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Post by gryroagain on Apr 19, 2016 13:18:27 GMT
![]() ![]() ![]() I hope this works, if someone can figure it out me Id be very appreciative! I pea from an ipad 1 that is very glitchy. I took Olaf to a friends vet, because he is a dental specialist, for more accurate age guess. He put Olaf at 10, so he is an old dude. We also found out the original heartworm test he had the day after we got him was wrong, it was really upsetting. After much thought and consulting with the military vet on the base (who is amazing!!) we have decided to do heartworm treatment. He gets his first shot may 5th, I am so worried. I hope we are doing the right thing- he hasnt got a lot of life left regardless so I want it to be good. But he cannot go u der to have his very bad dental issues fixed without treating the heartworm, so we have to try. But Olaf is doing great! He looks like a whole new dog. Some of the chunks I cut away never have grown back, and he didnt do a spring shed (at least not yet) but his fur is still so,so, SO much better. You could see to his skin at first, and its filled in. Behavior wise he is wicked smart, he likes to dig a hole for a bed in the wood floors so I told him to do it on the rug- and he walked over and did it on the rug. Its kind of creepy, actually, for someone used to rowdy slightly dumb Labs! He and my husband have issues, though, he is confrontational with him and then dh has to be all tough and alpha. It happens if dh is gone for work a few days, regular as clockwork. I feel bad, because dh isnt the "dog person" but he has to constantly be working with Olaf. Olaf also doesnt like people to come in the house, and if they do then he tries to stop them from leaving. We have a trainer coming Friday for help with all this, but it may be something we just have to work around and Olaf doesnt get to meet visitors, lol. He is a joy on walks and a celebrity, people stop us every day to take his picture. And to ask how much he eats, lol.And he loves, loves, loves us (except for dh, poor guy). Olaf is tipping the scales at 104 pounds now, but still has some to put on! Id appreciate any advice from anyone who has done heartworm treatment, I dont know much about it. He will have to stop taking arthritis meds during it, and that worries me the most- he is a whole new dog since taking Rymadyl. I hate for him to have a second of pain or unhappiness after a decade of both. |
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,004 
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Post by blue tulip on Apr 19, 2016 13:25:24 GMT
he has found such a wonderful home with you!  growing up we adopted a dog with heartworms, I remember we had to keep him tied up (outdoor dog) and as quiet as possible during the treatment. apparently it's possible that the killed worms could cause damage to the lungs and heart. he recovered fine, and had a long life afterwards, he was an appx. 7yr old shepherd mix when we got him. did you have this diagnosis confirmed with a test other than an antigen test? just to be sure, in light of the first one being negative? |
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Post by gryroagain on Apr 19, 2016 13:29:19 GMT
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Post by gryroagain on Apr 19, 2016 13:35:05 GMT
The first one was actually positive too, but the results were in Korean and said positive, and English said negative. The vet (Korean) told me it was negative, but he must have looked only at the English paper too because telling me negative when it's positive makes no sense, it must have been a mistake. The second vet saw the results in his file I brought and realized the discrepancy, and did 2 more tests to be sure. They were going to try an ultrasound to see if they could gauge damage, etc but Olaf has a very deep chest and the vet said he would not be able to get a picture so he stopped trying. The US vet repeated the test a 3rd time. It was a mess. The first vet was our vet when we lived here before, and he is great, so I guess just bad luck and a mistake, it happens.
Thank you for the experience, I am so worried for the poor dude. Keeping him quiet won't be a problem, he is a big lump mostly!
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Post by gryroagain on Apr 19, 2016 13:39:06 GMT
Hopefully the link goes to a video of Olaf in his boots for the first time- he stopped walking like that after a while! The salt in winter was bothering his feet. He is so calm and gentle, my youngest tells him lay down, pushes him over and then manhandled the boots on his giant feet and he just takes it all!
In the photo bucket album is a pic of my o,dest daughter blow drying him after his most recent bath, he is so beautiful now!
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
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Post by brandy327 on Apr 19, 2016 13:49:42 GMT
First of all, he looks amazing in the video!! And a beautiful boy!! I'm sorry about the HW dx. I have never had a dog with it but an acquaintance adopted a dog with HW and did treatment and she's now a happy, healthy, well cared for pup! I think she's about 7 or 8 now. |
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Post by penguin on Apr 19, 2016 13:50:42 GMT
That video is hysterical! I'm glad he's doing so well
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Post by KikiPea on Apr 19, 2016 14:06:01 GMT
10 is not really THAT old. He could live at least another 5-8 years!
I'm sorry he had heartworms, and hope he heals up quick!
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Post by moonglowe21 on Apr 19, 2016 14:30:58 GMT
Thank you so much for the update!! Your video seriously gave me ALL of the emotions, lol! Dear sweet Olaf is truly a different dog because of what you have done for him. The difference from that first sad picture you posted to this precious video is amazing. Love seeing that tail just wag and wag!! I wish you all the best with the upcoming heartworm treatment and will keep Olaf in my thoughts. Please keep us posted if you can!
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 19, 2016 14:56:32 GMT
Olaf looks beautiful! So healthy! Someone at the dog park adopted a dog who had heartworm and I don't recall her mentioning too much about how the treatment affected him. I can ask, though. She's a real talker, I'm sure she would have said something if the treatment had adversely affected him.
Maybe you have time to try to get some Duralactin in for Olaf. It is a non-prescription, non-liver damaging substitute for Rymadyl. It doesn't always work, but it sure worked for my Emily who had a fusing thing going on in her back, so needed something for pain relief long-term. It can take a couple of days or a couple of weeks to become effective, but worth a try. A lot cheaper, too. It's available in 60 or 180 count from Amazon. The 60 is only $18. You could check with your vet to see if it will be okay with the heartworm treatment.
You have done such a wonderful job with Olaf. |
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Post by gryroagain on Apr 19, 2016 15:08:13 GMT
Ooh! Thanks for the duralactin tip! I will try it if it is ok. I have joint health supplement he takes and it's fine to continue, but it doesn't really help, not like Rymadyl. The vet gave him gabapentin, but it didnt really work either. It may be has to take a ton of Tramadol while he can't have rymadyl, it's just too sad to see him in pain, unable to get up and down.
10 is old for a Pyrenees- it's the average life expectancy. I think, and the vet thinks, that he can make it a few more years though because he is really strong. He had to be to survive so long like that, but other than arthritis and no muscles in his back legs from the short chain for years, his vitals and organs are all great, even his heart is guessed (can't know for sure) to be in good shape still despite heart worm. He has bounced back from his dreadful condition so fast, I believe he strongly wants to live and is happy and so I think doing the treatment will buy him a couple years. But reality is he could die tomorrow and it wouldn't be a shock, even without his previous bad life, just old age. We are prepared for that, the plan is just love him as long as we can and be his last, best home.
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marimoose
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by marimoose on Apr 19, 2016 15:40:25 GMT
It is still so sad to realize all that this beautiful pup endured but it warms the heart that he and your family found each other. He is really beautiful and as a previous poster said, I absolutely loved seeing his tail just wag and wag. You can just feel the happy in each wag! The funny video was pretty awesome too.
I wish you and Olaf only the best as he is faced with this latest challenge of heart worm. I love that you are doing everything that you can to make his life great. Enjoy every moment that you have with him:)
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Nink
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Posts: 4,955
Location: North Idaho
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Post by Nink on Apr 19, 2016 16:22:37 GMT
Omg. That video is hysterical. Positive thoughts to everyone.
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Post by lorieann13 on Apr 19, 2016 16:27:49 GMT
LOL that is what my shih tzu Sadie did with her wookie sock boots |
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 19, 2016 16:59:23 GMT
gryroagain, I heard back from my dog park friend. She said her dog, Elvis (yes, a hound dog) was normal during treatment. She goes on to say that the effect on the dog varies according to the extent of the infestation. If there are a lot of worms, the heart has to deal with expelling the worms and then trying to repair the damage the worms originally caused. That's why the vets say no running around or other exercise ... to give the heart time to heal. She goes on to say that she thinks Elvis had a mild case.
So, here's hoping for a mild case. Bless you for all the care and love you are giving Olaf. 
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Apr 19, 2016 17:10:17 GMT
What a precious boy! It's so wonderful that you and your family are giving him the love and attention he deserves. |
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scrappert
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Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Apr 19, 2016 17:18:48 GMT
Great update. He looks so good and healthy. Great job doing all that you do.
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purplebee
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Post by purplebee on Apr 19, 2016 19:59:23 GMT
Wonderful that Olaf is doing so well. He looks great!
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wellway
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Apr 19, 2016 20:09:27 GMT
Thank you for sharing the video, he looks adorable. Hope his health problem can be sorted asap.
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Deleted
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Sept 30, 2024 6:24:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2016 20:18:24 GMT
What a beautiful boy he is! I laughed at the video too! I agree with others who said 10 isn't that old, and he could still be with you for a long time. Thank you for adopting him! He's gorgeous and what a great addition to your family!
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Post by birukitty on Apr 19, 2016 21:29:06 GMT
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for posting that video. Hearing your daughter's laughter and seeing Olaf's tail wagging constantly brings home so much how your family and Olaf were meant to be together. Bless you and your family for taking this poor dog in when he so desperately needed a home and loving care. I'm sure he's paying you back tenfold.
I've prayed to St. Francis (the patron Saint of animals) that this treatment for Olaf will go quickly and be successful. That he not suffer and not be in pain. And that he heal quickly.
I cannot begin to tell you how much this story means to me. As a family we've always had big dogs, starting with getting a St. Bernard when I was 8 years old. My parents currently have a Bernese Mountain Dog, their 2nd. These dogs truly are gentle giants, with enormous hearts full of love.
Debbie in MD.
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Post by jennyap on Apr 19, 2016 22:40:19 GMT
I love that video. My gosh he looks like a totally different dog to the first picture you shared. Just so much happier and healthier. I am so glad he has you all and has a chance to experience being loved.
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Post by freeatlast on Apr 19, 2016 23:04:21 GMT
Such a happy boy! Thanks for loving him and giving him the best care possible.
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Post by Penellopy on Apr 20, 2016 0:00:46 GMT
I loved the video. He looks like he is dancing with his socks on.
We just adopted a chihuahua who is heart-worm positive. We found out after we fell in love with him. It was like a passing oh, by the way type of comment. But it was too late. We were going with it.
I took him to the vet, had his records pulled from the previous vet and asked for another test. She said yes, heart-worm positive. My heart sank. I was afraid I would go through the ordeal of shots once a week and keeping him in cage to keep him from getting excited as my sister had done with a pup she adopted years ago. Luckily, his is a mild case and they are treating him with a pill twice a day (like an antibotic) and Heart Guard once a month. No other restrictions other than a retest in 6 months. I was told he would be on this cycle for 2 years, but this would be the best for him. He is strong and healthy otherwise.
Maybe you and Olaf will have the same luck we have had!
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Post by paperaddictedpea on Apr 20, 2016 0:28:47 GMT
Olaf is so handsome. He looks like a very happy boy (well, aside from the boots!)
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Apr 20, 2016 0:48:13 GMT
The video is hilarious! I love how he is so happy and relaxed in it, He doesn't care that everyone is laughing at his boots!  |
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Post by pmm on Apr 20, 2016 2:27:10 GMT
That video is too funny! Thanks for the laughs!
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
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Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Apr 20, 2016 4:45:44 GMT
Love the Olaf update, thank you! I swear, I scroll my IG feed just looking for pictures of this dog, and I am not a dog person. He just always makes me smile.
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Post by holly on Apr 20, 2016 4:50:25 GMT
Omg! I saw this earlier and couldn't watch the video but now I just did, hilarious! He is precious . Thank you for loving him and giving him a home for however long he has left, you can tell he's happy:) you guys are good people.
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M in Carolina
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Post by M in Carolina on Apr 20, 2016 5:08:26 GMT
He's adorable! I'm so glad that he's doing so well. I missed the first video.
My mom just adopted my brother's little weenie dog he rescued that was being abused because she was heartworm positive and had a lot of skin problems from food allergies and needed more time and care than my brother could give.
Miley has to get the heartworm shots and is taking the pills, but she's doing great. It is difficult to keep her activity level down, but my mom is great with dogs.
My mom was really down about Miley's skin issues, but I reminder her about how bad her schnauzer's skin issues were when she adopted him, and although it did take several months, his issues resolved. Turned out he was allergic to red dyes, fleas, and ticks so my mom had to switch his food and get rid of the fleas. Several years later he reacted again, and we finally figured it was the tinned salmon my mom was giving him. A lot of salmon is tinted with red dye to make it look like wild caught salmon.
I'm sure Olaf will be great in a few months. You've made such a difference in his life--no matter how long he lives, he's going to love you forever. Thank you so much for caring for him.
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growing up we adopted a dog with heartworms, I remember we had to keep him tied up (outdoor dog) and as quiet as possible during the treatment. apparently it's possible that the killed worms could cause damage to the lungs and heart. he recovered fine, and had a long life afterwards, he was an appx. 7yr old shepherd mix when we got him. 
Southern Side eyed Pea