Graham is not well

Poor Graham. :( You've gotten great advice from others, I don't know what to say. All I can add is giving him fun one-on-one time with you as often as possible! Take him somewhere that he loves where he can run off-leash with you and play. At the same time, babying him too much may be sending the wrong message. Keep up with his Obedience and maybe NILIF, and balance the affection with exercise & discipline.

What raw meats have you tried? My pups would never resist pork ribs! Have you tried satin balls, also a much-loved meal?

http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif Poor Graham http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif ~ Feel Better Soon, Bub!


I'd try some "serious" one-on-one time with him, Leslie.
He's had quite a few changes in his life ...
* move to Texas
* new house
* new Hubby person
* new Dawggie Brudder

All that might be a little too much for one ole Dawg to handle.

Why don't YOU load him up for a day out ...
NO other dogs or 2-Leggers ...

Take a few bites of everything in the house ... all the Junque Food ya can find ...
as well as Dawggie stuff.

Let him run, walk, trott, or roll around - but keep him moving.
If memory serves, he liked his Swim Therapy ... find a clean pond or river with a dock
he can jump off of and let him swim for a while.

As for eating - something - anything - is better than nothing.
Junque Food beats NO food!

Hang in there, GrahamBoy ... there'll be a Better Day tomorrow.

http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/wink.gif

(((((HUGS))))) I am so sorry that Graham is not doing so well:( I hope that he turns around and is back to him old self! He will be in my prayers!

Leslie I'm so sorry to hear this:(

You know Phred could be right, maybe he just needs some one on one time with his momma. With so many changes mabye he feels he's not needed any more.

Lots of hugs and prayers coming your way that he gets over this and becomes his normal happy self.
(((HUGS)))
Anna

Leslie I am so sorry to read this. Graham was one of the original Pet Talk pupsters that I grew to love. What kind of testing has your vet done? I hope Graham still has a few more good years left. I probably shouldn't even ask at this point in a thread that is already sad, but is Cassie still alive? I know quite some time ago you had posted that she had some serious health problem. I have missed keeping up with your crew.

Leslie, I have to say when I read what you said about his depression in the picture thread I was in tears the whole day. That boy of your's means A LOT to me especially since my Simba took so well to him. I kept coming back to look at his pictures with tears in my eyes.

He has had A LOT of change in his life and I'm pretty sure he's seen his momma cry once or twice - that can be hard on a dog too!

I sent you a PM for your address and I'm hoping to send Graham a little care package - for HIM. If you could send that to me, that'd be great. I'm not sure how much good it'd do but Simba said I had to. ;) He doesn't like his buddy sad!

I hope he is better soon. :( Hugs to you and Grahm.

Poor Graham Crackers!! Sure wish there was something to do to cheer up the old guy. He and Kersey were both so much fun when they stayed with us, I hate to think he isn't that happy boy anymore :(

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Originally Posted by Pam

Leslie I am so sorry to read this. Graham was one of the original Pet Talk pupsters that I grew to love. What kind of testing has your vet done? I hope Graham still has a few more good years left. I probably shouldn't even ask at this point in a thread that is already sad, but is Cassie still alive? I know quite some time ago you had posted that she had some serious health problem. I have missed keeping up with your crew.

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Believe it or not, Pam, Cassie is still alive and (sort of) well. It's a daily touch and go with her. One day she's fine, and the next she has a seizure where she goes poo and pee while convulsing. One day she will not wake from her siezure. She is badly brain damaged, but she is SO happy. Every time I call my mom (at least once daily....I miss her so bad) I hear Cassie coughing in the background and we always comment on how lady like Cassie is (she coughs and farts at the same time hehe). She is the unhealthiest dog I've ever seen, but she's around 14 years old now, which is pretty amazing for a puppy mill pug that had a miserable first 9 years of her life. She is far from the picture of good health, but she's still a happy little pugalette and we're so glad she's still enjoying life :) She will remain on this earth until either she starts to show pain and loses happiness, or until she fails to wake from her seizures. Thanks for asking about precious pugalette Cassie.

As for Graham, we're taking him in again tomorrow morning for more testing. They've done blood, a sonogram, urine analysis, general check over. He's not yet had any x-rays, but the vet didn't see any reason to x-ray him. I'm afraid it might be his prostate again but he's not showing any of the other side effects he was last time. The vet that we went to when Graham had his prostate problems a couple months ago told us that if the antibiotics don't help him, he could have a more serious condition. We may have to have another sonogram, I'm not sure. We'll find out tomorrow.

We've been walking Graham, but we can't even have him off the lead anymore unless we're 'hanging out' and chilling. While walking, even tho he stays close, he drops back so far that we have to leash him to keep him with us. He used to have such a spring in his step. His spring is gone completely. It just breaks my heart. He won't even swim at the lake anymore. He just gets his feet wet and takes a drink from the water, but he has not swam in a very long time. Today at work I looked at one of the many pictures I have of Graham at my desk and I cried. He's been such a good friend for so many years. He's been such a unique personality that's been such a good match for me. He's seen me threw some of the hardest times of my life. The Graham I used to know has been gone for awhile, and has been replaced with a truly miserable animal.

As far as the "Junque food", we have offered Graham many things, he won't eat doggie cookies, I have fed him hot dogs and yesterday he didn't even want a hot dog. I cooked chicken and peeled the skin and a piece of fat off of the roasted chicken I was eating and he turned his nose up. Wouldn't even eat chicken skin/fat. I tried offering him a piece of the chicken thigh and he wouldn't touch it. He just smells it and slowly walks away with his head held low.

Thank you so much for the ideas, everyone. I'll let you know what happens at the vet tomorrow. I'm also going to send another email to the pet psychic to see if there's anything I can do to help lift Graham's depression.

Leslie, I am very sorry to read that Graham cracker is not feeling so well, poor baby boy. I just wanted to let you know, that I will be thinking about him, and praying for the both of you.
Hope all is well.

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Originally Posted by Kfamr

Leslie, I have to say when I read what you said about his depression in the picture thread I was in tears the whole day. That boy of your's means A LOT to me especially since my Simba took so well to him. I kept coming back to look at his pictures with tears in my eyes.

He has had A LOT of change in his life and I'm pretty sure he's seen his momma cry once or twice - that can be hard on a dog too!

I sent you a PM for your address and I'm hoping to send Graham a little care package - for HIM. If you could send that to me, that'd be great. I'm not sure how much good it'd do but Simba said I had to. ;) He doesn't like his buddy sad!

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You are so sweet, Kay. Graham really took to Simba, too. I think they had really similar energies. They both hit it off immediately, and Graham's not usually a 'dog person'. I will PM you my address, I thank you very much, you are a sweet person.

I am so glad to hear that Graham is going for a second opinion and more tests. I can't help but feel that any "depression" that is that severe and unreactive to outside influences has to have a physical cause. I hope they find what is bothering Graham and are able to make him feel better.

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Originally Posted by AdoreMyDogs

Today at work I looked at one of the many pictures I have of Graham at my desk and I cried. He's been such a good friend for so many years. He's been such a unique personality that's been such a good match for me. He's seen me threw some of the hardest times of my life.

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I have tears in my eyes now Leslie. I know how much your boy means to you. I remember so well his fall in the apartment and the way you moved heaven and earth to help him get well. I hope that the vet finds a medical reason today that can be fixed. ((((Hugs)))) to you Leslie. Please do tell your mom that Cassie has a fan club of at least one member on on Pet Talk. :) Ask her if she would plant a kiss on her little puggily face from me. Bless your mom for continuing to care for this sweetie when others might have thrown in the towel.

Fingers and paws crossed for a good vet visit with a cure for Graham around the corner.

Graham has (probably) what's called histoplasmosis. It's a fungal pnemonia. He is a very sick boy. They can only confirm his histoplasmosis if they do an asperation of his chest/GI tract, but that's not necessary. If it is this disease, it's a 90 day treatement and it doesn't have a real high sucess rate. The sucess rate is only 40%, and we'll know after the first few weeks if it's working by his eating habits. If he begins to eat again, we'll know it's working. If he refuses food still, then he won't make it threw the 90 day treatement.

If he has absolutely no reaction to the meds at all, he has metastisized (sp) cancer that there is obviously no treatment for.

Now the waiting begins :( Please pray for my boy.

Aw, Leslie. :( I hope, now that you know what it could be, that the meds work and he starts eating again. I'm glad to hear that it isn't because of Boone, though. I was really afraid that he was just sad, and, sometimes that's worse than being sick. I'll be praying for Graham.