It definitely felt like I aged 10 years in a few minutes this am. I must have looked like a complete crazy person. My neighbors don't know me because I moved up here mid-winter, and only recently has it warmed up enough for chance encounters with neighbors outside. I went running outside at 10:30 am with 2 leashes, 1 dog, a sample bag of cat food, wearing Christmas themed pj pants, a bright yellow Georgia Tech hoodie sweatshirt, no glasses so i can't see, randomly shouting "HAVE YOU SEEN A LITTLE DOG RUNNING AROUND!" at my neighbors.
Both of my girls are microchipped. I know there is a lot of debate about collars. I fear, especially with the martingale style, that mine will strangle themselves if they get caught on something when I'm not around. In this case, I'm glad Callie didn't have a collar on because the rungs on the porch are so close together, she may have caught the collar without realizing it & jumped & hung herself. I do worry that they will get out & somebody will find them but not know to check for a microchip, but even dogs with collars can lose them while running around loose. So I don't think there is a right or wrong answer for when to collar them. Mine don't usually dart out of doors, so I don't worry about it too often.
As for the porch; that will not be accessible to them if I can not supervise them from now on. Fortunately I will only be here for a couple more weeks, so I won't worry about adding chicken wire or anything. I'm already saving up for a basenji proof fence for the new house though. Callie is quite the escape artist when she has motivation (clearly!)
Was Diego stung/bit? (pic included)
-
I would see how the Benadryl works… you can give him up to 2 250mg caps every 4 to 6 hours....
If it continues to really bother him with itching, the a trip to the vet for something stronger would be in order...
I would guess it is a bite or allergies... which are terrible this year, at least in California
I'm sure this is a typo, but to clarify, I'm sure you mean 2- 25 mg caps every 4-6 hours…NOT 2- 250 mg caps of Benadryl.
-
I'm sure this is a typo, but to clarify, I'm sure you mean 2- 25 mg caps every 4-6 hours…NOT 2- 250 mg caps of Benadryl.
sorry about that, you are correct.. it was a typo… 25mg. Thanks for correcting that...
-
How's Diego doing today?
-
Hope he is better today.
-
Thanks everyone! I am away on a business trip, but my DP said it is looking a little better, but def. not worse. She talked to the vet this morning and they said keep him on the Benadryl for 24 more hours, and if its not improved to bring him in. So hopefully it will clear itself up. He's been acting normal and he hasnt been itching it so thats good!
-
Well, Michelle (DP) took Diego to the vet today since it wasn't improving. They gave her anti-inflammatory meds and cortizone. He will be on that for a week.
The vet said if its not better he will have to come in for testing. He mentioned that it might be lupus, (and thats what the testing will be for in a week) because of two areas on or around his nose that have lost pigmentation or something?? I'm not really sure since I wasnt there.. anyone know anything about lupus? Thanks
-
Well, Michelle (DP) took Diego to the vet today since it wasn't improving. They gave her anti-inflammatory meds and cortizone. He will be on that for a week.
The vet said if its not better he will have to come in for testing. He mentioned that it might be lupus, (and thats what the testing will be for in a week) because of two areas on or around his nose that have lost pigmentation or something?? I'm not really sure since I wasnt there.. anyone know anything about lupus? Thanks
Ok so I don't want to alarm you with what lupus is… because it is not the end of the world. I have ALOT of first hand experience with this. My mother has had it for almost 25 years now.
Lupus is an auto-immune disease. Rather like HIV but on the opposite spectrum. Where HIV atatches to T-cells and shuts them down so they cannot effectivly fight off infection and viruses, Lupus reprograms the T-cells so that they cannot tell the difference between a foreign visus and the host cells. It causes *(in humans) arthritus flair-ups as well as boughts of extream tired, it can cause heat sensitivity and hot flashes.
There is medication for humans to mitigate the secondary symptoms, but no cure for it as a desease. Like I said my mother has had it for almost 25 years, and she still does quite well, just ends up tired some days and needs to rest more quickly that she did before it.I will keep you and Diego in my thoughts and prayers.
-
So here is a link to information on Lupus in humans… There really is not much difference in the disease as it relates to Canines. I hope this helps a bit to answer some questions for you
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutintroduction.aspx?articleid=71
-
Thanks for the info LiveWWSD- I will check out the link and search for some canine lupus info.. I want to have a basic understanding but I don't want to get too involved (and nervous) until I know for sure.. hopefully the medication will clear up what we think is an allergic reaction, but if not we will get tested for lupus and go from there.. fingers crossed its an allergic reaction..
-
In dogs, there are two types of lupus. One is discoid, which usually affects the skin only and the other is systemic lupus erythematosus, which is more serious.
You might want to investigate both. Both are treatable.
Hope this helps. My best wishes for a speedy recovery for Diego!
