There is something wrong with Blomma

[FinnishLapphund]

glad you have a diagnosis for blomma and it could be controlled once the medication level is right. hope you are keeping those containers separate from your human meal ones

you are doing the same as i would with berta, just spoil her loads for the time she has left..... fingers crossed for her..

In case anyone actually wonders about it, to not waste containers unnecessary, after being photographed, they're emptied, rinsed with water, put to dry on the edge of my bathtub, and reused next time. I plan to continue using them to keep an eye on Blomma's pee amounts, and when they're not fit for service any more, I'll take down a "new" one from my pile.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I'm so sorry to read about Berta, FL. I was just catching up and enjoying your Laphund pee study post, but then such sad news. x I think you are making a wise and brave decision to just let her be and spoil her for now. I think with the level of interest and dedication you have you'll have Blomma's medication sorted soon enough.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

...

Loving the per lappie urine measuring. Handy way to check what's normal!
It may take some tinkering to get a dose right for your girl.
D. inspidus is quite rare! Well caught. I'd have been more suspicious for addisons and cushings as well!

Hope your girl continues to improve

When I was reading the medicine leaflet it said to watch out for less than normal urine amounts.

Even though I've collected several pee samples from my different bitches through the years, after 30 years of dog owning, I had absolutely no idea what their normal pee amount is!

But as you say, handily enough, I have 2 more to use as comparison. Now, after having checked their pee amounts for only few days, I feel that I have a much better idea about both approximately how much more urine the Diabetes Insipidus is making Blomma produce, and what a normal variation of pee amounts my other 2 have.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Firstly I want to mention that within one or two days you can spoil a cat so that she no longer bothers eating her old dry food, Hills k/d with Chicken flavour.
Dry food k/d with Tuna flavour is now the only acceptable dry food. K/d cans with stew, k/d pouches with beef or salmon flavour is also acceptable, although sometimes she will only lick off all the yummy gooey stuff.

Secondly, in case anyone is interested, I have now taken a new clean container, filled it with water to the different corresponding levels on my photos enlarged to real size, then poured the water into a measuring cup, and here is the result of my unscientific study of pee amounts.

If you have a bitch between around 14 to 16 kg:

A small pee = it has been less than or around 2 hours since their previous pee = might only be around 0,3 dl.

A medium pee = it has usually been over 2 hours to a few hours since their previous pee = usually around 0,9 to a little over 1 dl, sometimes up to 1,5 dl.

A large pee = it has been a night/around 7 hours or more since their last pee = might be up to between 1,5 to 2 dl.


However, if you have a bitch, less than 17 kg, with Diabetes Insipidus (same timescale as above):

A small pee = around 0,9 dl.

A medium pee = 1,5 to around 2,5 dl.

A large pee = 2,5 dl or more.

How we've all been able to live without this knowledge I do not know. You can thank me later.

 

[alibali]

Only just caught up with this FL, so sorry to hear about Berta, it's wretched at anytime but particularly when following on from a stressful time with Blomma. I hope you have enough time to say a proper goodbye with lots and lots of treats and cuddles.

Good work catching the 'overdose' of medication so quickly and taking Blomma off it before any lasting damage done. It sounds hopeful that given her urine output has shot up again that some careful tinkering with the medication might provide the balance needed. If she only needs say 1/4 pill a day then that will really cut the costs too.

I find that providing you work collaboratively with them vets really appreciate an educated switched on and involved owner. It's only if you are ignorant and demanding and don't listen to their advice (at least in the first instance, even vets sometimes get it wrong) that they would be unhappy at your involvement. From this thread I suspect your vets love you!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

...

I find that providing you work collaboratively with them vets really appreciate an educated switched on and involved owner. It's only if you are ignorant and demanding and don't listen to their advice (at least in the first instance, even vets sometimes get it wrong) that they would be unhappy at your involvement. From this thread I suspect your vets love you!

I've been with the same veterinarian clinic since they opened 1991. I don't know if they love me, but both veterinarians, and vet nurses have more than onced laughed at me, and my "antics"!

But they've done it in a nice way. And they also say nice things sometimes, like for example awhile ago a nurse said something like "Think that it can be so much calmer to be in this room with your 3 dogs, than it is to be in some rooms with only 1 dog." I'm still happy over that.

 

[alibali]

I've been with the same veterinarian clinic since they opened 1991. I don't know if they love me, but both veterinarians, and vet nurses have more than onced laughed at me, and my "antics"!

But they've done it in a nice way. And they also say nice things sometimes, like for example awhile ago a nurse said something like "Think that it can be so much calmer to be in this room with your 3 dogs, than it is to be in some rooms with only 1 dog." I'm still happy over that.

It really is the biggest compliment when any professional handling your animals comments on how well behaved they are ?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Biggest compliment I ever had was from my vet's wife. I was collecting an injection for my mare to stop her holding to an accidental service. She told me that they had very few clients they would trust with such an injection. I felt really honoured.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Biggest compliment I ever had was from my vet's wife. I was collecting an injection for my mare to stop her holding to an accidental service. She told me that they had very few clients they would trust with such an injection. I felt really honoured.

I felt a bit proud on your behalf only reading it.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Well, the veterinarian called today. She had discussed Blomma with the other veterinarians, and they didn't like that she so quickly showed symptoms on overdosing, so they're wondering if there perhaps is something else, or not only Diabetes Insipidus, after all.

She wanted Blomma to have both the thyroid gland test we previously discussed, but also x-rays to look for tumours in the abdomen, lungs etc, before trying to put her back on the medication, and asked what I thought about that.
I said that if it needs doing, I want to do it as soon as possible. The earliest time she had was on Friday.

I know a bit about Hypothyroidism, so I'm not worried about the thyroid gland test. And I'm trying to not worry about the x-rays looking for tumours, but I'm getting some stomach cramps as I write this, because deep down I can't help being a bit worried that she, too, have cancer.

But it is the way it is, worrying about it won't change anything, think like my pets, live here and now...
So the rollercoaster continues, unless something happens with Berta the cat, it seems next stop is on Friday with Blomma.
However, if I haven't said it before on this thread I'm saying it now, I would never exchange the joy, and love, they bring to my daily life, just so I could avoid going through this pain and worry. They're a big part to why I get out of bed each morning.

 

[alibali]

Hugs

 

[{97702}]

Oh Y, you express so clearly how I feel about my dogs too....I worry about them so much, but like you I could never be without them. Thinking of you, and Blomma, and Berta.... you are truly the best owner xxx

 

[fankino04]

So sorry to read this update, fingers crossed for a positive outcome on Friday x

 

[PapaverFollis]

Worrying about them when they are ill is the worst thing, having them at all is a much better best thing than the worst thing is bad. But it's still so hard when they're ill. X

 

[Bellasophia]

You sound such a good person ,FL,you are doing everything you can for your animal family.I’m another one who thinks of them as family members because they are. Hope the retesting turns out to be a better option.

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

Huge hugs FL, everything crossed for good news tomorrow ?

 

[TPO]

Thinking of you both and hope it goes as well as it can tomorrow

 

[Rumtytum]

Thinking of you FL

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Huge hugs FL, everything crossed for good news tomorrow ?

Thinking of you both and hope it goes as well as it can tomorrow

Thinking of you FL

Thank you so much. To be on the safe side, I'm doing a new water deprivation for several hours before taking the urine sample thing, just in case they also want to re-check the Diabetes Insipidus tomorrow.

She had a great time out on our daily long walk today. My bitches doesn't often get to play with other dogs these days, but today they where allowed to run loose, and play with a young Lurcher + another Lapphund (1,5 years old) that we happened to meet.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Keeping everything crossed for today x

 

[{97702}]

Good luck today FL, sending all possible positive thoughts your way xx

 

[alibali]

Fingers crossed for good results from today x

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Back from the veterinarian. Blomma's thyroid gland both feels normal, and the test they did is normal. They x-rayed her chest, belly + back, and didn't find anything wrong there, no tumours, and no skeletal problems that makes her drink because she's in pain.
By the way, she got praised for lying so still, and being so easy to x-ray by the nurse. However through no fault from Blomma, some pictures still needed to be taken more than once, because the nurse had some problems with judging body straightness beneath fur fluff.
(The nurse also said something about intestines being full of food, which Blomma denies adamantly, she had had no breakfast at all, and was completely empty, according to herself.)

I had a urine sample with me, but it became 11 hours water deprivation this time, not 12 hours like the first time, because she really needed out to pee this morning. Once she had done that, I put down the water bowl. The veterinarian said that 1 hour less didn't make much difference.

Today they only checked how diluted her urine was, and it had a dilution value of 1,007. The veterinarian said that a normal dilution value for a healthy dog's urine is around 1,025/1,03something.
Also after the 12 hours deprivation test we did on Wednesday last week, did she have a dilution value of 1,007.

Since they can't find anything else, and since her urine is as diluted as before, we are going to try the Diabetes Insipidus medicine again. But this time only 1/4 of a pill, instead of 3/4 (and the veterinarian said that the 3/4 is actually supposed to be a low starting dose).
3 times a day for the first week, and if that goes well, come in with a new pee sample, and try lowering it to 2 times per day after that.
But she really needs to be able to have the medication at least 2 times per day, because only 1 time per day leads to too big fluctuations back and forth apparently.

So basically, I'm back to checking for signs of overdosing the medication again, and since I know now how much the normal pee amount for a Lapphund is, that includes checking so her pee amount doesn't go below normal.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Sounds good that she's checked out clear for other things. Hopefully you can get the dosage of the medicine right now, with the aid of the Laphund Pee Study too!

 

[Roxylola]

I think you should consider applying for a grant - your lapphund pee study is collating important and valuable data!
Glad that seems mostly positive for you

 

[Rumtytum]

Sounds pretty positive! Bless little Blomma, she has such a sweet nature as well as being very, very pretty ?.Good luck with your pee checking data ?

 

[splashgirl45]

good news that they found nothing awful, good luck with the pee...

 

[palo1]

Blomma is very lucky to have you. I suspect that the Finnish Lapphund community will probably also owe you a debt of gratitude for studying Lapphund pee too. That is brilliant that you can monitor her so closely and hopefully she will respond to a lower dose of meds well. It is interesting to learn about pee dilution rates and production rates - thank you for sharing and hope you can worry a bit less about your lovely girl now.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Trying to not get too excited, Blomma had one dose around 15 o'clock, and a second around 21 o'clock yesterday, and her morning pee was closer to normal levels. She got a third dose after 9 o'clock this morning, and look at their second pee of the day (Jonna's, Beata's, and Blomma's):

Is that not almost the same amount as Jonna, and only a little more than Beata? Either way, it is clearly not a whole 1 dl more, as it was last Saturday!

Oh, I'm trying hard to remind myself about how quickly she had overdosing symptoms the first time, at the same as I want to excitedly bounce around a bit.


P.s. I can now adjust their rumps a bit with a hand, to get the container in under them better, without that it interrupts their peeing.

P.p.s. There is something in the glances Jonna gives me/the container, which makes me suspect that she thinks all this pee collecting is the craziest idea I've had through our 15 years together.

 

[Rumtytum]

Trying to not get too excited, Blomma had one dose around 15 o'clock, and a second around 21 o'clock yesterday, and her morning pee was closer to normal levels. She got a third dose after 9 o'clock this morning, and look at their second pee of the day (Jonna's, Beata's, and Blomma's):

Is that not almost the same amount as Jonna, and only a little more than Beata? Either way, it is clearly not a whole 1 dl more, as it was last Saturday!

Oh, I'm trying hard to remind myself about how quickly she had overdosing symptoms the first time, at the same as I want to excitedly bounce around a bit.


P.s. I can now adjust their rumps a bit with a hand, to get the container in under them better, without that it interrupts their peeing.

P.p.s. There is something in the glances Jonna gives me/the container, which makes me suspect that she thinks all this pee collecting is the craziest idea I've had through our 15 years together.

Looking good! Sending positive vibes that you’ve stabilised the tablet intake and this will continue to be Blomma’s new normal ?
Must say your girls are saints. I don’t think I could continue to pee if my rump was adjusted by hand... ?