The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
They looked the same age, my Mother was very attractive and never looked her age, R looked older than he was, so it worked vey well until she was 86, then the age difference noticed as she began to get frail. I think that was because he spoiled her too much, I am sure she would have remained fitter longer without the spoiling!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I was thinking that was the case as you certainly look 30 years younger than you are - good genes! She may have stayed fitter without the spoiling, but how wonderful to be spoiled for so many years by someone who loved you.
On a side note, my father has complained to me since Donna got sick that when they went out (pre-covid) people would refer to Donna as "his mother". As in a restaurant when the host says, "Where would you and your mother like to sit?". Donna is actually one year younger than my dad. I don't really believe this as it makes no sense (they look similar in age even if now Donna looks less healthy), but I think it's funny when he brings it up. Who says men aren't vain?
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
When we first lived in Looe , Paul used to take our terrier Toby for a walk to the harbour to chat to the fishermen . One morning , I took Toby and one of the men called out Hello Toby . I remarked that they knew our little terrier then , to which he replied Oh yes, we see him most days when your Dad brings him for his walk 
I did not enlighten them xx
I did not enlighten them xx
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
Oh yeh
When we were first married and we were in bed on a Saturday morning. There was a knock at the front door, I went downstairs. It was the census returns man. He said is your Dad in Love, yes I said, I will go and get him. I went upstairs and got into bed and said, there a man at the door for you
Only ten years between us.
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Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Argh, I'm so frustrated. I got a WhatsApps last night from Carbon's vet:
Dear Mrs. Horch, dear Carbon, the blood has recovered very good. But I would like to give him Erythropoetin as an injection. Therefore he needs a prescription and I would ask You to come to us, get the prescription and then go to the chemistry, because it is a human medicine. The urine looks great, without any critals! So I would like to start with comparison first for about 4 weeks, it is not so aggressive like Milteforan. And we should start the injections with Erythropoetin, as soon as You get the medicine from the chemistry. I am very content with Carbons blood!!! But we can talk personally, when You come around and get the prescription. Have a nice evening and I apologize for answering so late
... Best wishes, Dr. Patzak
OK, absolutely so kind of her to contact me and to write in English, though I think I would have understood better in German.
But still, very kind.
HOWEVER...
NOW we start this injection for anaemia after four weeks of waiting? And I dearly hope that I can inject him myself, because the two hour round trip back and forth to the vet is only something I can do once this week as I'm (exceptionally) working full time.
What really irks me is stepping back from the Milteforan and replacing it with...I can't tell what from her message. Another 4 weeks on this gentler medicine with no name means no chance for Milteforan because I will no longer be in Regensburg. I could extend my stay in the surrounding area yet another month (already extended for September so we could do the Milteforan), but I know Dr. Patzak: at the end of September she will say, "Let's just wait another four weeks to see how he is." I did this with the maybe/maybe not false-positive tests for Leish for 10 MONTHS.
I know she cares about all her patients including Carbon very much and she is a hard-working amazing person. But I'm so tired of the waiting and doing nothing except for adding huge amounts to my bills by the constant blood and urine testing (going into the lab's pocket,by the way, not Dr. Patzak's).
Yes, selfishly I am already sick to death of feeling trapped in this apartment which means I am loathe to stay another three months. I love Regensburg and my apartment is just fine normally, but right now I want some windows, fresh air, a functional sofa, a separate bedroom with bloody door on it and a location without a constant stream of people to greet me as soon as I open the front door.
First world problems, I know. And to be fair, once the summer holidays are over and it starts cooling off, a lot of my apartment angst will fade. Right now I'm just hot and grumpy!
About Dr Patzak, I didn't even answer her yet. She is absolutely the sweetest woman and I've had a lot of faith in her. I feel a little evil even in thinking that I just don't trust her treatments plans 100% anymore.
Oh well, rant over for now. I'll go back to work and let the "how do I reply?" question percolate in the background.
Dear Mrs. Horch, dear Carbon, the blood has recovered very good. But I would like to give him Erythropoetin as an injection. Therefore he needs a prescription and I would ask You to come to us, get the prescription and then go to the chemistry, because it is a human medicine. The urine looks great, without any critals! So I would like to start with comparison first for about 4 weeks, it is not so aggressive like Milteforan. And we should start the injections with Erythropoetin, as soon as You get the medicine from the chemistry. I am very content with Carbons blood!!! But we can talk personally, when You come around and get the prescription. Have a nice evening and I apologize for answering so late
... Best wishes, Dr. PatzakOK, absolutely so kind of her to contact me and to write in English, though I think I would have understood better in German.
But still, very kind. HOWEVER...
NOW we start this injection for anaemia after four weeks of waiting? And I dearly hope that I can inject him myself, because the two hour round trip back and forth to the vet is only something I can do once this week as I'm (exceptionally) working full time.
What really irks me is stepping back from the Milteforan and replacing it with...I can't tell what from her message. Another 4 weeks on this gentler medicine with no name means no chance for Milteforan because I will no longer be in Regensburg. I could extend my stay in the surrounding area yet another month (already extended for September so we could do the Milteforan), but I know Dr. Patzak: at the end of September she will say, "Let's just wait another four weeks to see how he is." I did this with the maybe/maybe not false-positive tests for Leish for 10 MONTHS.
I know she cares about all her patients including Carbon very much and she is a hard-working amazing person. But I'm so tired of the waiting and doing nothing except for adding huge amounts to my bills by the constant blood and urine testing (going into the lab's pocket,by the way, not Dr. Patzak's).
Yes, selfishly I am already sick to death of feeling trapped in this apartment which means I am loathe to stay another three months. I love Regensburg and my apartment is just fine normally, but right now I want some windows, fresh air, a functional sofa, a separate bedroom with bloody door on it and a location without a constant stream of people to greet me as soon as I open the front door.
First world problems, I know. And to be fair, once the summer holidays are over and it starts cooling off, a lot of my apartment angst will fade. Right now I'm just hot and grumpy!
About Dr Patzak, I didn't even answer her yet. She is absolutely the sweetest woman and I've had a lot of faith in her. I feel a little evil even in thinking that I just don't trust her treatments plans 100% anymore.
Oh well, rant over for now. I'll go back to work and let the "how do I reply?" question percolate in the background.
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
First @Emily_Babbelhund 
I would just tell her your worries about the treament and say you do not/ can't afford to keep waiting another
4 weeks. Just be honest with her. Honesty the best policy xx
I would just tell her your worries about the treament and say you do not/ can't afford to keep waiting another4 weeks. Just be honest with her. Honesty the best policy xx
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
So is Carbòn's kidney function poor?
In humans we use EP (erythropoetien) in folk with non iron deficient chronic anaemia who have "chronic renal failure" ie reduced renal function.
I can't recall you mentioning it but I may have missed it or is it just hand in hand with Leish?
In humans we use EP (erythropoetien) in folk with non iron deficient chronic anaemia who have "chronic renal failure" ie reduced renal function.
I can't recall you mentioning it but I may have missed it or is it just hand in hand with Leish?
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Mmm... no, at least on his blood panels, his kidney numbers have been within normal range for over a year. Prior to that, they were abnormal.
Now I'm really confused, but I appreciate you explaining more about the drug. I looked it up on Wiki and after reading simply assumed she wanted it to treat the anaemia.
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
I agree with @Cath. Tell Dr Patzak you will need to speak to her as you are really not sure about the treatment she is suggesting.
- Location
- East Sussex
This is so difficult for you Emily. It must be sohard for you to know what the best course of action is. No advice - just sympathy. x
- Location
- South Wales
Oh, Emily, I'm just catching up on this thread. I'm so sorry for your traumas. Things that are OK for a few weeks are just NOT OK for months on end, and I'm not surprised you are fraying. I wish I could do something to make it better, but all I can do is send virtual hugs and a vast, vast supply of Pongo hair and drool to you both. Hang in there and always remember to be kind to yourself....
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I used to inject Mike with this drug, so I am sure you would be allowed to do so with Carbon. However, I am so sorry it is taking for ever with Dr Patzak, she does seem a kind woman and it is in the realms of possibility that she would be willing to refer you to a specialist vet in an area you might want to move to?
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
That is indeed medicinal!
She IS the specialist vet in the area for Leish. The one and only, or I would have quietly gone off and gotten a second opinion way, way before now. Not because she isn't good, but just to sort things out in my mind. I always feel better with several experts telling me the same thing. It was one of the big reasons that I was planning on dragging Carbon around to vets in Spain this spring before COVID put the kibosh on travel.
However it's worth a try to gently and tactfully ask if there may be someone else we can see to get another opinion. Even if it was in Munich or Nuremburg I'd be happy to drive.
- Location
- Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
To me it sounds like she is doing the German approach.....Der Deutsche Gründlichkeit..... I think that If you were in another country, Spain for instance you have a totally different approach to his Leish. I can’t give you any advise other then try to get in touch with a vet who does know about Leish by telephone. These days something that would be done easily for the Covid. Have is blood results with you, and his op wright up from the other vet. If you don’t have this, just ask them. You paid for his op, so you are entitled to have the report of what they have done. So try to contact another Leish specialist in Germany, where ever he is living by phone, telling them that you are not able to come but want urgent advise.....
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I was thinking more if you wanted to go out into the country or indeed another country xThat is indeed medicinal!
She IS the specialist vet in the area for Leish. The one and only, or I would have quietly gone off and gotten a second opinion way, way before now. Not because she isn't good, but just to sort things out in my mind. I always feel better with several experts telling me the same thing. It was one of the big reasons that I was planning on dragging Carbon around to vets in Spain this spring before COVID put the kibosh on travel.
However it's worth a try to gently and tactfully ask if there may be someone else we can see to get another opinion. Even if it was in Munich or Nuremburg I'd be happy to drive.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Doing either - except for remotely via video appointment which may be possible - isn't really an option at the moment. Also if we go down the road of more aggressive treatment (for example the Milteforan) we need to be driving distance to his treating vet for at least a month.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I'm feeling badly about being such a whinger about my apartment and current living situation. Compared to a lot of the world, I'm sitting pretty and I do realise that logically. Emotionally I'm feeling like a big bawling baby.
I'm in week three or four or two or whatever of my effort to get off my psych drugs. I've not taken a dose in a week or 10 days or 5 days (not good at keeping track of such things) and very proud of myself for that. However unlike the first few days of this project where I was voluntarily walking more, I now have zero energy yet can't sleep at night, am as cantankerous as anything and feel like live electrodes are zapping my grey matter. It's not TERRIBLE - if it was I could just start taking my meds again - but it's definitely colouring my view of my surroundings.
So...it's actually a decent little place that has been home in Regensburg for six years now. If I didn't like it, I would have somehow found something else long before now. After a luxurious five months in Cornwall, I may have gotten too big for my britches in my rather more 'economically-sized' German place, but it doesn't deserve all my bawling about it.
And as it's rented to someone else for October/November, Carbon and I will be getting a change relatively soon regardless.
We'll just hold on and try not to smother each other in our sleep in the meanwhile?
Oh, sidenote: remember my landlady who doesn't believe in Coronavirus and claimed she didn't own a mask. Well, la dee da, but whom did Carbon and I meet coming out of a shop just up the street WEARING A MASK. Because of course she has one because you HAVE to wear one here in shops or you'd be summarily set upon by tisking Bavarian grannies scolding you into a puddle of societal shame.
So sweetheart, meine Schazimausi, good luck trying to come in my door anymore with that lame excuse of "I'm such a rebel that I don't own a mask."
Drug withdrawl + corona + summer heat = nasty grumpy ragey Emily demon.
I'm in week three or four or two or whatever of my effort to get off my psych drugs. I've not taken a dose in a week or 10 days or 5 days (not good at keeping track of such things) and very proud of myself for that. However unlike the first few days of this project where I was voluntarily walking more, I now have zero energy yet can't sleep at night, am as cantankerous as anything and feel like live electrodes are zapping my grey matter. It's not TERRIBLE - if it was I could just start taking my meds again - but it's definitely colouring my view of my surroundings.
So...it's actually a decent little place that has been home in Regensburg for six years now. If I didn't like it, I would have somehow found something else long before now. After a luxurious five months in Cornwall, I may have gotten too big for my britches in my rather more 'economically-sized' German place, but it doesn't deserve all my bawling about it.
And as it's rented to someone else for October/November, Carbon and I will be getting a change relatively soon regardless.
We'll just hold on and try not to smother each other in our sleep in the meanwhile?
Oh, sidenote: remember my landlady who doesn't believe in Coronavirus and claimed she didn't own a mask. Well, la dee da, but whom did Carbon and I meet coming out of a shop just up the street WEARING A MASK. Because of course she has one because you HAVE to wear one here in shops or you'd be summarily set upon by tisking Bavarian grannies scolding you into a puddle of societal shame.
So sweetheart, meine Schazimausi, good luck trying to come in my door anymore with that lame excuse of "I'm such a rebel that I don't own a mask."
Drug withdrawl + corona + summer heat = nasty grumpy ragey Emily demon.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Understandable.
In my wisdom I wondered why you chose now to come of the meds (I'm not looking/expecting for an answer or justification btw) given that things are so hard with Carbon right now.
But remember we are here and expect you to report regularly to make sure you are still hanging on in there.
Beanwood
Administrator
I think Leish is complex, but aneamia is a clinical manifestation of the disease.
There are graded stages of clinical presentation. To me based on clinical symptoms and biochemistry, Carbon has moderate general symptoms, but only one and nothing else, coupled with some abnormalities in biochemistry. His biochemistry is not bad, he is really holding his own in what I believe is a key area, his kidney and liver function which has been for the last 18 months fairly stable and at the lower end of normal? is this correct?
But.... aneamia although mild/ moderate can be really debilitating, and for you I can see this being particularly distressing, on top of everything else. Under ideal circumstances, and your excellent care, he just about manages, but more recently he has not, the operation has uncovered the fact that Carbon has been struggling a little in this area.
Breaking this down a bit.
The EPO would not be my first choice, especially as the Leish might be having some effect on white blood cell count because the parasite affects red blood cell production in the bone marrow ... but this is where EPO works it's magic, however it is not generally a good idea to pump bone marrow for production of red blood cells if the reason for the aneamia sits here, and this is part of the Leish disease profile. Unless of course his profile is very, very good. Why EPO now if Carbon has been a aneamic for a while now? I don't know, but it won't do any harm, me personally, I would be interested to understand why EPO and not IV iron.
BUT .... if there are only small changes in the biochemistry, and no other clinical symptoms then I can see where your vet is going with this, meaning give Carbon a bit of EPO, it should work it's magic, BUT this will take a month, maybe less as it is just a boost, and he is producing viable red blood cells (remember the retic test? ). Carbon just needs a bit more right now. Give it a bit of time for Carbon to feel stronger, and he will cope better physically and mentally with a more assertive treatment protocol for his Leish. Now this is really good!
I really would stamp your feet for the Leish treatment, whatever it takes right now.
Phew!!
Now don't get me started on your meds!
Jeez woman!!!