Daily Activity Interupted

[tonyb286]

Just a very quick note to let you know I have not been able to observe and/or take part in the User Group quite as much as normal in recent days. I usually check-in every day to read through posts and respond where appropriate, but life has sent me some angst recently. My greyhound, Sally, rescued by us two years ago, has had her annual bloods undertaken and her CREA is high - thankfully, her BUN and phos are normal, but it's still a worry for a six yr old. Anyway, we are having a few further tests done including a urine microalbuminuria test, which can diagnose kidney issues earlier than a blood sample. Hopefully, this is just a hiccup, as greyhounds do ordinarily have higher CREA due to their muscle mass. I'll update in due course, but in the meantime, please forgive me for not being quite so diligent in the Group. Tony

[Kaymbsc]

Great news, Tony. I've just been reading through this thread. What a relief. I'm new here, but I can easily see how much you do for so many. I so happy for you and your family with these results.

Kay

[Dkomoro]

Excellent Tony.  It's good to see good news in the forum.
Doris

[DogBlog]

SOOOOOOOO VERY HAPPY!!!   This is such great news.  I'm sure Giro and Sally are getting extra spoiled tonight (as they should)!!

I love hearing the good news!!!

Doggie hugs from Bonnie.  Extra thank you prayers from me.

Regards,
Charlene

[tonyb286]

Yes, we are a happy little household tonight ... and thoughts now turn back to our little community ... hope everyone is doing okay. Xxx

[Fitmaltesemom]

Super news !!! Oliver and I are jumping for joy.
News like this makes our day :)

Take Care
Hugs
Elsa & Oliver

[DarbiesMom]

TONY! THAT'S THE GREATEST NEWS!!!

I am so happy for your family:) Sally's probably thinking " What's all the excitement about?! HAHA!

You made my day! Continued kind thoughts and best wishes always to you....

Fondly,

Lynne & Darbie

[tonyb286]

Hello. I have wonderful news ... urinalysis test results are back, and there isn't even a trace of protein. This basically means Sally doesn't have any signs of kidney failure. It also means that, as an ex-racing greyhound, it's her natural muscle mass that is giving the high creatinine blood reading. Both the vet and I agree this is probably her natural creatinine level, which is something we can continue to check against each year. I am so relieved. Thank you one and all for your kind thoughts and best wishes ... it means a lot. Tony x

[DogBlog]

Tony....I'm saying my prayers for all of you!!  Glad Giro is home and doing well.  Sally will have an extra special prayer.  Keep us posted!!

Regards,
Charlene

[tonyb286]

Hi Elsa. Good to hear from you. Giro's back with us after his surgery. He has a partly bald (shaved) head and stitches, but otherwise all went well - and he's as bouncy and happy as ever. Big relief. Now I only have one dog to worry about, Sally, as we now have to wait 24hrs for the urinalysis results and next week for BUN level checks. Her CREA is high at 2.1 - but not hugely high, so could be her norm (being an ex-racing greyhound). Unfortunately we don't have any historic prior blood levels to compare with (only rescued her 2yrs ago), so we can't say this is normal for her, hence the full testing.

Hope Oliver the Wonder Dog continues to shine.

Tony x

[Fitmaltesemom]

Sending you positive vibes.
I have not been online lately, I have been busy with Oliver and life in general.  
Oliver also sends good vibes.
Keep us posted and I will check in periodically.

Hugs,
Elsa

[tonyb286]

Hi Charlene. How you doing? I know ... you don't really need to say.

Giro's at the vets right now, having his surgery. I've not been this anxious for a long while. The vet thinks he'll be able to perform it under local rather than general anaesthetic, which would be much better. Was up early this morning to prepare Giro (and myself) for the half hour walk to the vet. I figured it would be good for both us to have some fresh air before arriving there.

It also gave me time to collect a sample of urine from Sally the greyhound ... that was fun ... ha ... running behind her with a plastic dish, ready to put it under her when she crouched. Urinalysis results back in 24hrs ... another worry.

Hugs. Tony x

[DogBlog]

Hi Lynne:

No new pup......way too soon.  I still can't put any of Sammie's things away!  We'll just keep spoiling Bonnie and cry each day....although not as often during the day!

I laughed when I saw Nonnie as I'm Italian and knew what it meant.  Maybe that will be the next adoptee's name!!!

Hope Darbie, you and Doll are well.

Regards,
Charlene

[DogBlog]

Hi Tony:

I knew you meant Bonnie!!  Don't forget I have a tablet with it's own mind....I'm always doing things like that!

When does Giro have the growth removed?  When do you get Sally's results?

Regards,
Charlene  

[DarbiesMom]

Actually, Tony...I was very excited for Charlene!

Nonnie is a lovely name for Grandmother ( Italian)....I thought Charlene was blessed with a new pup:)...I did calm down and see ( I am as blind as a bat).

Maybe this is a sweet prophecy:)

Love to All,
Lynne & Darbie

[tonyb286]

The N and the B are next to one another on the keyboard ... and when Im not wearing my glasses .... well, that should have been BONNIE not Nonnie. :)

[tonyb286]

Hi Charlene. It's great you're now happy with your vet. We really do need vets we can trust and feel reassured with. Giro's growth is still quite small, but growing, and ordinarily I may have left it alone. But because it's on the top of his head, sometimes I or others catch it (usually when stroking him) and it starts to bleed, so even though he doesn't seem bothered by it, I think it's better being dealt with.

Give Nonnie a hug from me.

Tony x

[tonyb286]

Thanks Lynne. Darbie is a lucky dog. Isn't it strange that non-doggy people find squeaky toys so annoying ... yet almost everyone I know that has a dog, find them hilarious. It's wonderful that you have made Christmas every day for Darbie. Tony

[DogBlog]

Tony:

I am going to start insisting on onthly bloodwork for Bonnie.  The good news is that after channging vets four times, I'm happy with the one we've had since last Fall.  They were wonderful with Sammie and I know they'll do whatever I ask.

I know Giro and Sally will thrive in your care.   I will be crossing fingers and toes that the bloodwork is normal and also that Giro does well with the growth.

We're here for you alway!!

Our best,
Charlene and Bonnie

[DarbiesMom]

Darbie is doing very well...Thanks to you:) She gets subQ fluids every night. Sometimes we'll give her a night off. This has now become an evening "routine". We bring her comfy dog bed to the entrance of the den ( where the IV fluids hang). She drags herself with head lowered and tail between her legs. We love her thru the entire process. BUT, Darbie has learned a new trick! After the needle is removed, she runs to the hall closet...Yes, Tony...She gets a new squeaky toy each session! LOL, it takes the stress away for all of us:)...And yes, we have tons of little toys in her toy chest:)

The remarkable fact, Tony, is you know your animals as you know your body. You are wise enough to wave a red warning flag when you do not concur with these professionals opinions. As a family, we acted as advocates to ensure our elderly parents, pets, extended family, friends and sometimes neighbors truly understood these issues. It's disturbing how many people fall into the system like cattle heading for slaughter. I oftentimes felt that new age MD mentality makes people more sick than healthy:(....

Oh my, I'm rambling as I have a Dr's appt next week!

My very best to you:)

Lynne & Darbie

[tonyb286]

Hi Lynne. Yes, it's a nightmare changing a trusted vet, and there was me thinking the younger one would be so much more up to date on things. Strangely, my regular GP has recently retired, so I'm expecting a similar "issue" next time I see my new Doctor. Ha.

How's Darbie doing?

Tony x

[DarbiesMom]

Hey Tony.

We had a very similar situation. I believe a few us discussed this issue months ago on the forum. I referred to it as the "changing of the guard". Very difficult, especially when so much time and information was invested in someone you trust and suddenly it feels you have to start from square one again. My partner and I both agreed if we should parent any future pets, we would follow your advice and get annual routine blood tests. Anything could present itself and spiral out of control. A bit shocked that junior vet wasn't more sensitive to your history.

Best wishes...I know Sally will get right back on track!

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie

[tonyb286]

Hi Lynne. It's all been a bit antagonistic at the vet's ... both dogs were due their annual blood panel tests (very few vets offer or suggest it, but I always insist as it's just like us humans having an annual health check). Unfortunately, our usual vet has retired, so the practise has been taken over by his junior, who's first comment to me about Sally's blood test request was "Why do you want this? She's only 5yrs old and it's unlikely the results will show anything." Anyway, after absolutely insisting, he did it - and of course, the results prove it's worth doing the annual bloods, even in a young dog. Tony

[DarbiesMom]

How lucky Sally and Giro are to be loved by both of you. When hearing initial stories from pet owners who are paralyzed with fear of the unknown, it's comforting to know you are so wise in pet health. It doesn't make it any less scary and stressful for you, but their health and recovery will be blessed in your care. As I've said to others, it's trial and error. Sometimes, even with best intentions, an error happens and could be very compromising. I feel safe to say, their healing will go full speed ahead:)

Always thinking of you!

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie

[tonyb286]

Thank you both. We are having a busy time with our muts ... Giro is due for surgery Monday, just to remove a small benign growth on the top of his head that he's had for a while, but now is getting bigger, so time has come to have it sorted; and Sally of course is our biggest worry, but we'll know more next week with further blood and urinalysis results. I'm just waiting for the vet's full blood panel copies to come through the post, so I can analyse them myself. She's showing no signs or symptoms and I'm just hoping it's a greyhound glitch or something she's eaten that has pushed the CREA up. Tony