Saturday, October 2, 2010

Anaplasmosis & The Reality of Healthy Dogs

I know that we are lucky (and very blessed) that our dogs enjoy good general health. Vet visits are not that all that frequent, although experience has taught us so much! But I contribute most of this to the healthy diet that we feed our crew. However every once in awhile we're dealt a card or two that give me a reality check and I'm reminded that the dogs and I are not invincible. That's what has happened yesterday, I was reminded of how frail life and especially health can be.

The vet visit for CarrieAnne and Charlie was pretty uneventful. But our vet, Dr. DeSantis did mention that she'd like to be seeing less of Charlie...We'll both work on that. (The picture is Hamlet & Charlie)

For CarrieAnne (pictured on the right) there was a diagnosis of anaplasmosis which is a tick-borne disease. I've noticed the last several weeks that she hasn't really seemed like herself, but I have contributed it to her age (8 years old). While it could very well be age related, it could possibly be symptoms of anaplasmosis. The good news is, is that it's very treatable with antibiotics, and she should be fine. My vet and I again discussed the use of "Frontline" for the ticks. Carrie is one of the dogs that I apply it to, but I use it very sparingly.

Hamlet, (pictured above with Charlie) you may recall was taken to the holistic vet about a month ago. The tumor on his shoulder is inoperable because of the extensive surgery he had on it in the spring. The hope in starting the Chinese herbs was that it would reduce or slow its growth. Sadly, it hasn't worked and the lump that a month ago that was the size of one of my hands, is now about doubled. I'm continuing the herbs and continuing to have hope.

Doris's boy Sam (the 15 year old & pictured on the left) has also turned a bit of a corner. His health has deteriorated a little, and we have increased his medications in hopes of keeping him comfortable and maintaining a good quality of life for him. I hope and pray that Sam hangs on long enough to see Doris again and she's able to say the good-bye to him and have the closure that she is so desperate for.

On the flip-side, the other dogs are doing well. They are enjoying the chance to be out running in the fields and enjoying the fall.
Me, the Happiness Makeover continued yesterday when I enjoyed lunch with a former coworker in Millwood at the foot of this old grist mill. It was nice to sit outside in the breeze and catch up. I hope that whatever makes you happy, that you have the chance to do it and have a wonderful fall weekend!

34 comments:

  1. You do have your hands full for sure.

    Our golden, Rosie, is going blind due to her late diagnosis of diabetes. I'm so sad.

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  2. Don't wait too long to bring Sam to Doris.

    Good luck with all the various aches and pains - we hope that everyone gets better!

    Sam

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  3. And a happy day to you as well Kim!

    Love the photo of the old mill ~ and of course the sweet pups always bring a smile!

    xo Catherine

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  4. Overall it sounds like the pack is doing well. Hope you are doing well too. Thanks for the happiness wishes and may we launch one right back at you!

    Lady is as happy as she has ever been. Health is part of the reason + she continues to blossom into (what I would call) a normal, playful Golden.

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  5. How lovely to be cushioned by so much love as the day fades. There is a gentle kindness to your post today.

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  6. A bit of a mixed bag of fortunes in your post today - which is how you can sum up pet ownership, I guess. Love to all your 4 legged friends, poorly and healthy. That grist mill looks great, good to hear you were able to enjoy your afternoon outside.

    x

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  7. You're a wonderful dog-mom to a wonderful crew!

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  8. Here's hoping that everyone gets better and that whatever happens, no pain and peace.

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  9. I hope that good health and happiness follow you and your pack. You really do have a remarkable group of dogs. Keep working on that happiness makeover.

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  10. With so many in the pack, I am afraid if it isn't one thing, it's two. Hard to take, but you seem to be handling it well.
    Love the old grist mill, and I am happy that you are continuing your happiness venture - lunch with an old friend is always good! Happiness is so much better than the alternative!

    XXX

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  11. Much love and healing hands to help all your fur loves.

    Sheila & Bob

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  12. It's so hard when there are several older dogs and the signs of aging start showing up. I have six littermates and I know I'll have to ace them all aging at once. It's sad to think about, but I'll be there for them.

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  13. HI sweetie, I so missed Golden Fridays that I just had to pop in(yours is the only blog I'm visiting til I get home). Good to hear about the holistic approach you have for you dogs but I guess I somehow missed the post on who Doris is. I'll pray that Sam will hang on til they are together. Please continue to share your knowledge with us about treating dogs naturally. We are on a limited income and vet bills get very expensive so I try to go natural when I can.
    Hugs to you today.
    Noreen

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  14. Thanks Kim. It is very difficult to watch our dogs as they get older and things begin to fail. Their comfort is the important thing. It is all part of our and their lives....as you know.
    Your dogs look so well cared for...very fortunate indeed.
    Jim

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  15. I'm sending my vibes..good vibes!

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  16. do u have dog health insurance kim?
    how does it work over there?

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  17. I was here earlier, and left you some words, but blogger are them.
    We are so happy that you were able to go to the mill and sit with your friend, and enjoy your happiness makeover.
    All those doggys are the luckiest doggys in the world, to have to to care for them,, no matter what,,, and take each day,, one at a time.
    The photos are so gorgous,, the one with the doggy running and the
    photo of The picture is Hamlet & Charlie, makes us feel peaceful inside,, peaceful as we know they truly feel
    love
    tweedles
    i hope blogger does not eat this comment

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  18. Doris and Sam touched my heart and I will pray for a reunion for them. I use homeopathic remedies for Angel's Discoid Lupus and even though her nose looks sort of bad, she is not bleeding and she is so much healther and happier than when she was on the antibiotics. I don't see how you do it all, Kim.

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  19. You are my golden lovin' hero. I wish for nothing but the best for all of your friends. You're awesome :)

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  20. Lucky dogs to have such a caring mum. What a wonderful place to have to have lunch....beautiful. xxx

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  21. We wish you luck with everything!!!

    ELizabeth & Luna

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  22. Don't look now but you have an angel on your shoulder.

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  23. My vet has found that a lot of customers were complaining about frontline simply not dealing with fleas anymore so he supplies Stronghold now. We had a cat flea epidemic & stronghold has worked.

    The first pic reminded me of Sam & Dillon curled up together. It's nice to think that Dilon kept Sam warm in his old age .

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  24. Health is indeed a wonderful gist. I've always been very fortunate with my cats and my mom with her dogs. They've always been very healthy with hardly a vet's visit until the last year or so of their lives and I'm glad that you seem to be as fortunate with your crew. I do so hope that Sam hangs on long enough to see Doris again though. I never got to say goodbye to our first family dog and it was devastating for me.

    I'm glad your happiness makeover is going well, keep enjoying it!

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  25. I'm glad all the dogs are in good shape! I think their overall happiness significantly contributes to their health...and you've got some happy dogs there! :)

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  26. Hi Kim,
    You have no idea how much our vet tells us how much she "doesn't" want to see us! We can't even make it 1 month. He will be going in again this Friday. While his allergies are undercontrol from the steriod shot last week with the antihistamines and antibiotics, he seems to have developed a very serious hip problem. I am thinking hip dysplasia. I am so worried! I actually think I've caused myself an ulcer..
    He was quite lethargic this morning...I would imagine that that is from the pain in his hind legs. I was so worried, but then after about 2 or so he started to get up and move around. After I thought about things, I remembered that the antihistamine he is on has the same effect as benadryl and is causing him to be very sleepy. So, I imagine that that plus this hip problem equals a very tired dog.
    He cannot stand up using his hind legs without my assistance. My back is very sore from doing this all day. I am lucky that he has been drinking and eating fine.
    He is limping heavily on both hind legs. I can tell it hurts to put any pressure it all on them.

    I looked up hip dysplasia online and found that I have seen all of the symptoms throughout his 1 and a half years of life. A friend of mine said, "yeah...thats a possibility! Seems to me like he is screaming with hip dysplasia" That about threw me through the dry wall! (LOL). His breeder is not the kindest in the world. I don't want to notify her of the problem until he is diagnosed with whatever this is.

    He still has his 2 year health garentee (aka crap garentee) for eye, heart and hip. Hip includes hip dysplasia amoung other things, but we wouldn't get anything but another "free" puppy from her. Quite frankly, I don't want another puppy! I want MY puppy to be OK!

    Ugh. Sorry, I guess I needed to vent. Simba's vet is in on Thurs-Fri, so I will probably take him in on Fri for the Xray. I am also calling a Siberian Husky expert I know who has worked with dogs with Hip problems all her life. She said she may be able to help lead me in the right direction on what it is.

    Have you ever dealth with Hip Dysplasia? I may be over thinking things... who knows.

    Thanks for reading!!! Sorry for rambling! :-P

    Paige

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  27. Hi Kim,
    You have no idea how much our vet tells us how much she "doesn't" want to see us! We can't even make it 1 month. He will be going in again this Friday. While his allergies are undercontrol from the steriod shot last week with the antihistamines and antibiotics, he seems to have developed a very serious hip problem. I am thinking hip dysplasia. I am so worried! I actually think I've caused myself an ulcer..
    He was quite lethargic this morning...I would imagine that that is from the pain in his hind legs. I was so worried, but then after about 2 or so he started to get up and move around. After I thought about things, I remembered that the antihistamine he is on has the same effect as benadryl and is causing him to be very sleepy. So, I imagine that that plus this hip problem equals a very tired dog.
    He cannot stand up using his hind legs without my assistance. My back is very sore from doing this all day. I am lucky that he has been drinking and eating fine.
    He is limping heavily on both hind legs. I can tell it hurts to put any pressure it all on them.

    I looked up hip dysplasia online and found that I have seen all of the symptoms throughout his 1 and a half years of life. A friend of mine said, "yeah...thats a possibility! Seems to me like he is screaming with hip dysplasia" That about threw me through the dry wall! (LOL). His breeder is not the kindest in the world. I don't want to notify her of the problem until he is diagnosed with whatever this is.

    He still has his 2 year health garentee (aka crap garentee) for eye, heart and hip. Hip includes hip dysplasia amoung other things, but we wouldn't get anything but another "free" puppy from her. Quite frankly, I don't want another puppy! I want MY puppy to be OK!

    Ugh. Sorry, I guess I needed to vent. Simba's vet is in on Thurs-Fri, so I will probably take him in on Fri for the Xray. I am also calling a Siberian Husky expert I know who has worked with dogs with Hip problems all her life. She said she may be able to help lead me in the right direction on what it is.

    Have you ever dealth with Hip Dysplasia? I may be over thinking things... who knows.

    Thanks for reading!!! Sorry for rambling! :-P

    Paige

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  28. I definetly know exactly what you are talking about in here.... I have struggled with Simba's health since day 1. Read my blog post...maybe you'll have some advice for me. I am so worried about him.

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  29. For all the love and joy that you've brought into the lives of those magnificent dogs ~ YOU deserve to be happy!

    I don't know how you do it. I'm afraid I'd just fall apart when things started deteriorating. I'm already traumatized by the growing lump on Hamlet's shoulder. He's SO beautiful! I just can't bear to think of it...

    Thank God you are able to see the joyful side of what you do! Other wise, who would take care of all those golden friends?

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  30. Hello!
    We love the photos!
    Veru cute dogs!
    Big pawshakes from Portugal!

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  31. Hi Kim
    What a mixed bag of news - good luck with CarrieAnne's treatment - it sounds like you too don't like the traditional treatments like Frontline. I, too, refrained from using anything on Neeli this summer except for Neem Oil.

    Poor Hamlet - growths aren't good. Thoughts & prayers are coming his way. My Apples' tumors are growing - and we have no options - just day by day...

    And Sam - God bless him at 15 years old (my Apples will be 15 years 10 months on 10/6) - may he be comfortable and have an opportunity to meet with Doris in the near future.

    Good luck with your gang - Apples & Neeli send licks and woofs too.

    Nadine

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  32. First I have to say I love Doc's remark. That is so sweet and so true!

    I think some of us are just born to do what we do. Even through the hard decisions, the frighening episodes, dog hair, dog poop, you name it - we know that if we can give them even 5 minutes of happiness, our job is done.

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  33. one thing about having multiple dogs, there is never a dull moment is there?

    I love the photos of them and the lovely photo of the grist mill, brings back memories of our beloved Tenneesse......

    Gill

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