3-29-10 update: well, what do you want first . . . the good news or the not so good news? Let's start at the best news and work our way down.
Since we did not know for sure the vaccination history of the three puppies, we knew they may or may not have needed a third set of puppy vaccines. But considering how we think they've been badly bred and may already have some immune deficiencies, we opted to get them all titer tested before proceeding with one more set of vaccines. We already had Kramer and Eli tested and they both came back good to go! Today we brought Brady in for his titer test (the results will be back tomorrow) although we feel rather confident his vaccination titer will come back great as well. We learned something interesting. The puppies all had a set of vaccines at the shelter, so that is one set that we know of. The breeder had told the shelter the puppies had one set of vaccines there (but we can't count on that for sure, it was a backyard breeder). Based on this much information, we had Brady and Eli get another set of vaccines at our own vet. But Kramer was really sick at the time with pneumonia, so we didn't vaccinate him at that time. What is interesting, is that Kramer's titer came back that he has full vaccination protection, and we are now wondering, is it possible for a puppy to get enough vaccine protection with just one set of shots? One of our adopters told us they have been told this by a homeopathic vet. Anyway, just found the titer test results to be interesting, because we were surprised when Kramer's test came back that he was good on vaccines. Hmmm . . . something to think about and perhaps explore the next time we rescue puppies. Maybe doing vaccine after vaccine after vaccine, is not the best way to go after all? We'd love to hear your thoughts or experience on this if anyone has some.
Eli has been on phenobarbital for two weeks now and no more screaming fits or seizure like episodes. Today we found out about a holistic anti-seizure remedy and our vet is going to have us begin Eli on this, while slowly tapering him off of the pheno. The reason we brought Eli to the vet today was because his tummy is looking very full bodied (like he is preggers!). The vet examined him, it isn't bloat (also bloat is obvious because the dog gets lethargic and goes down quickly). He is energetic, eating, drinking and acting like a normal puppy in every way. The vet seems to think the larger belly is a side effect of the pheno so we were quite excited to learn about the holistic remedy that may work. It will be an experiment and can take a few weeks or even a month or two to see if it will really work but we will keep you posted. Yaay for Eli!
Sweet Pea went along for the ride to get weighed. He lost a little weight and this is such crushing news as we've been working on getting his weight up, offering him food several times a day. The last time we were there he weighed 17 pounds, today he weighs 15.9 pounds. He does have the chronic diarrhea but we know that is a result of his Lymphangiectasia and he will most likely have this for life. Our volunteer Pauline has been bringing over home cooked steak/egg noodles, and chicken/noodles. Sweet Pea loved it but then after a few days, he wants something different and stops eating again. Tonight, we made him yams/white meat tuna/red potatos mashed up with some sour cream. He loved it and ate most of it. But tomorrow, another new struggle to find something that he will eat. Sometimes we have to sit on the floor with him and coax him and pretend we are taking bites of his food, to make him think it will be delicious. Oh Sweet Pea . . . we worry so much about you little guy!
And Minnie got her left eye pressure rechecked today. A month ago it was 19, today it is 20.6, so not very good. Even being on anti-glaucoma drops twice a day, the pressure in that left eye is slowly on the rise. Once it gets past 25, it will begin to be uncomfortable for her. You can see a noticable difference now between her left and right eyes as the left eye begins to get that bulgy look to it. Please send positive wishes her way!   
And lastly, our special needs girl, Maddy, had to go to the vet because of a skin infection. Actually, Maddy has a history of having skin problems (she gets bumpy crusty things on her neck and around her ears and arm pits). The holistic vet had her on some chinese herbs to help clear this up. But we ran out of the herbs and for about two weeks, she was off of them and had another bad break out so we hurried up and got her chinese herbs refilled and she is back on them. So there is that issue . . but then the ongoing issue that she gets irritated skin under her abdomen and this is from squatting so low to go potty that she gets urine on herself. We need to use a handiwipe to clean her up when she comes inside after going potty. But the latest thing she has been struggling with, is just pure boredom and so she has been licking and licking her front left paw. At first, it was a hotspot and she had to wear an ecollar while we treated it. But then the skin healed over and she didn't have to wear the ecollar anymore but now she has been licking the paw again and the skin is turning black with bacteria infection. So the vet started her on antibiotics today (so disappointed this is what it is coming to, too many antibiotics is bad for any dog). We are coming to realize that Maddy is not doing well here (at Cathy's home where she has been fostered the last year). There is hard wood floors everywhere and Maddy can't walk around. We have an area for her that has yoga mats but she is so bored, that she doesn't even want to get up and walk on the yoga mats. She is in dire need of a home of her very own, that has wall to wall carpeting, with someone who can focus on her and her alone (she is not good at sharing her toys with other dogs). We are dreaming of a home for her where someone can maybe take her to work with them? Maddy lights up when she sees strangers, she is the kind of dog that would really enjoy going out in public every day, to greet new people, get attention, explore, smell new things, see new things. Today, our volunteer Tracey took Maddy to the beach and it was like going to Disneyland. Maddy LOVED it! She could watch the birds, walk on the sand pretty good (she needs walking surfaces that are not slippery), there was so much stimulation for her that it really was like a ray of sunshine on her day. Maddy is in quite dire need of this kind of daily activity. If there is anyone in the Los Angeles area whom would like to volunteer to take Maddy out on "outings", please contact us. She would love to go to the beach, or to the park to watch squirrels or to go work with you for the day? Anything to get her out of her boredom here, she is going literally stir crazy from the inactivity. We are also looking for anyone whom might have a swimming pool that is heated, who might like to take her for a fifteen minute swim (or anyone who has a pool we can have access to if we can find volunteers to take her for daily swims?). But really, at the top of the list of what Maddy needs, is a special home of her very own. She has waited so long now (more than a year) and she deserves to find someone to love her for their very own.
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Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 05:49PM 
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