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UPDATE...We were referred to the NCSU Vet School and got a Thursday appointment. I explained to the soon-to-be-vet that Molly has the symptoms of someone who just had a stroke because her symtoms were basically that she couldn't swallow, coughing and drooling. She, like my vet, assured me that dogs do not have strokes.
She gave Molly a physical and then left to speak with another much-sooner-to-be-a-vet. He came in, gave Molly another physical. They were super nice, very friendly BUT...they explained the possibilities in VET TERMS. Lucky for me, I have been doing tons of research on the internet or else how would I know what they were talking about!
They then wanted me to leave Molly for tests. They wanted me to sign paperwork, saying that I'd allow them up to $4,000 for tests. I was glad hubby was not there. He would have had a heart attack!
I explained that I was not prepared to do that so they agreed to do a couple of tests (not to total more than $500) and then call me.
They called later that afternoon to tell me that the first test showed nerve damage. Because of the nerve damage, she was having trouble swallowing and her esopoghus was swollen. Similar to reflux! Cost of the test was $300.
I went to pick her up. They proceeded to tell me that they wanted to know WHY she had nerve damage. It could be a turmor (although none of the x rays showed anything) or it could be an infection. I didn't see the point in knowing WHY she had nerve damage but rather, what could we do to make her feel better (since they said it couldn't be corrected, much like a stroke).
They convinced me to do one more test, a sonogram, that they estimated would cost another $200, so I agreed.
My home inspection ran late so hubby picked her up today. Instead of the $200, the total was over $400. They ran a "few more tests". Results: none.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy to know what is wrong with Molly and what we can do to help her BUT it seems to me that they would have continued to run each and every test possible, had I agreed to allow them to spend the $4,000!
I'm glad we went to the vet school. I'm glad we found such nice people who really seemed to want to help BUT I did get the feeling that they were trying to "sell" me tests.
This is for all those folks that asked me to update them when I found out. I really appreciate all the kind words that you all sent to me and I hope that this may help someone else if their dog has any of the same symstoms.
Vicki
Now you need to know what CAUSED the problem in the first place and having used Natural Medicine for myself and for pets for the past few decades, I would look at the food and change upgrade the diet. If the vets haven't even suggested it you know you will only get an Allopathic Western Medicine point of view.
There is a really good book by a Dr Pitcairn DVM called Natural Health for Dogs and Cats and there are other similar ones at the bookstore. You just have to make sure the authors have an extensive background in natural medicine and don't end up recommending conventional...which should be used for ACUTE situations not chronic and degenerative....However, I would say severe breathing problems would fall under Acute. I have a Norwegian Forest Cat with a seizure disorder that was set off by ironically enough from conventional veterinary care...the chemicals and drugs were too much and caused nerve damage and seizures. I also found out he was allergic to grains. I took grains out of his diet and added fish oil; digestive enzymes; taurine and magnesium and he rarely shows signs of nervousness or twitchiness. (He used to have spells where he'd chase after and bite his tail and growl at it and obsessively lick his fur by the base of his tail.) My out of state Naturopath and I figured out what would probably work and he is doing really well and rarely shows the lightest indication of Hyperesthesia. He is 15 now.
If your puppy is still not 100% or at least 95% I can give you the contact info so you can contact them. You will DEFINITELY get a different opinion and whatever they suggest will be safe and healing...no nasty side effects from nasty drugs. In fact they have a radio show that anyone near their computer on Saturday mornings from 8AM to 10AM , EST, can listen to that streams live from Providence/Boston where they broadcast from. I rarely miss a show and I'm 1100 miles away now. The station is www.920whjj.com and it is called "Holistic Healthline". You might want to check it out. You can even call in with questions. They have been curing so0 called "incurable", by western medicine , diseases and conditions for about 30 years now. I was referred by a friend 20 years ago or so when the co called "best specialists" in Boston at the Lahey Clinic couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. They sure did and in two weeks I had regained so much energy.... They are wonderful--and not expensive considering you generally regain your full health in weeks or months (and don't have to take medications for the rest of your life they way you do in conventional medicine). Their human patients are so impressed they use them for their pets as well (since no veterinarian- even holistic veterinarians- that I have come across know even a fraction of what they know about naturalo medicine and healing serious diseases and conditons gently yet effectively.
Just thought I'd throw the idea out. If you want their phone number for a phone appt, let me know.
For all of you with ailing furbabies with chronic and degenerative diseases, don't forget to look first at the food you are giving them. It should be chemical/preservative free; and preferably organic or at least human quality. If you can't make your own from a balanced recipie, halopet.com has human grade petfood that I use when I run out of my home prepared. EArthfare and Whole Foods generally carries it or you can order it on-line.
Additonally for chronic and degenerative diseases or conditions, unless it is ACUTE, I use the vet for diagnostic purposes only and then contact my out of area Naturopath and am given natural medicines that are less expensive and have ZERO nasty side effects, unlike drugs have that the vet will give you, to give my cat.
In fact my Naturopaths have a radio show in the Providence -Boston area Sat AM from 8-10 EST that streams live. Anyone with a computer anywhere in the world can tune in. The show is called "Holistic Healthline" and the station is www.920whjj.com . They mostly treat humans but they do such a good job with humans that they also consult with them about their pets as well.
My cat by the way ironically developed a seizure disorder from conventional medicine that was too toxic. He had what seemed like Petit Mal seizures. I called my Naturopath and he recommended something that nipped ths seizures in the bud..for a while. Then silly me switched my cats food to something organic that had grains in it and it turned out he was allergic to grains. This also brought on episodes of vigorous fur licking at the base of the tail and even times when he'd chase his own tail and bite it and growl at it. I put him back on the old food which stopped the frequency of the Hyperesthsia attacks but it wasn't until doing another consultation that I figured out Taurine, Magnesium, fish oil and digestive enzymes was what he needed to calm him down completely.
Anyway, I highly recommend getting an education in Natural Medicine for your pets. You can start with Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Dr. Pitcairn DVM. There are other great books out there but this was one of the first ones. Getting a grasp of what is in that book, or using it as a reference, will save you untold hundreds if not
In natural medicine it is about detecting and helping the body eliminate the cause of the problem. Once that is done, the symptoms of the disease go away and the patient returns to full health. Conventional doctors just aren't trained to do this. Instead it is all about treating symptoms (not about restoring health).
It is just a suggestion that works if you care to look into it.
We have to take the canned food and make it into "meatballs" and feed her with her head up. Funny that I had asked the vet if we should change her food and they didn't think that was of any value.
However, I recently had an issue with my cat (seems that all my pets are getting older at the same time) and took her to a new vet that specializes in cats. She seemed to think my cat's problem was an allergic reaction and she recommended special food. After a few weeks, we noticed the cat's issues were gone.
So, I do believe that sometimes you need a better type of food for your pets. This is after all these years of feeding them Iams, Alpo, etc. My parents used to raise dogs and always fed them the least expensive foods they could buy and never seemed to have any problems!
So...I think I will try the new food, Emilybh. Thanks for the suggestion.
this is such an old thread. you will get better response if you start a new thread.
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