It has been awhile since my last post.  Why?  Oh life, gets in the way sometimes.  If it makes things better, I think about my blog everyday.  I think of all the recipes I want to make vegan or about the articles on animals I want to write or reviews I want to share.  But that thing called life stalled me.  Well, I am back, baby!

What happened?

My sweet 11 1/2 year old Beagle has been having a hard time these past few months.  If you are like me when your fur baby is not feeling well you can’t concentrate clearly.  All your thoughts go to wanting to make them better.  You still have to continue to work and take care of your other fur babies, while make appointments and get your household chores done.  It gets exhausting but you continue on.

It all started in December when my girl wouldn’t bare weight on her front left leg.  Over a year ago she was diagnosed with mild case of Intervertebral Disk Degeneration (IVDD).  She has been doing great.  Then in December the front leg became an issue.  I do therapy on dogs so I pulled out everything in my arsenal to help her get back to baring weight.  I suspected it was arthritis and the Vet confirmed it.  He also put her on regular anti-inflammatories.

I was worried about the medication since it can cause elevated liver enzymes but went ahead to get her some comfort.  It worked.  Well, for about a month and then she started trembling, collapsing in her hindend (to the right) and in all over pain.  She started to waver on eating and just wanted to sleep. I took her to the water therapy pool I co-own and had water therapy done on her.  I also acupuncture and laser performed on her.  She was feeling a little better.  Still something wasn’t right.

I took her back to the Vet for him to look her over and do blood panels on her.  Sure enough, two of her liver enzymes were mildly elevated.  I asked he change the medication.  In addition to that change, he added another medication for pain.

A few days went on and she still seemed off.  Still trembling, sad, on and off eating and quiet (and if you know Beagles they aren’t always quiet).  I decided I needed a fresh set of hands to check her over and someone to look at everything I was doing for her and giving her (a long list of herbs and supplements).  I took her to a holistic Vet my clients and business partner recommended.

This Vet listened to me and asked a ton of questions.  He did a thorough exam on her and then said he does believe she has arthritis but thinks what she is experiencing now is from her anal glands. (“What?  Really?”  I asked)  They needed to be expressed and in some dogs it  can mimic back pain when they get full. Sure enough, once he expressed them, he was walking better, stopped trembling, started playing again and eating every meal.

I am so happy she is feeling better.  We go back in a couple weeks for him to check her anal glands again and, hopefully, start the process of moving her over to a natural anti-inflammatory. She will remain in water therapy, acupuncture and laser to keep helping what arthritis she has too.

It is good to be back creating and writing and my tiny-tiny (that I call her) is doing so much better.  Remember, to always be your fur babies advocate.  And just because they are older, it doesn’t mean they have to slow down and life stops for them.  They have plenty to do and see.

She LOVES the ocean.