Still a couple weeks away from our next skin scraping, and Sebastian is looking good! He and Bella have been enjoying almost daily trips out to the stable to play with the horses. They just love it out there. We're going out today and I am taking my camera so pictures will be coming soon! They just run and eat horse poop and try to wrestle the goat... It's really nice for them to be able to go run around out there. Bella especially has found her calling as a barn dog! Sebastian actually got a little kick from one of my horses last week. Nothing too serious, just enough that ever since Sebastian has been glued to my side! haha
Other than that, the dogs went to Pittsburgh for the first time. Saw an awesome outdoor concert amongst hundreds of people. They were really well behaved and of course everyone around us just wanted to pet them and lavish them with attention!
We just got approved to be in the affiliate program for Pet Food Direct, which is where I order our food now that we don't have Mud Bay to shop at. So we have a link for them on our Links and Contacts page. If you order something through them, use our link, and we get a small percentage revenue and of course any revenue will go to Sebastian's medical funds! So, click the link and get shopping! There's a special coupon for now through July 4th too!
Yesterday was our bi-monthly skin scraping and it came back...
NEGATIVE for mites! No dead or live mites on either scrape site! Sebastian has no hot spots right now, and old hot spots are growing hair back nicely. He's up to 103 pounds. Energetic. Healthy... I'm so happy!
We don't want to get too excited though... We still need three consecutive negative scrapes before we can return to thinking about surgery. The vet and I briefly discussed it yesterday. He's not altogether for the TPLO and I hate to say it, but part of me thinks that's because they perform a different kind of surgery at this clinic and he would rather that much money go to them. So with each good skin scrape from here on out, I'll have to start coming up with a plan for surgery... which kind? what hospital? Lot's to start thinking about again...
I must admit though that Sebastian seems to be doing really well. I'd like to think that it's a combination of the all-natural food, herbal supplements, and aromatherapy treatments I use, combined with our vets help. I've been adamant about not using harsh medicines or crappy food, no immunizations... and right now I think he's in the best shape I've seen since I've had him. His legs don't even seem to be bothering him as much as they were. We're still not doing 20 mile treks or anything with him, but he runs around the stable every day and doesn't limp or favor a leg... We're using much less pain medicine, Rymadil, for him as well which I'm sure his liver appreciates.
Let's keep our fingers crossed, continue with our treatments and hope for the best. Sebastian, and I, thank you for all your support and well-wishes!
Does anyone remember our interview with Mud Bay last year about Sebastian's rescue story?? Well it seems they're finally putting it to use with the unveiling of their new website www.mudbay.us! Sebastian is the featured dog story on the homepage and clicking on his picture takes you to his story and our interview! The new website looks amazing and I am so touched that they are featuring Sebastian. They've even included a link to this site which is very generous!
Mud Bay is just an incredible store and I do miss having them to shop at now that we're on the east coast, but all you folks in the great Pacific Northwest need to head over to your nearest Mud Bay for all your animal companion needs from now on!!
We practically live at the veterinarian's office!! After a week of digestive troubles for Bella she went into the vet today. She pooped an entire shoelace over the weekend, so I was naturally a little concerned. The doctor and vet tech spent quite a bit of time with us getting her history. They gave her a thorough physical exam and they said she looked good. Her obsession with eating anything that comes within proximity of her mouth is dangerous but it seems there's not much we can do about it. The doctor did say she may outgrow it as she gets older so we'll see!
Sebastian got a mini check-up as well. The vet seemed displeased when I told him that I had taken Sebastian off the Ivermectin, but I tried to explain my reasoning. He did give us a free dosage of a brand new topical flea medication which is also supposed to help demodectic mange. It's called ProMeris. Apparently, it's very new and only available through vets. It's got some pretty harsh chemicals in it too, but it's a monthly application and much smaller dose than the Ivermectin. So we're going to try it out and see if it helps.
Bella left with a small prescription to help her G.I. tract. Sebastian left with the new ProMeris and a refill of Cephalexin, his antibiotic. Oh! I almost forgot! Ms. Bella actually got her nails trimmed! I had given up all hope of every getting them clipped since she just freaks out when you touch her feet now. It took 3 staff and a muzzle but they trimmed her nails! My poor girlie though, I could her her yelping and crying and I felt so bad! But she came bouncing back into the exam room afterwards wagging her tail!
So, another fun filled trip to the veterinary hospital for the family! Sebastian's going back in on the 16th for another skin scraping. We'll keep you posted!
Hello everyone! On Monday, Sebastian had another trip to the vet for another skin scraping. Like the last one, this one also came back positive for mites BUT they were far fewer in number. I think that by the next skin scraping, two weeks from now, we just might have a negative! Sebastian is looking great and his hairless patches are starting to grow back so I know we're on the right track.
I have started to apply a more homeopathic approach to his treatment. As you know, he's been on Ivermectin for quite some time which is a very strong and harsh drug. With prolonged use it can have some pretty damaging effects on the body. I have never been fully comfortable using it, but the conventional treatments for mange are even harsher so it has been the "lesser of the evils". I have accumulated quite a library on herbal and homeopathic animal remedies and after much studying and research, I am finally implementing some new things for Sebastian's treatment. I've cut out the Ivermectin completely but am continuing with the antibiotic, Cephalexin. I've added some new natural supplements to his food. Zinc, Vitamin C, Lecithin granules, and Vitamin E. These are all natural ways to help boost Sebastian's immune system which is the root problem causing the mange flare ups. I'm pretty excited to see how these things help or not. I'm also putting together some aromatherapy solutions for him. Willing to try anything at this point!!
Life wise, the dogs have settled in very well here with "Grandma" and "Grandpa" and the cats. We've taken a few trips out into the woods and just the other day I took Bella and Sebastian canoing on Lake Erie for the first time! They were a little hesitant to get into the canoe but once they did and we paddled out they really seemed to like it! No one fell out though Sebastian's weight made his sudden movements a little scary! I think we'll definitely be doing that again soon. Next time I need another rower to help though!
So I'll keep you posted on how our new holistic treatments work and of course how our next skin scraping goes. Wish us well here in Erie, PA and thanks for all your support!
