NPR in a way, but it's about my baby

[Bobbi]

My doggie, it truly appears, has comparable allergies to mine; she had an early morn. appointment with her doc (who opened the doors just for my dog and left the lights off so that folks would not think the doc was in for the day).

My baby is now on Hydroxyzine. (Her doc thinks that Benadryl is no longer effective for my doggie). If the new med. doesn't help, it's: Zyrtec for my dog also (which is the med. I take for my allergies since Nasonex, etc. does nothing to quell the effects of my allergies).

Her doc also found a lone flea on my pooch... the first she has ever had - in 9 years of being a poochie-patient. Too, the doc said, because my baby has never had a single flea before, it probably felt like a million crawling all over her.

I am so wiped out, but have to monitor the pooch on her new med. Any sign of anything adverse: Call the doc right away and get her to doggie ER.

So far? So good. My baby is lethargic, just wanting to sleep. Maybe, though, it's that she is feeling at-ease and not stressed by allergies. She's a high-energy doggie as is, and... the trek to her doc only excites her.

Anything I feel it just totally pales when I think of what my pooch must feel and I have to "read" her body language and act on those queues. I just want her to live forever! :)

Flea-be gone! :D

And, I am getting the insurance on my pooch... to spare nothing for her care. I wouldn't cut corners when it comes to my treatment and possibilities, and cannot justify not making sure my baby is "covered" just as well. Gawd, I luv the 40-pound bundle of snuggle-ness so much.

I think she loves me too; she sticks to my side when she detects the scent of medication. When I ask her "Stay with me and don't leave me" she does just that - throughout many nights.

Kinda sappy? Maybe, but I don't have children around or others whom can stay by my side, so I got my "best" friend; my furry love bug :).

My neighbor has also told me, tonight, she will cut down her tree that also triggers allergies for me and my doggie. That's a good neighbor :cool:.

I am so drained - after monitoring my pooch and just doing what I may to make it through each day - I haven't the mental stamina to also post in other threads. Sorry. I am beat.

Sleep will be a relief. If I feel my pooch acting differently during her sleepy time, I will comfort her and get her to ER if it's extreme. (She sometimes has "bad" REMs and seems as if she is chasing something in her sleep; I am hopeful I will be able to detect if it's more serious).

If you all can, please keep a kind thought or two in mind for my doggie. She adores people and she's such a comfort.

[suede]

(((Bobbi & Pooch)))

Just so you know that what you feel for your pooch is not uncommon Bobbi, I have children and grandchildren but yet my pooch is my best friend and loyal beyond any "human" I have ever known.

I have to say that I am very fortunate to have the family and loved ones I do, but even though not intentional people I believe always let you down in some way, but my pooch is by my side no matter what.

Wow, you are very fortunate that you have such a caring vet, though you also have some very kind and caring Dr's of your own. Really fortunate is a poor choice of words. You see Bobbi it is the type of person that you are that is the reason you have such caring and loving care takers in your life, as no matter what is going on in your life you always take the time to ask and care about others and that is also why your pooch is so attentive to you.

I don't know many that have neighbors that would cut down a tree for them, again it's the person you are that creates such caring by others
Hope I'm making sense and not sounding sappy.

Anyway, I'm glad that your vet has recognized the problem with pooch and is helping, my pooch has been on benadryl for years now also and I don't think it's helping as it once did.

I imagine it will take at least a few days for your pooch to get use to the new med and will be rather lethargic until he does. Know that you and and pooch will be in my thoughts .

I have had 2 pooches in my adult life that have been a part of me and both have had health issues much the same as mine.

Anyway Bobbi, take care and try and get some rest while looking after pooch.

Linda

[Mark N]

Bobbi, I understand how you feel about your dog as my buddy is laying down next to me right now like he always does. I hope the new med works for her allergies.

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

I understand as well.

I am sorry your pooch has allergies. :( It's pretty common though and the meds the Vet gives affects them just as it does us...makes them sleepy. I tried Benadryl at first on my one dog but he just slept the day away. So, the Vet gave me something else. That particular med also made him sleepy but not as bad as the Benadryl did. Thank goodness it wasn't all year long...just the months of July and August and then over with. It is tough to monitor them because you feel so bad for them. So, I know you are feeling wiped out.

One little thing I did during that time was just to bathe them more frequently, wipe down their coats after they had been outside and wash their feet with this particular allergy shampoo...just to cut down on the pollen that was on them.

Mark and I have been talking about the yeast infections that floppy eared dogs get...also an allergic reaction which then turns into a yeast infection. That's tough too because they scratch their ears and then can get it on their feet or visa versa.

Geez, I can begin to tell you of all the special sprays, ointments, shampoos and meds that I have for them...just for the allergies. It is full time job in the summer to watch for everything.

I have been looking into pet insurance as well. I have 3 dogs so it is really tough to gauge. And I am STILL comparing plans. On the one hand anything catastrophic...and the insurance would have paid for itself. On the other hand and on one plan, ROUTINE care is EXTRA! So far I have looked at VPI and ASPCA. But according to Consumer Reports magazine they mention that PetCare would probably be the best overall. I haven't looked into that one yet...but will. What Consumer Reports really says is that perhaps it is best to just have a "doggie fund" so to speak. And of course there is always Credit Care but their interest rate is HIGH and if not paid off in 25 days, the interest rate goes even higher.

Anyway, just having the one dog as you do, insurance shouldn't be too bad. Just read those plans very carefully as I am sure you will do. You will be surprised at how much they don't really cover...I was! And besides the addition of routine care, there was an administrative fee of $2.00 per dog and all kinds of other extras you have to pay for. And the other thing I noticed is that you have a CHOICE of either a teeth cleaning...one per year...or something else. It wasn't like...yes, teeth cleaning is covered...it was an option. So, in other words, if I opted for another type of procedure for whatever the reason, I can forget the teeth cleaning because I only had ONE option for the year. Oh, and with the one plan they automatically deduct the premiums from your checking. If a person doesn't like that aspect, you HAVE to pay for the full year up front to avoid it. And to top all of that off it's not like the Vet will submit the claim. That's really not a big deal...but I sure wish they would do it for you.

Sooo...my husband I have discussed this length. I still have to look at that other plan. But I think what we are going to do is to just set up a fund for them. My husband, not me, just believes that there are way too many extras to be paid for and would just prefer to pay up front. I know, not many people can afford to do that. And my husband does realize he would get reimbursed. But his question remains...would the premiums really pay for themselves in the long run. I say they would if something catastrophic should occur. But I have also talked with my niece about it. She is a Vet Tech and her belief is that they can be a ripoff. Her words...not mine. And I think she says that because by the time they are so ill...it is their time. I know people are going to disagree with me. But from what I have found so far, it is just not all that impressive. If anyone knows of a really good plan, please let me know about it as I haven't seen one yet that I am thrilled about.

And I hate to put it this way but we just had to put the one doggie down due to cancer. Yes, I could have proceeded with Chemo and pet insurance would have covered it. And this was NOT a money issue at the time at all. It was more...what was the kindest thing to do. I don't think he would have made it through it...it was very aggressive. Therefore, having pet insurance at the time would not really have made that much difference...only if I had proceeded which I was not willing to do. If he had been active, playful and eating I might have considered it. But he was not.

Anyway, enough of that. I just have mixed emotions about pet insurance. Not saying it is not a bad thing to have...just saying read it all very carefully and ask the questions if you have to. The websites don't fully explain everything and that's why I made the phone calls. It's not like my husband or myself mind the premiums too much even though high. It is more that routine care, at least on that one plan, was an extra. Which led me to make the phone calls and ask even more questions. Anyway, still looking into it and want to look at the one last plan I had in mind.

And last but not least...poor pooch and his flea! I am glad the Vet found it. Oh, and I don't know if your Vet mentioned Multivantage as a flea and tick preventive to put on their skin. I tried it but didn't like it. It made them smell like a petroleum product. So, I am sticking with Sentinel and Frontline.

[Pharmacist.steve]

And, I am getting the insurance on my pooch... to spare nothing for her care.

From what I have read about these pet health insurance policies they are basically re-written every year and if the pet has gotten seriously ill during the year.. the policy will not be renewed or the premiums will go thru the roof.

[Kathi49]

True Steve...especially after the age of 8...or so I have read. Pre-existing conditions are not usually covered either. So, imho, I would advise anyone to read these plans very, very carefully. And again imho, the monies you would pay out in premiums I would just set aside for routine care or any emergencies. And even add to it if you can. Oh, and another example of how strange this all is. VPI's plan reflected 4 columns; primary diagnosis, secondary diagnosis and on it went. Each time less and less was covered. So, that tells me and it does happen, that if your pet is misdiagnosed and has to go back for further testing or an appropriate diagnosis, you will not be reimbursed at the rate for the original diagnosis. So, in the long run you will be paying more out of pocket anyway. At least that is the way my husband and I understood it. Nope, it is all just too vague and doesn't read as say our own policies do. It is just not clear cut...plain and simple. It looks as if there are too many holes and doesn't explain things clearly. So, yep, just going to have a fund for them. But that's us and someone else may have had better luck with pet insurance. Again, I am not saying it is bad thing to have...I just wonder if it is really worth it in the long run and so far my own personal belief is that it isn't.

[Bobbi]

Thank you for the heads-up on the insurance for pets, Steve and Kathi. I have come across a couple of plans, through my doggie's vet, which don't escalate the premium or drop a policy if a pet should become seriously ill. Nor are the plans contigent on whether a pet has a pre-existing conditon. (My dog's doctor is out of town - and she was headed for vacation when she saw my baby - until Tuesday. When she returns, I'll schedule and sit-down with her to go over some ideas.)

At least twice a day, I wash my dog's face. If not, she'd have tears streaming constantly. She looks so sad with the tears and her runny nose.

She looked as if she was hyperventilating (sp?) this evening so I'm cutting back her dosage tomorrow to 1 pill after her lunch.


((( Thank you, also, Mark & Linda ))).

Because my neighbor's tree is in beautiful condition, I'd rather work with her to see if it could be relocated and transplanted - to someone else's yard far from here :D.

Seizures, from what I read on the info. the doc gave with the medicine, is one of the more extreme reactions my dog might have. She's not that bad, but... I don't think it's a good sign to see her tongue just hanging out of her mouth and with labored breathing. (She also has asthma, so the breathing could be her asthma). But, I'll cut back until I talk with her doc.

[Mark N]

Bobbi, I hope reducing the med helps her come around better. It is easy to worry about them because they can speak and tell us how they feel or what is wrong. I know they show us with their actions but it isn't as easy as asking your sick child. Our last golden had epileptic seizures and all we could do was hold his head and talk to him to calm him until it was over. It didn't happen often but it was a helpless feeling just being able to hold him and talk to him. He did learn to not panic about the seizures though and it made things easier for us.

Take care of her and get her through the toughest part of allergy season.

[Bobbi]

You're right, Mark; it would be so much easier if our beloved furry friends could tell us how they are feeling.

My PCP told me that my baby can be tested - to find out the specific allergies. Does that seem true? Or, might my doc been saying that to inspire me to feel a bit better about my doggie?

This is how she looked, this morning, after 1 of her 2 daily pills; her eyes just don't look right (to me); she has been so "groggy" while on the medication.

[photonut]

Bobbi:
So sorry to hear that news. I hope things work out for you and you little dog. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs......Allie

[Bobbi]

Thank you, Allie.

My pooch's doc called and I'm going to try adjusting when she has her medication: After she eats in the morning and after she has her evening doggie biscuit and Milkie Juice (it's a minute amt. of 1 percent milk with bubbles from water; she'll put herself on a dehydration diet if she doesn't have milk so neither her doc nor I want to go back to that horrible place).

Her doc asked how she's feeling and I said: Lethargic. It appears her eyes are glossed over, and her head bobs up and down while the tip of her tongue hangs out of her mouth.

Okay, so, "How's her appetite?" I said, she's eating okay: "She had a fly for a snack." The doctor laughed and said her doc does the same thing.

Tomorrow, if changing the time of when she gets her medication doesn't help, she's going on Zyrtec.