, I freak out every time she gets sick. She has these really, really sad little puppy dog eyes. Even Livvy, normally disdainful of dogs, felt sorry for Daisy.
This is the second time this has happened to Daisy. I wonder if itās arthritis… after a few days, she seems to snap out of it, and starts to walk again. After a rough weekend of nursing, sheās starting to walk around again. Her belly looks swollen (to me) but the kids say sheās shaped like that. I guess I never noticed… or maybe something really is wrong. I tend to fret over my pets when they donāt feel well, because I am so helpless as to what to do for them. People can TALK and TELL me whatās wrong. Animals just look at you with sad puppy-dog (or kitty-cat) eyes. :boobooface:
Weāve had problems in the past with our kitties, Fuzzy and Milo. I just HATE it when animals are sick. I feel like I am at the mercy of vets who have a vested interest in creating as many problems as they can to line their pockets. Now, Iām sure there are some really kind vets out there whoād rather offer free advice to help an animal instead of creating new diseases (and expensive new tests) because they see you as a walking ATM machine, but I have yet to find one. The last time we took Milo to our vet (and Milo was at deathās door, believe me), they wanted to poke him and prod him with every instrument in the office: kidney tests, x-rays, leukemia tests, blood tests, etc etc etc. They gave me an “estimated” bill of $2500. All for my 13-year old tabby cat! I refused. We ordered a few doses of shots to curb his dehydration, and I promised to nurse him to health (they acted like they were going to throw me in the slammer if I didnāt bend over backwards to obey them!). In two weeks, he was better. His illness? Never determined, but I strongly suspect it was the Frontline anti-flea medicine they had given him, previously. He nearly died. When I said I believed it may have been the Frontline, they pooh-poohed me.
ANYWAY. Vets and me, we donāt get along too well. But Iām worried about Daisy. This happened before- she was lame for a few days, but with warmer weather and some aspirin, she was up in a few days. Same thing happening again, but I am worried about her.
Iām just not cut out to be a pet owner, I think. I get too worried!!
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March 30, 2010 at 3:27 am
Poor Daisy. I have no easy answers for you here - if Livvy is concerned, I say have her checked out. I donāt like the dog here, but when she had to have her spleen removed (she had a non-cancerous tumor), all three of us cats were VERY concerned. Although I disagree on this, my human assures me there ARE good vets out there, and itās too bad you havenāt been able to find one. One suggestion: if Daisy snaps out of it again in a few days and you honestly believe itās arthritis or something like that, you might want to do some google research and see if there are some natural remedies that will make her feel better. In any case, take note of all her symptoms, plus how sheās eating (and eliminating). Examine her body all over, see if any part of her seems painful to her. All those are clues that you can use to either research online or talk to a vet about. My human actually watches me in the litter box sometimes. I hate it, but I know sheās just making sure things are working okay!
March 30, 2010 at 6:36 am
I know just how you feel. Our dog Sugar has a permanent limp now (sheās 12) and weāve spent a fortune on the 3 kitties, what with worming them and shots and getting them all fixed. We had a vet for over 20 years that I just loved, but he had a heart attack last spring and suddenly retired. Iāve been bouncing around from vet to vet since then, and Iām not happy with any of them.
The only thing I can add for Daisy is that Sugar reacted to the Frontline, also, so we donāt put it on her anymore. When the kitties came home from being fixed, they brought some fleas with them - AAKK!! - but I just got the Sargeantās stuff from the grocery store to put on them, plus a big spray bottle of Adamās stuff to spray on the furniture. They didnāt react to the meds and I havenāt seen a flea since.
Also, Sugar has arthritis and we give her the low-dose aspiring twice a day on a spoon with peanut butter. We even have a peanut butter song. š
March 30, 2010 at 6:42 am
My dad felt the same way about vets-(as you know from reading my book). Thatās cute how even your cat is concerned about Daisy. Perhaps massaging her leg may help if it is arthritis. I hate it when pets are sick too. Itās hard to know what to do.
March 30, 2010 at 9:05 am
We took our older cat to the local vet school for treatment. They were awesome. When he passed, we took his body there so the students could learn how to do an autopsy (he had cancer). They asked if I wanted his ashes and I said no.
A week or so later I get a package in the mail from them. It was his paw print in plaster. I really cherish that.
March 30, 2010 at 10:23 am
Daisy is doing better, so I am doing better, too! š
A dear friend gave me some advice and I give Daisy a little aspirin every day. I think it is probably arthritis, for sure.. I checked her abdomen and she seems OK. She has difficulty getting up at first, but once she is up, she is walking. Sounds to me like arthritis.
I may take her to a vet in the near future, just to have her checked to be sure, though.
I am so thankful for the outpouring of support from you guys. My confidence is bolstered. And I am so happy that Daisy doesnāt have those sad puppy dog eyes so much!
March 30, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I had a basset hound who had spine issues. The first time it was just one leg and after months of lameness (me hauling her in and out) she got better for about six years. But it came back again a few months ago and she was paralyzed in both rear legs. At 17 years old, I still tried to take care of her and get her through it, but after a couple of weeks she was just so unhappy and I was so very, very tired. We planned her release from the body that had worn out and spent several days together just laying around and nuzzling each other.
I hope your beagle gets better and soon.