Barker the Elder's update

middleofnowhere · 09-26-2009, 09:38 PM

Well, after the "Oh Crap" episode things were going along pretty well, Barker the Elder was feeling better, moving more and all. Unfortunately I got complacent. For 12 years this dog would daintily step around feces. So I figured that old pile, especially as it was old, that someone (not us) had left at the edge of the yard was not of interest.
Sigh. This was back around labor day - I was wrong. she gobbled a piece maggots and all before I could stop her - Now I think that part of the recurring diarrhea comes from her efforts to clean up after herself so I quickly administered an emetic (sp). That was the wrong thing to do. The vomiting caused dehydration & accompanying weakness. Only one day at the vet on iv or subq fluids (not sure which) and about a 10 day recovery. We're getting the UT back on track with the des dose high again.
I don't remember who suggested the piddle pads but those are pretty effective slipped under a leaky dog! one that is only slightly used is very effective at absorbing the urine bath on a hardwood floor, too!
Anyway, for now at 14 years, 4 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days we have an alert dog, a good appetite, and stools of the right consistency! She felt good enough last night to bark her old lady dog bark at the barn. It is party time!

SunCzarina · 09-26-2009, 09:46 PM

It's nice to hear she's better. 14 and 1/3 years old, wow. I hope Morgan goes that long and I hope I hear her old lady bark at the neighbors annoying terrier.

LisaT · 09-26-2009, 09:47 PM

Oh wow. Terrible what one simple pile of feces can do

I'm so glad that you have her stable again, although it sounds like it took a lot of work. Great job

that it holds!

3K9Mom · 09-27-2009, 02:42 AM

Glad to hear that BTE is mending nicely and back to being her feisty self.

Keep it up BTE

middleofnowhere · 09-27-2009, 11:09 AM

BTE thanks every one for their well wishes. We are off to the barn again today.

SunCzarina · 09-27-2009, 11:32 AM

Woof Woof Woof!

Woodreb · 09-27-2009, 05:59 PM

Glad to hear that BTE is doing better.
I hope that Aodhán gets to an ripe old age like that. I know her mother is 14 and still healthy so I'm hopeful she inherited those genes from Mom.
The piddle pads worked really well for Rica when she was having problems. There were a couple of floods that happened on tile floor and I think we used a lot of paper towels to clean up, but any accidents on the pads were pretty easy to contain and clean up.

Hope BTE continues to do well and doesn't clean up after herself anymore.

Kayos and Havoc · 09-29-2009, 11:35 AM

Keep hanging in there BTE!

Brightelf · 09-29-2009, 03:30 PM

Thanks for the update on BTE! Keep barking, girl! Good job at keeping the bark intruder-free! It sounds like you really handled the episode after the clean-up really well. It also sounds like BTE is feeling pretty well, considering! Good for you, good for her! Sending more well-wishes BTE's way!

middleofnowhere · 10-22-2009, 07:44 PM

Just a bit more on the last Barker Sister - I managed to lock myself out of the board for a while there. Just got that squared away today.

We were out at the barn back on the 7th. She was alert and interested enough to protest when we road off for our trail ride. By the time I got back she had vomitted twice. When she was complaining before we got to the main road, I decided to go to the vet. She was dehydrating as they do with a spell of vomitting at 14 +. I visited briefly on Thursday and that night she was looking pretty good. The vet and I both thought she'd come home Friday morning. She died the next morning as I was trying to get out to see her. The vet had called that she wasn't going to make it. October 9th was a bad day for sheppies in Little Rock. The vet's shep who was much younger also died that morning.

We have had several bouts of similar incidents in the last year. But she was alert and happy until the end. She never lost the glow in her eyes or her joy at the barn. She was 14 years 4 months and 30 days old! She was a delight and quite the character.

It is incredibly strange to come home to a house without a dog in it. Since getting the first dog in my adult life, I have been without a dog for maybe one month. The "spots" for both of the Barker Sisters are empty.

I appreciate condolences but please understand that I am an atheist and find sentiments like the rainbow bridge not to my liking.

09-26-2009, 09:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
middleofnowhere Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Arkansas Posts: 12,472	Barker the Elder's update Well, after the "Oh Crap" episode things were going along pretty well, Barker the Elder was feeling better, moving more and all. Unfortunately I got complacent. For 12 years this dog would daintily step around feces. So I figured that old pile, especially as it was old, that someone (not us) had left at the edge of the yard was not of interest. Sigh. This was back around labor day - I was wrong. she gobbled a piece maggots and all before I could stop her - Now I think that part of the recurring diarrhea comes from her efforts to clean up after herself so I quickly administered an emetic (sp). That was the wrong thing to do. The vomiting caused dehydration & accompanying weakness. Only one day at the vet on iv or subq fluids (not sure which) and about a 10 day recovery. We're getting the UT back on track with the des dose high again. I don't remember who suggested the piddle pads but those are pretty effective slipped under a leaky dog! one that is only slightly used is very effective at absorbing the urine bath on a hardwood floor, too! Anyway, for now at 14 years, 4 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days we have an alert dog, a good appetite, and stools of the right consistency! She felt good enough last night to bark her old lady dog bark at the barn. It is party time!

09-26-2009, 09:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
SunCzarina Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 12,031	Re: Barker the Elder's update It's nice to hear she's better. 14 and 1/3 years old, wow. I hope Morgan goes that long and I hope I hear her old lady bark at the neighbors annoying terrier. __________________ -Jenn Otto von Hena-C 05/23/08 Morgan Donnermond 08/04/01 I have duct tape and I am not afraid to use it.

09-26-2009, 09:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
LisaT Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern CA Posts: 17,002	Re: Barker the Elder's update Oh wow. Terrible what one simple pile of feces can do I'm so glad that you have her stable again, although it sounds like it took a lot of work. Great job that it holds! __________________ K9 Tick Disease Information http://www.rabieschallengefund.org

09-27-2009, 02:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
3K9Mom Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 7,575	Re: Barker the Elder's update Glad to hear that BTE is mending nicely and back to being her feisty self. Keep it up BTE

09-27-2009, 11:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
middleofnowhere Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Arkansas Posts: 12,472	Re: Barker the Elder's update BTE thanks every one for their well wishes. We are off to the barn again today.

09-27-2009, 11:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
SunCzarina Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 12,031	Re: Barker the Elder's update Woof Woof Woof! __________________ -Jenn Otto von Hena-C 05/23/08 Morgan Donnermond 08/04/01 I have duct tape and I am not afraid to use it.

09-27-2009, 05:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
Woodreb Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Milford, CT Posts: 548	Re: Barker the Elder's update Glad to hear that BTE is doing better. I hope that Aodhán gets to an ripe old age like that. I know her mother is 14 and still healthy so I'm hopeful she inherited those genes from Mom. The piddle pads worked really well for Rica when she was having problems. There were a couple of floods that happened on tile floor and I think we used a lot of paper towels to clean up, but any accidents on the pads were pretty easy to contain and clean up. Hope BTE continues to do well and doesn't clean up after herself anymore. __________________ Johanna Aodhán (GSD)- Mar 2002 Caleb (Quill vom kleinen Teich) - Mar 2009 Rica (GSD)- Nov 1996 - July 2009 RIP Max (GSDx) - 1983 - 1998 RIP Kelly (GSD) - 1986 - 1996 RIP

09-29-2009, 11:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kayos and Havoc Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: McAlester, OK Posts: 16,921	Re: Barker the Elder's update Keep hanging in there BTE! __________________ Kathy The Wrecking Crew URO3, UCD "Kayos" CD,TDX,RE,CGC,HIC,TC URO1, UCD "Havoc" CDX,GN,RE,CGC,HIC,TC,BH At the Bridge: Lucky, Wolf, Max Gone but never forgotten

09-29-2009, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brightelf Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 9,357	Re: Barker the Elder's update Thanks for the update on BTE! Keep barking, girl! Good job at keeping the bark intruder-free! It sounds like you really handled the episode after the clean-up really well. It also sounds like BTE is feeling pretty well, considering! Good for you, good for her! Sending more well-wishes BTE's way! __________________ Patti Frauchen von: Grimm van den Heuvel, aka "The Doofinator" My strong-minded, very loving boy

10-22-2009, 07:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
middleofnowhere Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Arkansas Posts: 12,472	Re: Barker the Elder's update Just a bit more on the last Barker Sister - I managed to lock myself out of the board for a while there. Just got that squared away today. We were out at the barn back on the 7th. She was alert and interested enough to protest when we road off for our trail ride. By the time I got back she had vomitted twice. When she was complaining before we got to the main road, I decided to go to the vet. She was dehydrating as they do with a spell of vomitting at 14 +. I visited briefly on Thursday and that night she was looking pretty good. The vet and I both thought she'd come home Friday morning. She died the next morning as I was trying to get out to see her. The vet had called that she wasn't going to make it. October 9th was a bad day for sheppies in Little Rock. The vet's shep who was much younger also died that morning. We have had several bouts of similar incidents in the last year. But she was alert and happy until the end. She never lost the glow in her eyes or her joy at the barn. She was 14 years 4 months and 30 days old! She was a delight and quite the character. It is incredibly strange to come home to a house without a dog in it. Since getting the first dog in my adult life, I have been without a dog for maybe one month. The "spots" for both of the Barker Sisters are empty. I appreciate condolences but please understand that I am an atheist and find sentiments like the rainbow bridge not to my liking.

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