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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Whirlwind Wednesday

We've had a rough couple of days...

Between changing diets, adding supplements, and 'trying' to get Betty used to short amounts of time in her crate because dad has gone back to work, we've had a very turned upside down household...  :(

Mainly the girls have been affected. Although it's really upsetting to Gunther when his Stella doesn't feel well.


Stella and Betty are coping, thankfully we have warm, sunny weather to lift their spirits.

Let's see, where to begin....  Because of Betty's seizure disorder, she's takes medication called potassium bromide. Kibble or diets high in sodium are not good for dogs who are on that medication. So we started researching kibble with very low sodium and found that either low calorie or senior diets are low in sodium.  We tried Innova senior diet and found it to be too rich for Betty and it gave her major runs so we vetoed that. Since Stella and Gunther are already on Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato, we tried their low calorie diet and that has agreed with Betty's tummy. Since Stella is a bit chunky, we decided to put her on the lower calorie diet too. We also cook a little for all of them and give them a powdered supplement. Now, all of their snacks are lower sodium, like fruit, carrots, etc.

Last night about 7:00, Stella started acting uncomfortable like her tummy hurt and she looked visibly bloated. We thought she might have eaten too many snacks with the pet sitter earlier that day, so I took her for a walk to get things moving (if you know what i mean) and she had a small poo, but that was it. By 2 a.m. she wasn't any better and we were very worried about her. So we packed up everyone and whisked Stella off to the emergency vet. After an exam by the vet and some x-rays, it showed that Stella had a LOT of gas and stool still in her intestines. Our poor girl had eaten way too much fiber over the past couple days between her new low calorie food, her favorite fruit snacks and some squash and broccoli. Basically, Stella needed to poo or rip a good fart in a bad way! The vet said to give her an antacid and keep an eye on her to make she has a 'bowel movement'...

We walked out of the emergency vet to a grassy area since Betty was ripping her usual farts, we figured she had to go. But instead, Stella had one of the biggest poops of her life! I looked down at my baby girl,cheered and said "Yay, Stella! That's a $350.00 poo you got yourself there! You should be proud girlfriend!"  Her tummy is still kinda sore. I think she still has some residual gas, but otherwise she's on the mend and taking it easy the rest of the day.



Betty on the other hand isn't having any digestion issues


she just hates her crate because it means being away from all of us. Even if it's just for 10-15 minutes.

A couple days ago, while she was sleeping I thought I'd try out her crate training. I quietly carried her to her crate and laid her in it, closed the door and then ran to post office for no more than 10 minutes. When I returned she was wide awake and was pushed up against the back of her crate. She was so upset because she had gone potty in her crate. I felt so horrible and at fault because I didn't take her out to go potty first, or give her a Kong for her crate. It was only 10 minutes but I feel like it was a really bad experience for her. We tried again the next day with a treat filled Kong and having gone potty first. I think it was a much better experience, and I hope to keep it going. Although, I don't plan on going anywhere until we're sure Ms. Stella is feeling 100%

Shannon





15 comments:

dw said...

Wow, sounds like your household has been quite busy lately! I was thinking (dangerous, I know) that Stella probably didn't like being considered "a bit chunky" and stored up all that fiber for one special night! :p Glad everything came out in the end (sorry 'bout that!) and I hope Betty takes a little more to her crate. Your furkids are so adorable!

Two French Bulldogs said...

Oh dear, oh my...it sounds like you better take charge Gunher and help mom with the girls... poor babies
We have our paws crossed evrything will work out
Benny & Lily

Brutus, Ellie, Pippa and Otto said...

Goodness, you have had so much going on.

Glad that Stella is feeling better.

Pugs & Kisses,

Yoda & Brutus

Unknown said...

This is the best poop I've ever heard about. Poor Stella must have dropped quite a bit of weight. BOL about the vet bill. We've all done something similar, I think. As for Betty not liking the crate yet... she probably needs to grow up a bit more, just like my lil' sissy. So relieved about Stella though.
Twink!

BRUTUS said...

Phew!! You had me worried there for a second, Stella! Tummy aches are no fun! I know, I've created my share of them from eating strange things. Thankfully my "reverse" gear is pretty good, so unlike your $350 poo, I've had some $500 barfs that would have become obstructions otherwise! I bet you felt like jumping for joy after getting rid of that "load"!! Maybe you lost a pound or two right there in the vet's grass!!!
So funny, mom is trying to put weight on me (I've even had to have oil added to my food for fat), and you are trying to lose weight (although I think you look marvelous as you are...). Maybe you could just have your mom send me what she doesn't want on you, I could use a pound or two!!

Concerned Snorts-
Brutus the Frenchie

Unknown said...

I agree, Gunther will just have to be the steady one for those girls!

Glad stella is feeling better, and I am sure Betty will come around to enjoy the crate!

Hank said...

Shannon, we feel your pain!

Hank has had the poopoos recently. I came home from work yesterday to find him all upset and in the corner of his cage, trying to get away from a lump of runny poop. I felt sorry for him but had to giggle 'cause I could just hear him saying "lemme out!!! It STINKS in here!!!"

Hope Stella feels better soon, and glad to hear Betty is getting a little better with her crate.

PS You should have that $350 poo bronzed! :D

agent99 said...

Well, I guess I'll consider myself lucky b/c Foo's poo only costt me @267. We had the exact same problem a few weeks ago. However, I may win the pity party becuase of the seizure episode costng $267 last week, Thankfully, the Foo is doing great now!
Hope Stella feels better soon and Betty gets happier in her crate :)

Puglette said...

aww poor stella! and i had to chuckle at the $350 poop. we had a little puggy girl named daisy that we thought had eaten one of my hubby's pain pills for his back. we rushed her to the emergency vet, had her tummy pumped and came home to find the pill under the dining room table. as soon as we got home thevet called and said he didn't see any pills and we could come and get her.

and i hope betty settles into her crate, i am not strong enough to crate our pups. i wilt as soon as i hear the first whimper!
hugs,
puglette
:o)

Pugelicious said...

It does sound like a turmoil for the little souls. They do look flat. I am sure all the TLC will fix things in no time.

Kelly said...

Poor babies! We have had our share of similar episodes. I guess you can't put a price on peace of mind when it comes to their health, but I do know how those vet bills can sting!

Hugs to all 3 of your babies! I know this transition period will smooth over soon!

xoxo
Pearl

Priscilla said...

Awwe! Poor bitty babies. Hope they feel better soon.

BTW I sent an email to you with my addy and I'll bet it ended up in your spam folder.

my email is nailark@yahoo.com

Stubby said...

Hi Shannon! I'm so sorry to hear about all the recent problems with your babies. Mom had to take a $36.50 urine sample to the vet yesterday to make sure my 'maybe UTI' was gone (it was).

Poor little Stella! Mom always tells me that I'm going to get backed up if I don't poop and I guess that's what happened with Stella. I don't like the snow and cold and maybe I hold it a little too long. I think Stella's episode has made me learn my lesson.

Tell Betty that crates just take a little getting used to. I used to have one when I was little but now that I'm old I guess I'm trustworthy.

Stubby xoxo

The Black and Tans. said...

We are so pleased Stella is feeling better. It is not nice having a funny tummy.

Thank you for popping over and visiting our blog, and if you could manage to send us a few jars of your warm sunshine we would appreciate it.

Molly, Taffy and Monty


PS. OUr word verification is..... bumstal. LOL

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

Ahhh poor ladies, we hope Stella feels better soon, we love her sassy-pugger attitude!