Well, I was woke up this morning by the dogs barking and I ran out to find Em in a seizure. :o( I was able to bring him out of it with a trick that Dr. O reminded me about but it was still a bummer to find... not surprised though... we decided last night to head to town for dinner and I completely spaced out giving Em his 7 pm meds! So he got them two hours late. Could that be what caused the seizure?? I will never know, but I do know I won't be late on his meds again. Especially since we were HERE at 7 pm and he could have had them on time. I was so focused on getting ready to go eat out that I just forgot.
I made some sugar cookies today. Just felt like it. I haven't felt this good in a long time! I am hoping that this is a new thing and I can keep feeling better and better... Long story... here's the short version... I decided to see a Natural Doctor and he has put me on a ton of supplements in the last week. I am feeling better already and I just hope it continues.
Well, I have to run and get some more done - like taking Em's collected pee to Dr. O so it can be sent off for testing!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Just another update...
Not much new happening here. We are working to get some more things done before the snow flies and covers it all for another year! I don't know if we will get all of the projects done before time is up, but we are working on them. We got the big covered trailer moved closer to the house today so Tom can work on the inside to get it ready to haul dogs to the mountains. I might be using it next week to go get some straw from Delta. We are thinking about getting between 50 - 100 bales so we have some for the next few years!! We always use several bales each month or so to keep the dogs houses full of straw and this year we will have the trailer to put some in before we take the dogs somewhere.
Em is snoozing behind my recliner. He and I are stuck at the hip today because he is in the middle of a 24 hour urine test for iodine excretion. He was given 50 mgs of iodine/iodide this morning and now I have to collect his urine for 24 hours to see how much he is excreting to know how much he should be taking daily to keep his level where it needs to be. Just one more facet of his care now that he is in the combined treatment with Dr. O. He is doing really good. He hasn't had a seizure since Sept 9th!!! I am so happy with this treatment that I am now hopeful that we might be able to have him with us for many more years. I was really starting to get worried that he wouldn't be with us much longer when he was having a few seizures each week and we were continually increasing his phenobarbitol dose.
All of the other dogs are doing good. Everyone is getting the itch to run now that there is a coolness in the air. Unfortunately, we can't really start running until the ground is frozen enough to hold the four wheelers weight. But, it won't be long and we will be running a team each night. I have so many people that want to go for a ride that I hope we get lots of snow early so we can take them!!
Better go get some more work done.
Em is snoozing behind my recliner. He and I are stuck at the hip today because he is in the middle of a 24 hour urine test for iodine excretion. He was given 50 mgs of iodine/iodide this morning and now I have to collect his urine for 24 hours to see how much he is excreting to know how much he should be taking daily to keep his level where it needs to be. Just one more facet of his care now that he is in the combined treatment with Dr. O. He is doing really good. He hasn't had a seizure since Sept 9th!!! I am so happy with this treatment that I am now hopeful that we might be able to have him with us for many more years. I was really starting to get worried that he wouldn't be with us much longer when he was having a few seizures each week and we were continually increasing his phenobarbitol dose.
All of the other dogs are doing good. Everyone is getting the itch to run now that there is a coolness in the air. Unfortunately, we can't really start running until the ground is frozen enough to hold the four wheelers weight. But, it won't be long and we will be running a team each night. I have so many people that want to go for a ride that I hope we get lots of snow early so we can take them!!
Better go get some more work done.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Em Check Up
Em had a follow up appointment tonight. He has been very itchy since he was put on the variety of suppliments and thyroid meds. Dr. O thinks the itcyiness is from his body detoxing and that it will eventually go away. Until then, we have to deal with him itching all the time. Hopefully, it will not get worse before it starts getting better. We are also going to drop his dose of phenobarb from 60 to 30 mgs. We will see how that goes, but I am hopeful that the seizures will stay away. He hasn't had one since Sept 9th!!!
Keep your fingers crossed for our Em!
Keep your fingers crossed for our Em!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Winter is coming!!
It was 15 degrees yesterday morning and 28 degrees this morning!! There is SNOW in the forcast for this week! Wow! Looks like winter is on it's way! On one hand this is a good thing... on the other, I'm not so sure I am ready for it yet!
Em is doing good. He hasn't had a seizure since he was put on the suppliments and thyroid meds. The phenobarb dose is a 60 mgs twice a day. The best thing is that he isn't stumbling around now. He is almost back to his old playful self.
All of the other dogs are doing good. They all got some straw in their houses tonight... boy, it is so fun to watch them frolick in it when we first put the straw in the houses. Some of them play in while others seem to go into the houses to rearrange the straw so it is just right for sleeping in...
We really need to start running the dogs even just on the 1/4 mile trail right here around the house. They need to be ready for a trip into the mountains over Thanksgiving weekend if there is enough snow.
Well, better go get some laundry done sowe have clothes to wear tomorrow.
Em is doing good. He hasn't had a seizure since he was put on the suppliments and thyroid meds. The phenobarb dose is a 60 mgs twice a day. The best thing is that he isn't stumbling around now. He is almost back to his old playful self.
All of the other dogs are doing good. They all got some straw in their houses tonight... boy, it is so fun to watch them frolick in it when we first put the straw in the houses. Some of them play in while others seem to go into the houses to rearrange the straw so it is just right for sleeping in...
We really need to start running the dogs even just on the 1/4 mile trail right here around the house. They need to be ready for a trip into the mountains over Thanksgiving weekend if there is enough snow.
Well, better go get some laundry done sowe have clothes to wear tomorrow.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
There's hope...
Well, Em went to the vet last Wednesday and there is now some hope that he can have the seizures controlled with supplements & less harsh drugs than phenobarb and potassium bromide. We immediately stopped the potassium bromide. He was put on a liver supplement, an endocrine supplement, back on seloxine (thyroid T4) and the T3 thyroid meds (that are compounded at a local pharmacy). His groggy look and walk cleared up alot in the first few days on the different meds. The amount of phenobarb will slowly be reduced to see how low it can go before the seizures are running rampant. We are also going to try to get a 24 hour urine test on him to test how much iodine he is excreting to see if he needs to have iodine supplements also. I am hopeful that all of this will indeed put the seizures at bay for this little guy that means so much to me. He is just such a joy to have in our lives that I don't know what I will do when he is gone. With that said, I am realistic about the fact that he will likely not be with us as long as I would like and will take whatever time I do have with him and enjoy it!!
We have had YUKKY weather for the last two days. It started raining yesterday (Saturday) and it hasn't stopped since!! The pens are muddy and the dogs are covered. We put some sawdust in a few of the pens tonight, but that is alot of work so we didn't get them all done. We also have to repair or rebuild several dog houses before it gets cold this winter. There are several houses out there that need to be flat out replaced. And Tom needs to start building the kennels in the trailer so we can haul the dogs this winter... I am not completely comfortable with all of the dogs in a trailer, but it really is the only way we are going to be able to take all of the dogs with us when we head to the property or to the mountains.
I finally made some banana bread tonight. Yummy! That will be a good treat this week. I am thinking one of the four loafs will head to work with me tomorrow but the other three will probably be enjoyed by me!! :o)
Em is doing laps around the living room and I need to go get the dishes finished. Later.
We have had YUKKY weather for the last two days. It started raining yesterday (Saturday) and it hasn't stopped since!! The pens are muddy and the dogs are covered. We put some sawdust in a few of the pens tonight, but that is alot of work so we didn't get them all done. We also have to repair or rebuild several dog houses before it gets cold this winter. There are several houses out there that need to be flat out replaced. And Tom needs to start building the kennels in the trailer so we can haul the dogs this winter... I am not completely comfortable with all of the dogs in a trailer, but it really is the only way we are going to be able to take all of the dogs with us when we head to the property or to the mountains.
I finally made some banana bread tonight. Yummy! That will be a good treat this week. I am thinking one of the four loafs will head to work with me tomorrow but the other three will probably be enjoyed by me!! :o)
Em is doing laps around the living room and I need to go get the dishes finished. Later.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Em Update
Today's blog is devoted to my dear little Em. He had another seizure this morning. In spite of being put on an additional medication last week to help control the seizures. We are now giving him both phenobarbitol and potassium bromide. He is also getting even itchier than ever. So, we are going to take him to see Dr. Olson - an alternative medicine vet in North Pole. I e-mailed her this morning with some background on Em and she said she has some ideas that might help and she will see him on Wednesday. I am suppose to stop by her clinic today to get a book she wants me to read. So, on our way to town, we will stop by to pick that up.
I am sometimes just furious about the whole deal we have gotten our kennel into by having Mackenzie River Huskies. Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful dogs with great temperaments, but the health problems we seem to deal with are less than inviting. Balou, our first ever MRH, has stricken by seizures at a year & a half old and died a year later. Shammu had horrible mastitis after having a huge litter of 14 puppies - and having three of them by c-section. One of the pups born by c-section died at two days old. The other two pups born by c-section were stricken with seizures at about 8 weeks old and we lost both of them within the next four months. Baleen is having heat cycles within 2 to 3 months of the last one. Same thing with Hannah. And, we can't forget the Em and all of his problems. It is all very disturbing.
Needless to say, I am always on edge about these guys developing seizures. Baleen and Em's mother, Talla was stricken by seizures 6 months after giving birth to a litter of 12 pups. What is this?? The breeder thinks it is all environmental. I have a hard time swallowing that. If that was the case, all of our MRH's would have seizures as we feed and water all of the dogs with the same things. All of them are outside in the same environment. And, that doens't explain the others in the breeding program that have seizures. So, is it genetic?? What can be done to stop the cycle??
I will get off my soapbox now. Don't get me wrong, I love each of our MRH's as much as any of our other dogs and will care for them as best we can no matter what happens to them!
All of the other dogs are doing good. We have an extra dog here for the next two weeks. We are doggy sitting for a friend for one of her younger dogs while she is out of town. He has integrated nicely with a few of our dogs and seems to be getting along just fine in the pen with Kivek, Stubby & Dude. He will live in there for now.
Our weather has turned to feeling like fall is here. It has been raining most of the day today. Won't be long and we will be running the teams again!! Well, it will be a while before we can start running them out back as we need to make sure the ground is frozen before we can run with the four wheeler out back. We will have to start with running them on the 1/4 mile trail around our property. That will give them a good enough start to then start running a mile or two once the ground is frozen! We are all hoping for an early winter and lots of snow right off the start!! I am perfecting my snow dance this year!!!
Well, better go get ready to head to town and do some shopping!
Happy Trails!
I am sometimes just furious about the whole deal we have gotten our kennel into by having Mackenzie River Huskies. Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful dogs with great temperaments, but the health problems we seem to deal with are less than inviting. Balou, our first ever MRH, has stricken by seizures at a year & a half old and died a year later. Shammu had horrible mastitis after having a huge litter of 14 puppies - and having three of them by c-section. One of the pups born by c-section died at two days old. The other two pups born by c-section were stricken with seizures at about 8 weeks old and we lost both of them within the next four months. Baleen is having heat cycles within 2 to 3 months of the last one. Same thing with Hannah. And, we can't forget the Em and all of his problems. It is all very disturbing.
Needless to say, I am always on edge about these guys developing seizures. Baleen and Em's mother, Talla was stricken by seizures 6 months after giving birth to a litter of 12 pups. What is this?? The breeder thinks it is all environmental. I have a hard time swallowing that. If that was the case, all of our MRH's would have seizures as we feed and water all of the dogs with the same things. All of them are outside in the same environment. And, that doens't explain the others in the breeding program that have seizures. So, is it genetic?? What can be done to stop the cycle??
I will get off my soapbox now. Don't get me wrong, I love each of our MRH's as much as any of our other dogs and will care for them as best we can no matter what happens to them!
All of the other dogs are doing good. We have an extra dog here for the next two weeks. We are doggy sitting for a friend for one of her younger dogs while she is out of town. He has integrated nicely with a few of our dogs and seems to be getting along just fine in the pen with Kivek, Stubby & Dude. He will live in there for now.
Our weather has turned to feeling like fall is here. It has been raining most of the day today. Won't be long and we will be running the teams again!! Well, it will be a while before we can start running them out back as we need to make sure the ground is frozen before we can run with the four wheeler out back. We will have to start with running them on the 1/4 mile trail around our property. That will give them a good enough start to then start running a mile or two once the ground is frozen! We are all hoping for an early winter and lots of snow right off the start!! I am perfecting my snow dance this year!!!
Well, better go get ready to head to town and do some shopping!
Happy Trails!
Monday, September 03, 2007
Happy Labor Day!
It is so nice to have a long weekend once in a while... Although, even a three day weekend isn't long enough to get our chores finished. We went to the property yesterday and got the "driveway" a bit more cleared. Just need to get the stumps out of the way and then we can drag it to level it. We might need a load or two of gravel to make the entrance easier for getting the big trailer into the driveway. We still need to get the dog yard cleaned up. Then we can start working on the bus to make it "livable" for us to stay in while we are there.
In kennel news... Baleen is in heat again. So isn't Hannah... so the boys are getting weird. Tom had a couple of spats while he had dogs out during cleaning tonight. But, that is to be expected when he lets so many dogs out at the same time... Em has had a few more seizures. We haven't seen all of them, but it is pretty easy to tell even after he has had one. I am thinking I will call the vet's office this week to see if we can get him some additional meds, usually potassium bromide to help control them.
Well, better get going and get some more laundry done so we have clothes to wear tomorrow.
In kennel news... Baleen is in heat again. So isn't Hannah... so the boys are getting weird. Tom had a couple of spats while he had dogs out during cleaning tonight. But, that is to be expected when he lets so many dogs out at the same time... Em has had a few more seizures. We haven't seen all of them, but it is pretty easy to tell even after he has had one. I am thinking I will call the vet's office this week to see if we can get him some additional meds, usually potassium bromide to help control them.
Well, better get going and get some more laundry done so we have clothes to wear tomorrow.
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