At the emergency vet

[Chealsie508]

Thanks for the get well wishes, updates are ok, they're adjusting dextrose as needed!
That was three leashes and two collars this week alone… I have to buy a new one before I pick him up because I only had three sets! Luckily I order his collars on sitstay.com and they replace them for free whether they chew them or not... I like their color selection because yellow is "his color" and they are the only ones who seem to have the right color...I'm thinking of getting him a leather set but I don't know of the investment will last long
I'll update as soon as I get any news

[MacPack]

Glad he is doing OK! And basenjis are 'gifted' when it comes to leash alterations!

[Chealsie508]

So they said Oakley is curled up sleeping, he has been highly anxious all day and they suspect he wore himself out, he's chewed up a couple IVS already and every blanket and towel they put in he tears up ( which he does even at home if confined) they are keeping him on the dextrose and fluids because the only thing keeping the levels normal is the dextrose… Tomorrow is bloodwork and hopefully if that is promising I may get to take him home tomorrow night

The night nurse asked if he's always this anxious.. I told her yes, he is an anxious dog... My poor baby, I miss him so much, I feel terrible he is so upset

[Chealsie508]

So, this is where I ask for help and information from everyone:
I am almost ashamed to admit that Oakley is an anxious dog, he takes his anxiety out in destructive ways ( if he is in his crate he will ruin the carpet underneath the crate by chewing at it or chew up blankets in his crate.) he has crate anxiety and even separation anxiety with me. The nurse noticing this is even more an awakening that I need to do something to change these behaviors. Does anyone have any suggestions once I get him home that I can implement to help him not be some frantic confined or away from me?

[eeeefarm]

I have had two…...both boys......with similar problems. The solution, for both of them, was to work towards leaving them loose in the house. Confined to a crate, both were destructive and anxious......ripping up any bedding, soiling the crate, "rock & rolling" the crate around the room, etc. Both graduated to freedom which reduced anxiety, and both proved to be "good" in the house. My first I did limit to certain rooms, current boy has the run of the house, and has seldom abused the privilege. The exception proves to be if we are doing something outside which he can see.......he is far better if we are just "gone". His roller ball keeps him amused and occupied when we are leaving, which seems to be the hardest time for separation anxiety dogs.

[agilebasenji]

McConnell's booklet I'll Be Home Soon
DAP diffuser
A Thunder shirt may help
Control Unleashed book/class (if you're lucky) may help
Crate Games dvd would help with the crate anxiety

I don't know that any/all of those are the total answer, but probably part of the answer.

[Chealsie508]

Thanks to both, I'll definitely get a DAP, and look into all the suggestions. Ideally I would love if Oakley could be loose in the house but his Houdini skills concern me. Currently he is locked in his crate with Two masterlocks ( which he's almost chewed through!!) and ten zip ties so he can't collapse the crate to get out and still he manages to get out once in awhile, on top of his abilities to open doors and inevitably take the safest situations and turn them around. This past week he has been free to the living room and kitchen with minimal destruction; he takes my dish towel off it's rack, moves his food bin around the kitchen, maybe chews up a plastic bag if he gets one… But after this I just don't know if I'm doing him any favors by letting him stay loose. We clicker train and is great at commands, we have done the whole " eat in the crate/ positive association" but he never made the connection. I tried to move the crate into the living room to get him to go in it to rest and it didn't stick with him and I've clicked every time he steps in it "just because" but none of that he solved the problem. It used to be that he would flip out, and I would give turkey as a treat and it would still be there when I got home- he was so distraught. Now, he will eat the treat, sometimes as I give it to him in the crate and always will it be gone before I get home. He also is less frantic about being in it but his tolerance; albeit better is not quite considered relaxed. I will try crate games as I've heard on the forum it is a good tool. Funny thing is I've seen the thundershirts and it may be useful, he has NO anxious tendencies towards thunder, lightening, loud noises, excessive stimulation or anything of that nature. He is well socialized to handle stress but the only two triggers involve his separation anxiety towards me and his being confined ( confined in anything- a room, a crate, an expen... Any barrier)

[agilebasenji]

New marketing gimmick - Thundershirts, not just for thunder any more<gg>

The DAP may help take it down a notch, but it's not going to make this dog happy alone in his crate by itself. Crate games should help him be comfortable going in and out of the crate and staying there while you're around. When you go away, I'm not sure.

CU I think is so great for many things. You can also google Overall's Relaxation Protocol, which I think will help him. You can also try the RP in the crate, but McDivett suggests making the crate look different when doing the RP versus doing Crate Games. Drape it with fabric and/or a big fluffy pad versus a small flat pad, etc.

Also, try Through a Dog's Ear book. Interesting read and you need to do the music when you're around to start with, perhaps in conjunction with the RP before you just leave him with the music on. (besides, the book has 2 very cute r/w basenjis on it)

Otherwise, there are certain pharmaceuticals that may help while you install new habits of relaxing.

all the books should be available through dogwise.com or amazon</gg>

[agilebasenji]

I should add that, in my head at least, I think all of my suggestions can be integrated and work with each other.

[DebraDownSouth]

I know mine have little razor blades or scissors in their mouths… they can cut through one in about a nanosecond. That's why I have the chain on it.

Hope all is okay!

[SyberSade]

Wow Chealsie508! You've got a little angel one minute and a Tasmanian Devil the next! What a dilemma! Only thing I can add is that the one thing we tried that CURED Haley's separation anxiety is: we got another dog!!!!!!!!! :eek: Extreme, I know! Just sayin'…. she no longer rips everything up and pees all over the house when I'm gone!

[agilebasenji]

@SyberSade:

Wow Chealsie508! You've got a little angel one minute and a Tasmanian Devil the next! What a dilemma! Only thing I can add is that the one thing we tried that CURED Haley's separation anxiety is: we got another dog!!!!!!!!! :eek: Extreme, I know! Just sayin'…. she no longer rips everything up and pees all over the house when I'm gone!

Yes, a second dog may be very helpful. Of course if the new dog also has separation anxiety, you've just doubled (or more) the problem.

[Patty]

I always recommend calming music. I have a CD which is played on repeat when we have to leave our Basenjis for a length of time. I leave mine loose in our living room rather than let them have the range of the house. Of course as has been said, I do have several so that helps but as agilebasenji says, if the second dog also has the same anxeties that is a poor idea.

The CD is called 'Relasxation Music for your Dog' but I know there are others available.

[Chealsie508]

Update:
The dr called around 11 am and told me Oakley had a rough day. His levels were off quite a bit due to the extreme level of the toxin he ingested ( a miracle he's alive, four pieces of gum with xylitol can kill a 65lb dog; oakley had between 20-30 pieces and is 23 lbs). They are keeping him again overnight to keep him on the IV fluids and dextrose while monitoring his blood glucose and liver functions. Unfortunately his glucose levels are still on the low normal end and his liver fictions are off te charts, some as high as 5x normal. Luckily, they found the right combination of sedative to keep him calm and its given with his fluids so as tO ease stress. Dr reminded me Oakley will come home with enzymes to help his liver heal and is hopeful that as long as we can continue the protocol that his liver damage will be reversible… Fingers crossed that tomorrows liver bloodwork comes back on better shape and his glucose levels can stay stabilized... If so I will get to pick him up around 9pm..
Update this evening was much better; his levels stabilized enough to take him off the dextrose and although his earlier regression leading to his glucose levels being tested every two hours instead of four, he seems to be holding his own without the dextrose. While he has been calmer with sedation she did tell me he managed to chew his 6th IV while wearing an Elizabethan collar and having the IV bungi corded for protection; apparently he manages to get the IV between his toes and chews it within a second... She did say it has less to do with him just being naughty and more to do with the fact she believes he is bored out of his mind! I had to remind her that he is an 11 month old basenji who has been crates for almost three days!!
Thanks to everyone who has wished us well, according to the vet toxicologist, 24 more hours and we should be out of the woods for worrying about complete liver failure... I am hopeful and can't wait to see him! This is the longest he has been away from me and I have had enough of it, not to mention the hospital bill for a three night stay ( the least of my worries of course)

[MacPack]

So very glad he is improving. He is young and strong and hopefully his liver is as tough as he is.
My Nicky was at the vets for 48 hours and the bill was a lot, but she survived and so worth every penny.

Hugs!

[agilebasenji]

Poor you! Zest spent the night at the ER once. It was awful! I can only imagine what you're going through. The liver does have amazing regenerative properties, so keep that in mind. I'm glad he's keeping the nurses on their toes.

[tlish]

awwww… sending get well vibes~

now i'm going to have to research this stuff... is it something any of us should be chewing?? who knew?

ETA - safe for us, just not dogs! i would never even have thought to worry if suki had gotten in to gum. this is good info to know - sorry oakley had to inform us in this way!

[Chealsie508]

Thank you- I consider myself informed and to not have known about xylitol was so heartbreaking for me but my gut just didn't feel right when I thought about a dog eating gum. From what I have learned: xylitol is a sugar substitue brought into the US around 2002, it is used in many sugarless gums to drastically cut calories and is used in almost all sugar free candy for diabetics and is being more and more commonly used in baking goods as well. In humans it is considered safe; although some studies say they think it is linked to cancer and at most it can cause a laxative effect. Since it's implementation more and more cases of dog and animal deaths are being reported and many groups including poison control are pushing for products containing this ingredient to have warnings on the labels. Dogs however digest xylitol differently, as it is a sugar substitute when a dog eats it the body produces insulin to help cope with what it believes is sugar. Due to the immediate and overwhelming increase in insulin dogs can show signs of hypoglycemia within minutes and cause seizures. Recently and even more dangerous is that a dog showing no obvious signs of distress can have internal bleeding and complete liver failure up to 48 hours after ingestion. It is one of only a few toxins to dogs that cannot be treated with charcoal which makes it so much harder to treAt. Some gum companies have even gone so far as to pay out on some medical bills for pets. Unlucky for me, the 40pc container of icebreakers lemon gum contains the most xylitol of all gums and as I previously mentioned, 4 pieces is enough to kill a 65lb dog.
I learned that when it comes to xylitol it is not "if" your dog gets I'll, it is " when"

[Chealsie508]

PS- Oakley is a purse invader and all guests will have to put their pocket books up high so I can keep him safe.. just a thought for everyone tO think about… How many of you carry mints and gum in your pocket books? ... I bet a lot

[Chealsie508]

Update:
Vet called, Oakley chewed through another line, she said she's never met a more resourceful dog, what a nice way to say pain in the ass! She said he jumps in the air to catch it… He's doing really well today and is stable of the dextrose, keeping him on fluids and he'll get the liver retest at the 72 hour mark which is 6pm and if it's not worse he will come home at 8...
He will be on a liver enzyme and 10mg of prilosec a day along with following up with a liver panel in a week to check liver values and another in two weeks. Can anyone tell me what the prilosecs for? I'll ask when I pick him up but I was just curious?