snowyowl.13
PEI
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Joined: 08/10/2008
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Good Sam RV Club
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I believe that weight gain is a side effect of being on Prednisone. We have a 12(going on 13)year old GoldenXhuskie. He was on Prednisone for a number of years, for Lupus, but we finally managed to wean him off and he is doing OK but we have to watch carefully for the return of his symptoms. I know that he is going to have to leave us someday, probably sooner rather than later. He is a big dog and big dogs generally don't live long lives. He picked up vestibular disease a few week back and couldn't walk and I was convinced that it was a stroke. Getting him out of the house and into the truck was a real struggle but I did it and took him to the vet's. I was convinced that he wouldn't be coming back home and couldn't stop myself from bawling. Well, it had a happy ending that time but I know that it is only a matter of time.
I have had to bury three of my previous dogs and two of our cats back under our apple trees and it bothers me that if the worst should happen while we are on the road, Smudge wouldn't be able to join the group. Silly I know that that's how it is.
I don't think that you need our advice. You probably just need to talk out the options. Listen to your vet and listen to your instincts and you will do the right thing whatever it is.
Dan
Prince Edward Island
http://www3.islandtelecom.com/dankennedy/
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c.heifner
Mancos CO
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Joined: 01/30/2005
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well, it is Sat. and Winston is holding his own and doing okay. He is completely off the Prednisone now and is on a lower dose of Aziathioprine. This should help his skin infection which has pretty much cleared up anyway. In the year he has had ITP (blood platelets are destroyed by his immune system) he has never been off meds. Hopefully he won't start bleeding. He has had his platelets drop to as low as 5K without internal bleeding which is amazing. Even if he does well we will still have to limit his contact with other dogs in case he should contact any illness or get bruised. So thanks again for the last new posts. I have read them all at least twice. My heart goes out to all of you who have lost your beloved pets. My vet gave me this poem when I lost my last dog (to auto immune disease too) I am going to share it with you as I think it will help make you feel better:
.....Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you...
"twas Heaven here with you.
Carol & Jerry
2004 Dodge 3500 4x4 AT
2004 Everest 323K
Winston, the black cocker wannabe
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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I'm glad you're working through it. We've travelled with one of our dogs while he had cancer (bone tumour) and our cat while her kidneys were failing. Stayed close to home with cancer dog but fiesty cat spent 4 weeks on the road at age 19 and then 5 days with us in a rental cabin a month before she died just before her 20th birthday.
We didn't dwell on the pending deaths. We focused on life. The holistic vet who treated our cancer dog suggested we keep our energy positive. She said dogs feel our energy and if we were concerned or fretting, then our cancer dog would feel that and it would affect his health. She acknowledged that we would feel sad and some days would be frustrating, but encouraged us to take it all the same way our dog was ... one day at a time and live in the moment. She said animals don't perceive their pain the same as humans. They don't feel sorry for themselves, they just deal with it. She said he'd slow down and he'd adjust to his circumstance, and he'd still be content with his life. She also told us that our dog would let us know it was time ... that his energy would have a significant change. Good thing we took her advice ... his "two weeks to live" diagnosis by our regular vet was a bit shortsighted ... with the holistic vet's care he lived 8 months. And lived well!
As long as our pets have been up to it, they're with us. We've had to accommodate their needs, including ensuring the cat had something to eat and peed every hour while on the road. No regrets. Her last trips with us were precious!
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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