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  1. #1
    House Broken Squeaksmom's Avatar
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    Not a lab, but a senior...

    Sprite is headed back to the vet today. We had her in last week with an ear infection, skin infection, and aural hematoma (all of these came up really fast). Overall she's doing much better, but the hematoma has re-inflated and needs to be drained again. As I'm typing this she's just regurged her breakfast though (that's new), so maybe we need to discuss adding a probiotic to counter the antibiotic she's on. I think I have some on hand....

    For those who don't remember her (I'm assuming most people), Sprite is a border collie who will be 15 this summer. She had a rough start, she literally came out of a cardboard box my hubby found at the side of the road as a puppy. She's arthritic and bald, but bright eyed, good appetite, and excited for walks. No signs of senility, which I gather is common in border collies. At this point we just want her to be comfortable!

    Not really looking for advice, more of a vent than anything and worried about my girl!
    ​Mayhemfarms Hot Guernsey "Raodi" 01-Feb-09
    Mayhemfarms Irish Cream "Rowan" 16-Mar-16

    Sprite (border collie, born sometime in 2002)

    At the Bridge:
    Sandy (the one who got me into Labs)
    Chipper (Lab x Australian shepherd)
    Buster (great Dane, with maybe a bit of Lab?)
    Destiny (who the heck knows... demon dog lol)

  2. #2
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Your description of Sprite is so sweet- "arthritic and bald, but bright eyed." I love these older pups.

    I'm sorry she's having troubles. Ear flap hematomas can be so difficult to get healed up and I hate that antibiotics can cause tummy troubles even as they work to heal other issues. Maybe as the ear infection clears she'll do less scratching or head flapping or whatever is making that hematoma accumulate again. I hope things calm down for her soon.

  3. #3
    House Broken Squeaksmom's Avatar
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    Thanks smartrock! The vet is really pleased with her progress since our last appointment. Have to keep an eye on her weight... she's been overweight most of her life, and I made a real effort to get weight off of her because of the arthritis. Now she's eating more than she used to and bordering on too skinny. She's also very lumpy, so I'm suspicious of a connection. One of my mentors is a veterinary oncologist, so I may ask for her advice. Old girl is doing well overall, though.
    ​Mayhemfarms Hot Guernsey "Raodi" 01-Feb-09
    Mayhemfarms Irish Cream "Rowan" 16-Mar-16

    Sprite (border collie, born sometime in 2002)

    At the Bridge:
    Sandy (the one who got me into Labs)
    Chipper (Lab x Australian shepherd)
    Buster (great Dane, with maybe a bit of Lab?)
    Destiny (who the heck knows... demon dog lol)

  4. #4
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    It's hard to see our pups age with the problems that come along with that. Sounds like she is basking in your love and are.

    Sending gentle hugs.
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  5. #5
    House Broken Squeaksmom's Avatar
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    Thanks POPTOP, I do adore the old girl!
    ​Mayhemfarms Hot Guernsey "Raodi" 01-Feb-09
    Mayhemfarms Irish Cream "Rowan" 16-Mar-16

    Sprite (border collie, born sometime in 2002)

    At the Bridge:
    Sandy (the one who got me into Labs)
    Chipper (Lab x Australian shepherd)
    Buster (great Dane, with maybe a bit of Lab?)
    Destiny (who the heck knows... demon dog lol)

  6. #6
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    The probiotic can't hurt.

    She sounds like a real sweetie.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog
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    Poor baby! Scully gave herself and aural hematoma once (she was younger, around 8 I think). Our vet didn’t try to drain it - he went right to the the “mattress stitch” repair as he felt that draining it often doesn’t work. Another alternative, in an older dog is just to let it heal naturally. The blood will eventually reabsorb, although the ear would be left deformed (cauliflower ear), it may be less traumatic and painful for the dog.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  8. #8
    House Broken Squeaksmom's Avatar
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    My experience with the hematomas has been that the best approach is to drain them and infuse the pocket with a bit of steroid. The vet said that the fluid she drained out the second time was much less bloody, which implies that it's healing. So far (granted that it hasn't been very long) it's not reinflating.

    -2016-02-05-12-39-53-jpg


    Not sure how to fix the sideways picture
    ​Mayhemfarms Hot Guernsey "Raodi" 01-Feb-09
    Mayhemfarms Irish Cream "Rowan" 16-Mar-16

    Sprite (border collie, born sometime in 2002)

    At the Bridge:
    Sandy (the one who got me into Labs)
    Chipper (Lab x Australian shepherd)
    Buster (great Dane, with maybe a bit of Lab?)
    Destiny (who the heck knows... demon dog lol)

  9. #9
    . . . keep 'em moderated Calley's Family's Avatar
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    Our Calley has responded well to steroids when she has had a hematoma. She is on Prednisone right now for one. It is the 2nd one she has had in her lifetime. Midnight had one and the vet we had at the time did the surgery/quilting of his ear- very painful recovery. Our current vet thinks that it is allergy related and his prescription for the steroid has made it go away both times. Much easier than the surgery.
    WE ... ARE ... CALLEY'S FAMILY!
    John & Jeannie, humans to:
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    Haleigh - b 3/2/2015 gotcha 2/4/2017

    Forever in our hearts:
    Michaela Calley Eileen, CGC - b 12/14/2002 d 1/28/2018
    Midnight Valentino, VGB - b 8/18/2003 d 5/4/2015

    No Bad Days * Positive is How We Live * Practice Aloha

  10. #10
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    What a sweet girl, I hope she is feeling better!
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    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

 



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