Sorry A Steroid Question

ibot

ibot

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Hi all

hope you all had a nice xmas. I am not sure if you all remember the story about my dog. he is a 13 1/2 year old jack russel cross.
In oct he was diagnosied with a primary lung tumer and given 6 months :mad::(

When he was diagnoised he was put on to one tablet of pred. twice a day. to be reduced after a week to one a day. he was grand but about a month ago the cough got worse again so he had to go back to two a day :mad:

yesterday he was not a well pup at all and was gasping for breath alot so rang the vet and she said to give him a pill straight away and then to increase his dose to two twice a day and keep her posted (along with her being on call this weekend :mad:)

now today he has been quiet and this evening been quite sleepy he is eating ok and although he is coughing nothing like yesterday.

so my question is this i know he won't be around for feb :( but is the tiredness due to the meds or is it something else?? sorry i don't think he is ready to go yet im hoping its just lots of pills for such a small dog.
 
I really think this is a question for your vets and whether he will pick up now or is it going to be the best he can be.

I hope he picks up for you and you get to keep him for a little bit longer but if this is not the case you may have to face that awful decision.

Good luck to you and your dog.
 
thank you so much i know it was not an easy question to put on here. This morning i tried to wake him and i thought he was dead it was horrible he just would not wake up :mad::mad:
ill see how he goes today and then have a chat with the hubby :(:(
 
Just seen this:( Horrible isn't it? I am no dog expert but we give people pred for asthma/lung inflamation and it is very effective. To the best of my knowlege it does not cause tiredness, the main side effects being, appetite stimulation, weight gain, mood swings including quite paranoid/manic problems in very high doses, increased urination and gastric problems. As you know my little JRT is on them and like yours has been hungry and sometimes a little clingy but I think the clingyness is due to illness rather than steroids. The fact that your little one has a lung problem might suggest that perhaps the tiredness is due to that rather than the steroids? May be the heart may under strain too - it certainly can happen with people.

I really hope you have some time left together and wish you all the best.
Thinking of you x
 
thank you so much for that. we had a really good day today after this morning i was not so sure, but we went to one of his fav places for a great walk and he was happily running around following me and tonight seems more of his old self fingers crossed.

do you think that some dogs wait for something until they pass on?? is that a silly question
 
That is so good to hear:) They keep surprising you don't they, one minute you think you have reached the end and the next, tail wagging and happy faces and fun all round:)

I think animals often "choose" a time. My old horse did I am sure - he was supposed to be PTS in October before the worst of the weather but in July he went completely lame out of the blue and had obviously had enough. Sad for us but right for him. Dogs, I think are very sensitive to us so they may well choose or wait until the time is right to show they have had enough.

I really hope your little one continues for a while. Big pats from my little one and me to yours:)
 
Im really pleased he has perked up for you, I think you have to take it one day at a time and make every day count.

My old brown Dobe told me when he was ready to go ,I rang and made that awful appointment 3 times and cancelled when he perked up again, I swear he heard me on the phone. The next time I made the appointment there was no going back and was the right time for him heartbreaking as it is.
 
we had a really good day today, i am taking it each day as it comes, we are looking after a guide dog at the moe till feb and i think that has helped him lots as she is young and totally mad. it has also got the kids giving him a brake as they are playing with her lots.
Just hope i can do the right thing when it counts im great at acting real hard about it but inside :(:(
misst how is your little one?
thank you dobiegirl
 
Oh hunny, it is hard and my heart is hurting for you. My feeling is the lung and heart stress ( it will be under stress) will cause the lethargy. My dad was on them prior to his passing...

You may want to have a word with your vet about him being at home, when the time comes. I have had to deal with it both ways and it is much much easier ( and more dignified and comforting for them - I feel, at home)

You know where I am if you need me. xxxx
 
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