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  #1  
Old April 29th, 2011, 07:36 AM
Jackie1952 Jackie1952 is offline
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Help...My Pug

Hi everyone,

I have a 13 yr old pug who is my little boy..honestly, he is my family. I took him to the vet for his annual check up..lung sounds and heart sounds good. All blood work is good. I had noticed in the past week he has been a little more subdued. Eating and drinking and bathrooming fine. He will just stand and stare and I can see and feel the sides of his neck pulsating or twitching. He keeps his head generally is a lower position. The vet checked his xray and found where part of his left lung does not seem to be filled with air. She said its not an effusion but needs to let the radiologist read it as she is not trained to read xrays. He has had a cough for a long long time but he has allergies and has been on immunotherapy (allergy injections) His cough does sound a little different now. Hes not coughing up anything..he tends to swallow whatever he gets up. The cough is better since I have not been burning wood..coughing less. Any ideas? I am so afraid of bad news.
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Old April 29th, 2011, 09:53 AM
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hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
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Sorry you're going through such a stressful time, Jackie Waiting is always the hardest part. Did your vet say how long it would take for the radiologist to get back to her?

Try not to worry too much in the meanwhile (I know, I know...soooo much easier said than done ) Sending and positive thoughts for your little fella!
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Old April 29th, 2011, 10:04 AM
Jackie1952 Jackie1952 is offline
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Help - Pug

I should have the radiologist answer by 11:30 this morning. Another 1/2 hour. Been worried about this for 24 hours now. My little guy isn't coughing as much now. Just once in awhile and as I've said he has bad environmental allergies. I would think if it were a lung tumor, he would be coughing constantly.
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Old April 29th, 2011, 10:50 AM
BenMax BenMax is offline
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Best of luck Jackie. I hope it all turns out well.
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Old April 29th, 2011, 01:33 PM
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Sending for your boy. Please keep us updated.
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Old April 29th, 2011, 03:45 PM
Jackie1952 Jackie1952 is offline
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Help -Pug

I called the vet. She said she has not heard from the radiologist and it may not be till Monday. I bet I have an ulcer by then. He still coughs but not as much as he used to when I was burning wood. Is it possible he has bronchitis? The thing is the vet said it doesn't look like an effusion. Then today she said she doesn't think its a tumor but she has been wrong before. I don't know if she said that to try and relax me or not. I gotta tell you folks, I love my animals so much, they are my little family, spoiled and everything. Its very very hard for me to think anything critical could be wrong with my little ones. I know my Munch is 13yrs old but he has been the picture of health. Ever since he was a pup I exercised him everyday and always eats the best food. He is so smart and loyal. Sometimes I wonder why I got any animals as it always hard for me to lose them. Oh well, maybe I am making a mountain out of a mole hill. Thank you so much for your replies and encouragement. It means so much to me.
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Old April 30th, 2011, 05:46 PM
Jackie1952 Jackie1952 is offline
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Help - Pug

My vet called me yesterday to say she got a call from the radiologist...he said he didn't see anything in the lungs...the heart was a little rounded, nothing real bad I guess. Some tracheal collapse. The thing is, the vet said lets watch him a little bit. Well, this morning I notice when he sleeps for any length of time and gets up, he gets up with his back hunched up and walks real slow, head bowed some. His neck has a twitch. Has anyone seen a dog with their back hunched. He also doesn't shake as hard as he used to to get the rain out of his coat...he is real careful. I can't help to think he is in pain from his spine? I don't know. Any ideas would be great. I left a message for the vet for this Monday.
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Old April 30th, 2011, 06:08 PM
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The only time I've seen our dogs hunch is when they either have a belly ache or they've wrenched their back. If he's eating, drinking and eliminating on a normal schedule, I wonder if he hurt his neck or his back? Did the vet check for tenderness along the spine?

Glad the test results were good so far!
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  #9  
Old May 1st, 2011, 08:03 AM
Jackie1952 Jackie1952 is offline
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Pug-Help

Hazelrunpack,

Thank you for your reply. First, I would like to let you know that I just love your quotes. Everyone of them is true. They sound very Zen like. I enjoy reading Zen and feel if we could all live by the wisdom of Zen/Buddha we could find life more beautiful and we ourselves would feel more at peace. Anyway, such a different topic. To get back regarding my little guy Munch. Yes, the vet turned Munchs neck back and forth and does not feel it is his neck. They got some of the cervical spine in the chest x-ray and didn't see anything. She did not x-ray his spine of abdomen. He is eating well and eliminating well. I agree with you fully though. It is either belly pain or spinal pain. It will be interesting in what she has to offer us tomorrow. I put a little heat pack on Munchs back last night. I was very careful that it was not too hot. This morning he got up and did not have the hunch. Still moving real slow, little lack of interest in things. Ate a good breakfast and went to the bathroom fine. I wish I knew what is going on.
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Old May 1st, 2011, 08:11 AM
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If your regular vet can't see anything amiss in the spine xrays, but suspects something with the spine, ask to have the films referred to an orthopedic specialist for evaluation. The specialists often can see things on xrays that aren't readily apparent to a regular vet.

Good luck tomorrow! I hope you get some answers and get little Munch back on the right track!
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Old May 1st, 2011, 02:09 PM
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Good Luck Jackie with your darling It may be arthritis in his spine that is worse because of the rain. He is 13 and many dogs have arthritis by that age. All the very Best
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Old May 2nd, 2011, 11:50 AM
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Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
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I have to agree with dbg10 that it sounds like your boy may have arthritis. My 13 year old Akita X has arthritis and has many of the same symptoms. She doesn't shake so hard to dry her fur (when she does she stumbles), she arches her back alot when she gets up while stretching out the aches, and recently she actually loss the use of her hind legs briefly. The vet has her on Metacam for the pain and we have been giving her cartophen shots for the joints. It's still too early to say if it will help longterm, but honestly, I think this may be your boy's issue also. Speak to your vet about it, sadly, at this age all we can often do is help to make them more comfortable. Good luck with your boy.
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  #13  
Old May 3rd, 2011, 08:20 PM
Jackie1952 Jackie1952 is offline
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Help - Pug

Thank you all for the replies and good wishes. I told my vet that I saw my boy lifting one paw briefly. That is when she said "ok, this is a cervical spine issue". She doesn't want to put him under anesthesia unnecessarily because of his age, and I agree. So she said lets put him on a pain med and muscle relaxant for one week and see if he improves. If he does, then that is what it is. Well, he is on Metcam once a day and Robaxin twice a day. After his first dose of these meds, he felt so much better, had more energy, lifting his head, wagging his tail, so much happier. And so am I!! He needs to rest for a week, only outside to do his business and take the meds for one week. We'll go from there. Thank God! I am so relieved to know he is no longer in pain. No more twitching in the neck. Thanks everyone.
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