Resolving Ear Issues in Scottish Terriers

After more than three months of weekly visits to the V-E-T for Nibbles' and Pudley's ongoing ear problems, things finally look to be clearing up! These two happy Scotties have one more visit this weekend and if they get a good report card from the V-E-T, then they get to stop these weekly trips. It has been a long journey to get to this point and I thought I'd share Nibbles' and Pudley's experience in the hopes we can help other Scottish Terriers resolve their ear issues.

First things first: read how the ear issues started.

Our first method of attack on these ear issues was a series of BNT treatments. Nibbles and Pudley were not fans of these at all and they were quite messy. However, they worked like a charm - but only temporarily. It wasn't long before we returned to the V-E-T. The V-E-T's initial thought was that their ear infections were so bad, it would take multiple BNT treatments. After the second or third unsuccessful BNT treatment, we decided to send off some of the stuff from their ears for testing. The results showed us both Nibbles and Pudley had some sort of genetic bacteria in their ears that was resistant to most medications. Hence, why the previous BNT treatments had been unsuccessful.

We started Nibbles and Pudley on Clavamox chew tablets and an antibiotic. Meanwhile, we started reporting back to the V-E-T each week so they could take a close look at the ears and give them a deep cleaning each time. Nibbles and Pudley didn't care for this, either, but they tolerated it better than the BNT treatments and you could tell  how badly they needed the cleaning when they came out of the V-E-T. For an hour or so after each appointment, Nibbles and Pudley would walk around shaking their heads but as the hours passed and the days followed, things returned to normal.

Week after week for about as long as I've had Nibbles and Pudley, this has been our routine. I was determined to find them some relief. Fast forward to last weekend - more than three months since we first sought out to resolve my Scottish Terriers' ear issues - and the V-E-T said we've almost crossed the finish line. The ears have improved markedly. Nibbles' ears are pretty much normal and while Pudley's ears have most certainly gotten better, there is still a bit of residual bacteria remaining. We'll know more after their appointment this weekend but I can feel we're close! 

A Cure for an Upset Stomach

Each week, Nibbles and Pudley have to go to the V-E-T. They've gone every week since they joined the Scottie Mom family to have their ears cleaned and checked until the bacteria is gone for good. Today, Pudley decided that once per week wasn't frequent enough for him and so, we made yet another trip to the V-E-T on his behalf.

It started after the last ear cleaning, just before dinner. The Scottie crew was relaxing on the couch pillows when all of a sudden, Pudley jumped off the couch and trotted off as if he was on a mission. He went all the way across the house and into his bed, where he promptly threw up a yellow-green, frothy liquid. Fast forward four days and the same thing happened. This time, I called the V-E-T. He had a healthy appetite, was acting normally and nothing seemed to bother him until he randomly jumped up and trotted across the house to his designated puke station. 

The V-E-T recommended I feed him chicken and rice for dinner and again for breakfast the following morning. Of course, Pudley loved this. The stomach issue seemed to resolve itself once more. Until this morning. For whatever reason, I decided to sleep with the Scottie crew in the human bed and I woke up to the sound of Pudley throwing up once more...right beside me.

Off to the V-E-T we went. His temperature was good, his stomach felt fine and we even had a fecal test done. The best the V-E-T could determine was a possible stomach bug. She also suggested that since all three incidents occurred before meal time, that perhaps he needs to be fed more often. Pudley and I were sent home with Cerenia, Metronidazole and Prilosec. Here's hoping one (or all) of these medications is the cure to his upset stomach. As soon as we got home today, poor Pudley threw up twice!

The Rallying Cry

Words cannot describe the state of shock I went into on Wednesday morning. Before I had fallen asleep the night before, Heather had lost nearly all function in her back legs. I had made peace with my decision to let her go if there was nothing the V-E-T could do for her. But when I opened my eyes the next morning and saw Heather standing there on all fours, I didn't know what to think. I found myself asking the same question I had the night before: how had this happened?

I covered her with kisses as I carried her downstairs. Mr. K, Pudley and Nibbles were there to greet us and together, the five of us went on our morning walk. Much to my surprise, Heather opted not to be carried and marched herself out the door, into the yard, through our neighbor's yard and all the way back - without assistance. I was speechless and had no reasonable explanation for what I witnessed. Just the night before, I had sat there on that very grass with Heather thinking it could be our last night together. Yet, here I was with the flicker of hope reignited from within once more.

Heather and I journeyed to the V-E-T. I explained what happened, how Heather continued to eat really well and even walked herself to the water bowl before making her way all the way across the main floor of the house to sit on her favorite air vent. The V-E-T put Heather down on the floor and there again, she walked toward the vet tech and then came over to say hello to me. As confused as I was, a sense of relief came over me when the V-E-T said it was not yet time to say goodbye.

I learned that Heather had thrown a blood clot and that it had passed on its own. That explained the temporary paralysis. Since Heather is prone to clotting, I also learned this was likely to happen again and that if it did but also went away in 12-24 hours without issue, she could keep going as she is. However, the V-E-T warned me that though Wednesday was not the day to say goodbye, we were getting close and it could be a matter of days or weeks - not months. Grateful for another day, I returned with Heather to the Scottie House, where she walked around as she pleased all day.

Heather and I both slept so soundly last night. We even slept in a little later than usual (which didn't please the three other Scotties waiting for breakfast downstairs). Again, I carried her downstairs and she ate a full meal, drank a cool drink and took care of business outside. I felt good. We had time. 

I came home to check in with the Scottie crew three hours later. Much to my dismay, Heather had lost function in her back legs once more - this time, completely so. She really struggled even to adjust her position in the Scottie bed. I called the V-E-T and gave Heather some Tramadol to help relieve any pain or discomfort she would go through as she passed another blood clot. As previously discussed with the V-E-T, I plan to be here by her side waiting the 12-24 hours to see if things improve. Her appetite is still healthy, she's drinking water...she just can't walk.

Of course, I'm hoping sweet Heather will rally again but I also don't want her to be in any pain. We're close to the end now, I can feel it. Heather will let me know when it is time. And when it is time, I'll help her over the rainbow bridge - something I've never done before. Thank you to everyone for your continued support. I promise to keep you posted as we go. Much love, The Scottie Mom.

The End of the Road?

Something told me to take Heather to bed with me last night. I can't explain why. I just felt it was important she spend the night with me. So, I scooped her up and to bed we went. Less than two hours later, I woke up to the sound of quick, short breaths. Heather was sleeping but she was breathing incredibly fast. I shot up to check on her and surprisingly, her breath normalized shortly thereafter.

I tried to settle back in and was just dozing off when Heather suddenly stood up and stared across the room. I watched her carefully and a few minutes later, she relaxed and sat back down. Fast forward maybe another 20 minutes or so, and it happened again. This time, she looked directly at me. I coaxed her to come to me so I could pet her and make her feel more comfortable. It worked but I quickly realized there wouldn't be much sleep for either of us that night. 

And so it went on, hour after hour. Nothing really appeared to be wrong - only twice during the night did she seem like her breath was labored. The rest of the time Heather was inexplicably restless. I was terrified and woke up with a start any time I felt my eyes closing. Was she still breathing? Was this really it? She seems fine but why so restless and why had I felt compelled to bring her to bed? I'm usually not the superstitious type but couldn't help wondering if this was some kind of sign.

Finally, sleep found us both. And in the morning, Heather enjoyed a big bowl of boiled chicken and rice - now her favorite meal. There were no breathing issues and she seemingly was fine once more. I couldn't help but think of what a strange night it had been. What did it all mean? Was I missing something? Is she really okay? What if she's in pain and I have had no idea? When I came home from work this evening, Heather was in her usual spot, resting on the floor vent soaking up the AC.

I smiled and said hello but Heather didn't get up. I moved closer and pet her gently but still she did not get up. Her eyes weren't as bright and happy. I scooped her up and put her on all fours only to find that she slid back down. My heart stopped. How had her health declined so fast? Was this a result of the clot in her leg or was this a symptom of the cancer progressing? I took her outside where she promptly took care of business and actually took a few steps on her own before lying down in the warm, green grass. Suddenly, reality set in and I knew we very well could be at the end of the road.

Once again, she enjoyed a full meal. Although, she had to eat it while lying down. Her back legs have lost almost all function in a matter of hours. Just a few days ago, you wouldn't have been able to tell that she was sick. Tonight, after a conversation with the V-E-T, I'm left contemplating next steps. Heather will be going in for an evaluation with the V-E-T first thing in the morning but the anxiety is high and the heart is heavy tonight in light of this turn of events. Of course, I'm hoping for the best but knowingly preparing for the worst. Please keep my sweet girl in your thoughts tonight.

Treating Allergies in Scottie Dogs

It wasn't long after Nibbles joined the Scottie Mom family that I developed my theory of how Nibbles got her name. A playful yet sometimes shy pup, Nibbles can be found sitting atop any pillow in the house, paws outstretched and...you guessed it, nibbling away at them. It is a near constant occurrence  and something I knew pretty early on that we would have to address with the V-E-T.

As it turns out, the V-E-T thinks the nibbling could be a result of something allergy related. Having suspected that early on, I switched Nibbles to a limited ingredient diet shortly after she and Pudley joined the family thinking a simple diet change would do the trick. It did for Mr. K all those years ago. When the nibbling didn't stop, I consulted the V-E-T once more and learned of a bacteria that is growing in her ears that could be the culprit for her ear issues as well as the excessive nibbling.

The V-E-T recommended starting Nibbles on prednisone and clavamox to clear up her ears and maybe help cut down her nibbling on her paws. A week or so into treatment and I've seen mild improvement but not enough. I'll soon start wiping her paws with baby wipes when we return from walks, per the V-E-T's recommendation, and we'll make weekly visits to the V-E-T to have the bacteria cleaned out from her ears in hopes that, too, will help.

Aside from the nibbling and not liking frequent visits to the V-E-T, Nibbles hardly seems bothered by her allergies. She runs around the Scottie House stealing toys from the boys and is always ready to alert the troops if so much as a peep is heard just outside one of the doors. Still, I know she can't be too comfortable if she feels she has to nibble on her paws every time she rests atop a pillow. Tell us: have you ever had a pup with allergies and if so, how did you treat them?

When Your Dog Has Cancer And You Can't Even Tell She's Sick

It has been one month since we learned Heather's cancer returned. I left the hospital thinking my time with her was limited and was determined to make the very best of whatever it was that we had left. When her appetite slowed, I thought it was a sign things would go downhill even faster than I originally thought. Then, I started cooking for her and the appetite came back with a vengeance. She even eats regular kibble on its own now. A definite turn from where we've been.

Today, Heather still behaves as if nothing is wrong. She still actively searches out the good stuff: treats. She playfully burrows her head in the rugs of the Scottie House. And she still spends most of the day blocking the air from circulating through the house in favor of cooling her belly. If she had not been hospitalized last month, I'm not sure I would have ever known she was so sick because she is almost entirely back to normal. It is obvious her arthritis is an issue but I give her supplements to help with the joints and pick her up when we go up and down the stairs to prevent injury.

With each day that passes by, I find myself forgetting that she is sick after all. Every day is just like any other. Selfishly, I find myself thinking of how nice it would be to have the holidays with all four Scotties. I have to remind myself time and again that the inevitable will happen. I just don't know when. Will she live to see her twelfth birthday? I don't want to get too comfortable that I fall back into a routine in which we're not living life to its fullest potential. There's still so much life to be lived and I want her to experience whatever it is she wants to experience.

It is a delicate balance - trying to live life as usual while coping with the reality of this difficult situation. My only goal these days is to keep her happy and comfortable. And shower her with kisses every time I pick her up to walk up or down the stairs just so she knows how much she is loved. I know there are decisions to be made and that it would be easier to make those decisions now rather than when the inevitable takes place. And I will. Just not now. For now, I'm going to continue loving on my sweet girl and learning to whip up whatever it is she fancies to eat!

The Return of the Evil "C"

Sarcoma. A type of cancer Heather has beaten once before and ultimately, the kind of cancer that will take her from this Earth in the near future. We learned today that there is no cure. Only a form of chemotherapy that will help prevent her blood from feeding the tumors' growth. Surgery is not an option this time, either, as the cancer has spread from one end of the body to the other and there are multiple masses. So, our best bet is to keep her comfortable for as long as we can. 

In addition to the return of the evil "C," Heather faces a host of other medical conditions including gallbladder mucocele, Cushing's disease and a newly discovered blood clot. All life-threatening. I marvel at Heather's strength and perseverance after hearing the lineup of health concerns. How could a little girl so happy with life have so much wrong going on inside? It is almost as if she doesn't know she's sick and I'm thankful that - this weekend excepted - she hasn't experienced trouble or pain.

Heather is safe and comfortable at home now after a long weekend at the pet hospital. She is napping on the couch as I type this. Mr. K, Nibbles and Pudley are all on the couch pillows nearby looking after her. From the moment I carried her through the door, I knew I had made the right decision. She started rubbing her chin on the rug with her bottom up in the air and her helicopter tail wagging wildly. She is happy. And she is home - exactly where she belongs for the rest of her life.

I don't know how much time I have with Heather and a part of me does not care. I'd rather not know. Sure, I wish I had more time with her (don't we all wish that at some point in our lives?) but I will not be sidelined by grief. I'm determined to make her last days the best yet so that when her little body decides to rest, I, too, might be able to rest knowing I did something good. As always, we will keep you posted. Many thanks for your kind words and continued support. Much love, The Scottie Mom.

A Three-Dog Night

I finally slept. After being up for 18+ hours, I practically melted into my pillow by the time we left the pet hospital and made it home late last night. I tried not to think about the missing Scottie dog at my feet and I cried when I accidentally called Nibbles by Heather's name.

Tomorrow, Heather will undergo surgery to remove her gallbladder - the culprit of all her symptoms. Heather was diagnosed with gallbladder mucocele and the V-E-T at the pet hospital says Heather's gallbladder needs to come out or it will rupture, at which point we would likely need to help her over the Rainbow Bridge if surgery wasn't an option.

It was a difficult decision when determining whether she should have the surgery. I worried about whether it was safe at her age to undergo anesthesia and, of course, the surgery itself. I worried what her recovery would be like. Would she live a relatively normal life, if all went well? What would her diet be like without a gallbladder? Could she still stay on trilostane for Cushing's disease?

The V-E-T said her prognosis looked good, if we were to elect to proceed with surgery. She said age, in this case, was not an issue and that aside from these symptoms, Heather is healthy - especially when you consider how well she is doing on trilostane. (We received the results of the ACTH stimulation retest, by the way, and learned that we won't need to adjust her dosage!)

Encouraged by the V-E-T's positive outlook and after consulting with my sister (who works at a V-E-T's office in North Carolina), I decided it would be wrong of me not to give it a try. I signed additional paperwork and handed over a whopping $4,400 deposit before I went to the visitors' room with family to spend some time with Heather. 

That's when I knew I had made the right decision. She was walking with so much more ease. Yes, she was still slow but she wagged her tail at the sight of us and her favorite tiny human. Her nurse told me that Heather was much more alert and that she ate "ravenously" after she had the IV fluids.

Many thanks to everyone for their kind words of encouragement and support throughout this difficult time. I am hopeful that I won't have any more three-dog nights and that Heather will be home with us by the end of the week. Look for an update from us sometime tomorrow after surgery. In the meantime, please keep my sweet girl in your thoughts. Much love, The Scottie Mom.

Expect the Unexpected

I remember thinking just hours ago that I wasn't sure if I'd have anything to write about today. How I so wish that was still the case. In a surprising twist of random and completely unfathomable series of events, Heather once again is fighting her best fight and will be staying overnight at the doggie hospital for a few days. My family is on their way to spend the weekend with us...just in case.

It all started in the middle of the night. Heather woke me up at 1:12 a.m. to go outside. This isn't unusual. Her bladder needs to empty more frequently now that she's in her golden years. What was unusual is that no more than one hour later, she needed to go again so, out we went. Then, at 5:20 a.m., Heather had to go out so bad, she couldn't hold it for the five steps it takes to get out the back door from the human bed and had an accident on the rug. I knew something wasn't right.

When I flipped on the light to begin cleaning the floor, I noticed the area where Heather sleeps was wet, too. What remains unclear is if it was a result of Heather licking herself and the area around her (the entire left, backside of her including the fur on her leg was wet and curly - usually a sign she's been licking) or if she had an accident on the bed overnight. Her urine was clear, almost like water. Probably just a side effect of the ACTH stimulation test she had the previous day, I thought.

At 7:30 a.m., I whipped up a special breakfast of moist food mixed with her usual kibble and medications. Ironically, she gobbled up the pill pockets containing her medications but left the food completely untouched. I tried again using just the kibble. Nothing. Then, as soon it was open, I ran to the store and picked up some of the Delectable Delights we tried recently that she loved so in hopes she would eat. Even that, she merely licked the broth but left nearly everything untouched.

I called the V-E-T and explained what was going on. In addition to her lack of appetite, Heather was lethargic and her back leg seemed to have trouble holding her up. We brought her in to the V-E-T and after an examination and some tests, learned that most everything looked good except she had a fever of 103 and one of her liver values had skyrocketed. With a referral to a specialty pet hospital, we were out the door to get Heather emergency IV fluids and an ultrasound to give us a better idea about what was going on. We should have those results later tonight or tomorrow. 

It has been a rough day, friends, and we won't know the outcome for some time. I am still trying to wrap my head around all that happened this morning never mind prepare for what may come. Please keep my sweet girl in your thoughts and know we're doing everything possible to ensure she has the best care and is comfortable no matter what. Paws and fingers crossed, please!

You Have our Ears

Chronic ear problems are a new Scottish Terrier health issue for me. Before Nibbles and Pudley, I never had a dog with any kind of ear problems. On their initial visit with the V-E-T, which was only days into their stay at the Scottie House, I learned that though they already had been undergoing treatment, their ears were in pretty bad shape. So, we had something called BNT treatment done in which this thick, yellowish goop is placed all over the inside of a dog's ears to help clean things up.

Surely, she won't take us to the V-E-T again...

It was evident Nibbles and Pudley did not appreciate having that goop inside their ears. Every few minutes, they would shake their heads from side to side trying to clear them out. And, when we returned to the Scottie House, they tried to rub their ears on any surface of the house they could find that would help relieve them of the yucky goop. We also switched their diets to the same limited ingredient formula Heather and Mr. K have used for years in case they, like Mr. K, had food allergies. For two weeks, things seemed pretty good and I thought we were in the clear.

Not long thereafter, Nibble and Pudley started pawing at and itching their ears again. Then, there was the return of the head shaking. I knew another trip to the V-E-T was in store for us. Poor Nibbles and Pudley aren't accustomed to trips to the V-E-T as Heather and Mr. K are and so they nothing short of terrified when we go. Nibbles even shakes and refuses to cross through the door's threshold on her own. Despite this, I knew they needed relief from itchy ears so we hopped into the Scottie Mobile and off to the V-E-T we went for the fifth or sixth time in the last month.

The V-E-T recommended doing another BNT treatment in the hopes it would clear out Nibbles' and Pudley's ears once and for all. If it doesn't, we'll be back at the V-E-T in another two weeks or so in search of another solution. Though the BNT treatment does a good job for the two weeks or so it lasts, it costs $82 for both dogs and I'm not sure if BNT treatment is even intended to be a long-term solution. If it can be, combining that cost with Heather's treatment for Cushing's every two weeks will necessitate our canine healthcare budget for the year being readjusted considerably!

Tell us: have you ever had a pup with chronic ear issues and what treatment did you choose?

Treating Cushing's Disease

Recently, we started Heather on trilostane after learning she had Cushing's disease. She takes two pills every morning with breakfast (along with Cosequin® for the joints, cefpodoxime for an infection currently clearing up and occasionally, tramadol to help with the pain from arthritis). I kept a close eye on her from the day she started trilostane, expecting some sort of reaction or side effects to occur. Amazing, that hasn't been the case. In fact, she seems to be responding really well.

It could be a placebo effect of sorts happening in my head but I'm encouraged by Heather's response to the medications. She has a little more sparkle in her eyes and even woke me up by burrowing her head in my side repeatedly and snorting - something she hasn't done in a while - almost every day this week. I like to think that's her way of telling me she's happy and feeling better. I suspect she was the ring leader of Thursday's Scottie Whodunnit in which I came home to find the kitchen trash bin not only tipped over, but the bag ripped to shreds and the contents all over the Scottie House. 

On Friday, Heather makes another trip to the V-E-T exactly four hours after she has her morning dose of trilostane to redo her ACTH stimulation test. I'm cautiously optimistic that she will do well and we won't have to up her dosage of trilostane, given her response to the current regimen thus far. Still, we ask you to keep sweet Heather Beather in your thoughts and cross your paws and fingers for her, please! We will update you on the results as soon as we have them. 

Another Day, Another Dollar at the Vet (part two)

We finally have answers albeit not necessarily ones we would have wanted to hear. At 11.5 years old, Heather has been diagnosed with Cushing's disease. Her ACTH stimulation test results showed her post-cortisol level was 27 (a result of 19 or less would have ruled Cushing's out). This means her body is making too much steroids and definitely explains the hair loss down her back - her thinning hair barely covers her skin now. It also explains why she's constantly thirsty and hungry. 

At first, hearing the words Cushing's disease was frightening but it seems there have been improvements in treating this condition over the years and I've heard from many Scottie Moms and Dads that they had years with their fur babies after they were diagnosed. This gives me hope. We started Heather on trilostane yesterday. She will take two pills each morning and in two weeks, we will visit the V-E-T again to redo the ACTH stimulation test. If results look good, Heather will continue taking two pills per day. If test results show there's still room for improvement, we will up the dosage and retest again in another two weeks. 

Only two days into our new routine and I'm feeling optimistic. It was a little daunting to hear you have to wear protective gloves when handling the medication and need to wash your hands immediately afterwards but I'm committed to doing whatever makes Heather feel more comfortable. So far, she hasn't had any kind of reaction to the medication whatsoever. The V-E-T mentioned she could feel weak or even get diarrhea but we've been fortunate thus far. My hope is that, in time, she'll be feeling good again and we'll enjoy many more nights with sweet Heather.

Assuming Heather can maintain the current dosage, the cost of her medication per month will be approximately $175. That number will increase, of course, if her next test results show that she needs higher dosages of trilostane. And with every adjustment we make to the medication, we'll need another ACTH stimulation test, which costs roughly $165. My point? Save now, Scottie Moms and Dads, you never know when you might need that "rainy day" fund!

We will, of course, be chronicling Heather's journey with Cushing's disease here on the blog but I urge those of you who have gone through this to lend your support by sharing your stories in the comments section below so that all those reading this can learn from your experience. We greatly appreciate your individual emails to us but feel strongly that any knowledge on this subject should be shared. And so, I ask: what treatment did you select for your Scottie? Any side effects or words of caution? What signs and symptoms did your Scottie display before he or she was diagnosed? For more information on Cushing's disease, check out our friends at ScottishTerrierHealth.com.

An Open Letter to the Parent of a Senior Pet

I never thought watching a pet grow old would be easy but the reality is so much more bittersweet than I ever imagined. On the one hand, I am grateful for each day knowing there are too many pets - especially Scottish Terriers - who don't live long enough to experience the golden years. I celebrate this feat and honor those who couldn't stay with us longer by doing my best to make the most of every day I have with my senior pets so when that inevitable day comes, they truly can rest in peace and I might find some small consolation in the fact that I helped them live a life well-lived. 

While a part of me rejoices over the good fortune that has allowed me years of companionship, there's another part of me that frets about what is coming next and when. I'm sure you've felt this, too. Though our senior pets slow down with age, it is as if time speeds up during the golden years. Some days, I feel as though I'm looking at an hourglass - only the grains of sand remaining are invisible and only can be seen once they pass through to the bottom half. It takes effort to put these thoughts aside and refocus on what matters most: the senior pets right in front of us.  

In some ways, the learning curve of caring for a senior pet is steep (new routines and schedules, medications, more frequent vet visits, etc.) but in other ways, it remains exactly the same. After all, it boils down to what most pet parents do best: love and care. You get the hang of your senior pet's lifestyle soon enough and though I can't promise things will be fun and games always, I can assure you there will be ample opportunity to laugh, create new memories and add some color to those years that otherwise might not have looked so golden.

Yes, things can get hairy and even a little scary at times. I tell you this not to discourage you but to keep you strong for the sake of your senior pets. It is an honor and a privilege to be there for them in ways they have been and will be for you and others whose lives they've touched throughout the years. At times, you may question your strength or think it is simply too hard to care for a senior pet - to which I say: think again. Giving up on a senior pet is all too common and has devastating effects, as evidenced by the thousands of overcrowded shelters across the country.

To know the love of a senior pet is to know the love of an old friend, one that sweetens with age. You can see it in the way they soak up the last bits of sun at the end of a summer day, how they savor all things that taste good and when their eyes brighten the moment they see you. These are the imprints a senior pet will leave on your heart long after he or she is gone. And you'll find yourself a more complete person as a result of having loved and cared for a senior pet who taught you to practice gratitude, enjoy the little things, show each other a little grace and live every day as if it was your last. 

Another Day, Another Dollar at the Vet

For years, we've been very good patrons of the V-E-T. First, with Heather and Mr. K's bouts of mysterious illnesses (for which we still don't have answers four years later). Then, we discovered Heather had liposarcoma. Still yet, there were visits to control high liver values, remove benign growths and even a few cases where it turned out I was just a worried Scottie Mom and everything was fine. In all, I've spent thousands on Heather and Mr. K's veterinary care over the years.

Recently, we returned once more to the V-E-T. This time, we were going for annual vaccines, well visits and to consult with a V-E-T about why Heather constantly gnaws at her bottom these days. At a previous visit, we learned there was a small growth and we've kept an eye on it but the problem persists. We've tested for urinary tract infections among other things but have yet to relieve Heather of this issue. So, I turn to you, fellow Scottie Moms and Dads: have your Scotties experienced this?

This latest examination was something of a reality check. As I detailed recent behaviors and small changes I had noticed, it dawned on me that I had an aging gal on my hands. We've known she has a bit of arthritis for a while but haven't had to do anything until now. Heather doesn't enjoy long walks anymore, preferring slow, short steps outside to take care of business and hurry back into the house. She has had trouble with the stairs so we've moved bedrooms to allow easier access to the backyard. I've even invested in a stroller so she can still experience things alongside Mr. K.

I was nervous what the blood test results might uncover. Was it cancer again? A thyroid issue? Something new, different and not so exciting to add to the laundry list of health issues we've overcome? Fortunately, most everything came back beautifully. The thyroid levels were on the higher end of what is considered normal and her liver values are creeping up again. Scottish Terrier ALP values will worsen with age, according to one of the many V-E-T-S we've seen through the years. What was different this time? Her ALT liver value is up...which happens when Cushing's is present.

Years ago, Heather was tested for Cushing's after she recovered from that mysterious illness. Fortunately, test results were negative. This time, I don't have much confidence she'll test negative once more. In fact, even the V-E-T told us that she was certain Heather has developed Cushing's and that she would be very surprised if Heather tests negative once more. Still, I try to remain cautiously optimistic as we wait for the test next week as well as remind myself that Heather has been through so many health issues and has proven time and again that she is a fighter.

Two Visits with the V-E-T

Waiting for the V-E-T...

A few years back, we discovered a benign growth on Heather's eyelid. In general, it is harmless. Unless, of course, it grows too large and presses on Heather's eye or affects her vision. The V-E-T shaves it off every time Heather has a surgery or a dental procedure. Neither of which Heather has had recently. Until now, it has been nothing more than an "eye sore" and Heather gets along just fine. That changed when I came downstairs to discover dried blood under Heather's left eye.

Off to the V-E-T we went. It appeared Heather scratched the growth accidentally, causing it to open up and bleed. We cleaned up the wound and treated it. All seemed to heal well and I didn't see her messing with it. Then, two weeks later, we found ourselves sitting in the V-E-T's office again - this time, we talked of removing the growth as blood had appeared under her eye once again. 

The growth is pressing on Heather's eye now. The only way to remove it is to do so when Heather is under anesthesia. Given the fact Heather has scratched the growth open twice in such a short period of time, it is obvious the growth has started bothering her. As a result, we moved up her next dental appointment to Friday, Nov. 20 so we can shave down this growth once more and offer her some relief. Healing thoughts for sweet Heather Beather are welcome! We'll let you know how it goes.

The Heart of the Matter

It started a few weeks ago with a cough. The local V-E-T suggested it could be kennel cough or bronchitis. It is hard to say if the medication they prescribed worked so today, we pursued the next step: a chest x-ray.

For the most part, everything looked good. There was only one potential problem area. The V-E-T showed us one picture, taken while Mr. K was on his right side. It was marked with a big "X" and had the number 11.23 written next to it. The V-E-T explained this was his vertebral heart score - a method V-E-T-S use to measure heart sizes across breeds and assess for cardiac enlargement. He said it could be normal for the Scottish Terrier breed or it could be indicative of heart disease. "Doctor Google" told me the normal vertebral heart score for dogs of any breed is between 8.4 and 10.5...so naturally, I was very worried.

The V-E-T sent the pictures to a board certified radiologist who could better assess the x-rays on hand. Luckily, the radiologist believes Mr. K's heart looks fine and is normal for the breed. Still, we have a small, yet persistent cough problem to resolve so the V-E-T came up with another potential remedy: Zyrtec. Yes, you read that right! 

Allergies can be a source of inflammation and therefore, a reason for Mr. K's coughing. So, for the next two weeks, he will take 10mg of Zyrtec and we will evaluate for effectiveness or next courses of action then. I have never heard of a dog taking Zyrtec, have you? All I know is that, as a chronic allergy sufferer for the last 22 years, I have used Zyrtec and it never fails to knock both me and my symptoms out every time. The down side? I'm seldom awake to reap the rewards of a good antihistamine. I am curious to see how Zyrtec affects Mr. K and can only hope it brings him relief. Fingers and paws crossed for continued good results, please!

Visit with the V-E-T

Two nights ago, I woke up to the sound of what I can only describe as persistent coughing. I got up, looked around and saw it was Mr. K. He appeared to be struggling - whether it was to get air or get something out of his throat, I can't be sure. After about 30 seconds, it was over and Mr. K was fast asleep and snoring as usual in no time. Still, I stayed awake fearing it would happen again. 

Yesterday, we took a trip to a local pet store and amid all the excitement, Mr. K started the same coughing fit when we got back in the car. This time, I was especially alarmed. The noises Mr. K made sounded exactly like the coughs dear Cousin Snackle made as his heart condition grew worse. Then, it dawned on me: Mr. K had been panting much more than usual and even cut play time short to catch his breath. Could it be more than the summer heat catching up with Mr. K?

Morning came and the two of us took a special trip to the V-E-T. We had just visited in May for annual checkups and everything was fine for Mr. K. (Heather showed rather low blood sugar levels...more on that to come.) Because of his symptoms and the canine influenza scare going around, the V-E-T asked us to come in through the back and be seated in a special exam room. There, Mr. K and I waited to talk to the V-E-T about these unusual symptoms that have recently presented.

While there appears to be no fluid in his lungs and his heart has no arrhythmia, the V-E-T could not rule out an enlarged heart. But first, we are treating for kennel cough and bronchitis with Doxycycline. If there is no improvement of symptoms by Monday, we will likely pay a visit to a cardiologist or get an X-ray to take a closer look at Mr. K's heart in the coming weeks. Paws crossed for good results, please!

Emma's Story

Emma before she found her forever home.

On a very special #TooCuteTuesday a good while ago, a rescue group named Wag N Train Terrier Rescue posted this darling picture of sweet Emma on the Scottie Mom Facebook page asking us to help find her a forever home. Within a few hours of us posting her picture, I heard from Emma's future Scottie Mom saying this sweet girl was getting the forever home of her dreams!

Up until that point, Emma led a very difficult life. A puppy mill Scottie, Emma didn't know what it was like to be loved and treated right by the people she encountered. And so, she was very shy and kept to herself. In fact, it wasn't until recently that she began feeling safe and comfortable enough to enjoy the simple pleasures in a Scottie's life like sitting on the couch and celebrating barkdays.

Just six weeks ago, I heard from Emma's Scottie Mom letting me know their other Scottie Baxter, who proudly served as Emma's adoptive Scottie brother, passed away suddenly from cancer - or as we call it, the evil "c." He was sick for only a few days. Our hearts sank. Then, I learned yesterday that tragedy had once again struck her Scottie House. Sweet Emma also has been diagnosed with the evil "c" and is expected to meet her brother Baxter over the rainbow bridge any day now. 

Emma's story breaks our hearts and I can only imagine the pain her family is experiencing right now. Please join us in expressing our unconditional Scottie Love and support for Emma and her family in the comments section below. So many of our Scots are gone too soon because of the evil "C." Think about it: how many dogs have you known that have battled canine cancer? And so many animals - Scots and mixed breeds alike - have stories similar to that of Emma's past. Thanks to her Scottie Mom and family, Emma found love and is living out the rest of her days with her humans by her side.

Emma soaking up the sun at home.

Emma celebrating her 8th barkday!

The Results are In...

The biopsy results from the tumor on Heather's tail are in and the good news is: there is no bad news! The tumor was not a return of the evil "C" Heather kicked to the curb over a year ago nor was it malignant. In fact, the biopsy results showed it was a benign growth (that still needed to be removed). It is a possibility tumors like it will grow on her body in the future - as this tends to happen to dogs that have them - but we will evaluate those growths individually if that time comes. 

Yesterday, we went back to the V-E-T to have the stitches on her tail removed. All but two were taken out. The incision wound still has a bit of healing yet to go but the V-E-T was happy to see how well it was healing and that there was no sign of infection. We go back to the V-E-T in five days to remove the remaining stitches. Then, we just wait until the hair on her tail grows back before putting yet another health scare fully and completely behind us! Oh, and I'm happy to report Heather hasn't had any more bottom explosions since she was taken off those medications.

We couldn't be happier for or more proud of our sweet Heather Beather with this news. She has taken each thing life has dealt her with stride and always comes out on top - smiling when she does. As always, we appreciate your love and support during this health scare. Thank you to all who reached out with concern for our little girl. We look forward to sharing even more good news soon. Did we mention someone did their very first ArRRoO last week?! Can you guess who it was: Heather or Mr. K?

On the Mend (x2)

Hi, friends - Heather here. Scottie Mom tells me lots of you have been asking to hear how I'm doing and she thought it would be nice for me to make an appearance on the blog and tell you for myself! Well, I can tell you that the night after my surgery wasn't very fun. I kept waking up feeling as though there was something on my tail I just had to get rid of. Kind of like an itch you just have to scratch, you know? Scottie Mom stayed up with me the whole night. 

The next day wasn't much better. Scottie Mom came home with the dreaded cone of shame. I gave her one of my best pouty faces ever to show my distaste for the thing. How could she humiliate me like so? That night, I was relieved of that horrible thing. I settled down with Mr. K, Scottie Mom and Dad to watch some TV. It didn't take long before Scottie Mom retired for the night - the previous night's sleepover pawty had put a real crick in her neck. Funny, though, she wasn't required to wear the cone of shame even though she was hurt like me...

Scottie Dad stayed up with me and took us out for a late night walk around 11:30 p.m. I did my best to go potty outside but the medications the V-E-T gave me really took a toll on my tummy. My bottom exploded nearly as badly as Mr. K's did a few weeks ago once we got back in the Scottie House. Scottie Dad had to go wake Scottie Mom from bed for reinforcement. Not only had I made a mess in the house, but the diarrhea was all over my backside - including on my tail where the V-E-T removed the tumor. I was so confused and so worried they would be mad at me.

Scottie Mom cleaned me up while Scottie Dad cleaned the house. She kept telling me everything was okay but I didn't quite believe her because my beautiful furs were covered in liquid poo! Scottie Mom got on the phone with the emergency V-E-T to find out if this kind of reaction was normal. Apparently, the antibiotics the V-E-T prescribed are known to potentially cause doggie bottoms to explode. They told her I no longer should take that medicine (phew!) and to check in with the V-E-T who did my surgery first thing in the morning. Not again....

I went to see the nice V-E-T lady the next day and she looked over my incision, gave my bottom another bath, gave me a shot and sent me on my way home. I'm proud to say I have not had to go back since then! Scottie Mom says I'm clearly on the mend. I wish I could say the same about her. You see, ever since our sleepover pawty, Scottie Mom has been in serious pain. Finally, she broke down and Scottie Dad drove her to the human V-E-T. Today, we're both on bed rest and have our own discharge instructions with a list of medications and things to do in order to get better. We'll both be just fine in time, I'm sure. The only question I have is: why am I the only one who has to wear the cone of shame? Shouldn't she be wearing it, too, for her own good health??