Sky

[snowbunny]

I’m glad to hear she seems to have perked up. It must be so draining to experience the rollercoaster

 

[Atemas]

It must be so draining to experience the rollercoaster

Yes that’s the worst thing - it feels like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I experience the same with my very elderly mum too. Sky is such a conundrum - since we have been camping she has started running - yes running - when she comes back into the house from the garden - it’s such a weird peg legged run but joyous nonetheless. She follows both F and I around the house and she interacts so much with Red who is so gentle with her. It’s as if she is desperate to be the dog she was

 

[Cath]

I am so sorry for all the worry you are having with your Mum and Sky

 

[Lab_adore]

It breaks my heart so I can only imagine what it does to you @Atemas

 

[Bruer]

 

[Shaz82]

Just catching up here, I hope Sky is better today, I suppose there are good days and bad days with all of us and our dogs too. It is so upsetting though when we can't interpret their behaviour and we feel so lost because we don't understand, if only they could talk. Hugs to Sky and good luck at the vets

 

[Atemas]

Ok so I took Sky to the vets this afternoon. On the 3 mile journey, she got so agitated. She was trembling/shaking, panting, breaking wind, drooling. We got there and she was still panting when we went into see the vet 10 minutes later. She asked if Sky was always like this. I said this was increasing and becoming the norm when travelling somewhere in the car - although when we were on holiday earlier this month she was fine in the back with Red. Anyway to cut a long story short, the vet thinks she has CCDS - Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or doggy dementia. We have suspected this for a while but it has still come as a blow hearing a vet say it. Obviously without bloods tests and an MRI which we are not prepared to do, we don’t know for certain. I mentioned the fact that I pretty much decide when Sky needs to go to the toilet and whilst there are times she is telling me (sometimes too late), there have been accidents in the house - the terrible diarrhoea Saturday night and even this morning, she was telling me she needed outside as she had started to poo on the kitchen floor.

The vet manipulated her front leg joints and said there was resistance and we decided now was the time to ‘up’ her Tramadol to 3 a day. She has put on 3 kg (not surprised) since a year ago. The vet says I need to consider her food and maybe have a special diet for her.

I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment (I had spent the morning with my elderly mum at the hospital) and have to process all the information given from that. Sky is still panting and we have been home over an hour.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Oh @Atemas I'm so sorry. This must be so tough for you.
Don't know what to say And hoping Sky gets back to her baseline xx

 

[kateincornwall]

Poor old girl , it is always a shock when the Vet confirms our thoughts , hoping that the increase in her pain medication can give her some relief , so sorry xxxx

 

[Shaz82]

I hope the Tramadol helps Sky, poor girl, and that your mum is ok, it's a lot to cope with all in one day. x

 

[M.F.]

Oh, I’m so sorry. All you want is for your beloved dog to be happy and comfortable.

Regarding food, if you’re concerned about weight gain due to less exercise, and if you think she won’t be pleased with less quantity of food, how about replacing some of her usual food with no/low-calorie veg like steamed cabbage or green beans? The downside is she’ll need to poo more often. But possibly the bulk will make good poos.

And I’m so sorry about your mom. You have a lot on your plate.

 

[Selina27]

Oh Alison, no wonder you are feeling overwhelmed, with everything going on. It's tough when everything comes at once like this. I suppose with Sky it's all about keeping her comfortable and happy. Which I'm sure is your aim

 

[Cath]

You have a lot on your plate at the moment. So sorry about Sky

I hope you can sort something out for your Mother too Be kind to yourself.

 

[Granca]

So sorry you’re having to cope with so much, Alison. More hugs from here too.

 

[FayRose]

Just catching up with this @Atemas .... spent too much time feeling sorry for myself

I'm so sorry, this is a very difficult time for you. We had BJ go through this, messing in his bed when he didn't really know which way was up, it is a nightmare time. It is so hard to watch the panting and wonder why.
Obviously, just having been told that sad diagnosis, you need time to come to terms and think it through.

Thinking of you xx

 

[Atemas]

spent too much time feeling sorry for myself

Please don’t apologise - you need to focus on yourself.

just having been told that sad diagnosis, you need time to come to terms and think it through

That’s it exactly. I am more upset that I thought possible which is silly but tomorrow is another day and I’ll be thinking logically again

 

[HAH]

Wheat a heavy day @Atemas, I'm so sorry you have all of this to bear - and poor Sky, this must be incredibly difficult for all of you. I know you know but for now be as gentle with yourself as possible - with your mum and Sky you must be feeling wrung out but as you say, once it's all a bit more processed it might feel different

 

[Selina27]

which is silly

No , not at all xx

 

[Anne123]

It was a rather heavy and emotional day for you!!

I hope sky will perk up and that she soon will be her self again!

 

[Loraseal]

Definitely a hell of a full on emotional day and weekend for you @Atemas.
Just give yourself time to process it.