Geriatric Dog Issues
As an elderly dog Kiara experienced three serious medical issues but with loving care has been able to lead a happy life.
- Bladder / Urinary Tract Infections: Kiara's urinary tract infections reoccured frequently. Unfortunately, in the beginning, she wasn't seeing the best vet and I didn't really know what to do. Her vet suggested a urine analysis. This proved that Kiara had an infection but didn't show the exact type. I have come to the opinion that when an older dog develops a urinary tract infection, it is best to have a Urine Culture right away. A Urine Culture is more expensive than a Urine Analysis but it will show the best medications for the specific infection. This way your dog can be on the correct medication right away. For a long time Kiara took Cranmate as a supplement. I've also heard D'Mannose is good for dogs prone to E-Coli infections. I'm not sure how effective these supplements are but they are worth a try.
- Idiopathic Vestibular Disease: When Kiara experienced Idiopathic Vestibular Disease it was terrifying. It looks like a stroke. Her neck swayed back and forth. She vomited and couldn't even stand up. I thought I was going to lose her. When we got to the emergency vet, they informed me that it was not a stroke but instead, Idiopathic Vestibular Disease, something I had never heard of. Kiara became alert within an hour. By the end of the day, she started to recover. After a few days, she had more control over her body and within two weeks, was nearly back to normal. Idiopathic Vestibular Disease did leave her with one residual effect: her body tilted slightly to the right. This lead to the the biggest health issue she has experienced.
- Spinal Disc Injury: As Kiara's body was not properly aligned, she hurt her spinal disc. Again, I made mistakes. The first was not recognizing the seriousness of the problem. I didn't have her treated soon enough. She put out her paw so as not to put pressure on it, but I thought perhaps it was a sprain that would heal within a few days. I was wrong and when I brought her to the vet, regretted not having her treated earlier. The vet put her on prednisone ( a steroid) for two weeks. Kiara was not her usual self. She was aggresive and wanted to be as active as a puppy. Once she got off the medication she was back to her normal sweet self but has never entirely healed. The best I can do is to make sure she is comfortable and happy. She takes Metacam (an anti-inflammatory) daily. She uses a wheelchair for walking, which I wished I'd gotten as soon as she experienced Idiopathic Vestibular Disease.
Despite these illnesses, Kiara continues to smile and enjoy her favorite activities.