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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:07 am
For some reason it made me feel better to put Sophies picture on here. You all would love her, she is so sweet. I think DH and the vet are trying to prepare me to let her go. Her right side is weak now and DH caries her down the stairs to take care of business, She's on prednisone and a heart pill. But she doesn't seem to be in pain...she has always been such a baby about any pain, shakes and she isn't doing that. She still snuggles with me and sleeps in a basket beside me. I can't bear the thought of not having her. If it wasn't for Lucee's antics I would probably cry all day. For instance this morning we wake up with Sophie snuggled between us, Lucee and most of her toy box on the bed. I not only have to make the bed...first I have to unload all the dog toys!
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:21 am
Tabby, I'll never tire of hearing about Kendall and (((Vito))). It really sounds like he's doing better! Saxy and SuperG, I love seeing the pics! Jasper, your pics of Oscar are always so great. I love your dog! I liked the church sign too.
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Monday, February 27, 2006 - 4:11 pm
the test for valley fever came back negative for kendall (which i was 99% sure it would). i asked the vet how long now to wait on the distemper part and he said he didn't order it yet. huh? he told me the other day that he was running both tests and that valley fever would take 3-4 days and the distemper one about a week. sheesh. it was 144 bucks just for the valley fever test! which i didn't even want him tested for since he didn't have one symptom for it. now they want another 80 bucks for the distemper test. i called the shelter and was told that kendall had his 3-way (shot, pamy, don't get excited here!) and he would probably get a positive and we wouldn't know if it was a real one or a 'false' one. since kendall seems to be getting better, and has had no vomiting or diarrhea, is eating well and loving the heck out of us, i don't think he has distemper, either. the shelter lady said that contrary to what i might have found on line, most dogs do not seem to be getting better and then 'dump'. if he is getting better, he SHOULD continue to get better. so, still keeping my fingers crossed for this cutie, but it looks like we are headed in the right direction. i will continue with his antibiotics for another 4 or 5 days. at that point, if he was no better than he is now or got worse, i would have them treat him with the 'big guns' for distemper. i really believe he doesn't have that, no matter how negative the male vet the other day. remember, he didn't get a weight on the dog or listen to his lungs because "it wouldn't change anything". i really think he was saying that he thought kendall had something fatal and not just kennel cough so why waste his time and efforts. let's hope i can yell 'booya!' in his face soon! kendall sure has a sense of humor. he was passing silent but deadlies last night and when dd would fan the air and tell him to stop, he would just smile at her and wag his tail.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 27, 2006 - 5:53 pm
{{{Supergranny}}} just treasure the time you do have with sweet Sophie. Tabby, that's good news about the Valley Fever and also that Kendall is smiling, too..
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 11:54 am
Sophie and Lucee What darling doggies! I hope Sophie is doing okay.
Kendall Glad to read he's feeling better! Still keeping my fingers crossed for him.
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 1:57 pm
the last few times i let kendall out back, he went and sat under a bush. he stayed for hours. i could not coax him out. he finally wanders to the door when he feels like it. this morning i let him out at 5:30 and then made his food and meds up. he stayed out for 2 hours! at first i was afraid he was going off to die or something, but when i talk to him, he smiles and wags his tail. he just wants to sit under the bush, i guess. one thing is he really isn't too happy with us a lot of the time--we are having to clean his nose and give him eye drops and he does not like anyone being in his face. last night, he jumped up on the couch and rested his head on my foot. he stayed for about half an hour, then he was done. i am trying to just let him be. it's fairly warm outside and not raining today, so i'm not too worried. his behavior when he is in the house is pretty normal, or what i think is normal for him. it's only been 3 weeks since we got him. he definitely has a mind of his own, though! one day, he'll run to the door when i am going somewhere and he will ride around in the car while i do errands. other days, he won't come near me if he thinks i might put him in the car! he comes in the house when he feels like it. he and one cat are very friendly now and will sit inches apart for a short time. his coughing still sounds pretty bad when he does cough, but it's less frequent. if he is just lying still, he can go several hours without coughing. as soon as he exerts himself, he will cough, but the pre-gagging cough is not so 'croopy' sounding or as harsh and doesn't last for long minutes. with kendall, it's two steps forward, one step back a lot of the time! i am still being patient and hoping for the best.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 2:35 pm
Maybe Kendall has asthma? I swear I'm not being funny! Moms doing in home health care for a friends grandma and the other night she thought the woman was dying because of a horrible noise issuing from the room. Turned out to be her dog who was coughing, hacking, and gagging. She finally got the dog calmed and settled back to sleep and it wasn't til the next morning that she found out the dog is asthmatic. Harvey loves hanging out in the bushes. There's one right up against the house that is his favorite. He'll spend hours out there in the summer, we figure its because its the one spot that is shady, cooler, and sheltered from whatever wind we have. But, even in the winter when shade isn't really a big deal he'll go lay out under his bush.
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Jasper
Member
09-14-2000
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 3:26 pm
Good to hear of the results of the test Tabby. Big hug to you and Sophie Supergranny.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 4:07 pm
War, I don't think its funny at all about the asthma speculation. As soon as Tabby said Kendall coughs when he exerts himself, I had the same thought. I have asthma, and that's what happens to me too!
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 4:16 pm
i don't think the asthma guess is funny, either. it would be a good possibility except that this has so many other symptoms that indicate kennel cough or worse. (hopefully, not the worse, but he isn't eating much today. he has eaten maybe 6 ounces of food, but yesterday he ate about 30 ounces. maybe he's still full!?) dd and i had to literally drag him out of the bushes to get him in the house. he did let her clean his nose without a fight, too. maybe he's getting tired of not being able to breathe through his nose at all and when he eats, he has to have a way to breathe. we'll see if he eats soon... he coughs if you rub his throat, he coughs when he even uses enough energy to get up, he coughs after he drinks water, etc. not sure if asthma would give him the green nasal discharge, either, or the fever he had two weeks ago. but i will keep it in mind. thanks!
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Mammyyokum
Member
06-05-2005
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 4:41 pm
Being in a pet related field for over 20 years, I'd say that yes, asthma is a possiblity. Sometimes, though, dogs have an "inverted sneeze" that freaks out their owners when it's really no big deal. As I know of one dog that's allergic to humans, I'd make sure that I got a vet's opinion on it.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 4:48 pm
Tabby..Kendall is so lucky to have you and your family. Taking care of a sick pet is a true act of devotion. After years with Sophie there is no other way for us but you guys are right there at the beginning of your relationship with Kendall. A lot of people would have just taken him back at the first sign of problems. 
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 7:33 pm
thanks, super! i could never take kendall back! we are in it for the long haul. i made a commitment to him and fell in love with him from his internet picture! he was stinky and filthy and snapped at us when we had to put him in the car, and i still knew this was my dog! i don't think we had one day where he was well, and i still would never consider giving him up or giving up on him. my only wish is that we get some really good years together. there has to be a reason i looked at shelter pictures of dogs online for the first time in my life the day before he would have been euthanized. mammy, kendall does have the inverted sneeze. at first, we all laughed because my husband doesn't snore, he snorts all night. kendall sounded just like him only he does 20 or 30 snorts right in a row. dh only does about 5 a minute kendall has only done the inverted sneezing routine 3 or 4 times in the 3 weeks since we had him, but it's like being on a pig farm during fair season! the first time he did it, i swore i could have thrown him face down on the carpet and had him vacuum at about 12 amps!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 8:09 pm
Dogs and cats can have asthma (I always feel bad if they live with people who smoke in the house.. and Who, I feel for people who live with people who smoke in the house, too.. as I did for my first 33 years) and they can also have chronic bronchitis.. which one of my dogs had in her later years. Jani required a couple of daily meds for that but she lived to be 15 1/2 which is good for a large dog. I know how you feel about your committment to Kendall.. I was the same way when I adopted Critter. Taking her back, or giving up on her, was NOT an option.
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:48 pm
well, no smokers in the house, so that's a plus for us and for our pets! you are so right about giving up not being an option. i am too attached to him and have been since i first saw his cute little face. plus, i know people who have returned dogs, given them away, put them down--one guy shot his dog because the kids quit taking care of it once it wasn't a cute little puppy and it just wandered around the yard lonely; did you know-- according to the sheriff i called--it's not against the law to shoot your own dog FOR ANY REASON?!!!--or dumped them for no reason other than they outgrew their cuteness or no one wanted to take the time to feed and love them. it breaks my heart for the poor pet. i knew getting a dog would be for the life of the dog. (many years, i hope!!), and i just have to have a dog in my life. they are such loyal little pals. about the only restriction i put on myself was that it could not be an 80-90 pound dog again. when the dog gets to be 12 or 13 and maybe needs help like vito did, i don't know that dh and i could lift it when we get to be in our 60's and 70's! i got the sweetness of a golden retriever with a lot of golden looks, in a 'handier' size 
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Regee
Member
10-09-2005
| Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:01 pm
Oh my gosh I am so lonely, NO ONE has been here to tell me about their human fur babies (sob snif sob) . But really I have been meaning to ask Wargod about my baby "Bud" and how he is doing now.
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 1:29 pm
this afternoon i will be taking kendall to the vet in merced that the shelter recommended. i just haven't felt the male vet here cares about kendall as i feel a good vet should, and i can never seem to find a time the lady vet is in. plus, this clinic does not seem to ever rx zithro, no matter who i see. i know this will cost me more money and might be like starting over, but i have to do what i have to do! kendall did not eat or drink much yesterday. he did give us a good laugh and great photo op when we went outside and found him not under a bush, but curled around a small palm we had planted in a half of whiskey barrel. he was so cute and fit perfectly. he did go about 7 hours without coughing during the night. we are still cleaning his nose a dozen times a day and he is sneezing to try and clear it. this morning, i got him to eat about 12 ounces of food by mixing a little container of frou-frou spoiled-dog filet mignon with a mashed hard boiled egg and some plain white rice. i know he drank at least a little water because there were a few grains of rice in the water. he is wagging his tail, quiet (but i think that may be his 'norm') and loves to be petted and brushed. i hope this vet today can aleviate some of my fears and concerns. i am thinking kendall may have canine influenza which only came out a couple of years ago. his symptoms are more like that or kennel cough. still no diarrhea or vomiting and no gum chewing to indicate distemper, although i get nervous because he licks his lips a lot. i think it's because of his runny nose, though. i haven't heard a 'snapping' sound like he is frantically chewing gum. and when he sleeps, he doesn't move at all for hours.
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 1:49 pm
Tabby, I hope things go well for you and Kendall at the vet. That is good news that his cough is calming. Maybe Kendall isn't a very hungry dog. Our dog is almost 11, 75 lbs. and really until about a year ago, never ate regularly...just whenever. She ate like a cat, unless it was the very rare people food like an egg yolk or if steak juice was put on it. She still eats like that somewhat but usually eats every day now most days of the week. Still, there is food from last night still in her dish. She does not even get treats every day and cannot get out to get food from somewhere else. Anyway, unfortunately, he's been sick just about since you found him so maybe it's hard to tell what his real appetite is. I so hope he gets all the way better soon.
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 6:50 pm
okay, here goes. we went to the vet 40 miles away. wonderful, wonderful caring man. he spent almost an hour with us. he does think kendall may have distemper. he has had 6 cases in the last year from the shelter dogs. 2 had only the respiratory virus and recovered fully. 4 died from the neurological virus. there are 3 different viruses and a dog can have 1, 2 or all 3. on the other hand, it might just be a severe case of kennel cough. he did blood work that we will hear back on TOMORROW, not 7 days from now. he said a false positive from the vaccine will give a 1:10 titre. if a dog gets, say, a 1:100 titre, it has the actual virus. he is treating as if it is distemper. gave me more baytril and gave me the zithro i wanted two weeks ago. he was very upset about the care the male vet at our local clinic provided. kendall definitely does not have any neurological symptoms, but they can take up to 3 months to come out! he also gave me a cough suppressant tablet, but said not to start using those pills until i hear from him tomorrow; it's not good to use if the dog definitely has distemper, but great if he really has just kennel cough. he will buy that med back if i don't use it. can we say, i am hoping i have to use it?!!! kendall weighs 41.1 pounds, exactly what he did when i weighed him on my way out of our local vet's office last thursday, so that is good. at least he hasn't lost any more weight. ideally, he should weigh about 50 pounds, so he is thin, but not emaciated. i spent 344 dollars and it was worth every penny to have someone who really took his time examining the pet and explaining everything to me. i know i will hit my 500 max 'per incident' with the insurance, and be out of pocket about 250 dollars, but that is okay. i am trying to stay optimistic about this. i know kendall and i were matched up for a reason and i am praying it was not to give him only a month of two of life past when he would have been euthanized. the green nasal discharge can be from either kennel cough or distemper. he did have a temp of 103.2. last week he had a temp of 102.8 and the week before that it was also 102.8 after he started on meds. at his first 'sick' visit 17 days ago, he had a temp of 104.5...the vet said there normally is not a fever with kennel cough, but he is not ruling out that kendall just has a serious kennel cough respiratory illness. so, it looks like it's maybe 50/50 with distemper and if it is, i am hoping it never develops into anything past the respiratory virus which most dogs recover from. so, a few prayers if you have any left in you! i'll let you know what the vet says when he calls tomorrow. i was almost 'scared' when he said he would have the results in one day. at least if it was a week, i would have time to prepare myself for bad news! please let it be good, or at least, okay, news.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:09 pm
Right after I pray for Baby, Kendall is next for as long as he needs it.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:12 pm
I'm praying for Kendall!!! Good luck!!!
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:30 pm
darn, he threw up half an hour after his zithro. the vet said to try it on a full stomach. not fun to try and get it down him, but he did just eat and take two of his other meds. here goes nothing! thanks ophiliasgrandma and julieboo!
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:32 pm
Kendall is in our thoughts and prayers. With an owner as determined as you...he will pull thru this!
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:35 pm
{{{{Kendall}}}} Hang in there sweetie! You have a great human who has come into your life to give you the fighting chance you deserve!
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:42 pm
well, he's held it down for 20 minutes. the good thing is the other pills have been down for at least 35 minutes now...i'm hoping the full stomach helps. and also hoping he isn't getting the distemper vomiting. please God!
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