OK Barker the Elder the Second is approaching 13. She's had pannus (the eye stuff - might not be spelled correctly) for about 7 years and we've been keeping the eyes working. This spring, she had an ulcer develop in the left one. That was discovered because she had been rubbing it excessively. First treatment was a week with serum drops followed by antibiotic. Didn't do the trick. Next step was to manually irritate the eye and follow up with serum eye drops followed in 10 minutes by antibiotic ointment every 8 hours for two weeks. The regime is driving me up a wall . I doubt that the eye is resolving despite 2 weeks of 3 x a day special serum & antibiotics. Next possibility is an operation and the vet I'd like to have do it is unavailable. In the meantime, she's started fussing over the steroid drops that go in the good eye - which (the drops) have never bothered her before.

But this second round (or is it the third round?) will be complete Monday and her eye gets looked at Wednesday. If this doesn't take, there's an intermediate operation that sews one of the eyelids shut. If that doesn't work, she gets the eye removed. I hope that doesn't happen.

In the meantime, my bookcases which have been at the cabinet guy for nearly 3 years get delivered Tuesday so I have to shape up my house which is very much a 3-D "where's Waldo?"

See my post in training to view my more extensive list of woes....

OK I'm not in Ukraine or anywhere near a border with Russia. There is not yet a forest fire nearby (like AZ, NM, CO +) It has rained recently. It was a nice day.

I feel your pain. It's hard when they are getting old and everything seems to crop up at once.

Not that I'm trying to steal your thread - but I can sympathize - Caleb has DM. He's been a bit weak in one leg for well over a year and I wasn't sure if it was DM or something else. Since the fall/winter, he's been going down hill more rapidly. It's now to the point where he has all the classic symptoms and the vet is pretty sure that's what is going on. To top it off, he's been drinking a ton of water lately and we took him in to have a check-up and see if we can figure out what is going on. His white blood cell count was very high, and a couple of other factors as well. Vet thought he might have an infection and checked his temperature. Temperature was completely normal. Did a urine analysis to check for kidney functions, etc. That was normal, all but specific gravity which is easily explained by the amount of water he's been drinking. So we put him on antibiotics since we're not sure what's going on. So now his fistula problem is acting up. This is something that cropped up a couple of years ago and we had under control, with meds once every other week and he was doing great. So we're back to once a day and these pills are something he won't just eat in his food The antibiotic is a half pill once a day for 2 weeks and he's almost done. But I have to pill him and it's been a struggle to get them down him. Pill pockets won't work, he has become suspicious of them, even if I give him a piece with nothing in it. I also have too pill the fistula meds for the same reason.

It's so tough to watch them having these problems come up as they age and hard to know what to do. How much should we do at this age.

We've had a couple of really nice days and Caleb has spent a fair amount of time outside where he can enjoy the sun and smells. I've been working on cabinets, but go out every hour or so to check on him. DH is on his way home from a re-enactment. I'll be really glad when he gets home.

Oh Middle, I'm so sorry to hear of Baker the Elder's eye problems. I so hope the treatment is working and she doesn't have lose an eye. Johanna is right, it is so hard watching them age and all the physical problems that come with that. Please keep us posted and know that we care.

Johanna I'm sorry to hear of the struggles Caleb is having. I think all we can do is to do our best to keep them comfortable and able to enjoy their days. Please keep us posted too.

Middle-well that all sounds awful! Great breed-we all know it-but the list of common medical problems is shocking. I can't blame BTE for beginning to fuss

Like everybody, I hope she gets a promising report Wednesday. Keep us posted.

And Caleb with DM-more sunshine and good air-as much as nature allows. Keep us posted.

These are really tough posts.

MJ

Middle, Johanna - wow.

Middle, poor BTE2! Yes, let us know how the vet goes. Hoping the other eye isn't acting up too.

Johanna - I am so sorry to hear about Caleb. I am glad there was a nice sunny day for him to enjoy with lots of smells to sniff.

Hoping for good news tomorrow

Wow, these guys really know how to tear our hearts out.
I hope BTE2 can keep his eye and it won't have to been sown shut
Joanna, Caleb is going through what we went through with Loki. It's so hard to watch them go down hill with age. I hope for better days of warm sunshine and interesting smells on a light breeze.

I posted earlier but I guess I forgot to hit the button to post it.
Augie went in for Surgery on both back legs last Friday. His right had an infected plate from when he had a TPLO a few years back so they removed the plate. Meanwhile on his left leg, he had to have a TPLO to fix a torn ACL on that one.
We brought him home on Saturday and he's been doing really good so far.
We have to go back in tomorrow for a laser treatment.
I'm glad for the opportunity to help with his healing but it's a long ways to go. 2 hrs to get there, 15 min treatment and 2 hrs to get back home. But we do what we can for our pups don't we.

Sandra, I remember a drive or two like that for dogs.... but my dog's ACL repair issue was in-town fortunately. The recouperation seemed to take forever.

May Augie be feeling good soon.

I hope Augie's on the mend.

Here, Barker the Elder 2nd is inspiring a road trip to a doggy ophthalmologist Friday. 3 hour drive. I am hoping for a clear path, no delays, etc. I will try to leave way early (which only means I might get out on time...). OK I'm late for this evening's meds. Best go....

So good to see you Sandra and to get the update on Augie. I hope and pray he recovers more and more each day. Your both such amazing pet parents. Augie is getting the best care ever. Please keep us posted on his progress.

Safe travels when you go. Hoping for good news.

Well I was looking at Augies leg this morning and I was so pleased at how good it was looking.

When I got home I slipped his e collar off so he could eat and drink. He can't reach the water dish, with it on, it's so long. My Mom was sitting there and I asked if she would keep a close eye on him if I left the collar off. BIG MISTAKE!!

I came back in the house 10 mins later he must have started in on the bandage the minute I was walking out the door. It was torn and chewed and soaking wet from him licking it. I had no choice but to take it off. I was really miffed at my Mom. He was sitting right in front of her when he did this.
I shouldn't get mad at her, it's my fault for leaving it off. I sometimes forget how bad my Mons dementia is getting.

Anyways, I took Augie out on the leash to sit with us later and noticed that it was oozing. I think the little bugger got a stitch out.
So I made up a story and called the vet office. They know it's a 2 5 hr ride and I said a water bottle I had sprung a leak and soaked his bandage.
They said not to worry about it and taking the bandage off was the best thing.

I took pictures of it leaking , not the water jug, Augies leg,.and sent them in a text tonight.
I love/hate this surgeon. Love him because he's great with animals and a brilliant surgeon, hate that he's horrible with people. I just know he's going to give me crap about Augie tomorrow.

Hoping for good news soon Middle.

Sorry to hear about the little setback but those things happen. Hopefully the surgeon was able to look at the pictures and just give advice over the phone. That is a long ride.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Dogs seem to look for the first chance they can get to hurt themselves sometimes. It's amazing that we're not at the vet more often.

Hey, if they didn't get on our case, they wouldn't be doing their job. BTW I learned via BTE #1 that day 3 is prime day for dogs to take stitch removal into their own jaws... It was, at that time, an expensive lesson = trip to emergency vet for repair = repair cost as much or more than the initial surgery. Evidently, the incision starts to itch pretty flagrantly on day 3. But, in our defense, we didn't realize we signed on to be nurses when we had dogs move in and we did not have "proper" training!

BTW even vets screw up as I was clued in today. Longer story to be continued.

Oh yes, the things we must learn when we add pups to the home. Can't wait to hear the whole story but hoping it went well.

OK the ophthalmologist iw right around 300 miles away - over the Cascades to the valley. I chose based on least "restless" city. .
If I had ever been on that road it was something like 35 years or more ago. Brings to mind that my exploration of the Cascades were largely "North" - and this one was more central.
Made one rest stop (they were scarce on this trip). Had expected up to an hours worth of delays as they cleared trees from the major fire(s) of 2020 but there were none. The climate is very different from here both going up the mountains, then on the other side and down to the valley so it was interesting to do "botany at 65 MPH". The pass had rain and blowing ice/hail/snow and then a drench of rain. Coming home, pretty much rain until this side of the pass. Blustery and windy like it was Wyoming.

The Dog's Eye
Sounds like a plant, eh? I wish I had gone earlier. I'm glad I went when I did. Changed the meds around and expect a new eye drop which had to come from a compounding pharmacy but will be shipped to me. So she still has both eyes, both have ulcers, both will be treated, etc. etc.

One heck of a long day along with the pressure of trying to make it on time by a notoriously late driver. Just took the one dog and I'm glad I limited it. I think she actually had a good time at the vets. They gave her freeze dried liver.

The meds regime (is that the word I want?) is more relaxed but still .. one med for both eyes 3 x a day, another med for one eye 3 x a day and a third med for the other eye 2 or 3 x a day. Something is 2 x a day, two things are 3 x a day. It's written down.... Basically morning mid-day and night. ...

I think this will be easier for both of us. Hopefully, it will "fix" what needs fixing.

That sounds like a stressful drive. I'm so happy the eye has been saved and it's just a matter of the drops. That was worth the trip. Glad there were no big delays. Those can really play havoc with the schedule, but looks like you hit all kinds of weather. Glad you're both home safe. Was your friend able to make the trip with you?

Hey Rosa, No, she had a rough PT session the day before. It wouldn't have been fun for her anyway because the weather was so snotty. I was so trashed by the time I hit Redmond that I didn't even stop for groceries. (did cruise the local junk store but resisted the ones down in the valley) I got the impression from BTE 2 that she enjoyed the trip being the two of us. Kinda funny when you get that vibe from your dog.

Sorry your friend couldn't join you but I know BTE 2 enjoyed the special Mommy and Me time. They really do blossom when they are with us one on one. Good luck with the meds.