I took Trudie to see the vet (2 of them) about her ellogated pallet and they told me that she is not a canidate for surgury because of how her trachea, throat etc. is formed. They said they didn't think it would be a good idea to put her through the surgury because they didn't think it would be a good outcome. So yesterday they put her on lasix and a calming drug to help with the times she gets so anxious. (Most of the time). Our household is very busy with grandkids in and out and she just barks, and barks with makes her breath all the more harder. We have had to stop going for walks now, and when I put her out to go potty she can only stay out for a little bit. She still loves to play and run with stella and sam but she pays for it by breathing very bad. Yesterday, when I took her to the vet, her tongue was blue just from her being anxious there. The hometown vet told me if she would have stayed in her little cage, this wouldn't have come to a head, cos she would have had no activity, BUT she also wouldn't have gotten to experience all that she has. We have had trudie 8 months and she sure has wormed her way into our hearts. Next sat. is her birthday and she will turn 6. That is not very old but the vet said all that she has been through has aged her faster. He told me to think of her as having a hospice pug. Sometimes I get mad at Butch for bringing her home, I know he didn't know it would be this way, but I just hate to think about the heartbreak. I know that is very childish and selfish of me, and I love Trudie and am so glad we have her, I just don't want to think of down the road. I was thinking yesterday how important foster homes are that work with rescue agencies cos they would have made sure Trudie went to a more quiet home. We had to skip that step cos of the way she came to our house. I think tho Trudie loves us and is glad we are her mom and dad. Keep us in your thoughts. Deb and Kids
Replies
z28susan (about 1 year ago)
Aww poor little Trudie!! How is her trachea and throat formed? They told us Jake's trachea is really skinny and because of that we have to go to an emergency vet hospital to have his pallate surgery done because they need to use special tubes that are small enough for the anesthesia and they have 24 hour ICU care for him. They are confident that this surgery will improve his breathing but I am so anxious about it because of his age (6 months) and I won't get to see him after we drop him off until we get to pick him up (the next day if there are no complications). Our vet told us we need to keep him as calm as possible and not let him run around and play with the other pugs, but it's hard when he is so young and just wants to play all day. He had 2 "episodes" where he couldn't breathe or catch his breathe, the first one which was the worst of the 2; he was on the floor flopping around and his eyes rolled back into his head. It was so scary, but my husband got him calmed down and relaxed and he was ok after that. A few days later he had another one where he was running around outside at potty time and just lost him breath and started stumbling around. His surgery is next Wednesday and I keep hoping there are no more episodes this next week and I get so nervous about when we are not home during the day.
Good luck with your little Trudie - she sounds like quite the little puggie and a little fighter!!
HAPPY (almost) BIRTHDAY, little girl!!!!!
three_cute (about 1 year ago)
They said she had an adnormality caused at birth, and more than likely has always had this problem but because of lack of exercise has been able to deal with it better. If she was younger, they may have did it but didn't come out and say that. I went and bought her soft dog food today to try to hide her pill in . We tried all kinds of things when i ran home at lunchtime but she refused to eat. I think I am gonna have to go to soft food anyway cos i have been noticing that she never chews her food but swallows it (since we got her) but now she can hardly swallow it...and i am afraid she will choke one of these days. we feed the piggies call of the wild so it isn't that big but she still has a terrible time with it. She likes the soft food they make so maybe i can sneak her little pill in it. Her breathing now even sounds rough when she is just laying around.
I bet that really scared you when jake did that! I bet he will do just wonderful after surgury! Everything I have read said most times it is a huge success. His age is definately a plus! When is he having surgury?
Thanks for your reply! Deb and Kids
three_cute (about 1 year ago)
The vet told me to imagine sounds fist in your mouth and trying to breath around that.
docand (about 1 year ago)
Can surgery be done on her trachea? I know that sometimes surgeons can do surgery on them and straighten them our somewhat. Good Luck and we'll be praying for Trudie and your family..... Doc and Lexi
z28susan (about 1 year ago)
We had antibiotics for Jake and he needed 3/4 pill, so we got a pill cutter to cut them easily and put them in his food. The cutter can make the pieces really small so if you mix it with her food she may not even realize the meds are in there.
It sounds the same - Jake is very noisy breathing even when he is just resting and we can even see his chest "jump" from his troubled breathing. It's very scary to see them suffering like that and knowing you can't really do anything to help them other than just try to keep them calm and relaxed. I'm very anxious for his surgery - excited because he will finally be able to breathe without trouble and nervous because it's so scary especially with him being so young and I won't get to see him until they discharge him. They won't let me visit him and that is going to be so hard not being able to be with him after his surgery, but I understand they don't want to confuse him.
Good luck with Trudie and hopefully she will take her meds and feel better!! If I think of any other tricks I will let you know.
JanandSass (about 1 year ago)
There is also something that might help with her anxiety. First of all she needs to try to avoid anxiety producing situations, but that is impossible to do all the time! But there are special meds - and you can get them in the form of liquids - that you can give doggies for anxiety. It is especially helpful if you are aware ahead of time - i.e. visitors, car trip, etc., that she can be given some drops to calm her down. You might not like the though of another med, but it is better than the alternative sometimes. Also, there are herbal ones - I have a valerian one for one of our dogs that came from the vet! And it seems to work pretty OK. I just have to try to remember when there is the least little peal of thunder, cause he is terrified of thunder storms!
three_cute (about 1 year ago)
Jan That was one of the medications the vet gave her...anti anxiety med's. I finally got her med's down her last night cos she was so hungry from not wanting to eat all day....i chopped them up and hid them in her soft food! The vet wants us to give them to her twice a day...(anxiety) and he said it would take a few days to see any difference. If it is just us (butch and I) she isn't anxious just when things change at our home. Its hard when you have 7 grandkids coming in and out. The kids are very good with her tho and know they need to treat her differently. I think her condition is something that we are now more aware of and just almost have to plan the day. The summer will be tough with her but we have central air so that will help her.
Susan give Jake a hug from us!
Doc I talked to the vet and he said the only option with trude is a tracheotomy (sp?) and I am not going to put her through that, and he didn't want her either...
Thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers! I am glad the weekend is almost here and I can just stay home with the piggies! Deb and Kids
three_cute (about 1 year ago)
I thought for as hot as it was this weekend trudie had a very good last couple of days...only once did her breathing get pretty bad and that was because she got over excited. We were able to get it calmed down tho....soft food is how we are able to get her med's down everytime! Yay!
elgor (about 1 year ago)
I am so sorry to hear about Trudie ...
I'm glad that she is taking her medication, even if she doesn't know she is taking it!
Pug Hugs, Ellen
JanandSass (about 1 year ago)
Gosh, I hope the meds help her feel better, poor little girl! Sometimes it is a struggle with some dogs to get their meds into them - Sass is no problem that way thank goodness. I hide it inside a little piece of weiner, but that won't work for Trudie. Too bad it doesn't come in a liquid.
KatB (about 1 year ago)
Deb, I am so sorry to hear of Trudie's health problems. Darn it! Please look at it this way. She DID come to the right house. God meant her to be with you. Your husband found her. God love him. He's a good man in my book. He brought her home to you, and you guys have given her everything she so needed. She should have had in the beginning of her life. I know if you could ask her, she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but with your family. If it were me, and there is nothing else to be done? If she isn't in any pain? Let her enjoy her life with you. Love her every minute of every day, and thank God for giving you the time you have at giving her a good and loving life. I read your FB posts, as many of us do. We know how much you love your puggy's. Your a good person. Prayers are on their way.
three_cute (about 1 year ago)
Thanks to all for your prayers and good thoughts. I have tears in my eyes as I am typing this. Sometimes we just need to hear from others that we are doing the right thing, because we doubt ourselves. Or at least I do. Your right Kat, Trudy is just so special and she has brought out even more love in both my and Butch's hearts for our puggies. Everyday when I get home they are so excited and when I sit down, Trudie always, lays her little face against my shoulder. Everyday. I decided to do just what you said Kat, and to make all her days good. As long as she isn't in pain or hurting. Thanks for taking the time to comment on Stellas page...I love to read them! Deb and Kids
Rita (about 1 year ago)
My thoughts and prayers are with you for Trudie, I am so glad she has you to care for her and to give her the love she deserves and I know being a pug, she gives that love back and then some. Your right to make her days good as long as she is not suffering or in pain. I will continue to keep her in my prayers. Rita
three_cute (about 1 year ago)
thanks rita for your sweet comment. I noticed last night if she barks to much it puts a strain on her breathing so that is something I will have to watch. She didn't like the fact that she was in the fence playing and Sam was on the outside of the fence.lolo..deb and kids
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