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[hippydog]

Curby sends greetings, as he is having a good day (a short leash walk), and hope you all are well.  I've seen mention of monthly xrays for lung blasto pups and was wondering if anyone can recall how long it has taken for the films to show lung improvement (not all clear, but significant improvement).  In general, a couple months, six months, more?

And my venting has to do with my vet suggesting that Curby is getting a little chunky and should be on Rimadyl so I can get him some exercise (he has fenced quarter acre he uses now) to lose weight!  I was a bit taken aback, given what I've read here on dogs' loss of appetite and struggles to eat.  Have others had vets suggest they should focus on weight while still in early stages of treatment (2 1/2 months into treatment)?  I guess I'm not trusting my vet so much since so little blasto is seen here and she seems dismissive of information from this site that I try to pass along to her.

Any thoughts appreciated!!

[benniesmom]

oh that's too bad. nothing like an arrogant doctor. Well. maybe an arrogant doctor. anyway, it sounds like that to me... Frankly, I would be thrilled if Bennie was a little chunky. This disease takes so much out of them.... We might just now be getting some lung involvement after six weeks, so nothing showed on his first x-rays.. except the mass on his rib.... we see our vet on Friday... she really wants to know everything I pick up here...... she had to be persuaded, though, and she was, when I brought in all the dosage info I could find, so much of it from Dr. Legendre..... and.... you might print some of the stuff from Dr. Legendre, and put it before her, if she needs to be impressed.... I hate that attitude in a vet..... sorry to hear you might be dealing with it. not all vets are terrific. we had one in New Mexico that I had grounds to sue... She really did Bennie some harm..... but most are great people... ( I didn't sue) here's another thing. Rimadyl costs a fortune.... I have been using Tramadol for pain management with my dogs, with success, but it has its own problems, and may not be appropriate for some dogs, mine included......

Anyway, good luck with your vet...... really. and I would ignore the crap about Curby's  weight right now.... it is not the battle you have on your hands, not really. Your vet just doesn't get that......But she can do the other stuff vets do, so let it go......

Ben and Barb

[Bulldogger]

Absolutely despise arrogant, hateful or indifferent docs or those with bad bedside manners!  They make for a very unpleasant situation, as if it's not enough that you're having to deal with all you are dealing with.  I guess I've gotten meaner in my old age. I refuse to be intimidated or pushed around by these folks.  If they start getting smart with me, they'll get it thrown right back at them and a double helping, if I say so myself LOL!  I'm not opposed to just getting up and walking right out the door and finding someone else.  Sometimes these arrogant docs just need a good dose of reality to smack them in the face.  I'm very glad to hear Curby is doing better and for them to be worried about his weight at a time like this is ridiculous!  I would feel the same way.  I've been letting Doc eat as much as he will eat because I fear a point when his appetite starts waning.   

[hippydog]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I've been thinking about you guys.  I've been wondering about Doc H. 

If the blasto is going to Ben's lungs, it's similar to how the blasto is spreading still to other areas for Curby (and has in other victims), even after weeks of tx.  But if it is, it shouldn't be able to get much of a hold there.  Curby's lungs were first hit and his breathing never got scary (just fast and a little cough).

I think this vet is really smart, but like alot of vets, not so good with people.  And she does have an ego, has read literature on this, but just hasn't dealt with it through a course of treatment very often (if ever).  But so do I. HA.  I actually switched to this practice after I fought with the first practice to test for blasto and they assured me he didn't have it and I had the test done elsewhere.  At least they'll be better to handle the next case they see hopefully!

Nancy

[Wilson3]

so glad to hear curby is doing better.
most dogs do end up very well no waste line when done with treatment
as they are getting better later in treatment the body doesnt fight as hard cause not so much yeast is left so the body doesnt burn the food off as fast. also we all tend to keep pushing the food form the horrible scar of them not eating so we tend to keep pushing the food.
Not to sound like I am sticking up for the vet but it can be very hard to get the weight off the dogs. Wilson after a couple months of treatment
was put back on a normal diet. he was weighed ever week we took him in to see the vet (to make sure he wasnt loosing) once he reached his weight he should be I went back to normal eating habits but he was still   weighed every week
I guess I believe in keeping them at a good weight so un healthy to be over and didnt want to battle loosing weight with him and he feels better when he is at the right weight. (but when I got him he was 20 pounds over weight and did seem how hard it was for a fat dog to move and unhealthy) it can be very hard sometimes to hear and I know I took things very hard/wrong way from the other vets (not wilsons normal vet) they mean well but it just comes out sound nasty. they need to learn better bed side manners.
She probably ment it as compliment(with all your wonderful love and care) that curby is doing better but came out sounding nasty

wilsons lungs finally looked a bit better at the 3 month mark  he got it in the lungs last and the lungs healed last took 7 months to get a clear lung xray we stayed on meds an extra month after a clean bill of health just in case something was hinding

6months after treatment stopped his lungs had even healed the damage done that we thought was permanent damage
wilson3

[paintubturner]

Gunner ended up putting on more and more weight about a year into treatment-with the same activity and food ration.  When bloodwork was done on him we found out he had thyroid issues...the vet thought due to Gunners prolonged use of the Itra.  So Gunner has been on Soloxin ever since.         

[Cosmo]

Sometimes people sound arrogant without meaning to.  I love our vet.  I want to go to a professional I trust and respect whether it's for people's health or my pet's health.  It took me years to find it in our little community.  I hope you find that in your area as well.  Keep up the good work with Curby and don't over-tax her.  I think you're doing a great job and so should the vet.  Thanks for the good news and the update.  Cosmo is also getting chunky now that he's on Phenobarbitol.  I just try to ration food without starving the little darlings.
Jacci