Eating Dirt??

[tatsxxx11]

Karen, you are TOO funny!! AND you made me feel so much better. Misery loves....blah, blah, blah!! Poor Cody! Even in the paws? Big hugs. I was very concerned about the Rimadyl too. He said we could wait a week or two to decide on that. Till then no medication. Maybe the coated aspirin and cosequin if not the Rimadly. I feel so bad because even with minimal exercise she is limping. Although she's not overweight, he told me she should lose 5 lbs. even if it's on the thin side, to alleviate the strain. Put her on Iams reduced calorie. She loves snow, and wants to run so badly in it As for the onions Rachel, that's what REALLY got me frantic first thing in the AM. I was going to call at 9am re: Cody, and then the onion thing happened. I've read so much lately on dog emergency sites that said onions were toxic that I freaked! My heart was POUNDING!! It was only 7am or so, and was thinking I maybe should call as an emergency. Anyway, he said that she would have to eat several a day for a week or two. And then it would not be an acute, life threatening emergency. It causes anemia when eaten regularly. The worst that would happen is she might throw up from eating so much junk. If I ate two raw onions, boy, would I feel it!! But, with that labby cast iron stomach, NOT A BURP!! Nothing! Just a lot of guilt on my part for giving her such a long time out. A couple of hours!! Then, just like Karen's Cody, when I went to "make up" and apologize to her she ignored ME! Gave me the nose up and curled up at the end of the couch. She actually made ME cry! I felt to bad at work today and made up for it by throwing balls, frisbees, snowballs endlessly when I got home. Please tell me I'm not a bad Mom! Thanks for being such pals!

[lhg0962]

Where have I been???? I can't believe I missed all of what you have been going through, Sandra. Not that I could add anything, but best wishes for you babies. Why didn't I know you lost your cat? I may have been living in a fog the last few weeks, but I am SO sorry. As many times as we have e-mailed, I just never realized it. I have an extra (aka Butter) if you want one! Just teasing. Butter is now a part of our family, even if he is a holy terror. I actually think he is good for Mimi.
Please keep us up to date on Cody and her progress. As you know, Lilly is taking Etodolac as needed and I haven't given her any in a week (YEAH!!!!). I have changed the food for Honey and Lilly to Flint River Ranch, but we probably haven't been on it long enough to know if it makes a difference. I know one thing, they don't eat as much of it and they absolutely love it! I am using it, along with the Once Upon a Dog, as treats and they gobble it up. I feel good having them eat this healthy diet. I have also been supplementing Lilly's food with an essential fatty acid liquid that was recommended by that holistic doctor I mentioned to you earlier. I swear their coats look 100% better and if it helps Lilly's hips, so be it.
I keep Lilly's exercise to a minimum (I mean that I don't let her exercise too hard. She loves to walk), so I have to watch her weight carefully. Honey is just enjoying the benefits of Lilly's new diet! They are both happy, and behaving pretty well too. Lilly got to go to basketball practice for an hour last night, and although she didn't get to practice her "Air Bud" moves, she loved all the attention she got from parents and kids.
Enough, Enough. Just wanted you to know I feel your pain. You are getting great suggestions. Keep us posted on how she does.
Logan

[This message has been edited by lhg0962 (edited January 24, 2001).]

[carrie]

Half the trick with displaysia - and arthritis - is to excersise in an appropriate way. Ideally, gentle and often. You must try to keep surrounding muscle healthy, fit and strong and mobilising the joints is essential. Long periods of inactivity make the pain on moving worse - leads to loss of interest in getting up - leads to inactivity - leads to more pain on movement..........
Paddy suffered abuse until he was two and is now showing the first physical signs of stiffness after resting, some pain for the first few steps, that kind of thing. It is minimal - nobody else has noticed it - I have started getting him up every half hour while I am home to warm up and move the joints. I have traded my lunch break for two extra 15 minute breaks when I can rush home and get him up and moving during the day (I know I'm lucky living that close to work).

[karen israel]

Oh! Dear, sweet, friend Sandra! Bad mother!!?? You're kidding, right??? My dad just got done telling me I should never have gotten a dog because I am so overly emotional over him, so loving and caring, call the vet for EVERYTHING (his kids are going on the Israel scholarships to Yale) that he's afraid of my well being should something happen to Cody. All I know is that my 1st words were "I wanna dog!" All I played with were stuffed dogs!! He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm glad I waited so I could be responsible and enjoy him. Would I be better next time? I say yes, but I'm a wimpy door mat whose a sucker for big brown puppy eyes. Even my dog reluctant,adorable, allergy-laden mother wants another dog within 2 yrs since she loves Cody so much and thinks I did great! So she's predujice! (sp) The dog has me wrapped around his paws and tail, yet he really does mind me. Our favorite game is "Me Alpha!" "No! Me Alpha!" If loving, worrying, worshipping, kissing, caring, hugging him 24/7 makes me a bad mother, than I really stink. But when he lays his big ole head on my leg or trusts only me when he's on his back straight up, and I can do anything to him, than I'll take all the credit! San... dog lovers a a special breed themselves...I think you must be AWESOME!!! Trust me and yourself on this!!!
Oh, also, on another note,, I give the Cod-meister massages too and he LOVES them! I don't exert him or throw balls up and down our hill like I use to, but like,Carrie, I try to keep him very active. I worry at the slightest limp, (breaks my heart), offer penance to God, make promises I'll never keep, pay $75 for Cosequin (nothing for myself) and the list goes on! All for the love of a trash thief, kitchen table scrounger, shedding, hairy, 4 legged creature named Cody!!! I'm done!

[tatsxxx11]

Oh Karen, I think there must be an animal love gene or dog love gene or something that some of us are just born with!! Those without it think we're nuts or wierd or eccentric. I know it's an addiction I can't, and never want to cure! No matter how much loving them to pieces makes ME fall to pieces!! That "head on the leg" thing!! Now that just says it all. OK Karen!! From one great "Mom of a Cody" to another....Let's agree to continue be selfless slaves and emotional wrecks, wrapped around the paws of these beautiful kids because they're worth it!! Big hugs and kisses from my Cody to yours!