meds update

Lexx spent 8 hours alone yesterday with no issues.. so proud of him.

Walking him was a challange, all he wants to do is drink snow the poor dog... phenobarb is making him so thirsty and hungry he's crazed. I have yet to see the "sleepy" dog they warned me about.

He tried to pee on the floor in front of me yesterday night again, then proceeded to pee in his crate when I was at the grocery store for an hour.

These stupid drugs... I hate them. How do you explain to your dog... its ok.. you're going to feel starved and terribly thirsty for the next 10 days, but its really ok, it will get better.

I'm still on the edge of breakdown every single day.

Now i'm reconsidering the MRI. I just feel that i NEED to know.

Phenobarb

Well

Lexx has officially been put on a mid range dose of Phenobarbitol along with his current "relatively high" dose of potassium bromide. I hate this. I never wanted him on this drug... its so bad for their livers, and dobers have such liver issues anyways.

Of course, I want him to be fine, I want him to stop seizing..but this drug actually makes them act "drugged" for the first while, increasing confusion, making him sleepy... increasing appetite and his need to drink. Why? Why does my beautiful dog have to go through this?

I spent most of saturday not speaking. I was just beyond my ability to cope. I've been having dreams lately about coming home and finding him dead. I haven't slept a full night in at least 6 months, I'm jumpy and irritable and exhausted.

I am wishing that I hadn't enrolled him in this obedience class. I haven't been able to find the energy to practice, its just too frustrating. His leg is getting worse too, he full out limps some days now and looks miserable. Lately, he hasn't even seemed to enjoy his walks as much, though it could be due to the cold.

He has no ability to deal with cold. After a 20 minute walk yesterday he was shaking, teeth chattering and miserable.

I feel like everything is just getting a whole lot worse. He's been such a lovey dog, cuddly and attentive to me lately. He follows me around like he knows that something is wrong.

He looks so guilty when he has an accident, like he knows what he's done has upset his mom, but that he just couldn't help it...

why?

seizure?

well that lasted a long time...


lexx possibly seizured tonight. I say possibly because I wasn't here.

He peed on the floor this afternoon before I got home from work, not a seizure, just pee... strange. Then he did it again after dinner RIGHGT in front of me. Frustrating, what is going on... damn dog.

Then I go to the barn after dinner, crate him

Come home: lexx is pacing. Reactive but pacing at a trot in disorientation. His crate is soaked in DROOL, doesn't smell like pee. No other signs of bowel loss. Interesting.

Maybe seizures are getting more minor? I will have to observe. This would fit into the 4 week pattern he is currently on.

Training class-week3

Well, I didn't leave in tears, so, its an improvement.

I spoke with my real trainer, who has recovered from a serious bout of stomach flu ( during which she explained, she spent the weekend at a dog show, laying down between two dog crates with her head in a bucket...) why i ask? but regardless...about Lexx's leg issues.

Instead of the off hand " he'll get it eventually" that I am so used to getting, she asked me to demonstrate, asked tonnes of questions and then suggested that some strengthening exercises might be in order. Aksing for sit stays on an incline, facing up and down, with me standing over him in order to keep his legs both tucked in nicely. She said that it would take weeks, but that if its a muscle memory thing, that should help.

Finally. Maybe not a solution, but at least its a possible step forward. now.... where to find an incline in January?

Focus was EXCELLENT this week, he has the moving focus down more than any other dog in the class. Worked on recalls with the sit front at the end, he's still ridiculously difficult to get to sit straight, but, atleast he SITS and comes STRAIGHT to me.

I saw a slight improvment on his fronts this week, again with the sitting straight issue, but I think he's starting to get that he has to be RIGHT in front of mom, or no cookie.

As much as he's still very frustrating to train, I see a big difference in him from my last group obedience class that was when he was around 8 months. much more focus, more drive to work ( maybe liking food helps?) he seems to ENJOY it.

Now, as long as I don't get frustrated... maybe I'll learn to enjoy it too.

remember, its all about FUN

Tonight is Lexx's third obedience class, I'm really hoping that my regular instructor is back, because I wasn't such a fan of her replacement last week.

Lexx has been coming along well with some commands while he seems confused or unable to perform others. While I have to admit that his sits HAVE gotten a wee bit better, he's still cheating the tuck. He knows not to move his front feet back, so instead of tucking his back feet in, he just stretchs back and sits, not moving his front but ending up in the exact opposite of a compact tuck.

I feel that this means that he's understanding the concept, but may not be able to tuck his hind end perfectly, we've been working hard at it.

His focus is great though his positioning is still sketchy at best, especially when at a heel position. I've been making a large effort on my part to ensure that the lure is always exactly on my hip and not to reach around my body at all in hopes to keep his hind end straighter and less at a 45 degree angle.

His COME command is fantastic, he will come straight from any angle, including when i have my back to him, my side to him or am standing in another room. His fronts of course are not as good as possible ( back to the sitting issue) but I actually caught him correcting himself yesterday once or twice which made me unbelievably happy.

Im really trying to remain positive about training, stopping when I get frustrated with an exercise and keeping practice sessions short. I still don't feel like he's improving as much as he should, but at least I feel like he's TRYING and thats a start.

Nothing we can do about physical issues, but trying is important.

I'm trying to remember, its ALL ABOUT FUN leanne... don't make it more serious than it has to be. I'm becoming more and more ok with the idea of Lexx just being my best friend and not a championed obedience dog. Every day it gets easier and the lower my expectations, the less disappointment I feel.

Hopefully tonight will go well and I'll be excited again, because last week, I never wanted to go back.

Snow mania

Well, after almost 10 days of little to no exercise ( neuter mend paired with -45 degree weather) Lexx and I finally got out for a good long on leash walk today.

I was a little bit petrified since I've been such a bad mom and we haven't done any on leash walking recently, but really, he was ridiculously well behaved considering.

His only moment of bad this morning was jumping on the neighbourhood shop owner, who LOVES Lexx and doesn't mind at all about being jumped on, but I for one think its very rude.

Lexx's jumping has always been horrible. He STILL jumps on everyone at almost 2 years of age. He jumps on me EVERY SINGLE TIME i get home and its really starting to bother me.

I've tried everything to rid him of the habit, ignoring him, correcting him, making him sit ( which he will do AFTER he jumps) for treats, kneeing him in the chest ( which i hate) turning around...etc...etc.. and nothing works.

Its really a pain.

Otherwise, he's doing well. No more bruising to speak of and the swelling has dropped very dramatically, so I'm pleased about that.

Neuter update

Lexx had his one week checkup last night from his neuter surgery.

The vets reported that he looks MUCH better though there is still a small amount of bruising and swelling in the area. He is officially allowed to exercise again, though she still says that perhaps I shouldn't let him just tear around off leash yet.

Yeah. Right. Its -37...like we're going outside? NO WAY.

I thank my lucky stars that Lexx is well mannered under his reduced exercise regime, its been a week since he had a real walk longer than 10 minutes and he's still being SUCH a good boy

He doesn't want to be outside anymore than I do.

Guess what?

My dog has a "messed up leg"

news flash!! nobody ever told me about that before!!

*sigh*

I took lexx to training tonight against my better judgement. Surprisingly good focus considering he hasn't done ANYTHING all week...

definitely no improvement on the sitting front... I called the trainer over and said..

"look.. i need help with this. He just doesn't seem to be able to do it".. I got the TYPICAL answer... don't worry, he'll get it eventually..

yesh..NO..NO HE WONT THERE IS NO EVENTUALLY HERE... Every trainer assumes that this is the FIRST time you've tried something.. well i've been trying to get lexx to tuck sit for over a year, through 4 different trainers, multiple methods and NOTHING works.

then the inevitable "yeah.. his leg does seem strange.. have you asked a vet about it?"

no.. no of course not. I just let my dog do whatever, he actually never sees a vet for anything...

Maybe its a cruiciate (sp?)??? I think thats a ligament? is that something a VET should know about? because nobody has ever mentioned it to ME... maybe it is.

maybe he's MORE broken.. hell.. who knew? my dog isn't perfect?

Everyone thinks that their dog is the best dog, the most perfect dog... me on the other hand.. I have a broken, "neurologically damaged" "not quite right" dog.

thanks.

I feel defeated. I dont' know why I keep trying to make something happen when deep inside I know that it never will.

Leanne. your dog will never compete in obedience. Repeat. Leanne. Your dog will NEVER compete in obedience. Leanne...

please no eating issues again..

Today is the second day in a row that I've had to remind Lexx to finish his breakfast. I really hope that it's because he hasn't done ANYTHING physical since thursday ( literally, not even a walk around the block...) and not because the lack of new testosterone is screwing up his want to eat.

I don't think I can survive through another bout of "lexx hates food". I think, that if that happens... i might just give up on all fronts.

Recovery

Lexx is in "recovery mode" from his neuter on Thursday.

After having to stay at the vet all day friday because he was still bleeding a small amount, and getting to hang out in the vets OFFICE because everyone knows that he hates to be crated at the vet, he seems to be doing quite well.

The amount of bruising and swelling is completely ridiculous, it definitely doesn't LOOK like he was neutered at all, and the poor boy is black and blue. He is being quite gracious about allowing mommy to ice his private areas though.

The two behavioural changes that i've noticed so far? He doesn't pee as much ( though this could be because it is uncomfortable to do so due to the swelling) and he doesn't want to EAT as much. NO hyper trying to kill mommy for his food bowl, he just waits patiently until i put it down. This morning I actually had to shake it around to get him to finish it because his meds were on there.

The eating change could also be a result of him having to "remain calm" in order to recover. Poor dog... three days of nothing but a short on leash walk down the block and on leash pee times... in between couch sleeping. He's starting to wonder why the hell he isn't getting to go on his runs... but he's being moderately well behaved considering.

I don't think we're going to make it to training tomorrow, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to it, but he's just SO swollen, there is no way i can justify pushing his bum down to get those perfect tuck sits. Maybe without testicles he'll be more apt to do them right eventually...

I think tomorrow I will attend class dog-free so that at least I know whats going on.

Dropped him off...

Today is the BIG day. The day of Lexxington's neuter surgery. I've been debating with myself for months over having this done, weighing the pros and cons, deciding if I have the money etc. I know that the money comment sounds bad, but the last time I had my mind made up about it, Lexx ended up having a UTI and I got a surprise 250$ vet bill. Then, the time after that.. a neurology appointment... so THIS time I decided that I'd just do it..regardless.

Dropped him off this morning. He was quite perturbed by the lack of puppy breakfast and even MORE upset about his KBr being shot straight down his throat. I have not seen a set of "upset ears" look quite so upset in some time!

Into the car, straight to the vet. Lexx loves the vet. Its a well known fact that vet people love dobermans and that EVERY time he goes there he gets cuddled, patted, cooed over and COOKIES. No cookies this time boy, sorry.

Weighed him in at 29.9kg... a grand total of 65lbs... sigh.. so much for getting a big dog.

I was informed that he would be put on liquid valium to prevent seizures during the procedure and that he would be given another dose afterwards. I'm going to have one STONED dobe when I go to pick him up tonight.

Normally they require that dogs stay over night after a neuter so that they can keep an eye on them and give them more pain drugs in the morning before they go home. My vet ( who i love) and I had already decided that Lexx would definitely be coming home, since dobermans are already known not to settle well in a kennel situation.

The thing that threw me about all of this was that the tech this morning claimed that he "should go home because i wouldn't want him seizuring here when he's alone"... i thought that they POINT of observation at the VET overnight was that the OBSERVED the animals...

anyways, i'm trying to concentrate on work, while i know that my little guy is stuffed in a kennel somewhere, un suspecting of what is to come next...poor baby.

hang in there lexx ball... or rather.. stop hanging...te he he

New Obedience class

So last night was Lexx's first time at our new obedience class. Things didn't start off so well, he was a complete and total brat in the car the ENTIRE way there, pacing, squeaking and generally being incredibly irritating. I did my best not to let it get to me, but I find such behaviours completely unacceptable..

I completely misjudged how long it would take to get there as the last time it was dark, pouring rain and I had NO idea where I was going, so we arrived 30 minutes early. This turned out to be a bit of a blessing since it allowed me time to walk Lexx around the property a bit and let him get some anxiety out.

When we entered the classroom, we were again the first people there and alone. This again was a blessing in disguise as Lexx would NOT shut up and was squeaking and trilling and again being generally annoying. I will give allowances since I'm sure that the room was full of yummy smells for an intact male, plus, he knew we were training because i broke out his training bag ( a bright red zipped bag that holds treats, extra leashes, an arsenal of collar types etc...

After about 5 minutes of focus exercises he relaxed and the rest of the class filed in. There was a beautiful black GSD, an english setter, a visla girl, two labs and a small dog that i don't know the breed of. Seven in total.

Several of the people had done puppy classes with this trainer so she knew them already, but she had Lexx and my names down in about 5 minutes, which I appreciate.

We started the class with Tuck sits... our nemesis...but i just pushed his bum in EVERY time. I guess consistency might help here, I'm hoping that by the end of the 8 weeks he'll get it... that is almost my ONE goal for this session. A difficult one.

The class progressed with a variety of focus and strengthening exercises, teaching walking with heads up, springing off hind legs to get them to use their hind ends ( WHAT?? lexx says... I have a HIND END????)

He did a really really good job. He accomplished every exercise with some sort of success and seemed to be really enjoying himself all the while. I spent the majority of the class with his leash on the ground and he never once went to go visiting, or ignored a command, so that in itself is a major accomplishment and improvement for Lexxball.

I left the class feeling upbeat and positive, much different from my previous "training school" experience at McCanns in Hamilton, where every class i left frustrated and defeated. Lexx's experience in obedience was helpful as his focus was supreme and some of the exercises he already knew, but it was great to go back to basics, hopefully it will help us to correct some of the things that Lexx has "learned wrong" over the last year.

Overall, I think this is going to be a good fit for Lexx and I. Its very competition based, the pace is quick and the exercises are varied. There is no long drilling speeches and no breed discrimination. The instructor pays attention to each dog and handler without being over bearing or intimidating. She also gives 3 page typed handouts explaining each exercise, our goals for it and what to watch for at the end of the class... useful for practice.

Im pleased and find myself looking forward to next week. I hope that it goes alright since Lexx is being neutered tomorrow and we won't have a lot of time to practice. I already gave him a 10 minute session this morning before work, and I will do more when I get home. Hopefully he'll be recovered enough by sunday that we can practice Sunday, monday and tuesday morning before the next class, I don't want to fall behind.

the Return of Lamb

Months ago I was overly tempted by all the adorable dog toys at the pet store and broke down to buy lexx a giant stuffed Lamb. Needless to say it was a huge hit and he pranced all over the house with it for at least 3 days straight.

About 3 days later however, he brought it to me, dropped it at my feet and gave me sad eyes. "mom! its BROKKKEENN". He had managed to rip two small holes in the side of it. Unlike your ordinary dog that would take this as an invitation to go into "destroy the stuffie" mode, lexx was sad that his toy was leaking fluff. I would have laughed except that he looked too sad.

Needless to say, lamb has been living on a high shelf in Kyle's office since that day, as i'm completely incompetent when it comes to anything sewing related, and I just couldn't bring myself to throw him out.

When my parents were visiting over xmas, my dad noticed lamb and offered to sew him up like new with some strong industrial thread.

WOW. return of LAMB!! Lexx was just as excited as the first time, It was like he remembered his once favourite toy and has again been prancing all over the house with his lamb-ball.

I noticed last night that he's already put another hole in poor lamb. I think he'll need another patch job as soon as possible. good thing Kyle can sew.

I wish i could post pictures of how happy lexx is with Lamb, I'll get on that!

the day after

things have returned to normal here again, lexx took a bit longer than normal to recover fully from his seizure this time, but by 5pm he was bouncing and jumping like a normal doberdog.

This week coming is a big week for Lexx and I. Tuesday is our first obedience class with our new trainer and thursday is lexx's appointment to be neutered.

hoping that by the end of the week, things will be looking more positive

seizure update- January 2nd 2009

well I told lexx that 2009 was going to be a seizure free year, but apparently he didn't listen.


seizure time: 6am
seizure length: 2 minutes
-less paddling than last time, more stiff shaking lasting around 1.5 minutes. loss of bowel control as per usual. no aggression afterwards
recovery: immediate rest around 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of pacing, had pee outside. Sleep around 35 minutes, shaking probably due to stress or cold of being outside prior. Pacing, poo outside. Drank around 1.5 cups of water and ate few mouthfuls of kibbles with meds. sleep again, still shaking lightly, seems happier on TOP of my feet.

complete lack of recognition for surroundings, running into walls etc on first bout of pacing, better on second, still disoriented but not running into things

kBr levels: 2.8 ml per day 1x daily. upped from 2.3 around 2 weeks ago ( possibly not back at proper level? or meds not being effective? call vet re: blood test for KBr and discussion regarding additional medication if required.)