Rough couple of days with our Murphy, but we're ok

[Logan]

Our old lady, Murphy, has had a couple of bad days, with excessive barking and disorientation, as well as a "frantic" mood, where she has not been able to settle down. Some of this is not unusual, but the level of her anxiety has been higher, louder, more disruptive than usual. Of course, today was my day to deal with it and my vet didn't work today (he is never open on Thursday). So we went to a different vet, the same office where I take my birds, but a different veterinarian than we usually see.

Murphy's ears are infected, as I suspected, and they are making her uncomfortable. She really needs surgery, again, but at her age (14 1/2 years old), we're not going to put her through it. Her left ear is now almost completely covered with benign tumors and her ear canal cannot get the proper airation to make it stay healthy. :(

Please keep our sweet Labbie girl in your prayers. We just want her to be comfortable

Logan

[GraciesMommy]

I don't want to worry you any more than you are..but that sounds so much like Mercedes did. The vet said it was the first stages of dementia. She would whine when there was nothing wrong, walk around like she was totally lost...and go nuts sometimes like she thought I was gone. She lost her hearing those last few months so if she wasn't right where she could see me she would think I had left her. She was 16 years old. All this happened that last year...it was very sad when there was just nothing I could do for her. We decided to ease her pain (she also had arthritis and cataracts and huge tumors on her sides) and send her on over to RB one year ago this month..

Just keep an eye out on those strange behaviors and ask your vet if that could be it. There is nothing they can do for it, but at least you would know and help by giving extra comfort and let her know you are there..loving on Mercedes was about the only thing that settled her down..

[lizbud]

Poor Murphy.:( Your description of her ears makes my ears
hurt. Is there nothing else in the way of RX's they could give
that could make her more comfortable or ease the pain at least?

I'll be keeping you both in my prayers this evening.

[Logan]

I feel I need to answer both of you in greater detail than I provided with my first post.

Gracie'sMommy, Murphy has dementia, for sure. She had been dealing with some pretty tough stuff for over a year now. She is completely deaf and has been since I first met her in June 2002 (she is my husband's dog...he's had her since she was a puppy, and we only met in June 2002). She has been plagued with ear infections and tumors in her ear canals for most of her life. Tumors that were reachable were removed earlier, and then last year, Murphy went through major surgery to resection her ear canal on her right ear. The recuperation about did her in, and me too. It as horrible, as she does not get positive results from pain relief as most dogs, cats and humans would. It hardly affected her and it was very rough trying to keep her from pulling off the bandages. :( Murphy bumps into walls, barks incessantly, gets "lost", but at the same time is "dancing" for her breakfast and dinner, still, and loudly proclaims to me if her water bowl is empty, she is lonely or hungry! We're just not ready to give up yet.

Liz, I was a bit dismayed that this vet only prescribed Otomax and nothing else. We'll take her to Dr. Robinson tomorrow and make sure we are doing everything possible for her. It was a waste of Murphy's and my time to go to the "fill in" vet today, for sure. We live and learn, I guess. She settled down for a while this afternoon, but started up again this evening. When I fed her dinner, she settled down for a little while, but has started back up with the barking and crying tonight. I gave her a pain pill, which Dr. Robinson has provided to keep her comfortable, and something is working and she has been quiet the last 30 minutes or so. It is just so heartbreaking to not be able to do anything. The poor girl does not need to face major surgery again at this stage in her life. She has so many issues, and the ears are a minute part of them. :(

[Cincy'sMom]

Poor Murphy!! I hope she is able to find some comfort. It is so hard watching them get older, and knowing thre isn'tmuch more you can do.

Oreo is still fairly healthy for being 15, but she has been deaf or atleastmostly for 2-3 years and sometimes it seems she is losing her sight. She doesn't always realize when she has wet her bed, and often sleeps in her mess. Even though I don't live with her, it is hard knowing she is getting up there...

[KYS]

Sending many good thoughts for senior Murphy
to have only good days.
Her ear sounds very umcomfortable. :(

[Logan]

Our sweet girl is having a rough night. I'm going to invite her back to spend the night in the bedroom with me and hope that she will calm down a bit. She is so agitated and can't seem to rest and she needs to after two days of being miserable. I am so worried about her. :(

If you say prayers tonight, please say a little prayer for comfort for my sweet girl.

[Christiansmommy]

Murphy will be in my prayers. I am sorry she is ill, and hopefully she can get at least a good nights sleep tonight...it is so hard to see them sick...

[lovemyshiba]

A candle has been lit, and dear Murphy is in my prayers.

[Tinkerboots]

I'm sorry to hear about Murphy. Old age is definetly a hard thing to deal with for not only animals, but humans as well. I have 4 dogs and 1 cat now after loosing Boots. My white shepard (Tara) is blind in one eye and progressing in the other. My black lab (Beethoven) and bernard mix has hip displacia and a brain tumor. My two other dogs are fine for right now. Tara and Beethoven are too old for us to do anything else. Beethoven has already out lived his age for his breed. Tara is going blind because of a very rare disease the occur in German Shepards. She has had the disease in her eyes since she was a puppie and the disease doesn't make itself known until it's too late. Other than that, she's doing considerably well. But like I said, it's rough watching them go through it. It sounds like Murphy is a trooper though. Just like my pets. She is well loved and taken care of, thats all she wants right now. Your doing everything you can and she knows it. I will keep you both in my prayers.

[chocolatepuppy]

Murphy will be in my thoughts and prayers. {hugs} to you at this difficult time.

[ChrisH]

Poor Murphy. Extra prayers going out for her right now.

[Joannie]

Have you tried Rescue remedy, it is for relaxation w/o drugs its a natural product sold in health food stores. I haven't tried it myself but was recommended from another group. Joannie

[Logan]

I ended up inviting Murphy to come sleep beside my bed, but she walked right back in the kitchen and got on her own bed, but was quiet. When I woke up this morning, I realized that she had changed her mind.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce08b3127ccea9e3a0fecc210000001610

She had a much better night and has been quiet this morning too. :) She was so tired after those two rough days.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce08b3127ccea9e3a0d8cc070000001610

Thank you for your prayers. She really appreciates them and so do I. :)

[anna_66]

Logan I'm so sorry to hear that Murphy is having a rough time. I wish there was something you could do for her ears although I know there's not.
I'm just glad to hear that she finally calmed down last night and is doing better this morning.
I will say a prayer for her and for you Logan. You'll both be in my thoughts.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

Poor Murphy and you!!:(

You guys will be in my prayers..
Hope you are feeling better soon Murphy!!!! :)

[Logan]

Originally posted by Joannie
Have you tried Rescue remedy, it is for relaxation w/o drugs its a natural product sold in health food stores. I haven't tried it myself but was recommended from another group. Joannie

Thank you for that reminder, Joanie. I have not tried that. But I was told, by a good friend, that Melatonin might work. I have some of that because we had a heartworm positive foster dog that I needed to keep calm, so if she gets agitated, perhaps I'll try it. Right now, she is very content, as you can see in the pictures I took this morning. She's got to be exhausted after two days and a night of pacing and barking. :( Poor thing. Getting old is hard.

[pitc9]

I'm thinking about you both!!!

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

I'm so sorry that Murphy is feeling so miserable. I'll be praying for her to be comforted, and for you to get the rest you need to stay strong for her.
Best wishes,
Andrea

[4 Dog Mother]

I am sorry that Murphy is having problems. It is so hard to watch thedogs we love age age. Oreo has never been a loving type dog - she is very independent and wants everything done her way or else! But watching her confusion as she wakes up and is not sure where she is, having her try to jump in the car and miss because her eyesight is failing her, and just sleep so much longer and deeper than she ever did is difficult to watch.

As Amy said she now is incontinent at night, so she is on a medicine she will be on for the rest of her life. So far it is working, thank God, 'cause I can't imagine how it must feel to wake up and find you are cold and wet from your own urine!

I will pray for Murphy and you because I know exactly how much patience it takes to deal with this aging process - both in Oreo and me!!!!

[Logan]

Thanks, folks. Last night and today were better. Tonight has not been as good, but Scott has been here to see what I've been dealing with and to witness her cries and barks himself. We are quite worried. She seems to be more disoriented than ever tonight. We watched her walk into two distinct pieces of furniture when we were trying to get her to go outside tonight, and she has yelped and cried out, as if in pain, just lying in her bed. I'm not quite sure what to do, but we will keep a close eye on her and move her bed into our room tonight so that she can be near us.


We just want her to be comfortable. :(

[Pam]

:( :( :( Logan I'm sorry to read this but glad that Scott is home with you. I just don't know what to say. I have never experienced that in any of my dogs and have to agree it would be extremely distressing. (((Hugs))) to you, Scott and Murphy.

[anna_66]

Oh Logan I'm so sorry to hear that:( Like Pam said, I'm glad Scott is home with you. I know how hard it is to be alone and have them feel like that.
Murphy is still in my prayers.

[Kfamr]

I'm very sorry Logan. :(
This thread has me worried and upset, and I just can't help but you feel bad for you, Scott, and sweet Murphy. Hugs to all of you there...

[PJ's Mom]

Poor Murphy. :( :( Prayers coming your way sweet girl.

[Rachel]

I too know of the type of situation you are dealing with. It brings back memories of Tizzie's last year. One thing that you can be thankful for is not having to deal with lots of snow and below zero temperatures and having to take her outside and her not knowing what she is supposed to do out there. The one benefit we had with Tizzie was that she slept a lot. It was the only time she was at peace.

It is so stressful to see them in this condition and not being able to comfort them or provide the necessary relief to what is bothering them. I know you don't want to give up on Murphy just yet, but maybe it is time to sort out for yourself what defines the stage at which Murphy is suffering more than she is living. The process to that stage is so gradual that sometimes it is difficult to say okay, it is here. Did I make the right decision? I still don't know. I guess I want so badly for you to have a better handle on it than I did or know in your heart what is right better than I did and maybe that isn't possible. Maybe we all have to just fight this battle the best we can and so be it. :(

[lovemyshiba]

Just thinking of you and Murphy today Logan.
Still praying that everything is ok.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

:( :( :(

Poor Murphy.. that sweet girl doesn't need to feel this way. :( Keep us updated, Logan.. sending hugs and good wishes your way.

[Sudilar]

Oh no, Logan, I just read this now! It is so sad to hear that Murphy is having problems. I hope there is something that can be done to help her feel better. I know how hard it must be on you and Scott to feel so helpless. I will go light a candle now for dear Murphy. Hugs.

[Logan]

Thank you all, so much, for remembering our Murphy in your prayers. After such a rough night, last night, she had a pretty good day today! She wanted to be where we were and if we didn't have her there, she let us know, loudly! :) She is sleeping hard right now, although I will wake her shortly to take her outside one more time, and move her bed into our room for the night. She seems to do better if she is near to one of us, although I was up at 1 am with her this morning.

Funny how so often I quickly say "______ is in my prayers", but rarely have I had to ask for prayers and good thoughts. I feel very fortunate that this is the case. It means a lot to know that you are all out there, hoping for good things for our girl. :)

I'll keep you posted.

Love,
Logan

[K9soul]

Oh Logan, I'm late in seeing this, I'm so very sorry. But I want you to know Murphy is definitely in my thoughts and prayers now. How heartbreaking this has been lately for you, I know you just want her to be content and comfortable. I'm very glad to hear there is some improvement. Keep us updated on your precious girl, and please give her a hug and kiss from me too. Feel better sweet Murphy, we're praying for you girl!