No, not the door we enter or exit except for going to the yard. He actually thinks the meds are treats. It might be because it went from an extended period of being dry to suddenly raining a lot and wet grass. He doesn't accept change very well. I guess life in a puppy mill is one of "more of the same" day to day which doesn't teach a dog how to accept variation in routine. The only other thing I can think of is he has had a couple of "cling ons" and he obviously hates them because he goes insane trying to rid himself of them when it happens. Maybe he equates the yard with them. Whatever his problem, I refuse to start picking him up and taking him outside. We did that before and we all know how that worked out.
Tinsel's Journey
- Thread starter Tagg
- Start date
Tinsel doesn't seem to care about thunder or lightening but I don't think he liked the rain going down the down spout which is just outside the door. He also wasn't very happy when he had to go out to pee during the rain as he's not a fan of getting wet. Having said that, when I offered him his breakfast on the patio he ran out the door to get it. I'd start putting treats outside for him to find except the westie would get them first every time and I don't want to start crating her on a regular basis - she's 11 and she's doesn't really need her life to change drastically. Me standing out there with treats doesn't cut it with him. Hey, at least when he sees a lead and collar come out he gets excited and stays in the kitchen to get it put on. It wasn't that long ago that he would high tail it for the family room to avoid it. Just have to figure out how to make going out there a fun thing to do. Maybe when the thyroxine kicks in and he feels more energetic he will find it's fun to go in the yard. Fingers crossed
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Tinsel's voice is getting stronger. It still sounds like a dog with a cold but it is definately a bark and he gave a couple while he was spinning for his dinner. I think the thyroxine is starting to have an effect. He also engaged in a bit physical play with me. Not what you would normally expect from a young dog but a lot more than he has done so far. The other thing is that he was able to squat in one spot this morning to poop. That's the first time he has been able to do that - he usually has to walk and squat about 4 times to evacuate his bowels. There has been no limping episodes in the 9 days he has been off Recovery and on Thyroxine. When I tried to take him off Recovery before he was limping within about 48 hours. Can't wait to see what other changes I will see in the coming weeks.
Thanks Crystal 1. It is rewarding to see his progress. Having bred dogs for 3 decades and giving them the best of everything you kind of expect a normal growth and development. Taking a dog from the beginnings Tin had, nothing is normal but he strives to become his sheltie self. It has been a bit of a financial shock that we didn't plan for, so was my son's wedding and the hay yields this year, but I would do it again in a heartbeat and since my hubby is as doggy as me, he has said the same thing. We have to consider what Tin should and shouldn't be around while he recovers so I wouldn't consider another like him just yet. We also have the old ladies and I don't want to put too much pressure on them. Both Phoebe and Rhiannon have helped him just by being the special dogs that they are. Maybe one day Tin will be the dog that helps another adjust to life. I'm glad we said yes when my daughter asked me to help the rescue out and that we were able to live up to her telling the rescue that they would never have to worry about sending a dog to us. That was really an incentive to do well.
So it's been 4 weeks since Tin was put on thyroxine. There is some improvements but not big significant ones. He still isn't limping and he is a bit more engaged so it will be interesting to see what the blood draw on Saturday shows. He continues to take the pill as a treat - how lucky is that??
I was going to have it sent down to Hemopet but am not getting a lot of support from the clinic. I don't want to spend a lot of money having it done and then the shipping causes an issue with the sample. I guess it has happened in the past and so my clinic is unwilling to do it. They will allow me to make the arrangements and have it picked up from them but assuming the sample is processed as Dr. Dodds wishes there is still the question mark about the shipping. I guess I will have Antek do the lab work this time and see what comes of it. After this test I might see if one of the vets that rescue uses is more willing to work with me. By the way, the Thyroid 4 panel at Dr. Dodds is $80 where as the lesser test, Thyroid 3, here is $160 plus office visit, blood draw and courier charges. I now know why I am hearing of people going across the border for this type of work. I told my family that they are getting a framed picture of Tinsel, Thomas or a bale of hay for Christmas - hee hee.
Tin is going to the Westie picnic and fundraiser with his sister Phoebe this weekend and then next weekend will be attending the Sheltie rescue picnic. I will be the one hobbling around with the smashed toe - cooking is dangerous - in the hopefully dry grass since I can't get a real shoe on. It's 9 months today that our boy came to us. The changes are big and small but all for the good. He accepts grooming for the most part now and smiles all the time. He still doesn't like a lot of noise but he isn't exposed to a lot here either. Since he has come we have come to the conclusion that he is not able to hear as well out of both ears and wonder if his age is greater than first thought. Doesn't matter, he will be with us for life.
I was going to have it sent down to Hemopet but am not getting a lot of support from the clinic. I don't want to spend a lot of money having it done and then the shipping causes an issue with the sample. I guess it has happened in the past and so my clinic is unwilling to do it. They will allow me to make the arrangements and have it picked up from them but assuming the sample is processed as Dr. Dodds wishes there is still the question mark about the shipping. I guess I will have Antek do the lab work this time and see what comes of it. After this test I might see if one of the vets that rescue uses is more willing to work with me. By the way, the Thyroid 4 panel at Dr. Dodds is $80 where as the lesser test, Thyroid 3, here is $160 plus office visit, blood draw and courier charges. I now know why I am hearing of people going across the border for this type of work. I told my family that they are getting a framed picture of Tinsel, Thomas or a bale of hay for Christmas - hee hee.
Tin is going to the Westie picnic and fundraiser with his sister Phoebe this weekend and then next weekend will be attending the Sheltie rescue picnic. I will be the one hobbling around with the smashed toe - cooking is dangerous - in the hopefully dry grass since I can't get a real shoe on. It's 9 months today that our boy came to us. The changes are big and small but all for the good. He accepts grooming for the most part now and smiles all the time. He still doesn't like a lot of noise but he isn't exposed to a lot here either. Since he has come we have come to the conclusion that he is not able to hear as well out of both ears and wonder if his age is greater than first thought. Doesn't matter, he will be with us for life.
OntarioSheltie
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Glad to hear that Tinsel continues to slowly improve. Hopefully you can get the thyroid panel done soon!
Looking forward to seeing you at the rescue picnic.
Looking forward to seeing you at the rescue picnic.
Tinsel is convinced that I am going to bleed to death. The smashed toe is still bleeding, a good thing actually, but not to Tin. He continues to walk beside me whenever I get up and keeps pace with me - long step on one side, short step on the other. He sniffs my toe and whimpers every time. Poor little guy is soooo concerned. Phoebe and Rhi, on the other hand, are used to klutzy mom injuring herself so after an initial sniff were satisfied that I could still feed them and let them outside - no biggie. After talking to the vets and the lab I am going to do a Thryoid 5 panel on Saturday as this lab doesn't include the TGAA on a Thyroid 4. Getting it over the border and down to Hemopet is too problematic. In the meantime, my gelding, Thomas, is suffering a bout of laminitis - not sure why. The farmer next door was spraying something in the field beside the horse pastures so we are thinking that might be the problem or maybe his having his vaccines a couple of weeks ago - who knows. All I know for sure is that somehow both my large animal and small animal vets are putting up big additions to their clinics. Wonder if I'm having a big part of paying for them
What have you done to your poor toe ?? One time i got my pinky toe caught under a door when i opened it and couldn't get it out. i had no choice but to force the door back over it to get my toe out- hard to believe such a little toe could hurt so bad. It has never been the same and that was about 20 years ago !!!