Doodles with Special Needs

Comment

Comment by AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner on August 10, 2010 at 9:29am

I haven't posted lately in this group but I thought this would be appropriate for the group.

We have been adjusting Mariner's medication - added potassium bromide in addition to his phenobarb. Although e are getting the seizure control he is experiencing some side effects. The most difficult one is weakness in his hind legs. He has problems standing up and doing steps. The interestng part of this is that he is constantly adapting to his new constraints. He has changed the way he walks down the steps. Instead of walking normally he now makes sure that both his front paws are on the step before he proceeds. Going up the steps he no goes at an angle. He has always figured out how to compensate.

Comment by Jacque Reynolds on February 3, 2010 at 1:46pm

Merideth, I am so sorry about Margo's diagnosis...if you have not already done so, please notify your breeder. In the best case scenario, the breeder will be supportive and helpful, in the worst case, at least the breeder will be on notice not to breed the parents of Margo again.

I am so very sorry that you, and she, are suffering with this diagnosis. I pray that you will find some helpful answers.

Comment by Rae on February 3, 2010 at 1:26pm

Margot - I'm so sorry sorry to hear about Margot. We had a golden retreiver that had double hip surgery at 4 months. We could have held off but since it was so severe, 4 different vets told us that the pain would get so bad she probably wouldn't be able to walk by 6-8 months of age and was already in pretty bad pain. We also had two very wild dobies at the time. So we set up an X-Pen in a corner of our family room and put her crate in the x-pen along with a tray for food and water. It was hard but, trust me, Margot won't feel like being crazy for the first few weeks after surgery. We both worked so we had to rush home (30 miles round trip) everyday at lunch time to take her outside for potty using a support for her newly fixed hips. Samantha lived a pain free life for 12 years and did a great job in training Rozee our oldest Doodle. Best of luck to you. I'd love to hear follow-up from you.

Comment by Debbie and Toby on November 16, 2009 at 5:23am

Toby has just been diagnosed with epilepsy. Had seizures Friday and Saturday. Normally been very healthy, no issues. Is on phenobarbitol now since Saturday. We switched his food to Orijen 6 fish formula the beginning of October. He started having what we thought was anxiety in October, but now it appears they were the same symptoms as mild seizures without the convulsions. Now we wonder if he has an intolerance for high fish protein, as we were asked were their any recent changes in his health or diet. It's probably not food related, but has anyone had this happen after changing their diet? Does anyone know if high protein food could be related? Any help or suggestions would be very welcome.

Comment by Mary on June 17, 2009 at 4:45pm

anyone getting acupuncture for seizures for their doodle? Toni just started this week.

Comment by AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner on January 9, 2009 at 1:00pm

Just reading through some discussions, it seems to me that some of our dogs have a "primary" special need and "secondary" special needs. Mariner is a good example - right now his primary special need is his seizures and secondary is his sight problem. This has changed since we first got him as his sight has improved drastically (or he has adapted extremely well) and his seizure have become more of an issue.

Can we also have a discussion about how the special needs have affected their behavior and personalities?

Comment by AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner on October 31, 2008 at 2:36pm

Mariner has been with us a year this weekend. It is hard to imagine what t was like before he came into our lives.

It has been amazing to watch him develop and overcome his difficulties.

Comment by Val MacQueen on September 30, 2008 at 5:25pm

I also am not sure if Rusty is what you would call diabled but he also has special needs. We also bought him from a Pet Shop but we fell in love. He has had both knee operated on for Luxating Patellas and now has some Arthritis in both, he also has Arthritis in his spine and the vet has told us it will gradually fuse completely and to top it off he has a skin complaint, he been tested foralergies and foods stopped and started again we have cut out all milk ptoducts, He can't understand why he can't have his icecream anymore but it helped a bit. he's on a list of medication including Cortisone and Sashas Blend Omega 3,6and 9 Valium for muscle spasms and pain killers when needed luckerly with the Sashas Blend he hasn't needed them as often. We have recently started him on Pure Apple Cider Vinegar and we think this has releived his itch slightly. So we think he has special needs.

Comment by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on September 20, 2008 at 8:46pm

Hi all!
I don't know if you could consider Jack "disabled"; I think of him as being a "special needs" doodle. he has many medical issues that restrict his/our activities, including a weakened immune system, abnormal paw pads/foot development, and some kind of strange jaw spasms which may or may not be seizures. He is a walking illustration of why nobody should buy a puppy from a pet shop. (His original purchasers dumped him in a shelter when he was 14 mos. old
That said, he is an absolutely perfect dog, and I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world. He is the best dog I've ever had...sweet, gentle, mellow, well-behaved (mostly), and adorable. He's my guy.