bigmacbear (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bigmacbear) wrote2007-01-27 08:13 pm
bigmacbear) wrote2007-01-27 08:13 pm
Entry tags:
Brandy update
Our Brandy was decidedly not named for the singer (she was born in 1991 and the singer's first album wasn't released until 1994), although I've often joked that if we were to get another dog we should name her Monica. However, reading this story was more than a little disturbing. Hey, she's not even old enough to drive! (Her 16th birthday will be in September although it's pretty much a given she won't live to see it.)
In other news, Brandy has pretty much stopped using the leg with the tumor entirely, preferring to hold the leg up off the ground. This is bad, because it means we can't gauge her comfort level by the degree of lameness in the leg, and thus it will be more difficult to decide when it's time to let her go. I did note to the vet that she is still eating and drinking well, and she said not to go by her appetite or lack thereof, because if she does stop eating it means she's gone too far and is already in agony. The tumor itself has grown to about twice the size it was when we first noticed it (which was then about the size of a golf ball). Still, she does manage to propel herself onto the soft furniture to sleep most of the time, only occasionally needing a boost, and she definitely makes it known when she wants to go outside or get something to eat.
The vet has switched her anti-inflammatory medicine to Zubrin which is less taxing on her kidneys, and prescribed a diet (Hills "k/d", which incidentally makes me think of Ms. lang) that is helpful for dogs with kidney trouble. The Zubrin is supposed to dissolve in the dog's mouth, but we found it was hurting her more to wrestle her into a position where we could administer the pill despite her resistance, so we got the vet's approval to hide it in her food like her other medicine. She's now getting Tramadol (the pseudo-narcotic) three times a day instead of twice, and this seems to help her remain more comfortable. Her latest blood work shows the changes in medication and diet are improving her kidney function as expected, so we've bought her a little more time at least.
Our little Brandy is a fighter, that's for sure. Dunno about Ms. Norwood (the other Brandy) though.
In other news, Brandy has pretty much stopped using the leg with the tumor entirely, preferring to hold the leg up off the ground. This is bad, because it means we can't gauge her comfort level by the degree of lameness in the leg, and thus it will be more difficult to decide when it's time to let her go. I did note to the vet that she is still eating and drinking well, and she said not to go by her appetite or lack thereof, because if she does stop eating it means she's gone too far and is already in agony. The tumor itself has grown to about twice the size it was when we first noticed it (which was then about the size of a golf ball). Still, she does manage to propel herself onto the soft furniture to sleep most of the time, only occasionally needing a boost, and she definitely makes it known when she wants to go outside or get something to eat.
The vet has switched her anti-inflammatory medicine to Zubrin which is less taxing on her kidneys, and prescribed a diet (Hills "k/d", which incidentally makes me think of Ms. lang) that is helpful for dogs with kidney trouble. The Zubrin is supposed to dissolve in the dog's mouth, but we found it was hurting her more to wrestle her into a position where we could administer the pill despite her resistance, so we got the vet's approval to hide it in her food like her other medicine. She's now getting Tramadol (the pseudo-narcotic) three times a day instead of twice, and this seems to help her remain more comfortable. Her latest blood work shows the changes in medication and diet are improving her kidney function as expected, so we've bought her a little more time at least.
Our little Brandy is a fighter, that's for sure. Dunno about Ms. Norwood (the other Brandy) though.
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