Dog meds

[gran398]

This may take a while to explain.

Our little Bichon Boo-Boo is my wife's baby. She has never had children.  Boo-Boo is her child.

He is six. About a year ago, the vet diagnosed him with a loose ball joint in his front right "elbow". She advised no jumping from sofas, beds, etc. onto the floor.

About three months ago, after a walk, he came running into the house, was jumping on the sofa....and let out a shriek in pain. I knew the problem was getting worse.

Yesterday was a beautiful day, we wanted to take him for a walk on the beach. Before we left, looked like he was favoring his right leg a bit. But it stormed last weekend, he needed the exercise, and we needed to get out.

We like to go to North Topsail Beach. This time of the year, not many folks, leash law expired Labor Day. Let him off the leash....he loves to run full bore, chase the birds, have fun, be a beach boy.

Let him off the leash yesterday...nothing. Happy enough....but no interest in running.

Get home. He naps. We hit the sack, everything's fine.

5:30 this morning...he starts yelping/crying/squealing something horrible, right out of a dead sleep. We went beserk.

His right leg must have cramped real bad...it was curled under, and when I touched it he squealed worse. Then he started shaking uncontrollably. He's never done that. We really started freaking out then.

It's 5:30 AM, no vets, what to do...

Not an aspirin in the house, all we have is tylenol and ibuprofen. The vet said before no problem giving him benadryl for itching. So I broke an ibuprofen in half, gave him that. He was better in ten minutes, we got him to sleep.

He was fine this morning, no issues...weird. But we took him to the vet.

Told the vet what happened...she says..."You gave him WHAT?" She took him away right then, put him on IV.

I had poisoned him with the half tab of ibuprofen.

Man...am I sick. He's okay tonight, but beat to heck....and all because of me trying to help him. Goes back in first thing tomorrow morning for another round of IV to cleanse the ibuprofen. It causes stomach ulcers and renal failure...even residually.

She can't even diagnose his leg until my screw-up gets fixed.

We all love our dogs. But trying to help...I could have killed him. Just wanted to pass this along to you guys. Thanks.

[Blue Agave]

Get well Boo Boo!

[seabob4]

Ditto from me, Boo Boo!!



Scott,
When Baby had her issues a few months ago, our Vet actually gave her prescriptions to be filled at Publix for anti-biotics!  Some stuff you can give to animals, some you can't.  Aspirin would have been the better choice, but you did what you felt was the right thing to do.  And chances are, if it had just run it's course, the ibuprofen wouldn't have done a damn thing to Boo Boo.  But you know you helped him with his pain, that's what counts...

[John Jones]

Sorry to hear that Scott.  My old girl has a bad shoulder and that stops her from wanting to exercise so she puts on weight which makes the shoulder worse.  I know how you feel.  

From what I have read, never give a pet the common OTC pain meds except aspirin and many vets recommend against that.  If you do give aspirin, use the uncoated aspirins.  Their stomach supposedly cannot dissolve the coating.  Baby aspirin or small dose of liquid aspirin for small dogs.

Good Luck!

[gran398]

Thanks guys.  Boo appreciates the best wishes from his friends

Bob, what you said re "running its course" is on topic. Another toxicological issue with dogs is of course chocolate. Our buddy Chris of Seamark said this morning that his old black lab was a bad boy two Christmases ago. When no one was around...he devoured a FIVE POUND BOX of fancy chocolates placed under the tree for Aunt Susie and family. Ate the box too. Left the bow

Saw the old boy Friday, tail still a'waggin'

[wingtime]

Tucker and I hope Boo Boo gets better!  Don't worry at least you caught it in time and he will still love you!

My best buddy Tucker dog:


He's pushing 14 and has hip problems.  He takes more pills than a 90 year old.  He takes Rimadyl, Tramadol (an human opiate), Glyclo-flex and fish oil every day.  Without them he couldn't even get up.  With them he can get up an motor around pretty good.  Yes they are expensive (The Rimadyl alone is $1.50 each) but he is worth every penny to keep him comfortable.

For those with pets on regular meds see if your vet price matches or buy your meds online from 1800PETMEDS or Dr's Fosters and Smith.  Also many local pharmacies carry pet meds.

Relating to your story... Tucker used to sleep on the bed with us.  One morning a few years back I woke up and when I touched Tucker he starting yelping uncontrollably.   Amy and I freaked out no knowing what was wrong with him.  He stopped but if we touched him he yelped and he could not lift his head up.  We didn't know what to do...  we finally lifted him off the bed using the bed sheets like a sling.  We gave him doggy pain meds we had left over from Amy's dog.  Turns out he had strained his neck somehow and he was no longer allowed to jump on and off the furniture.  The feeling of being helpless to help him was horrible so your desire to help him with the pain is understandable.

Ask your vet if Rimadyl is an option for Boo-Boo's leg.  It is a NSAID but requires liver tests every six months to make sure it is not harming his system.

[seabob4]

Well, since it's after midnight, it is now November 6th.  Babygirl is 13 years old today.  I hope and pray she'll live to 100!!

[dburr]

Pain in critters just flat sucks and there is no more helpless feeling then to see your best friend in pain..

When Boomer came to us he was 7 weeks old and is a Shepard-rottie-???-neighborhood special mix.  At about 4 months my wife noticed that he bunny hopped with his back legs and that led to a number of vet visits followed by sleepless guilt ridden nights, then a final visit to a vet specialist surgeon.  The diagnosis was advanced hip dysplasia that would be $10,000 in surgery to correct with only a 20% chance of success and a year of immobility, OR glucosamine therapy, one pill a day forever..  We opted for the glucosamine.  That stuff WORKED MIRICALES!         Boomers hips don’t hurt unless he behaves like a hammerhead and chases everthing that moves and runs 400 miles an hour with a big stupid slobbery grin on his face..

There is a good chance that Boo-Boo’s joint(s) might benefit from glucosamine ask your vet, it can’t hurt and if it works it is infinitely better then surgery.  Boomer would not be able to move today without it..

Wishfull thinking about swimming with the loons..


A favorite pet bed..


We hope Boo-Boo gets well soon!

[seabob4]

Sweet dog there, Dave!  I'm all too familiar with hip dysplasia, as my shepherd suffered the same.  A cortisone shot took care of it at around 7 years old, but age age 11 it was too much.

Babygirl is sleeping in this morning.  Guess she knows it's her birthday!

[Aswaff400]

our found-in-the-woods-mutt dog Daisy wishes Boo Boo a speedy recovery

[wingtime]

Aaron, Thats cool Daisy was found in the woods....   Tucker dog was found on the side of road / woods when he was only a few months old.  He has turned out to be the best dog/buddy in the world.

[flounderpounder225]

Scott
Glad to hear Boo Boo is doing well, yes sometimes these vets over react, just like people, not all are the same, and just BC chocolate is scientifically proven to be bad for dogs, can't explain why Susie Pomeranian lived to 24 yrs old and had a piece of chocolate pretty much everyday of her life, before we "knew" chocolate could kill dogs!!  

[gran398]

Thanks very much guys!

Bob, Happy Birthday to Babygirl

Boo was fine last night, just real beat. Took him back in this morning for the last round of IV.

Sucked seeing the look on his face, he started whimpering when he saw that cage.

Of course, this is all my fault. I keep getting reminded of it too

Wimmen

[bondobill]

Scott
Best of luck to Boo Boo
You were only trying to help, don't be so hard on yourself.
I only know too well how much money you can spend with vets...especially on small dogs.
Barb is on her 2nd Yorkie. If it not bad teeth its liver disorders or hernias and just about everything else imaginable, but we still luv em  :)
Marc is right about some vets over reacting sometimes
My last dog was a Rhodesian. He stepped in a hole while chasing a coyote off the property, screwed up a rear hip, vet wanted lots of cash to do surgery. We were told Leo leg would only get worse and within a year wouldn't be able to use the leg at all. While we didn't elect for the surgery and his leg healed up just fine on its own, he didn't chase coyotes anymore but never appeared to be in any pain either.
We had to put him down 5 years later at 10 years old for other medical issues, wasn't a good day for me.   :(
Bill

[seabob4]

Bill,
Interesting you post about "healing themselves".  Baby got a laceration on her eye a few years ago, squinting, tearing up, take her to the vet.  He puts the dye in, you can see the laceration under blacklight.  Says we have to take her to a veternarian opthamologist for SEVERAL surgeries at $$$$$$$$!

Well, she decided she didn't want any of that!  Healed on it's own, she see's chit LONG before whatever she is looking at comes into view for me!