| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 02/24/2006 9:22:08 AM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
Thread Nine: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1584833/posts |
Posted on 10/04/2005 9:56:41 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
Oh and I figured out why I was having problems with pictures showing up on snapfish. The date and time were off on my camera.
This picture I took of Nikki I just now took it. But the date is showing 18th. When I went to load it I got the blank space and thought "Dam. But I went back to yesterday to see if any of the pictures I took yesterday where there. They were of JP:). And there was the picture of Nikki, and the pictures from yesterday were on the day before. Because of the time set, sometimes they would show on the day they were taken but sometime they were a day behind, that's why I didn't notice what was happening.
Becky
Oh - I see... so they were there, but just in the wrong folder?
Yes she is spayed. Maybe that is it. I was hoping that maybe there was something I could give her that would help. Is your friends dog old? Nikki has been spayed since shortly after we got her, and she's never had this problem before that I noticed.
Becky
Yeah, they just sometimes were in the day before folder from when I took them. I just never thought to go back and check the day before.
Becky
Dogs have a sphincter in their urethra that helps to hold urine in the bladder. This urethral sphincter has receptors on it that respond to estrogen and contracility agents called alpha adrenergenic agents. As dogs get older, the urethral sphincter can lose its tone. Urine leaking occurs if the urethral sphincter gets too lax. Urine leakage due to loss of tone in the urethral sphincter is more likely to occur when the dog is in a relaxed state, especially when it is sleeping or resting. It is also not uncommon for the urine to leak out when the animal is walking. Urine can pull in the urethra, and movement can cause it to spill out.
Medium to large breed dogs are more often affected. It is most often seen in spayed female dogs... [snip] Incidence can reach 20% in all spayed female dogs and 30% in spayed female dogs weighing forty-four pounds or more. It usually responds well to medication. The most commonly used medications are either estrogen supplementation or alpha adrenergic agents, such as phenylpropanolamine.
We started Sandy on the phenylpropanolamine. After being on it for a couple of weeks, I got progress report on Sandy. She had stopped leaking. We then started adjusting the dosage down. We like to get them down to the minimum amount that will keep the leaking under control. Hormonal urinary incontinence is usually easily diagnosed. Sometimes history is enough. Your veterinarian may want to do a urinalysis to rule out a bladder infection. He or she may also want to do bloodwork to rule out things like diabetes or kidney problems. Once your veterinarian diagnoses a hormonal problem, he or she will probably start medical treatment. Do not despair. It is unlikely that your dog will have to wear bladder incontinence underwear. The medicine usually works.
OK, thank you for the info. I'll call the vet Mon. and get her in.
Becky
It's encourageing that the medicine usually works. I can put a plastic cover down, then a towel on top of it where she sleeps till the meds. kick in.
I've known this was coming soon, but she seemed so well this summer that I thought we'd have another year at least. But since the cold has hit, she's really changed. When I go on my walks the dogs go with me, and she really falls way behind, and I feel so bad, like I'm deserting her, but I'm walking for exercise and going that slow would defeat the purpose...I always wonder if she's thinking,,,,wait for me:)....do you think dogs think like that?
Becky
She may really liven up with the Rimadyl. It's good stuff... and what I did when I started Logan and Zulu on it, was give it every day for a week or so they were feeling really great. Then I could drop back, because the pills aren't cheap, and give half tabs or give it every few days or even only occasionally when they looked like they were having a stiff day.
Heh... I don't know if she's wanting for you to wait, or if she's might just be feeling guilty about not keeping up... but I hope she can soon keep up better.
I've been MIA but have been keeping up on the thread. Hope everyone has a good day.
I think she enjoys going on the walks, she always starts out loping along looking happy. I think I'm just going to have to start taking walks just for her and let her set the pace, and lock her in the house (which is a treat for her) when I go on the exercise walks. Knowing she may be reaching the end, I want it to be as happy as I can make it....
I get really sappy over the dogs. And she's going to be the first that I've had to make the decision of when. All our others have just died, or been killed. And she's pretty much been "my" girl even tho she was suppose to be Charlie's dog.
Becky
I'd bathe her too, the urine that's making her smell bad will also lead to itching and is pretty hard on the skin. You don't want to end up thinking she has a skin problem on top of all this :~D
Hey, I was thinking about you the other day, and wondering where you'd been:), but of course when I get on here I forget to ask.
Becky
Yeah, now that I know what the deal is with her, I'll give her a bath today....That's going to be fun, she hates baths. I usually do give them to her when I start bringing them in the house. She's hard to bathe too, her hair is so thick, and it sheds water really good, it's hard to get her wet.
Becky
Zulu was much much harder, because she just deteriorated slowly, getting worse all the time, and in addition to losing her body, she lost her personality... She seemed lost all the time and out of sorts, like she had senility or Alzheimer's. She barely knew me, and she had always been connected to me. She only knew Logan and when he was gone, she was despondent. I let her end be botched. It was a pretty painful day.
Oh - washing unwilling dogs is big fun! When we got Homer (or, rather, when he showed up) he stunk really bad, and it was Dec, so we couldn't bathe him outside. We had to literally ~drag~ him into the tub, and hold onto him. By the time it was done we all smelled like wet dog, the dog, us, and the bathroom.
Glad you're around lurking anyhow! Anything happening that's keeping you busy or distracted? We look forward to you being back.
I'm sorry about Zulu. I've always worried about knowing when it's time. I've often wondered that our animal care has gotten so good, that in reality it's not good. Yes, we can keep them alive alot longer, but I worry how "they" feel about it.
My DIL had a cocker spaniel that had been in her family for along time. When the dog got older the problem was put on Kristy, her mother and father couldn't deal with it. The dog was blind, deaf, and incontinent when Kristy made the decision. The dog really was not that old, and didn't seem to be in any pain, other then from running into things she couldn't see. Once Kristy decided to do it, I took the dog to the vet with her, and stayed with till it was done. It was not that bad, but I wasn't really emotionally attached to her. Kristy just was having a real problem, and her family was not being supportive, but they didn't want the incontinent dog at their houses. I'm wondering now if that problem might have been fixable...but the blindness and deafness couldn't. I think she made the right decision.
Becky
Well, we are at the same place in our own human medicine. In the end, we're all best off when we get hit by a truck at the end. :~D
I'd like to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not like the screaming passengers of the car he was driving at the time. ;~D
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.