Loving my Oldies

They are both so beautiful. Is Dasher a bit younger? Probably just the photo angle, but he looks a little smaller. Neko is having such a wonderful life with you Tell me when next door is up for sale and I'll move LOL.

Just back from SASH. Myrtie is no better, but no worse. She cannot breathe unless in the oxygen "cabinet" and even opening the door for a little while to pet her caused her breathing to labour even more. After I'd been with her for a while, I waiting another half and hour and went back to see her again. This time lateral thinking kicked in and I wrapped a towel around my arm to put through the little door. This formed an air block and I was able to spend a lot more time with her without her breathing getting worse. It is now just a waiting game to see if the medication can do its job. Cavs, Chris Grenwell was her vet today and you are right - he is great. Phil Brain used to be at the other emergency centre across the road before they merged. I am pretty sure he did or supervised the very tricky surgery on Caramel - one of the rescue dogs I had some years ago. She knows about all the good wishes flowing her way and she promises to try. But her little body is very tiny and very very unwell.

A couple of photographs taken the day before she became ill. As you can see, she is such a tiny little thing to be hit with a big disease.

I've been over to see Myrtie. We are no very hopeful . Vet has advised against any of the more intrustive courses they could take, so we have opted for increased medication to see how she goes. He said a few times to keep my phone next to me

I'll be okay, Persephone. Have done the drive to SASH many times over the years with my own and fosters/rescues sadly. The vet I will be seeing this morning is the vet who tried to save Mufti A couple of years ago. He was a lovely lovely man. I emailed my brother who had his own veterinary hospital for over 30 years and with whom I have very little contact these days, but thought I owed it to Myrtie to follow up all avenues. He didn't even offer sympathy, just cold clinical and unhelpful words. So just watching the clock now waiting to set off. Thank you for your concern.

When I spoke to the vet last night, she said I could visit this morning, so just waiting for hand over to finish a SASH and I'm going over. I'm already in tears just thinking about her.

I'm not watching the video either. As another poster saidm they are thugs and should be treated by the law accordingly. They sure as hell wouldn't be laughing for long. I agree. The other two are as bad as the perpetrator.

Yes, that's it, donnatella. I didn't realise until I started googling and found Sildenafil and realised that that is what the vet called the medication.

I've been thinking of you and Justice, Sir Snook, and all the beautiful photos you take of him. The vet did say I could visit if I wanted to, but there is no way I would put my needs before Myrtie's. Visits are very important for a dog's morale, but at this stage, for Myrtie it could do more harm than good.

We have a diagnosis and it is pretty bad. Myrtie has Pulmonary Hypertension!! I'm sure there will be a lot of DOLers who will have heard of it, but apparently vets cannot always tell why. Vet has ordered more blood tests and they have started treatment. She is still having difficulty with her breathing and if she doesn't start to pick up within the next 12 hours and she is struggling, we will have to consider ventilating her. The vet has left me with that to think about! I didn't catch the name of the medication, but it is the same as that given to men for erectile disfunction. Apparently, when testing the medication for Pulmonary Hypertension, it was found that it helped men with problems. I wonder if that will make her morph more wildly into Madam Lash at bedtime ?? I asked if I could visit, but vet advised not to as she doesn't want Myrtie to get excited as she is too delicately poised at the moment. Like Powerlegs' little boy, it has all happened so quickly and totally out of the blue - I am in shock. Everyone's posts have meant a lot to me for Myrtie's sake, so thank you again so many times over. She is such a tiny thing, but despite that and despite that I am sitting here shivering all over, I am not giving up hope.

It is very pleasing to READ of the progress Abby is making, so it must be wonderful to experience it. Well done.

LOL, Little Gifts. I am waiting for the chance to tell Myrtie all the good wishes that are being sent her way, let alone impress on her, as Sir Snook says, she has a team working their tails off. Nothing to report. I did phone and left message with reception re Infective Endocarditis and Respiratory Pneumonia. Ultra sound has not been done at the time of my call. Hopefully soon.

For your persistance, Louise666. Yes, lucky little dog - as all dogs should be LOL.

The vet I spoke with this morning mentioned the possibility of pneumonia. I will be phoning them soon and mention that as well as Infective Endocarditis.

DDD If you'd like to text message them to me, I will then either email them back or upload them. Up to you. :) Thank you Sent you a PM

If they don't find out soon what is wrong, I rather get the impression she wouldn't last even two weeks It's only a couple of hours, but I am hanging out to call again. I want to ask if visiting her would be a help or a hindrance.

I have a couple of beautiful photographs I took just a couple of days ago, but they are on my iPhone and how to get them from there to my computer remains a mystery.

I did and thank you The vet did say she would be looking at infection. Did your little boy display any symptoms over any length of time. The mytery with Myrtie is that it is all just sudden onset with no build up, which seems to have happened to your little boy. Thing is Myrtie is only 12.

I hope so, CHA, I sure hope so.

You have a treasure there, LG . I've had some amazing experiences with vets too. Hope things start to get better with Stussy soon.

Just heard from the vet and it is not good. They don't really know what is wrong and they are concerned. Her breathing is still problematic and, although they think she probably has heart disease, they don't think that is what is wrong. So more tests today including an ultrasound. But when the specialised says, "I am worried about her," it is pretty damned scary. So just putting it out there to the amazing knowledge and experience that resides on DOL, does any of the following sounds familiar? Absolutely no history with Myrtie of heart disease or breathing problems. No exercise intolerance - on the contrary: I once advertised her here as an exercise machine. No access to poisons. No going off her food until Thursday morning. For any of my dogs not to eat a meal or even two is absolutely nothing unusual. The breathing difficulties did not show until Friday morning by which time I was already off to my local vet. No trauma experienced, at least while she has lived with me. Just this sudden and acute condition.

Because I haven't heard back from them, I can only assume she hasn't regressed . The vet I spoke with last night said Myrtie was next to a little puppy who'd collected a tick, so I keep thinking of that little one too. SASH can be a pretty confronting place to visit when it is busy.

OMG, is your screen still intact ?? LOL. That has to be one of the sweetest videos ever of puppies. And the agility shots! Brilliant

How boring How totally loving. LOL - I know you know that.

Thank you everyone. You are all so sweet - much appreciated. I have put a call in to SASH, but they were in the middle of handover so waiting for someone to call me back. I slept with my phone under my pillow last night LOL - and now I am carrying it around with me, because if I leave it on the kitchen bench, I won't hear it. Another thing to ask Apple about: how to make the ring louder than can be set on the phone.