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Friday, September 3, 2010

Home, Sweet Home

Please accept our humblest apologies for not updating the past few days - it's been a whirlwind of activity.  A lot of folks have been worried, but the good news is that your 'Long and Short of it All' host 'Joey' is indeed home!  He came home on Wednesday afternoon to much fanfare.  While Dad's friend picked him up at the hospital, a lot of the hospital staff came out to the lobby to wish him a fond farewell.  Dad left work early to meet his friend at her house where Maggie was also staying for the week.  Joey was sure excited to see his Dachshund friends, and also his sister.  Maggie and Joey seemed a little indifferent at first, but it didn't take too long for them to lay down together and to clean each other's ears and faces.  Hope to get some photos of Joey and Maggie together soon.
Joey is still a pretty sick boy, and he's on a lot of medications.  He's on Plavix once a day for his blood clot in his lungs; amoxicillin as an antibiotic; metronidazole for diarrhea; a small dose of prednisone for life; ursodiol for his gallbladder sludge (3-4 months), and will be due for his DOCP injection in a few weeks (a shot for his Addison's disease, which he will get the rest of his life).  He also gets a hot pack to his jugular twice a day where his central catheter was.  All of his stitches have been removed.
The skinny boy is eating small amounts of canned food every 4 hours around the clock.  We take one tablespoon each of two different types of food and mix them together in little meatballs for him.   He seems hungry, and has an interest in food, but he chews the food slowly, spits a little out, and sometimes doesn't eat it all. 
He vomited the first evening he came home at about 7:30 PM, and again at 2:30 AM and 4:30 AM (Thursday morning).  We called the vet about this, and have withheld his amoxicillin and ursodiol because they make him nauseous.  We asked the vet if we could add Pepcid and some probiotics to his list of meds, and he agreed.  Joey didn't vomit yesterday morning and afternoon, but he did vomit again in the evening at 7 and 9 PM, and this was without receiving the amoxicillin and ursodiol.  He got some plain cooked chicken breast about 1 AM this morning, and has not been sick.  His stools are nicely formed.  He remains somewhat bright and alert even with the nausea.
It's a challenge to pill this boy now.  It has always been fairly easy to give him any pills in the past: stick it in a piece of cheese, and he gulps it down.  But now that he is chewing his food, he finds the pills and spits them out.  Even if you stick the pill in the back of his throat, he has developed this gag reflex where it instantly pops back out again before the hand you used to put it in his mouth even has time to close his snout and caress his throat.  The little devil!   We will be talking to the vet today to see about how we can put him back on the amoxicillin and ursodiol with his continuing nausea.
So that's where we are this morning.  And Joey hasn't been shrunken and turned into a cute wooden artifact, as seen in the photo above.  It's a gift from Honey, Teddy, and Chili!  Thanks!  It sure did brighten our day when we got it late last week.  Cool, right?  And thanks again so much for the comments and emails - they are a lot easier to read to Joey now that he is home.


45 comments:

JANN said...

STILL keeping Joey in my prayers. Glad he is home , thanks for letting us know. PLEASE give him lots of soft hugs from me.

Podgirl said...

Hi Joey. My Mom and I were very worried about you without an update. My Mom actually got up early to check on your blog. We are SO glad that you are finally home with your family and friends. Take it easy for now. Say HI to Maggie and your Dad for us.

Schatzi and family

Nahlah said...

Thank heavens! My humans and I were so concerned. We will continue to pray for a smooth recovery.

impromptublogger said...

Yeah!!!! We're all so happy you're home Joey. I'm glad that your Dad and Maggie are taking good care of you. You need to take your medicine - so be a good boy.

Love and hugs from all of us.

Anonymous said...

So glad Joey is home with dad and Maggie. Ask the vet if can crush the pills and mix in some peanut butter. A pup from my past was not a good pill swallower and this trick worked. But always ask the vet - some meds are made to dissolve slowly.

Anonymous said...

Hi Joey, so glad you are home now! Wonderful news! A prayer answered. We will be keeping you, your Dad and Maggie in prayers continually. Joey's Dad, we are all hopeful that with Joey now home with you and Maggie, the pace of healing will accelerate. I can only imagine how tired you are given all of this. I hope the weekend will be as restful as possible for you, Joey and Maggie.

masstransit said...

Joey, I've been talking to Taco about you so much that I think your name is now on his list of recognizable words (walk, food, etc.)! Glad you're home.

Anonymous said...

We are thrilled that Joey is home! We've been checking back for updates and getting worried. This is great news!

The Gannons
Stella, Hannah, and Otis

P.S.Our Mom puts pills in cream cheese and we love it- we come running when she says "Medi"!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! We were anxious for an update and are glad to hear that Joey is at home. I am impossible about pills (so I am told) but I take a daily pill in cream cheese and never spit it out. I like peanut butter too. Good luck, keep eating and get some much needed rest in the sun!
Ralph & his person

Kim said...

So glad you're home Joey! Good boy! We'll keep up our prayers for your continued recovery. It sounds like you're keeping your Dad really busy with your care. He loves you (and Maggie) so very much.

Rest, heal, be a good boy, and take your meds. You'll be up and full steam ahead before you know it! Love and kisses to you all.

Jerry S. said...

It's not an easy road you're walking, Joey. But you're walking it nonetheless, and you know your Dad is with you every step of the way. We love you, big guy.

Anonymous said...

Licks and kisses to Joey! Thank goodness he is home and able to relax and walk around his place and stretch out in the sun!! Enjoy each and every minute together. Thank you for keeping us posted and for sharing Joey's story with us all.

firstyouleap said...

Hurray! Joey joey Joey baby just keep taking it slow and easy. But please give in just a little on taking your pills, I know it's hard but it's so worth it! Lots of love to

We love love love Dame Maggie, Joey Joey Joey baby, dear Carson Carson Carson and also the dedicated friend with the two athletes and glamour queen at home. We are all blessed with friends who are family! Keep at it and Carson, hang in there. Home care is very taxing so you remember to eat too. Jeeves and Melinda

Jayne and Annie said...

So glad to hear Joey has gone home!! We are praying that he will feel better each day, and that his Dad can now (or soon) breathe a little easier. A possible way to get the pills into Joey: we use Gerber 1 baby food "beef and beef broth" or "Chicken" - put a bit of food on the end of a teaspoon, then right away put a little on the end of the spoon with the pill hidden - then a bit more (just) food after that right away -they usually go for it! Good luck! Love, Jayne and Annie

Sawyer said...

I have to take a 1/2 Pepcid everyday, Joey, because I developed ulcerations due to toxins from mast cells. Like you, I am quite adept at spitting out pills, so my mom started putting them in a little ball of room temperature butter. They slide right down now!

You may still be experiencing one step forward and step and a half back, but you sure are closer to the goal line now than ever! Keep up the fight!

~Sawyer, brother to Abby

Cynthia (Geneva's mom) said...

YAY!!!! What a relief. Welcome home, Joey. For a while there, we were a little bit worried.....

Oscar and Hans said...

Yay Joey!

So glad to know that you are home! I bet just being home again will help speed your recovery. :)

Now TAKE THOSE MEDS like a big boy!

Here's hoping for more good news in the days to come.

--Oscar and Hans

Anonymous said...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUCH GREAT GREAT NEWS!!!! whew.... we were out here worrying about the worst, but hoping for the better.

Mom wanted to tell you that she apologizes for the slanti-ness of her beadwork with the letters. She also wants to apologize for not painting the tail black, but she was in a hurry and looking at photos of not-all-Joey's-body to work from.

She also wants you to know she has a Halloween 'outfit' that she will be mailing to you for you, Lil Joey, to wear in October.

Mom is leaving tomorrow to go with gal friends for a gal week. She is so happy to see this good report just before leaving - she is not sure about computer access where she will be. Her tail is wagging, if humans can wag, too, just like ours.

H/T/C.

Lexi said...

Joey,

Bismarch and I are very glad to hear you are back home, sorry that your tummy is not happy :(. Bismarch says he knows that amoxicillin is not very easy on the tummy as he was on it two weeks ago. Get well soon

Lex and Bismarch

Anonymous said...

I wondered if that was it, and feared it wasn't - wonderful news!

dachseeguy said...

Home Sweet Home, Joey Sweet Joey.
Carson, you are an absolute hero doing everything humanly possible to get Joey to this point. Your love patience and perseverance will be rewardeed many times over with doxiie love; from Joey and from all of us. Please give Joey our love, support and best wishes. John & Ozzie

Christa said...

Mangia, mangia, Joey!!! Your legion of fans is delighted to welcome you home. Such good news. Love, Christa, Zeppelin, Bruno, Olga, and Tony too XO

Paul Rasmussen said...

Hi Joey!

I've been sharing your story not only with my little guy, Poncho, but also a co-worker and my landlord and his wife, all dog lovers. We're all happy to hear you're home again and on the mend with Maggie there to help.

Paul and Poncho in the Burgh

Coloradolady said...

Good news Joey....glad you are home...now to get stronger. Keeping you in my thoughts!

Unknown said...

so glad to hear this... Great news Joey... that's a lot of medicine you need to take right now... bound to make anyone's tummy upset!! But they will make you better in the long run -- and you won't need to take all of them forever. Our way to hide the pill is to put peanut butter on the end of a spoon, doggie licks, we hide the pill as he lick in a little bunch of peanut butter and gently push it towards the end of the spoon. Not sure how good peanut butter would be on Joey's tummy right now though... Joey - I can see by your pictures and by the love everyone has for you that you are one awesome doxie. Keep up the good work -- so glad that you are back in your comfy home with your family.

Agnes B. Bullock said...

Wonderful news!

Anonymous said...

An extra helping of gravy on our supper all round! Such good news! So happy for Joey- keeping going Joey! You are such a courageous pup. Carson- you are a WONDERFUL doxie dad. Maggie, keep up the TLC with the wags and kisses. Lotsa love from Fern the doxie + family (Montreal, Quebec)

Taffy said...

WooHoo! I'm doing a happy dog dance! Still keeping you in my prayers.
Mom says.....
When Twix was really sick from pancreatitis the only way we could get her meds down her was to use 'Pill Pockets'. I don't know if you've tried them yet but they carry them at our vets office. Although he may still chew them but for some reason they worked great for Twix. We were able to put more than one pill in them too.
Hugs,
Twix and Mom

Anne said...

Bow-WOW-WOW Joey!!!!!!!!! we are doing back flips - if we could!!!!!!! still HANG IN - recovery is slow movin for a doxie, but, WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!! we think about you daily and mom gave a sigh of relief this morning (and tears in her eyes) that you are home!! :D

as fellow chronic pancreatitis doxies, we take 1/2 a pepcid EVERy day and we LOVE "pill pockets"!!! chicken or beef - we don't care cause they are GOOD! Get the "capsule" ones - cause they can hold a lot or mom cuts our down into smaller pieces to make them stretch. They seem to not bother our insides. And, our mom - annie em - won't give us any people food - cause that always makes us sick. we still love her even though she doesn't when we really really try to get her too.

prayers and lots of love to you Joey!!

-Doxies: Roxie Lou & Coco Beane via mom: annie em

Linda Moss said...

Yippee! We are so relieved to get the news that Joey is finally back home! I'm sure that alone will help him immensely! That poor tummy though, it has sure been through a lot. We hope you can find a trick to help Joey take his pills, they are pretty clever at ferreting out what they don't want to eat! Liver sausage always worked for mine but I am sure that is not acceptable in view of the pancreatitis. Keeping our fingers, toes and paws crossed that you all have a relaxing, cozy and calm tummy weekend!
Hugs to all, Linda, frankie and maggie

kalyxcorn said...

yippee! joey will still be in our thoughts for a good long while. :)

when you are ready, be sure to discuss with your vet what to expect when a dog is on long term pred therapy. padua pretty much experienced all that one could expect from that, and it was helpful to know what symptoms to watch for.

did the vet also discourage cheese? lucky boy padua also had a bout of pancreatitis from his only dalliance with fatty food. from then on and still pretty much today, our boys aren't allowed most human foods except those that have been snitch tested (floor popcorn n cherry tomatoes, yum!)

no need to really answer me, but thought I would share a little of what we've learned over the years.

love the gift from honey, teddy, n chili, by the way! :)

get stronger every day, sweet Joey!

Anonymous said...

Lots of happy tail wags at the news that the little man is home and on the mend. I guess everybody is suggesting different helpful ideas but powdered seaweed is really great with nausea and metabolic issues and is also packed with nutients (which works well if the sniggler in question is having trouble eating larger amounts of food). I highly recommend the plain chicken breast and seaweed option for a power meal. Lots of love from a very rainy Tasmania. Misha and Roux

MD Girl said...

OMG, we were so worried! When you didn't post we thought the worst had happened. So glad that sweet Joey is home and on the mend. Keep up the fight, little one! Love Coco, and her mom, Maggie.

Alicia said...

WOOF, WOOF!!
The news is positive and we're so glad for it! So many people are pulling for y'all and it sounds like you have a wonderful veterinary team to rely upon.
Y'all are still in our prayers. Lots of hugs to Joey and Maggie!!

Anonymous said...

YAY! We're so happy to hear Joey is home! We are still keeping Joey and Dad in our thoughts and we hope Joey continues to get better! Lots of love and tail wags!

Taia & Slinky xo

Jolyn7 said...

we're sure Joey is trying his very best! keep on nom-ing n be a fat short n long dachshund again! :)

From Jolyn & Jed

The Sheridan Avenue Boys said...

We're so happy to hear that you are home. Stay strong Joey! You're in our thoughts and prayers everyday!

Anonymous said...

Sweet Joey, what wonderful news! Enjoy being home, naps in the sunshine, cheese without pills, and time with Maggie and Dad.

Love and tons of tail wags,
Faith, Tigger and Petie (and their mom)

Jackie A in NY said...

We are all rooting for Joey and know he is on the long road to recovery. Me and my three doxies know it is scary in those hospitals and there is no place like home. My one doxie, Violet, spent 9 days at the Cornell Vet Hospital after IVDD surgery. So scary not only for Violet but Mom too! We are praying for Joey and sending all the luck we can that he will soon be feeling more like the old Joey!

Hugs and Wiener dog kisses!
Helmut, Shroeder and Violet...owners of Jackie and Ron

Unknown said...

It's the boys from the Beach wishing Joey and family a relaxing and healing Sunday. Joey - hoping that you are able to eat some yummy food and keep it down...thinking of you --- Leo and Hogan and mom

dachsiema said...

when my fur buddies got stubborn with pills I would crush up the pill, mix with small amt of warm water, tilt the dogs head up and use children's medicine dropper (1-2 cc) to squirt the liquid in corner of mouth. It will go down back of throat. Or sometimes I will use Cheese Whiz. Some meds will say that you can't crush. Hurry and get well Joey!

jam said...

woof! woof! woof! great news about joey coming home. hope you find a good solution to the pill taking. more good thoughts coming joey's way from schnitzel; winnie; wilbur and mom.

Jablana said...

hello Joey! feels got to be home doesn't it? keep it up, we know your gonna make Dad proud...
Lea sends love!:*

Debi and Ringo said...

Joey, we are so glad you're home!! Still praying for you, and hoping that every day you will feel a bit better.

Love & Hugs,
Debi & Ringo

Karen said...

We are glad that you are back home with your loving family. Karen and Barney do xoxo
The only thing that works for me when Barney has to take pills is to put it in braunschweiger.

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