German Shepherd Dog Forums - View Single Post - 4yr old Zaki's meds. When to say "Enough!"?

Abu Zaki · 03-03-2013, 05:56 PM

First, meet HAPPY & LOVES EVERYONE Zaki (w/granddaughter)

Zaki's breeder is at minerdranch.com

Now meet the real Zaki: His Meds

Zaki has Idiopathic seisures every 2 or 3 months. He's been hospitalized 3 times for cluster seizures. Neurological diagnosis and hospital treatment is never less than a $thousand dollars$$.

Zaki also has a coat&skin with no immunity to allergens or bacteria (we beat ourselves up for 3 years for not being able to find "the right food", until we finally took him to a dermatologist. It wasn't FOOD allergies, it was his coat/skin.

A side effect of the daily sedatives seems to have heightened his sense of smell to the point of obsession around the house (sniffing & licking the floor). And... (this was a first), the other day, in the blink of an eye he swallowed my wife's brownie, napkin & all from the coffee table. She was right there! He has NEVER done that... The chocolate and or napkin clogged his system. The olive oil seems to be working, but we feared a second trip to the hospital for "object removal". Last time was $2400... and that was only endoscopic...not surgery.

Last night, thinking another $2500-3500 vet bill, was the first time we talked about maybe it's time to stop and put him down.

Though he sleeps in our bedroom with us. When we leave the house, he can no longer guard the house, because he has to stay in the laundry room to protect him in case of seizures. Yes, he's had them while we were out... welcome home to a poop splattered laundry room! (and an embarrassed, confused, noble 110lb GSD.)

His regular medical MAINTENANCE cost (not counting all the trips to hospital, vets & specialists) is approx. as follows:

Daily seizure meds $100/mo
Atopica anti-puritic $100/mo
Allergy shots $225/3 mo vial

Other meds needed continually on-hand:
Valium suppositories $100 for 20
Periodic blood work to monitor drug levels $150
And Benadryl, and Chlorazepate, and prescription flea meds, medicated shampoo etc etc...

All told, in just 4 years, we've spent easily over $10,000!!! Insurance helps some but not all. Nor does it address the heart ache and pain in the butt!

I've loved GSDs my whole life. Zaki is my third. The worst casualty is that after this experience, we will probably never get another. Definitely not another $700 AKC GSD.

Thanks for letting me rant. But I think we will have this "DNR"... "when is 'enough' enough!? conversation again... sooner rather than later.

If anyone has any experience with long term phenobarb/zonisamide side effects (like the smelling) (or less than snappy (dazed) obedience) please chime in.

03-03-2013, 05:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Abu Zaki Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Camano Island Wa Posts: 32	4yr old Zaki's meds. When to say "Enough!"? First, meet HAPPY & LOVES EVERYONE Zaki (w/granddaughter) Zaki's breeder is at minerdranch.com Now meet the real Zaki: His Meds Zaki has Idiopathic seisures every 2 or 3 months. He's been hospitalized 3 times for cluster seizures. Neurological diagnosis and hospital treatment is never less than a $thousand dollars$$. Zaki also has a coat&skin with no immunity to allergens or bacteria (we beat ourselves up for 3 years for not being able to find "the right food", until we finally took him to a dermatologist. It wasn't FOOD allergies, it was his coat/skin. A side effect of the daily sedatives seems to have heightened his sense of smell to the point of obsession around the house (sniffing & licking the floor). And... (this was a first), the other day, in the blink of an eye he swallowed my wife's brownie, napkin & all from the coffee table. She was right there! He has NEVER done that... The chocolate and or napkin clogged his system. The olive oil seems to be working, but we feared a second trip to the hospital for "object removal". Last time was $2400... and that was only endoscopic...not surgery. Last night, thinking another $2500-3500 vet bill, was the first time we talked about maybe it's time to stop and put him down. Though he sleeps in our bedroom with us. When we leave the house, he can no longer guard the house, because he has to stay in the laundry room to protect him in case of seizures. Yes, he's had them while we were out... welcome home to a poop splattered laundry room! (and an embarrassed, confused, noble 110lb GSD.) His regular medical MAINTENANCE cost (not counting all the trips to hospital, vets & specialists) is approx. as follows: Daily seizure meds $100/mo Atopica anti-puritic $100/mo Allergy shots $225/3 mo vial Other meds needed continually on-hand: Valium suppositories $100 for 20 Periodic blood work to monitor drug levels $150 And Benadryl, and Chlorazepate, and prescription flea meds, medicated shampoo etc etc... All told, in just 4 years, we've spent easily over $10,000!!! Insurance helps some but not all. Nor does it address the heart ache and pain in the butt! I've loved GSDs my whole life. Zaki is my third. The worst casualty is that after this experience, we will probably never get another. Definitely not another $700 AKC GSD. Thanks for letting me rant. But I think we will have this "DNR"... "when is 'enough' enough!? conversation again... sooner rather than later. If anyone has any experience with long term phenobarb/zonisamide side effects (like the smelling) (or less than snappy (dazed) obedience) please chime in.