Concerned about behavior...what should I do?

[Roxiesmama]

OK, Roxie is home from her x-rays, all bathed, and is relaxing with her daddy. She's still a little groggy.

Here's the lowdown from the Doctor:

1. Neck, spine, and hips were all clear. No sign of slipped discs or arthritis. He even showed us the digital images and explained everything about her joints and vertebrae and everything.

2. Luxating Patella in her left knee is only stage 1. He said we could still follow up with a surgeon if we like, but that most surgeons won't operate for stage 1.

3. Dental was okay, though he said there was a mild occlusion in that her front top and bottom canines don't line up the way they are supposed to. He said he doubts that is the reason for the sudden change in her eating habits, since her teeth have been that way her whole life. He didn't see any cavities or cracks. He said we could follow up with a specialist, as they do make "doggie braces" that could fix the problem.

4. She has put on weight. How this is possible when she hasn't been eating all of her food is beyond me, but nonetheless we will be cutting down on how much food she gets with each meal and go back to giving her Pepcid, since that seemed to help her appetite for a few weeks. He said we just might be giving her too much food and her body doesn't want/need it. He also said we should try to grind up the food a bit, because the kibble pieces are very large.

5. As for the not jumping up onto the couch, Dr. said that at some point she must have done it and it caused her extreme pain (maybe from her LP knee). She probably remembers that and won't jump up on the couch anymore because she doesn't want the pain again.

I feel better knowing that the x-rays are clear. I have high hopes that with the dietary modifications and me being home for the summer, we will see an improvement in both her disposition and behavior.

I thank you all for your concern and advice. I love this place and I am so glad YT is here when I need it! You folks are amazing!

[GeorgiesMomma]

That is all GREAT NEWS I am sure a couple month of being home with Mommy will be just what Roxie needs

[Perrella]

Oh...I am so happy and relieved to see this post! I know you have to feel much better knowing there is no major issues going on What a wonderful blessing you have received

[yorkietalkjilly]

Glad to hear good report & hope the food changes work to get her back to herself.

[kjc]

Great news!

I would suggest stopping her from jumping up on any furniture... as this is how LP is aggravated, and by helping her up and down you may possibly avoid further injury and surgery to repair it. Mine are not allowed to jump up on furniture, if they want up, they stand in front of the chair or bed and look at me, then wait till I help them up. Then they will bark when they want down.

[Roxiesmama]

How long does it usually take for them to get back to normal after the anesthesia?

[celstu1]

Great news about Roxie!

Fletcher stopped jumping up on some things when he gained weight too. He won't jump on the bed anymore... he can't... sometimes he'll look like he's going to try, but he never does. I ended up putting stairs at the foot of the bed for him. Dex uses them too, so it's good!

[Roxiesmama]

Another update:

What a difference a week makes! Roxie is doing really well...she almost seems back to normal. Grinding up her food has made a world of difference...she is back to gobbling it all up at once, and doesn't carry the pieces into the living room anymore. Who knew that the food processor that has been gathering dust in my closet for 8 years would suddenly come in so handy!

She's definitely more active and wants to play more often. She's come up on the couch a few times, but still seems to prefer DH picking her up. The biggest thing was when she came upstairs the other day to yell at the vacuum! She hasn't done that in months! :0)

We also found a new glucosamine supplement that she likes better. She doesn't pick it out of her food and put it aside anymore.

I'm so glad this seems to have sorted itself out. I hope she stays in good shape for a long time!

[GeorgiesMomma]

That's great!!!! I am so glad she is doing well

[Roxiesmama]

Update:

This grinding up food is a pain in the a**. I already broke my food processor! I cannot believe that Hills doesn't make a small bites version of this food (z/d).

[celstu1]

Hills Science Diet makes small breed kibble... do you have her on total dental or something? The reason that one is so big is so that it helps to scrub their teeth when they are breaking it up. My vet told me the regular small breed food is no different, just smaller than the dental kind so they don't have to break it apart. Try the small breed kibble and see if that helps. Also, there is dental food for small breeds, it's still big but it's softer so these smaller ones can break it apart easier. Is that what you are feeding her?

[Roxiesmama]

She eats the Prescription Z/D, which is Ultra allergen-free. It is one of the few Hill's foods that does not come in small bites. She has a terrible sensitivity to something (not sure what), and we have been through several different types of food. This is the only one that didn't make her vomit.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I'm just so glad to read Roxie is doing better and getting livelier! It is SO good when they start to get better!

What were her final diagnoses?

With my Jilly who was tiny, if the store was out of her Science Diet for Sensitive Stomach Small Bites and I had to buy regular, I would throw a bunch in a storage bag, zip it closed and use the rubber mallet to crack it up, empty it into her bowl. That food was THE ONLY food her GI system could tolerate so I had to make it work and the food processor and blender usually powdered too much of it. A few whacks of the mallet and you are done without much powdering.

Best of wish that Roxie keeps getting better and better from now on. Bet mommy is breathing a lot deeper these days.

[gracielove]

I was just going to suggest the same thing. Wrap the food in something and hit it with a large hammer to break it up. I tried that when Gracie was a puppy. She still wouldn't eat it but it does work well to break it into smaller pieces.