Help help please mvd am dry eye pancreatitis

[gaynor]

Hi I have Toby my beautiful boy we think 11 years old , he is ex breeding dog thrown away , he has dry eye drops but just before Christmas he had a lot of fluid on his chest , the vet suggested he have a ct scan . We were told he has something on his trachea and it was being pushed down . They gave him antibiotics for the trachea I was told it could not be operated on . The scan results mvd sm severe disc problems neck , the medication he is on is Pardale - v half 3 times a day , vetmedin 1.25 1 twice a day . Frusemide 20 mg half twice a day . Lypex once a day , ranitidine 150 mg half twice a day . Gabapentin 100 mg one tab three times a day . Cyclosporine drops night and morning , the vet is treating him for end of life care , can I ask to read the scan results ? My boy looks over weight but he has growling tums food and small amount of chappie twice a day , he is always so very hungry more than normal he could eat your fingers, he is so sad his little Tail still wags , I sleep down stairs with him he has a new pillow and comfy blanket I do not know what is next , am I being cruel keeping him going . My heart is broken I have another cav bella she is a rescue she has shoulder displacement . Please help , I was going to put my telephone number on but I don't know what to do .

[Kate H]

Hi Gaynor
What a lot you have been hit with all at once - I'm hardly surprised you are reeling! I should give the meds time to kick in, so that you can see whether they keep Toby comfortable, which is the main thing. In my experience (three out of the six Cavaliers I have owned have had MVD, and a slightly different three have had CM/SM), Cavaliers are very good at enjoying even a very limited amount of life, and if you can keep Toby free from pain he may well enjoy his twilight time.

Take care of yourself too, it's not easy nursing a very sick dog, it tends to take over your life, so a few treats and bits of time for yourself will help you to cope.

Were you given a copy of Toby's actual scan? If not, your vet should have one, so ask him to show it to you and explain exactly what it shows, and what he is trying to do about it with all these various medications. You need to be well-informed and working in partnership with your vet to do the best for Toby. Adding some raw or cooked veg to Toby's food might help him feel more full - courgette, broccoli, carrot, sweetcorn, french beans. My Ruby isn't keen on raw, but I just cook extra for her when cooking it for myself and add it to her regular meals. With pancreatitis it is very important to give them low fat food, so find a tinned food that is good quality and low fat and perhaps give Toby half and half that and the other food he is having.

I'm sure others on this forum will be able to give you good advice. If Toby is eating well and getting some enjoyment from life, I would go along with that. When he has had enough, he will tell you - there is an unmistakable look that says 'I can't go on, please help, mum', and then you can do the final act of love for him.

I've messaged my phone number to you if you need to talk.



Kate and Ruby

[Karlin]

What an awful lot to be managing; this can be so very hard. Kate has given you some very good advice (Kate, you might want to message your phone number to Gaynor rather than keep it on the board? Just for privacy).

I'd also ask your vet what they feel about Toby's quality of life. Sometimes it really helps to get someone more neutral to give an opinion. I have always really trusted my vets to give me some guidance when trying to gauge the answers to difficult questions like this. Some of things Toby has are generally quite well managed over time with medications -- your vet should be able to give you some sense of what time he might have. Sadly almost all of us end up managing heart disease in our cavaliers and 11 is a good age for a cavalier. They sometimes can go for quite a while on the heart meds and enjoy life each day.

If you feel he is struggling then it would be a good idea to talk to your vet honestly about where he is right now and whether he is likely to improve.

As Kate mentioned, I'd certainly ask them to go over his scan with you.

[Margaret C]

It is so hard when you need to manage an elderly dog with multiple health problems. Absolutely exhausting and the responsibility weighs so heavily.

I suppose that having done this a few times I have come to the conclusion that while their pain can be managed, so they are not depressed and in obvious discomfort and they still feel well enough to eat, then they still have some quality of life.
I have a little Japanese Chin that is at this stage at the moment, so I do feel for you.

I have found that if I ask my vet what he would do if it was his dog, he has usually given me an honest answer.

I do believe that when it is certain that they are not going to recover, then it is better to be ready to make the decision a day too early than a day too late.

I will be thinking of you and Toby

xxx

[meljoy]

Hello Gaynor

I understand exactly how you feel as Ive have been through it too. Give the meds time to work and then you can think about where to go next. Speak with your vet about Tobys quality of life...my vet was very honest with me when I asked about my Leo and although its not what I wanted to hear I appreciated the honesty.

A wonderful piece of advice I was given by Kate was "Leo doesn't know he's ill try and carry on as normal as possible with him" That really helped as I didn't want Leo picking up on my grief and him becoming nervous and distressed because of my behaviour.

Its not easy and it never will be but that is because you are a responsible loving owner who cares deeply for Toby.

Good luck to you, take care and let us know how you get on.

Mel x

[Margaret C]

How is Toby today?

[gaynor]

Thank you all so much for your great replies , Toby is on chappie tin food and growling tums dry food , I have seen a food called simply low fat food has anyone tried this . My little boy breaks his heart when aim out of sight , he has his food mess then just sleeps , he used to love his toys but not now , it was like play school every day , he finds it difficult to get comfortable when he sleeps I have bought different pillows and soft blankets ? When I saw my vet she told me his disc in his neck and further down were really bad , his heart is working overtime , his head and ears get very hot and his back seems puffy fluid just down from his neck, he finds it difficult to jump up now . He seems to sigh a lot he puts his head down and just sighs also when you pick him up , . My other dog bella is a x breeding bitch she is frightend of her own shadow we have had her 2 years now she is getting a bit better if you cuddle her she trembles as if you are going to hurt her , she hates you going behind her , she scratches just one ear and her shoulders dislocate Ian so worried that she has the same as Toby we think she is 8 when is someone going to save these Angels . I will keep putting how Toby is doing , .

Thank you you all for the support I don't feel so alone now .
Gaynor Toby Bella

[Kate H]

Toby would probably be helped by having steps to allow him to get up on the settee and then onto your lap. I have a spare set (the end of 2014 and early 2015 I was nursing two terminally ill dogs for about 6 months and they both needed to use steps), so you would be welcome to borrow them - you could perhaps drive over, since Coventry isn't too far from Stoke, or we could meet halfway for a handover!

I got your phone message; I'll be in all tomorrow evening and happy for you to phone (if the phone is engaged around 8pm, I'm ringing my sister, so just try again later).

If Toby is newly on gabapentin, that will make him sleepy, though this usually wears off after a few weeks.



Kate and Ruby

[gaynor]

Hi to everyone
just a quick post , been to the vet she looked at my boy and she said he looks so poorly , his head down and she noticed that he has like little shocks winces like if we have neck pain and catch the pain area we can go ouch .. I asked what she thought and she asked how he was at home , he still has his dinner but he is so sad he sits by me all the time I sleep down stairs with him , I know it is time I have to ring my vet to make a date for her to come to the house , then I will take Him to the animal crem and pick him up the next day . My heart is broken my husband has his bitch bella she is an x breeding bitch . He is so cuddly I will miss him so much , this has just made my year and it has only just begun .
i know my boy will be out of pain but I won't have my friend to cuddle . Thank you all for your messages I send my good wishes to all of you . Love Gaynor x

[meljoy]

Gaynor
I am so sorry for you.....
What you are about to do is very brave and obviously the best for little Toby. Look after yourself and take care. Hug Toby (gently) whilst you can and try and remember you're doing this for him because you love him so much.

Mel