Update: Frustrated and worried from afar
 

I arrived in Florida this morning and I'm here with my mom and Toto. His dark spots are especially bad on his chest and lower torso. He squirms like hell if you try and look at it. He walks funny when it really itches. The right hind leg will shake and he kind of stumbles to the side every now and then.

My mom says it's "much better than it was before" but I'm not seeing anything positive here. He is currently resting on a pillowcase on the floor between a chair and a wall, his face pointing toward the corner of the room. He was walking around in circles earlier and would come back to the couch on his rounds and drag his body along the side for relief from the itching.

The vet had my mom buy a special shampoo to bathe him every couple of days but she hasn't done it in a week. There are issues here not dog related that need addressing but the situation with our boy needs to be handled first and foremost. We have a vet appointment for 3:15 today. I'm exhausted but I'm going. I just want the doc to tell me what we can expect if this drags on much longer. I know his spots and sores are just going to get worse. My mom said he's broken the skin before by scratching and I am worried he may do that again and it will become infected.

I tried to take a video of his spots and bumps. He won't really expose himself to me enough to get a clear image but I did the best I could.

0428.MOV - YouTube

I mentioned to my mom that I wanted my sister and her fiance to come down and see him tomorrow to see what they think. She asked what I meant and when I suggested that we may need to put an end to this before it gets worse she acted like I was crazy. She says she knows he dying but she doesn't believe he's in pain. I really don't know if he is but I do know that he didn't even come out to greet me when I got here and that's is something that has never happened.

He's still my dog but he's not the same dog. I'm afraid that I'll question my choice forever if he's "let go" with assistance. I'm seriously concerned that my mother will not hop on board with me. I doubt the vet is going to say one way or another what the right/humane thing to do is. I don't want my mom to resent for making a decision like this without her. I want her consent if it winds up being the right thing but I don't know what the odds are of that happening.

There is a lot to deal with here at the house. I appreciate any support you are willing to provide. Ann, if you're reading this, I very much respect your opinion and if you have any time at all and want to weigh in I would be truly grateful.

Love to your Yorkies,
Sam

I just watched your Video. Please have teh Test him for Cushings. I noticed that he also had what looked like his tummy was bloated. Cushing can cause this as well as the skin issues.

Have them do a complete blood work panel on him as well as a test for Cushings.

I pray you are able to get an answer for your sweet boy.

My heart just hurts for your situation. I know it is difficult, especially if your family doesn't see things the same way you do. Please have the vet perform the test recommended above and that may give you a clearer picture of what is and what can be for your little one!! I'll be praying for you!!

I am so sorry, he looks so sick poor baby i hope the vet can help him

Bless his heart, hs just looks so lethargic and those spots do look quite severe. I agree with TxVicki. If he has something that is reasonably easy to treat that will improve his quality of life, then that would be great. I agree with you, too, about not letting him suffer. I think we are here as caretakers of these precious animals and part of that is making sure they have a good quality of life and don't suffer unnecessarily. That is a very difficult decision and I feel that if you haven't explored a few options that could improve Toto's health before making that decision, that you might later second-guess yourself. I pray for you to have the strength and peace at heart to make the best decision for Toto and the strength to deal with your Mother and any push-back she gives you. I also pray for Toto's comfort and healing. Please keep us updated on how he is doing. My heart is breaking for you to have to see this fella that has been part of your life for so long declining as he is. :big_hug:

We went to the vet and the doctor took skin samples (with tape!) to look at what's going on. Tomorrow morning I am bringing Toto in first thing for the blood panel (which requires fasting) so they can test for Cushings. Doc says he will have results by Saturday. After the Cushings test they are going to treat him with a cortisone shot and prescribe an antibiotic regimen.

I will post again in a few days with an update. Hopefully my boy will perk up and start to enjoy the simple pleasures of life again. The doctor is a very smart, kind man and he assured me that Toto isn't ready to go yet. I am cautiously optimistic.

Please take him to a internal specialist and have him checked out to get to the real problem. That is really the most serious dermatitis problem I've ever seen.
I wish you both all the luck in the world.

Marilyn, thank you so much for your kind thoughts and prayers. The vet says Toto isn't ready to go yet so we're having a Cushings test done tomorrow and afterward my boy will get a cortisone shot and some antibiotics. I will post in a few days, hopefully with a cute video of him enjoying life again.

I agree those spots, the thinning hair, the bloating are exactly what my pom had when she had cushing's. While it is a bad disease they can do a lot for them. When in a situation where I have to make that difficult decision my vet always gives me her opinion. She will say things like, She is no longer enjoying life, it if were my dog this is what I would do. So hopefully your vet can provide some guidance. I hope Toto can get medicine to make him feel better and have some quality of life for a long time. I will keep you in my prayers. It is tough having to deal with all you are right now.

Cautiously optimistic is good...a vet you trust is worth a great deal. :thumbup:

I only met him for the first time today but the doc was a good listener and responded to all my questions with real answers. He was glad I took a video of Toto walking around the house in circles and scratching himself against things. Doc also said if Toto were his dog he'd do the Cushings test and treat the skin condition so that is the plan for now.

If he gets his energy back I will take him for some really nice walks (even though I detest this humidity so much I moved 1000+ miles away from it).

My heart is breaking for you all and poor Toto. He does look very unwell in your video. I really hope you can get a definate diagnosis and treatment. If my maths is correct (which is not my strong point) Toto is around 15 years old?
If medication can improve his quality of life that would be great, even for a while, I know you are already considering the alternatives and maybe your Mum can start to think about the time you have left with him and the duty of care you have for him if he deteriorates.
I hope you get a positive results from his tests.

Sam,

I am so glad you came home to help with your little sweetie. My little guy had testing for Cushings today, and it was pretty painless and noninvasive. He had the eight hour test, with a blood draw at eight, then a steroid shot. Since I live close by they let me take him home and then bring him back at noon and four for blood draws. We get our results tomorrow, so maybe you'll find out something sooner than you think. I will be praying for you and Toto! Keep us posted.

Diana and the Scoobster

I hope you get some answers prayers and good thoughts

Just wanted to say that Toto is in my prayers. I'm glad you are there to help!

Sam prayers and good thoughts are being sent for you ant Toto....I truly hope the vets can find some answers as to what is going on with him...poor little guy looks so sad. Please keep us posted.

Oh my goodness, Sam, he is just so adorable. Even though he is ill, he sure looks like a gentle little darling!

I hope you get some answers for the skin, bc it looks like it could very well be an infection that could clear up with antibiotics. There definitely has to be an answer for what you're seeing on his skin, and I know you and the vet will find it. That will give him a lot of relief. The steroid shot might give some relief.

I got your PM and it sounds like you're thinking he may not be as bad off as you suspected...and that's good news! I truly hope all of this is just due to something that is untreated, and not due to his time here being limited. It's so hard to let these kiddos go, and I hope it's not his time.

I hope all the tests go well and that he perks up for you. How is his appetite, btw? Still funny, or better?

Just keep hanging in there and know that people have you in their thoughts and are pulling for you, your Mom, and little Toto. I'm hoping for the very best!

Sending prayers and best wishes for Toto. I hope the can figure out what is going on with your sweet baby and get him back to enjoying his life.

I brought him into the vet first thing this morning for his blood test and shot. He seemed much more energetic even though he hadn't be treated yet. On the drive he didn't want to sit in the back or on the passenger seat. He forced himself onto my lap and kept trying to prop himself against the window to see outside (his favorite). Unfortunately the car my mom now owns has too much space between the seat and the window for him to do this without falling so I had to maneuver my arm under his front legs. We were driving for a bit when suddenly he became startled and jumped from my seat to the passenger seat where I put a towel down earlier to make him comfortable. He assumed the position and dropped a very gooey pooey onto the towel. I was so relieved (and rather proud) that he didn't do it on my lap. My boy is so sweet.

He was at the doc's for about 4.5 hours. I picked him up and they said he did very well and they gave me two different medications (both in liquid form because my mom prefers it) for him to take twice a day for two weeks. We gave him both doses about 45 minutes ago, much to his dismay. He is taking a nap now.

As far as how he did earlier in the day after he was home, I found him to be more energetic than yesterday. He was awake for awhile just hanging out and following my mom around like he usually does. He took a nap for a couple hours and then he woke up and wanted to go out so I opened the door for him and he went pee then came back in. He kept walking around the house for awhile and when he started to growl I decided to put him on a leash and take him for a little walk. My mom doesn't get around as well as she used to and as a result, Toto and Scout (our 11-year-old chihuahua mix) don't get a lot of exercise anymore. Toto is slower than he used to be and he stops more frequently to smell and look at things but he seemed to enjoy getting out. I'm going to walk both of them a few times tomorrow and see how they do.

Whatever the results of the Cushings test, I believe he will be feeling much better very soon.

Here is a photo I took of him outside today. He's still a handsome fella after all these years. He's also still my baby. :)

How sweet. He certainly looks better than he did in the last photo. His name really fits him. He looks like a Toto! I'm willing to bet just getting to see you helped his mood immensely. I'm glad he is doing better and keep those updates coming!:D

Oh Sam, that new pic of him is just adorable :love:! He really is so cute...he has the tongue-out look down perfectly. I have to agree w/ Marhcarter in that I bet his perking up has a lot to do with your presence there. I hope he continues to perk up.

What a good boy for jumping onto that towel! Eek, the alternative would've been...a bit messy. Hey, if the vet wanted a stool sample, the timing was perfect - maybe Toto was just trying to be proactive for the vet :p.

I wanted to ask you...do you have a furkid back at home? Bc it's clear how much you love this little guy, and I sure hope some furkiddo gets to live with you someday, on a daily basis. You seem like the kind of person who needs a daily dose of dog in her life...such a good dog Mom.

Hang in there, and thanks so much for keeping us posted on this little fella :love:. Give him an xoxo from me.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: So glad to her he is feeling better. Toto is one adorable boy.

Ann,

Thank you for saying this. I would love to adopt a furbaby of my very own. I have wanted to for a long time, but I need to be in a financially stable situation with a job that allows me the time to care for and train a little one. I would also need to find a safe place to live where I can have a dog. Unfortunately I don't know when that will happen. I don't want to make the choice if I'm not 100% that I can make the commitment. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people adopt an animal and then have to find it another home because they weren't in a position to provide a forever home. It's heartbreaking.

Today was a good day with my munchkins. Here is a photo of Toto and his sister Scoutie that I took after we came inside from a walk this afternoon. They are the best. I wish I didn't have to leave Monday night. Trying to enjoy the present and not think about leaving them and my Mom but it's been challenging. Struggling with the idea that I might need to move back here. Not sure what's right but I'm hoping to find some clarity soon.

They are so cute. Toto looks much better with you home. I know when the time is right for you a very lucky puppy will be yours.

Thank you, Patti!

When the timing is right, some little furball will come into your life. I completely hear you on the tragedies of people getting pets, only to carelessly dispose of them later. I can hardly bear to think of all that results from that kind of situation. In any case, someday a lucky furbutt will have a great home with you.

Cute piccie of Toto and Scoutie :love:. Toto looks bright eyed and alert - that's a good sign. I bet they love going for walks, marking up some territory and such, all those good smells.

When you mention moving back, is that bc it's getting too tough for your Mom, as she gets older? That's gotta be a really tough decision.

Hope Toto's tests go well on Saturday!:)

Oh he looks so much better, I am hoping the diagnosis and treatments work.

I just wanted to drop by and offer my support. Your Toto is looking so much better now that you are home!

Life does have its' challenges, doesn't it?

I am going to suggest something. Is it possible you can get some doggie booties for him? This will help with keeping the skin intact if he is scratching a lot. I hesitated to suggest this, because the booties would need to be checked daily, or another option is to just put them on at night, and take off in the am.

If your Mom is not well though, that might not be a great option.

One day you will see, you will have the space, time, and money enough to give another furbutt a wonderful life. It certainly looks like and sounds like you are a wonderful owner.

My very best to you and your family:)

Any update on Toto?

Diana and the Scoobster