Bute dosage for dogs

I feel bad for Hating my nephew. My nephew is 13. My family has had custody of him since January of this year. My nephew in all fairness hasn’t ever really had it easy. His father left when he was 3. His mother never remarried but became very close to an old friend, who proceeded to raise my nephew as his own. From the ages of 4 to 11 before he passed away. Granted my nephew however is not an easy child. His issues started when he was about 8 years old. Setting fires, stealing things, stealing from his school, pathologically lying, and getting violent. He used to beat his mother black and blue, and yes despite being small and young, my sister is a skinny twig, so he really packed those punches and cause she would bruise very easily. He’d call her a shit mom, tell her to fuck off, the cops had to called countless times before he was even 10. To the point the cops just stopped responding even telling my nephew “ he was a very troubled kid, and the cops wouldn’t even react if his mother flipped the switch and beat him”. Countless hours of medication and counseling seemed to only stop the fires, not the lying or stealing. He would threaten his stepdad by telling him he was not his father. Because he couldn’t attack my brother in law as he was a 6’5 250 man, he’d hurt him by destroying his dead fathers memorabilia ( his father was a pretty small town famous tattoo artist and show performer). So that was all my brother in law had left of him, and my nephew would destroy it. I’ve had to run over and help my sister and him rein my nephew back in. One night we asked him to please put the stack of clean ceramic plates away, he Argued and thought it’d be best to just raise them up and slam them down on the kitchen floor. I was not wearing shoes and got cut a bunch from the shards flying. As time went on and the more difficult my nephew got, my brother in law and sister started to drink. Not much and not all day or everyday. Talking to my brother in law privately he’d cry and be so stressed he was losing weight. He became more and more withdrawn. Finally he got incredibly sick and was given a couple months to live. The stress combined with the alcohol caused his organs to fail. I feel I share my head with 5 other people, my psychiatrist thinks it’s part of my schizophrenia. So while I consciously don’t blame my nephew for my bother in laws death, the other people in my head certainly do. My sister shutdown while still trying to deal with my nephew. She called me one morning begging me to come over while crying. I walk in to her asking my nephew to please get dressed for school, she’s tired of getting truancy letters (he’d run away before school would start, he was 10 at this point), only for him to scream at her “shut the fck up you stupid btch). He knew I didn’t play like that so as soon as he saw me albeit sobbing he put his clothes on and I walked him to the campus and watched him go in ( sometimes he’d head to school but never actually go in). When he was 12 so last year my sister really hit a new low, got a new man, who In turn gave my nephew a gaming computer, consoles and vr headsets. He’s now acting like a 26 year old computer addict.
I think my sister let it happen because she had been dealing with my nephew by herself for years, and at this point I think she didn’t care what he did as long as he wasn’t screaming, swearing, breaking things or hurting her. Like I said we’ve had him for awhile, him living with us has been hard. Food constantly goes missing, he constantly lies, or takes peoples things and won’t admit it. Some days my mother is understanding and forgiving some days she doesn’t seem to notice anything. She is 74 and doesn’t notice a lot. I’ve noticed my nephew is also a great gaslighter and manipulator. So he can convince her that he accidentally took her brand new towels and threw them away by accident, or that he doesn’t know how a broken bowl wound up underneath his bed. And most times my mom just accepts his answers while not understanding why I’m getting on him so hard. I had a breaking point a few weeks ago, I know it may seem small compared to what others think. But we had just a conversation with him about not eating peoples ice creams (that’s the biggest thing he does is takes sweets) we tell him just ask and we’ll be more than happy to share with you. I had a frozen yogurt I was saving for after my physical therapy appointment. Came home. It was gone. I asked him and he screamed and cried he didn’t take it. I found the remnants later and sent him a video to only then did he confess that he had taken it. Lately my other sister who lives with me and along with her kid can’t take it anymore. Even though it’s easy for her to block my nephew out as she has her own kid, she can’t stand the yelling when he’s on the computer or coming home and everyone’s fight with him. She is moving out this summer, and I’m planning on moving out next January. I have attachment disorder. I love hard and easily but once you screw that up it doesn’t come back to me easily.
Before my brother died I hadn’t spoken to him in 10 years after what he said to me during a depressive episode when I was 10. I didn’t like him and I wanted nothing to do with him as he himself was an alcoholic with anger issues. Point being I’m seeing my nephew the same way I see my brother. I admit I don’t like him. I admit I try to tel myself repeatedly he’s been through sh*t and he needs help but a part of me is like “ you’ve been his half parent since he was 3 and you’ve been trying to reel in his behavior since he was 8. He’s now 13. So yes it’s getting harder and harder to have sympathy for his situations. I don’t really acknowledge him anymore other than when I am giving his cat back (his cat is a kitten and can’t be left alone while he’s in school so I take care of him during the day). I noticed I don’t respond anymore when he says “ I love you”.
I am bipolar and schizophrenic. When I start to lose my shit my moms all confused as to why and I point out to her my conditions and tell her it’s been a long time coming. For a bipolar person to always keep their anger under control 24/7 for 5 months is very hard and yes sometimes my brain just spills out. Don’t worry I’m still mentally there so I understand it’s best not to have a meltdown in front of children which is why I always retreat to my room and don’t come out for the day. I’m torn because I am the family caretaker. I take care of the dogs, cats, 7 chickens, the gardening, the cleaning and the cooking and cleaning up the kitchen. As I said my mother is 74. She’s had nothing but screwed up children all her life since she was in her 30s. 5 kids and all of us ended with some mental illness or another. I know she’s tired, and I know she’s breaking down (I’m sorry I’m starting to cry). I’m scared to move out cause I’m afraid the difficulty of raising my nephew is gonna stress her out so bad she too might die sooner rather than later. She was already very physically sick last month. She’s mentally stressed out and always exhausted. My sister lost custody of my nephew as I said.
I truly believe part of the reason she refuses to fight for custody of my nephew is because she doesn’t want him and his behaviors backs. From vandalizing the school property to stealing from people, she is over it, my other sister is over it, I’m over it but trying to be strong for my mom. And my mom I think is just numb from him. We’re great at still doing what an auntie and grandmother should do. Play with him, listen to his rants, try to calm him down when he’s mad. Gently point out his mistakes, take him out to a movie or food, or the arcade. But it’s all a facade internally. I won’t even mention how a 13 year old treats female classmates or his perverted views on them. We’ve have to tried to get him admitted, we’ve tried medication, we’ve tried counseling but this child knows he can just run away and refuse. The cops have given up on doing anything with him. So for the time being, everyone has to hide they’re stuff in personal fridges in our bedrooms. Good we don’t want taken or missing. I have cameras in my room, the garage has a motion sensor light, we all have to hide out debit cards and wallets as he’s been known to steal those as well countless times. It sucks. I know deep down subconsciously I love him like a little brother. Consciously my schizophrenia does not like him. I have the type where I hear, smell or have multiple voices in my head. Like I said it’s like having 5 other people living in my head. Luckily my schizophrenia is controlled heavily by therapy, medication and as I know the difference between right and wrong, and can comprehend one’s emotional well-being so I never lash out at anyone but it doesn’t stop the voices from speaking they’re truths. Sucks watching him walk in and the voices immediately saying sht like “ yea he’s gonna end like all the screwed up men in this family” Guys he’s only 13, he’s been through stuff “Shut up OP even you’re sick of his sht, you can’t even say I love you too back when he says it”
I know I just freeze up cause emotionally I’m conflicted, I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt and have hope. But in that moment i don’t how to respond when he says that.
“B*tch you’re on your own, all of us have no hope”
I’m at a loss of what to do. I want my own space for my mental wellbeing. Yes having the second floor and balcony to myself is nice but I feel I need my own own space. But I’m terrified of leaving my mother alone with the animals, house and mostly my nephew. I am however forcing her to go to Barcelona for a month, so I’m hoping that’ll at least give her brain time to relax. I’ve talked to my counselor and therapist, they are kind of at a loss of what to do as well. Except increasing my dosages especially on my anxiety meds. I don’t mind it but it makes me very stoned out and that makes me fall behind in house tasks, cause I’m just tired all the time. I’m scared, I’m tired of crying, I’m tired of being angry, I’m just tired. Between the house, yard, animals, my nephew, and my mothers well-being, I’m very tired. I’m sorry for the long rant, I’ve been sitting on this for a while and I feel I can’t tell anyone. Just need it out.

I (15f) have insomnia. It gets so bad at nights that I'd just lay in my bed, overthinking things. That usually leaves me to question lots of things, and I end up spiraling and crying.
My mother, (39f) and father (43m) have bought me medication for this. I stopped using it a while ago, due to it not working. I asked for a higher dosage, but my parents refused, saying that: "If the house began to burn down, I wouldn't wake up intime to run".
One night after a full day of Netball, from 8AM - 7PM, I had around two hours sleep (Note: I'm not allowed coffee or any caffeine to wake up, I'm expected to be able to jump out of bed with a lot of energy). I woke up the next morning to my father yelling at me to get up. I had dark eyebags and bloodshot eyes. I looked like the walking dead. This was on Sunday as well, so I really wanted to try and sleep a bit more.
Sundays are the days that my grandparents sometimes come over to take us to the early morning mass. My grandparents are religious, even pestering my parents to send me and my other siblings to Catholic schools, even though my parents aren't religious.
Anyway, I basically wasn't feeling okay, and I told my father this, but he ignored me, saying that I should do it "for my grandparents" since "they don't have long to live, and we should make them happy while we can". I understand this, but my mental health had already been declining with the pile of schoolwork and my friends fighting and having bad home lives.
I finally got up from my bed, and while my siblings were all dressed and ready to go, I was on the verge of tears. I kept telling him that I didn't want to go, that I was too tired, and he kept saying he didn't care. I got dressed anyway, and while I was looking for socks, he kept saying things like: "You had all morning to get dressed", and "I already yelled at you to wake up and get dressed, this is your own fault".
I was already really sick of it, and I kept talking back. Eventually, my father got fed up with this, and got as physically close as possible before yelling at me. I was terrified. It's not a nice experience to see your father right up in your face, teeth bared like a feral animal and yelling at me that this is his house and I have to listen to him while I lived there. He didn't physically hurt me, but I was scared he would.
I snapped at this and shoved him away. I told him to "Get the fck away from me", before staggering into my grandparents car, sobbing. My father looked as if he was going to hurt me, but my mother stopped him, saying I was only a child. I spent the rest of Mass trying not to cry, dreading when I got back.
When I did, my parents both came to the decision that I was disrespectful, and was setting a bad example for my younger siblings, who might copy what I did. My punishment? Sleeping in the laundry until my parents said, and six months doing everyone's chores (We live in a household where there are seven people, not including any visitors, and two dogs), and that I was grounded until they decided to.
Every night before I go to sleep, I have to clean the dirty laundry, which stores bags, shoes, and dirty clothes, after all the chores I had to do, and set up a bed there that I have to pack up every day when I wake up.

My dog was diagnosed with epilsepy around august of last year. He had a normal puppy life until that point. That day he had a random seizure and I literally thought he was going to die. When we took him to the vet they checked his blood and everything until they narrowed it down to epilepsy. I was shellshocked but I was not going to give up on him. After getting him on medication he would relapse every few months and we would up the dosage and try new medication. Things were going smoothly for little once we finally got the right mix. He would usually have a seizure once or month or so. It would be tough but it was manageable.
This past week he had a cluster seizure (which he usually does) but ended up having one three days later, he would have cluster secures for the next three days straight. Om the third consecutive day he started giving seizures at 2pm and would have at least 1 every two hours until 11 pm. We took him in and they put him on 24 hour super dose of kepra to stop him from having seizures for the next day. I took him home hopefully until he would end up having 3 more seizures. I immediately began crying because in the back of my head I knew the worst was coming.
I took him back to the vet sobbing. The veterinarian told me we could either hospitalize him for the night and hope whatever they do works (minimum was going to be 5k) and there’s no guarantee it was going to work. She said usually when epilepsy starts at such a young age it usually doesn’t go as well. She ended with “im so sorry” My heart was broken. My dad and sister showed up to make things easier. I balled my eyes out as they brought me into the “quiet room”. They brought him in and I hugged him as tight as I could. He had a seizure as soon as he saw me and my heart broke. My head knew this was probably the best for him so he couldn’t suffer anymore but my heart was acheing. I felt like I was giving up on my boy. He was only two years old and had so much life to live. He was already sedated and when they knocked for the final step he got amped and full of energy (he had been loopy and restless for the day since he took the medication) but it absolutely broke my heart . Like he knew what was about to happen. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be in the room I was so overwhelmed and upset. But I didn’t want him to be without me in his last moments I held him in my arms and sobbed as they did the first sedative to fully calm him down. And finally..the rest of the shot to make him sleep forever.. I held him in my arms while he took his final breathes and just like that he was gone.
It’s finally been 24 hours and I’m still so sad. I live alone and he was my bestfriend. My house is so lonely without him . I know with time it’ll get easier but I miss him so fucking much. He’s the first dog I raised by myself and for the last 2 years i felt like I was raising a son. He loved me unconditionally and I loved him the same. I fucking hate epilepsy my boy had so much more to see. I miss him so much already and it’s only been one day. Seeing him go lifeless in matter of minutes is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Putting down ur dog and them going in your arms has to be one of the saddest things to happen to a person. I know to some people dogs are just pets but to me dogs have always been another part of the family . I feel like I lost my som and he’s all I can think about. Rip my baby boy daddy will see you again one day

My dog was diagnosed with epilsepy around august of last year. He had a normal puppy life until that point. That day he had a random seizure and I literally thought he was going to die. When we took him to the vet they checked his blood and everything until they narrowed it down to epilepsy. I was shellshocked but I was not going to give up on him. After getting him on medication he would relapse every few months and we would up the dosage and try new medication. Things were going smoothly for little once we finally got the right mix. He would usually have a seizure once or month or so. It would be tough but it was manageable.
This past week he had a cluster seizure (which he usually does) but ended up having one three days later, he would have cluster secures for the next three days straight. Om the third consecutive day he started giving seizures at 2pm and would have at least 1 every two hours until 11 pm. We took him in and they put him on 24 hour super dose of kepra to stop him from having seizures for the next day. I took him home hopefully until he would end up having 3 more seizures. I immediately began crying because in the back of my head I knew the worst was coming.
I took him back to the vet sobbing. The veterinarian told me we could either hospitalize him for the night and hope whatever they do works (minimum was going to be 5k) and there’s no guarantee it was going to work. She said usually when epilepsy starts at such a young age it usually doesn’t go as well. She ended with “im so sorry” My heart was broken. My dad and sister showed up to make things easier. I balled my eyes out as they brought me into the “quiet room”. They brought him in and I hugged him as tight as I could. He had a seizure as soon as he saw me and my heart broke. My head knew this was probably the best for him so he couldn’t suffer anymore but my heart was acheing. I felt like I was giving up on my boy. He was only two years old and had so much life to live. He was already sedated and when they knocked for the final step he got amped and full of energy (he had been loopy and restless for the day since he took the medication) but it absolutely broke my heart . Like he knew what was about to happen. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be in the room I was so overwhelmed and upset. But I didn’t want him to be without me in his last moments I held him in my arms and sobbed as they did the first sedative to fully calm him down. And finally..the rest of the shot to make him sleep forever.. I held him in my arms while he took his final breathes and just like that he was gone.
It’s finally been 24 hours and I’m still so sad. I live alone and he was my bestfriend. My house is so lonely without him . I know with time it’ll get easier but I miss him so fucking much. He’s the first dog I raised by myself and for the last 2 years i felt like I was raising a son. He loved me unconditionally and I loved him the same. I fucking hate epilepsy my boy had so much more to see. I miss him so much already and it’s only been one day. Seeing him go lifeless in matter of minutes is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Putting down ur dog and them going in your arms has to be one of the saddest things to happen to a person. I know to some people dogs are just pets but to me dogs have always been another part of the family . I come home and see all his toys and his harness and least on top Of his bed and I get so sad. He was just a baby stillI feel like I lost my son and he’s all I can think about. Rip my baby boy daddy will see you again one day

Good Day!
About 12 hours ago, I was bitten by my pup on the finger, at 12 AM, it was small like a knife or a paper cut. It bled but I cleaned it right away with water and alcohol.
My pup was born inside of our house, is almost 5 months old, has not gone outside of our house and came in contact with other dogs or animals. He was recently dewormed 2 weeks ago, (and only got dewormed again and his first shot of anti-rabies just earlier, about 3 hours ago). He’s very normal and healthy, spoiled even as he stays indoors.
However when he bit me he still didn’t have any anti-rabies shot. I was quickly brought to the hospital at around 12:30 AM or so, it’s a hospital nearby.
It was a category 3 animal bite because it bled yes and the nurses followed the protocol treatment, making it day 0.
I took these shots in 4 of my limbs;

1. Anti-Rabies shot
2. Erig Vaccine with proper dosage based on my weight.
3. Two Tetanus Shots

I will be coming back once a week for for more anti-rabies shots then will come back in 6 months for another shot (I forgot what type it was, was it a booster?)
I got back home around 2 AM.
All that I ask now is if you believe that I will not likely get rabies now that I was treated as fast a possible? I’m just very anxious and I am terrified of the symptoms.
I actually almost contracted rabies again before, it was a decade ago, I was around 9 or 10 years old. I was scratched by an actual stray kitten I picked up, it clunged on my wrists too hard and slid its claws down. The wound was bleeding so much I still remembered it vividly.
I was brought to the nearest Animal Bite center I had to take 10 shots, once a week, I of course don’t remember what kinds of shots they were. I didn’t take rabies before seriously as a kid since I was innocent and unaware of how lethal it was, all I knew is that I had to visit the doctor once a week for those shots. I couldn’t believe I went through a much terrible wound before as a kid, unlike the one I got earlier, a small bite from a pup.
Am I completely safe now?

I lost my 9yr chihuahua mix yesterday, it happened so fast. Barry was diagnosed a couple months ago with heart diease by his primary vet and was put on a medication plan. He was over all doing pretty well until this week. Three days ago it was a normal day but he had blood in his stool, he went to the er and they told us the blood in his stool was not a huge issue his stomach just was having some inflammation. Although we were there for his tummy the vet was concerned with his breathing and heard crackling in his lungs and urged us to go to their cardiologist and make an appointment with them to have him reevaluated and put on another plan for his heart and possible lung issues. The ER vet was concerned that his current medication plan given by his primary was crazy, as far as she thought he was being overly medicated and was confused as to why his primary would treat his heart condition like that. We booked the soonest appointment with their cardiologist for June 6th and took Barry home with some meds for his for his tummy. The next day his stool was normal, we spent the day together napping and being little couch potatoes, although his stomach was better I could tell he wasn’t feeling well, his breathing was worse than the day before… I was just praying that he would get better and that on June 6th we’d make it to the cardiologist and he’d be put on a new plan and things would be ok. That night he was so restless we didn’t sleep, I spent the whole night with him laying down on the floor, he was surrounded by his favorite toys and even got some treats. As soon as the pet er opened I rushed him there and they did some tests. The medication that his primary care vet (not sure I mentioned but his primary vet is at a different location so the ER he had been going to is a different establishment) had been giving him medication that was counteracting, and one of the medications had a crazy dosage and led to him having fluid in his lungs. When we first got there he was rushed and put into an oxygen chamber to help regulate his breathing. With all the findings I was told Barry wouldn’t survive my 5 minute drive home being out of the chamber… It was time for him to cross the rainbow bridge. I got to say bye, he was calm and cradled his little body on my lap and arms as he had the catheter in..
As me and my boyfriend walked home sobbing, my boyfriend began to tell me, “ when people die sometimes they say they send signs to their loved ones to tell them they love them or their ok, what do you think will be your sign with Barry? What’s something that you’ll see that you’ll know is Barry saying hello.” I told him I couldn’t even think of it and I didn’t know, so the subject changed.. 10 minutes later a car had a ad for a home cleaning service called berry clean with a dark colored and white dog pictured… his name tag on his red collar read, BARRY. That was my sign! Unfortunately I can’t attach the pics I took of the ad because it says the community doesn’t allow attachments, but if you seem my posts on my profile for other communities I posted the pictures to a chihuahua subreddit. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it so I had to take a picture, I will forever remember that moment
Everything around me feels fake, I can’t explain or express how much I miss my baby, but I thought I should share…
Rest in love Barry 05-05-2016 - 05-16-2024

So this probably isn’t rational at all. But I don’t have anywhere to rant about this and I wonder if others can relate.
I have bipolar 1 and had one manic episode for weeks wherein I utterly ruined my life and lost everything. But the majority of the time I’m in major depression if I’m not stable. I’m in a fugue state now, so I’m sure that is coloring my worldview.
Anyways. I’ve worked so so so hard to get to where I am now, I am a psych NP and wouldn’t dare disclose my diagnosis and how much I struggle even today because of the repercussions (I could lose my professional licenses.)
But this general with bipolar gave a talk at Grand Rounds at my hospital this week on his book “Bipolar General: My Forever War With Mental Illness” which is all about how he succeeded most of his life (until 8 years ago) with his bipolar and professionals kept saying nothing was wrong with him.
Today a resident I precept was going on and on all about this guy (I was busy seeing clients and didn’t have the luxury of taking the time to see this talk for myself). And I just had to keep biting my tongue because I just wanted to lash out and be like, “I haven’t been able to get myself to stop thinking about suicide for three weeks now despite being adherent to the high dosages of my meds, seeing my MD and therapist all the time, and using so many coping skills. Oh, and ten years ago I was homeless, penniless, kicked out of grad school, estranged from all (but one of) my friends and family-and I still haven’t been able to repair most of those relationships. (It is loneliness that hurts me the most-the only things that work in my life are work and taking care of my dog). So don’t come at me with how amazing this dude is.”
It just feels like over and over again the every day struggle of most people with a diagnosis of bipolar gets written over and ignored because of those rare cases of people who are powerful enough to tell their fairytale experience with bipolar.
(And I do not trust this trainee. So that’s why I didn’t say anything at all.)
End rant.
Anyone else feel like this?

I’m 14 months postpartum and either natural hormones or the birth control I’m on has pushed me into a mild depression diagnosis. My doctor and I decided the first variable to change is the Zoloft. I’m on day 10 of upping from 25mg to 50 mg.
The past week, I’ve had several incidents driving. Two times I’ve run red lights because my brain did not process that I needed to stop. The second time I managed to forcefully talk my body into stopping with a lot of effort. This morning I was too close to a pedestrian in the crosswalk because I didn’t see or process that he was there with a giant dog. Is this kind of processing lag time normal with a dosage change? Has anyone experienced this? I’m nervous to drive myself and my little one now that there have been three incidents. Thanks for any advice y’all have.

So I’ve had TERRIBLE gallbladder attacks this past year. Had 3 attacks which at the time genuinely thought it was just trapped gas but it clearly wasn’t. My last gallbladder attack was so bad that I had to wake my spouse up because of how much pain I was in. Which I don’t know how she didn’t hear me given I was moaning and groaning and throwing a tantrum and throwing my heating pad on the ground along with also having two baths in the middle of the night.
Anyways. It was 3:30am when we finally arrived to the hospital. I’ve never been in such immense amount of pain in my life. Finally checked in and registered. Didn’t get an IV until half an hour after. Which finally relieved some of the pain thankfully. The doctor came by and had an ultrasound and she found a gallstone and she said that it was in one of the worst places. It was trying to push its way out but my gallbladder kept sucking it back in. I was also lowkey kind of blacking in and out because of the morphine in my IV. The doctor leaves and I’m okay until I’m not, I got another attack where I’m at this point just asking the nurses to sedate me, the pain was that unbearable. My spouse said it looked like I was trying to escape my body. My spouse had to go to the nurse and ask for heavier dosage, turns out my IV was twisted so the medication wasn’t going into my system. But honestly great timing because then the doctor came back and saw me having my gallbladder attack and said she is setting me up for ultrasound and for a general surgeon to chat with me. While I was waiting for all of that I was knocked out. A porter woke me up to take me to get another ultrasound and I threw up because the medication makes you all foggy and dizzy. Of course I have a gallstone. The general surgeon put me on the top of the emergency list. I got released, finally ate, I was okay thankfully.
Two days rolled around and I got a call saying I can eat not having a surgery. Two hours later I get a call that I’ll be having surgery the following morning.
The following morning it was kind of quick, however I have shitty fucking veins like nearly impossible to find them. I didn’t get my IV in until they brought me to the OR where they had to freeze my arm and stabbed me so many times, didn’t love that.
The surgery was a success, post op wasn’t a great experience though. As soon as I woke up I had a phantom gallbladder attack where again they had to medicate me. They never helped me get dressed either so, I have 5 incisions on my stomach and the got me bending up and down. It made me overheat and sweat and I was like “I need to get out of here, I do not feel well at all!” My spouse had to wheel me around to the main entrance of the hospital, got my fresh air but I was so out of it my wife said I looked like a drooler.
Managed to get home, and then I threw up in my apartment hallway (I had a cardboard looking bucket that the hospital gave me). I had to take off my sweater because it had some vom on it. And that’s when I saw my bloody bandages, which I was surprised with.
I’m 2.5 weeks post op, the first week and a half were rough not gonna lie. My body had to get used to life without a gallbladder and also heeling. However now, I’m all good. My incisions don’t even hurt, they honestly just look like cat scratches at this point. I’m able to eat whatever still. The first week I was shitzilla but not as bad anymore. Im still a bit sensitive when I first wake up in the morning but that’s literally it. I’m taking my dog for his walks now, I’m doing my regular duties and going back to work on Monday!

I have officially been taking .25 for a month now. I am a 6’1” 23 yo male SW 275.8, CW 269.6. I work 40-50 hours a week, on my feet moving around, not a whole lot of time to work out, but I walk my dog every other day too! I have seen a lot of other folks who have lost much more than I did in my first month, but I am super happy about losing 6 pounds in a month! I have always had a hard time losing weight, it would either go up or stay the same, never have I really been able to lose weight. I had very mild symptoms while taking the smaller dosage, but I make sure to always take it before bed so that I am not nauseated at work. I mostly felt like the “food noise” was really reduced on the .25 dose. Meaning, I really didn’t feel like going on a snack eating binge when I was bored or just before bed. I pretty much ate regular sized meals daily, just a lot less snacking! I am very excited for the rest of my journey! Taking my first .5 injection today after work. Goal weight is 235!

This happens to me once in a while, and I have no idea what causes it. I just wake up and every square inch of my body is like a burning itch, but the lower extremities are the worst. I just took benadryl, but I dont know that it'll do anything.
My diet is super consistent. Fruits, nuts, some dairy, beans, veggies, some meat. I've used the same soap, body wash,and lotion for months. I have what you would consider a severe anxiety disorder, and im on some meds, but no changes in dosage in over a year
Air purifier in my house. Yesterday I spent most of the day inside. Showered. I have a dog and a cat but I've never had pet allergies.
It sucks so bad when this happens.

• Species: Dog
• Age: 7
• Sex/Neuter status: F/ Yes
• Breed: We think Lhasa Apso
• Body weight: 16 lbs
• History: Went to the vet last week bc we noticed she couldn't go up on her hind legs, she'd be shaking, vet said she got a sprain on one of her legs (other history: skin issues)
• Clinical signs: Drinking lots of water, peeing alot, weight gain, fast breathing? (unsure of this one) shaking? (she was shaking when we didnt know she sprained her leg)
• Duration: one week

I'm an idiot and noticed it said to give once a day and not twice! It has been 6 days since she's been on medication. I haven't noticed anything odd with my dog other than her being really thirsty. She has gained a bit of weight but I attributed it to her not being on our daily walks as I was told to treat the sprain like a human sprain and not let her walk too much (and no running or jumping) for 2 weeks. Also I give her a piece of puppy patty when giving her the pills as any other method doesn't work with her.
I did call the vet but the person who picked up dismissed my concern saying it's fine but I'm very worried.
These are the other meds she was given - all to take twice a day:
-Gabapentin (liquid) - 1 CC

• Sucralfate, half a tablet
  
• Robaxin 500mg, half a tablet
  
• Famotidine 10mg, 1 tablet
  

She sometimes shakes but I'm not sure what that is about.
Please let me know!

My dog has been crazy itchy lately and nothing else has seemed to work for my other dogs than Zyrtec. He’s 100lbs and my 45lb dog gets 20mg of Zyrtec (vet recommended dosage). Any less doesn’t work. Would it be okay to give him 30mg? Thank you!

After trying so many different plant-based medications, my reactive dog (10 kg) has been using Fluoxetine (aka Prozac, half a dosage) for the last 2.5 months. The effects on her mental and emotinal status have been tremendous. We can really see that she is much calmer against stimuli and she accepts training much better. She could finally find some peace.
The problem is that she is getting tired very quickly when we are outside. She is a high-energy, young (3.5 y/o) terrier mix, and our daily routine is a 1.5-2 hours mix of walk on leash and decompression walks. She used to not take any pauses to rest or only rested after running a lot or during the heat waves, in which we do not spend a lot of time outside anyways. In the last weeks, she has been panting a lot and lying on the grass to rest only after short time. This almost constant panting and quick tiredness worried us and our vet told us that this could be a heart problem. It makes sense since fluoxetine is an SSRI and SSRIs cause heart palpitations and arrhythmia in humans as well. We will see a cardiologist in a month (we live in Germany and this is how appointment system works unfortunately...).
Is there anyone with a similar experience?
TL;DR -> Fluoxetine (an SSRI) may be causing cardiac problems in our dog. She pants more and gets tired quickly during activities.

I’m realizing my brother is narcissist and despite my mom being a malignant one I didn’t piece it together my brother is one until his abuse against my dad has escalated to medical. Everything toxic and bad he does to my dad he lies or reframes it to me doing it to my dad not him. He says I stole money that was paid to a home health nurse after my dad’s stroke. Despite receipts and my dad choosing the nurse himself at the time my dad will side with my bro because he’s scary, sneaky and manipulative.
My dad tried to gift me a small amount of money for my health care for him at one point my bro has reframed it as attempted theft. Despite me never asking for this money or even accepting when my dad told me take the money.
My brother is now POA and gets my dad’s full social security of nearly $4k a month. He removed me from having viewing access of the account 6 months ago so I don’t know what he does with the $4k on but there is no food in the fridge and my brother leaves my dad home all day and doesn’t hire any outside care. Earlier this week I showed up unannounced with spaghetti to try and reason with my dad and let him know I’m here to help. My used two hands to shovel it down he was so hungry . There was no food there, the kitchen is infested with flies and rotting food, and my brother didn’t come home until 5. There was nothing there for him to eat. I brought water flavor additives my dad had asked for last time I saw him in DEC and I sent my bro Amazon links to buy it for him in Dec. he never did.. my dad hates water and has a hard time drinking it without flavor,
I vaccumed his little area full of dog hair changed his pee stained sheets. My dad was happy and Grateful we did arm and leg exercises took his blood pressure and added it to his health apps the last update was in August when he still lived with me my brother hasn’t taken his BP once
My brother comes home i hoped we could talk to set up scheduled help and care for my dad from myself or someone else. My brother starts yelling My dad asked for peace. Sadly, Due to decades of my moms abuse and training he thinks im the reason my brother rages and yells and my bro won’t communicate with me is my fault. So when ever tension is high we all revert to our exodus family roles, where I’m the scapegoat and can’t hold my ground and bro goes AH-Ha see she’s manipulating US by crying :/
This lash time my bro said he hates me and can’t give peace. I now see he’s hurting my dad to hurt me. He said my dad’s care is fine and im not needed and my dad can never leave the house to visit me and im not welcome there. My dad asked for 2 weeks every other month to visit me and his lawyer will be in touch since my brother said he will need paperwork like a custody agreement to allow him out. Insides him to put it in writing that we will be sorting out future visits my bro refused and started cursing and I felt triggered and left. My dad said he was going to talk to the lawyer the next day and call me. He hasn’t called. I can’t call because my brother claims I call to harass my dad when i call. I get it my dad gets confused and frustrated so I can’t ask follow up questions without trigging his frustration on these events.
My brother who hasnt talked to me since he added himself to my dads back account in Jan said he will file a restraining order and call the cops on me if I ever come again and my dad’s lawyer is ready to file it, he even said remember it’s the lawyer YOU said my dad needed. It’s some smiley lawyer my bro found who goes along with my bro. I’ve called a few times but the lawyer is sleazy and old with one foot out the door
. I’ve been my dad’s biggest supporter. My brother withholds info and creates confusion between me and my dad ever since he went to live at his house because I couldn’t afford to keep my dad here since my bro was gate keeping all his money at the time.l despite my dad begging for his money. My bro mad asking for money so stressful and down the wire time and time again it broke me in addition to the full time care and I had a mental breakdown and he was temp sent to my bros but my bro has convinced my dad I kicked him out! I was literally on the verge of unaliving myself due to my brothers financial and emotional abuse and lack of sleeping for 6 months of around the clock beside care for our dad who could not walk or eat on his own, and he holds that over my head. My bro said I made my choices to get in that position, I dug my hole, and I am just manipulative
To make this stuff believable and hard to follow for an old man, I can barley keep up
. My dad’s doctor called APS when my brother stopped filling his meds and my dad got afib. The doctor called me after not being able to get ahold of my dad or bro for a tele health appointment I had been seeing issues on my dad’s Apple Watch for 2 months and told her about it she connected it instantly to the meds.
My brother before even filling the meds changed medical Poa to himself (my dad does whatever anyone says) then my brother told him to get a new pcp because me and the doctor lied and he’s been getting his meds and I gave him the afib from stress by calling him and upsetting him
My dad is now isolated from me and his doctor his only 2 other trusted longtime care takers. My dad has no one else in his life and my brother can start over with no set of backup eyes on his subpar care
He’s killing my dad. My dad’s lawyer doesn’t care since my bro is POA when I call my dad’s lawyer he just tells my bro the concerns I’ve raised who escalates his mental abuse on me and my dad.
My dad refused help from social worker who called APS the report says my dad downplayed the meds l my brother neglected that they’re were filled elsewhere. My brother said it was miscommunications with the doctor because of me getting involved, when I was only called because my brother didn’t answer or return the doctors calls. Even after he filled the meds it was the wrong dosage I could see from my dads heart rate and I texted and called my brother I had to call the doctor to call my dad to convince him to change the dosages. Because When I called my dad my brother said I was lying and everything was fine . .
brother is killing my dad if my dad dies first my mom will leave everything to my brother and he knows it and he will get away with it
There is nothing I can do. I’ve spoken to a ton of lawyers who offer not ways to help besides forcing my dad in to a guardianship and my brother will fight that and kill my dad with stress.
I feel sad and helpless but my dad never protected me from my mom and Bros abuse growing up. Had he done so and left her wouldn’t be in this mess. it’s sad and sick to watch a toxic family’s end cycle that’s all

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Chapter 15: For What You’ve Tamed
“We’ve come a long way, Vikri. Let’s finish your story,” Rayner said as he sat down in the same chair, crossing his legs in the same way.; small consistencies that made the task of talking about my past seem a little more routine. “I understand you lost someone important to you that day.”
I shifted slightly where I sat. “Yeah,” I answered coarsely. I grabbed at the poncho hanging over my shoulders. I remembered what it felt like in my dreams. Radiant warmth always seemed to emanate from it. Not necessarily the poncho itself, but Tenga’s memory. I realized that as long as I had those, then he was still here in a way. I’d much rather have him here than his memory though.
Rayner nodded. “I know what that’s like,” he said in a near whisper.
I shook my head. “It’s not just that I lost him. I…I failed,” I rasped. “I could’ve saved him. Maybe if I’d gone back I could’ve gotten the equipment before the fire did. I was too afraid.”
Rayner nodded slowly. “And now you feel responsible.”
I remained silent as I clutched my tail on the couch beside me. Rayner already knew the answer. He pursed his lips. “Yeah…I know exactly how that feels.”
I looked up at him. For the first time, his eyes weren’t on me, but on the adjacent wall as he seemed to ponder something. “You think about all the things you could have done differently. Things that are so obvious in hindsight,” he sighed and adjusted his glasses. “If only it were that clear in the moment.” He looked up at me, clasping his hands together. “So walk me through what happened.”
I could still vividly remember the moment Tenga got shot. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. So quickly in fact, that it even took Tenga a moment to realize there was a hole in his torso. Minutes of continuous tension shattered with a hail of gunfire lasting less than a second. The echoes continued to howl through the mountains long after the bodies met the snow. My friend was fatally wounded, the snow around him dyed bright red with his blood. And I had to leave him.
The entire time I was in the belly of the federation destroyer with danger lurking around every corner, all I wanted to do was to get this done as quickly as possible and get back to him. I was enraged that they’d done this to him and to billions just like him.
“Tenga was all I thought about the entire time,” I croaked. “And I…I was willing to kill everyone onboard to get back to him, even if there was no way I ever could. I… did things I could never have imagined myself doing even just days ago. I tore a chunk out of my leg just to be able to get to the Krakotl pinning me down with a crowbar.” I inhaled deeply, staring down at my reflection in the water, recalling my bloodshot eyes in the reflection of the ship's monitor. The grimly colorful bloodstains in my fur from several different species.
Rayner nodded. “It was a desperate situation. Many don’t see themselves doing things like that until they’re put in a situation where it's necessary. A situation where it's do or die. No one can fault you for that, especially not with all that depended on you.”
“I guess I just…It’s just worrying knowing that there’s a part of me capable of that.”
The doctor tapped his pen on his notepad as he seemed to think for a moment. “Do you worry that you may have violent outbursts?”
I scoffed. “Well, the events of a few days ago provided good grounds for worry.”
Rayner nodded. “Aggression is common for PTSD victims. It can be difficult to manage intense emotions when your mind is already dealing with so much.
I shook my head. “That’s not the person I want to be.”
Rayner nodded. “I know Vikri. That’s why it's so crucial for you to talk about this stuff. The less all of this weighs on you, the better you’ll be able to control those emotions when they arise.”
He finished writing on his notepad before taking off his glasses and leaning forward slightly. “So what happened to Tenga?”
The question made my heart sink. My mind went quiet. The second hand of time sounded like the footsteps of a giant marching toward…something. My body seemed to go cold and numb. “He died…” I croaked, staring down at the table. That was the first time I’d admitted that to myself verbally in such a direct way. “And I tried so hard,” I choked, tears now streaming down my face. “I did everything in my power to save him. I even put Querek’s life in danger.”
I felt the heat. I could feel cold water dripping from my paws as the burning ship melted the frost accumulating in my fur. I remembered the terrifying hopelessness that gripped me as I gripped Querek and pushed him into the snow. He tried to sacrifice himself for Tenga. What if I had let him? Would it have even worked? Could Tenga accept that?
I recalled the story to Rayner, battling to keep my composure. “I…I watched him die,” I choked. “And I was furious. Reese had to pull me off of him. I wanted to do…something, anything, but…he told them not to bring him back. I think he…” I winced at the thought of him considering this. “I think he’d rather have died sacrificing himself over…going rabid.”
Silence perforated the room for what felt like several long minutes. Rayner sat with his legs crossed, his hand propped up against his mouth. He seemed to become lost in thought for a moment before speaking. “I know how that guilt feels,” he admitted quietly.
I looked at him, somewhat surprised. “You do?”
Rayner nodded, rubbing his hands together. “My son,” he said plainly, taking a long pause before he continued. “He and Jesse were very close as kids. Practically brothers.” He tapped on his clipboard with his pen. “I was…not so available in those days. I was a very different man than I am now. I was still in school. I was always busy, always stressed. I hadn't even considered becoming a therapist. I was deadset on becoming a neurosurgeon.” He scoffed at himself, his head gently shaking back and forth as his gaze grew distant. His delivery lacked that matter-of-fact candor I was so used to by now. He was much quieter; less animated. His eye contact was sporadic and he never stopped fidgeting with his pen. Everything about him seemed suddenly mired in an emotion that was difficult to read. That was when I saw everything we'd done over the past few days for what it really was. Rayner wasn't invincible. He never claimed to be. He was hurt; I could hear it in his voice. He wasn't a person reaching down into the mud and yanking me out by the nape of the neck. He was man covered in mud himself. He wasn't an untouchable hero. Merely a guide.
He continued as that realization struck me. “I loved him as much as a father could. But I was so busy that…well I wasn't there as much as I'd like to have been. That put a big strain on our relationship.” He removed his glasses and wiped the lenses a few times before he continued. “One night we got into an argument. He’d just gotten his license. He had an old beat-up car I'd bought him for his birthday,” he chuffed. “A teen’s first car is always…eccentric. Thought it was a great deal at the time.” He sighed and nodded slightly before continuing. “He left the house enraged, speeding down the road. After a few miles, he lost control, swerved off the road, and hit a tree head-on. The airbag never deployed. The car crumpled like a soda can.”
I stared at him, speechless as he concluded in a near-whisper. “He was declared dead at the scene.”
The room felt hollow for a few long seconds. I searched for a reply but couldn't fathom the right words to say. Fortunately, Rayner didn't stay silent for long. “Like you, I blamed myself for a long…long time.” He sighed. “And it nearly destroyed me.”
I stared at the floor, fidgeting with my tail. “How did you…overcome that?”
“Well it didn't happen overnight,” he replied, flashing a brief smile. “It takes time but, at some point, you have to carry on living. You have to continue loving.” His eyes creased slightly as he looked down at his own hands. “You have to keep loving,” he repeated in a low whisper.
Loud silence claimed the room again as his words sank in. He was right. It was either accept what happened or live like this forever. Looking at it that pragmatically, the choice seemed easy. Emotions are never so logical though. It wasn’t as if he relieved himself of that burden either, it was obvious he still carried it. It just…didn’t weigh as much now. Not because it got lighter, but because he got stronger. I eased into speaking again. “I…I'm sorry. About your son.”
Rayner nodded. “I'm sorry about your friend.”
We both stewed in silence for a minute before Rayner spoke up. “We’ll send you home today.”
“You…really think I’m ready?”
Rayner nodded slowly. “I think so. The medication seems to be working, you haven’t had any breakdowns since you’ve been here. You’ve gotten much better at discussing these things. I think you’re equipped to face this now.”
“...I’m afraid,” I croaked.
“Of what?” Rayner asked, leaning forward
“Of…seeing Lucky again. I'm doubting whether I even should. I was never prepared to be her master. I’m just a danger to her.”
“Vikri,” Rayner exhaled and leaned forward. “You made a mistake. We all do. But you have a responsibility to her. You should at least see her and face that mistake, or you’ll never have closure. What you decide after that is your choice, but I don’t think it’ll be as bad as you think.”
“I hope so,” I sighed.
Rayner clicked his pen and set his notepad aside. “We’ve made you some medication to take home, same stuff you've been taking. The plan is to keep lowering the dosage until you’re sleeping without it. We’ve made you some sheets with all the daily doses on them and when to take each one. It’s enough to last you two weeks, then once they’re out, you’ll come back here for another session, then if you need it, we’ll get you more and keep weaning you off them.”
He leaned forward, emphasizing his next words. “And I cannot recommend enough that you go to Jesse’s support group in between our meetings. Those will help you tremendously, I’m sure of it.”
I nodded. “I have his number. I’ll…I’ll give it a shot.”
“You won't regret it,” Rayner assured me. “Jesse was in the same chair as you not too long ago for similar reasons. He has knowledge from first-hand experience. I can vouch for him, he’s a great guy.” He inhaled. “Well, is there anything else Vikri? We won’t be seeing each other again for a while, so if there’s anything else, now’s the time to talk about it.”
I thought for a second. We’d covered almost everything. I’d never discussed those days in so much detail. It felt like being submerged in icy water. It was miserable at first, but over time it became easier, even comfortable. I’d relived so much pain over the last three days, but here at the end of the whole story, It felt less like a nightmare, and more like reality. “No, I don’t think so,” I finally replied.
“Then I’ll clear you to go home. Andrea is here, she’ll give you a ride, I’m sure. Here.” He reached over and handed me a small business card. “That has all my contact information on it. I’m usually here in my office until late at night, so feel free to call if you need anything. If the sedative gives you any issues at all, any side effects, make sure to call and let me know. We followed the recipe to a tee, but it’s wise to be cautious.”
A familiar silence flooded the room as Rayner and I seemed to, for the first time, have nothing left to say. Finally, the doctor spoke. “See you in two weeks, Vikri.”
///////////////////////////////
Golden strands of light danced between the digits of my paw as I moved it in front of the brilliant summer sun. An intense beacon of warmth floating in a sky as blue as Earth’s oceans. The rumble of Andy’s car occupied the air as we cruised down the highway. Vivri was sound asleep in the backseat. The gentle white noise and vibration seemed to knock her out cold. I watched the sunrays dance as I waved my paw in front of me, before turning it around. Several spots on my paw still had obvious scars. I even still had burn scars from the electrical systems aboard the crumbling Cardinal.
I curled my paw closed into a fist and rested my head against it, watching the lush, green mountains pass by in the distance. After three days I was set loose into the world once again, hopefully better armed than I was before. Even after all the weight I doffed from my shoulders in Rayner’s office, a crushing mass still rested on my chest. Lucky.
The weight only became heavier as the car slowed, and rounded a corner into the parking lot of a large animal hospital. Andy gently brought the car to a stop in a parking space in front of the entrance. Occasionally people would walk in and out with their pets, many of which were dogs on leashes.
Vivri stirred awake after we stopped. “Oh…We’re here,” she muttered nervously. “There’s…a lot more animals here than I was expecting.”
Andy chuckled. “It’s an animal hospital girl, there’s gonna be all kinds of critters here.”
I turned around to face her. “You don’t have to go in there. You and Andy can wait here.”
Andy scoffed. “You might wanna tell Rayner they screwed up those meds, ‘cause you’re delusional if you think I’m letting you go in there by yourself.”
“Well I don’t want her to be alone out here,” I argued.
“I’ll go in, just…stay close, please?” Vivri interjected.
I looked back at her, ears tilted. She was dead serious. I sighed and shook my head. “This is gonna be a disaster,” I groaned.
Andy opened her door. “I’ll wait with her in the lobby, you go talk to the vets. It’ll be fine.”
I looked back at Vivri one last time as Andy stepped out. “Alright, just stay away from the cats.” I opened my door and began stepping out into the summer air.
“C-cats?”
“Small felines. They're demons with mind control,” I replied just before closing the door.
Vivri scrambled out of the car and followed right on my heels. “Well don’t just leave me!” she squeaked.
I laughed. “I’m kidding. Well, mostly.”
Walking into the building, I realized that Lucky had been in a very similar place as me over the past three days. The lobby felt eerily similar to the one at the medical center. Everything went silent as Vivri and I walked in. Immediately I could feel dozens of eyes on us. Vivri hid close behind me as Andy gestured for me to follow her to the desk.
I doubted any of the humans there meant any harm, but dozens of binocular eyes snapping onto her in an instant had Vivri more unsettled than she already was. It didn’t help that several dogs were either on leashes or in carriers in the lobby, which were no doubt just as curious. I grabbed Viv’s paw. “They don't see many Venlil,” I whispered. “Just ignore them.”
I approached the desk with Vivri still hiding behind me. “E-excuse me?” I stuttered. The woman at the desk looked up, clearly caught off guard by two venlil standing before her. “O-oh! Excuse me, you must be Lucky’s owner, right?”
“Yeah. Vikri.” I could feel Vivri shivering behind me.
“I’ll let Doctor Gavin know you’re here.”
“Thanks,” I muttered before turning to Vivri. “Are you sure about this?” I whispered.
“Of course! It’s just for a few minutes, right?” Her body language gave an entirely different answer. She seemed like she might faint at any moment.
I looked up at Andy. “Keep her close, would you?”
Andy wrapped her arms over Viv’s shoulders. “Of course. I’ll keep little Vivi safe from all the big, bad puppy dogs and mean kitties,” she said in baby speak, twisting her side to side. She giggled. “We’ll be fine.” Her tone suddenly shifted as she locked eyes with me. “Will you?”
I stood there in silence for a moment. This entire time my heart felt unbearably heavy. Standing there, I felt nauseous. So much so that I made it a point to know exactly where the bathroom was when I walked in. The weight on my chest made breathing a laborious task. I heaved in a deep breath. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in there but…I have to do this. For both of us.”
Andy exhaled and nodded, seemingly just as nervous for me. Right on cue, the door at the back of the room opened with a heavy click. “Vikri?” a male voice called out. An older gentleman in burgundy scrubs surveyed the room. It didn’t take long for him to find me. He nodded toward me as he adjusted his glasses. “Right this way, please.”
“We’ll be right here,” Andy whispered, her hands still resting around Viv’s shoulders, who agreed with a tail flick.
I nodded and walked toward the man, leaving the cozy waiting room behind, and entering a long, sterile hallway. The doctor’s shoes clicked against the tile as he walked just in front of me. The weight bearing down on my chest only got heavier with each step. After a few agonizing seconds, the man finally spoke up as he stopped outside a door. “I’m Doctor Gavin,” he said breathily, extending a hand. “I performed Lucky’s surgery.”
I took his hand with my paw, which he could no doubt tell was trembling by this point. “Vikri,” I choked. “S-so…How is she?”
“She’s good,” Gavin answered in a higher pitch. “She’s recovering remarkably fast. Really lived up to her name.” He opened the door and stepped through into a kennel area as he continued. “The bullet hit one of her ribs and shattered. A couple of fragments pierced her lung, one of them was just inches from her heart. There’re still a few very small ones lodged in her tissue, but we’d be doing more harm than good by trying to remove them. They shouldn’t cause any issues and come out on their own after some time, but we’ll keep track of them with x-rays.”
As he spoke we passed by kennels, some empty, some with dogs that barked or jumped up on the cage as we passed. I scoured each one for Lucky, my dread building with each one we passed. Suddenly, the doctor stopped in front of me. He inhaled deeply. “I should mention…Given the…circumstances of how she got these injuries, me and some staff will stay with you just in case she becomes aggressive. That’s not to say that I think she will,” he added hastily, “she’s been great with everyone here but…you know, just to be safe.”
“I get it,” I breathed. It made sense. If Lucky attacked me, it would be far more deadly than it would be for a human. And I was confident even a human wouldn’t last long against a half-wolf her size. Fittingly, a group of four humans were gathered at the end of the hallway, catchers in hand.
Time seemed to slow as I approached the pen. The staff members all looked over at me with the same anxious expression. I felt like a prisoner walking toward my judgment, and that perhaps it was me that belonged behind these cages. I swallowed and took a long, slow breath as Gavin opened the gate. He walked in ahead of me. “Hey there big girl,” he said in a chipper tone. I heard the familiar thumping of Lucky’s tail against the floor. Gavin chuckled to himself as the remaining four staff calmly and quietly filed into the pen. Once they were all inside, the final human leaned around the corner, looked me in the eyes for a long second, and nodded once.
A new reality awaited around that corner. My sentence was about to be read. It felt so cripplingly helpless; wanting so desperately to finally be reunited with my best friend, yet trembling at the thought of rounding a corner to run face-first into the consequences of my actions. I steeled myself one last time. I nodded back at the catcher and took slow, deliberate steps toward him. I finally rounded the corner, and for the first time since the incident, I saw Lucky.
She lay on a large, fabric bed, with food and water bowls close by. Her right front leg was bound in a cast, tied up close to her body. A large patch of fur had been shaved away around her chest and halfway up her neck. She seemed thinner than I remembered. It reminded me of the scared, hungry pup I’d met so long ago.
Her eyes tracked onto mine instantly, and I felt an ache that defied all imagination. The same gaze that would send almost any other Venlil scrambling down the hallway instead gripped some inner part of me in a cold, numb stasis. I couldn’t move. Part of me wanted to run to her and spill out how sorry I was. Another wanted to curl up on the floor right there and sob, returning to that familiar numbness that seemed akin to the ancient enemy of life itself. The cold. That bitterness that pierced through fur, through flesh, through bones, and any ideal held by the naive child that sat next to Tenga’s corpse that day. It ran through until there was nothing left.
Then, I felt a warmth as if someone had draped a blanket over me. I gripped my poncho around my shoulders, grabbing it tightly. I made a quiet promise to myself there and then. Not a promise to my sister, or my parents, or Andrea. Me. I wouldn’t lie down in the cold. Never again. One more hill.
“Hey Lucky,” I said, my voice coarse and breaking every syllable.
The silence was abruptly broken as Lucky, though seemingly frail, shot to her feet. Everyone in the room shifted, prepared for the worst. I didn’t dare move, but I could feel my heart pounding in my legs, my body preparing to bolt. The staff watched her carefully, their grip slightly tightened around their polls. Lucky made no sounds, only stared at me, her nostrils flaring as she gathered my scent. Her right front leg was useless, immobilized against her body. She shifted her footing to steady herself. Then I saw something that replaced fear with tears. She was shaking like a leaf, never taking her eyes off me. She could care less about the others. She was scared. Of me.
I felt myself fall off a ledge in a sensation I’d become all too familiar with over the last few weeks. Tears streamed down my face, my breath hitching as I brought my paws up to my face. I fell to my knees, the presence of the staff had become irrelevant. “I’m…I’m sorry,” I exhaled between gasps. “I’m so sorry.”
So there it was. My new reality. It wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but it was what I expected. I didn’t know what I’d do then, and I didn’t know now. Could I go on without Lucky? She was the one fortress in the turbulent seas of my broken mind. She was the one I could always count on. The one that I knew would always be there, no matter what. Now I was convinced she was terrified of me.
I sat there a shattered mess for a long moment, tumbling off that cliff and reaching out for anything to catch myself, but found nothing but jagged stones. I felt a hand on my shoulder, Doctor Gavin attempting to comfort me, I assumed. Until I felt something touch my knee. I looked up, thrown out of the spiral abruptly. Lucky was now just in front of me, licking my leg. I froze, confused. She gently laid down, careful of her bandaged leg as she rested her head on my leg, looking up at me. That was the same leg she’d broken months ago. Finally, I got it. “I hurt you, and you still loved me.”
A wave of relief rushed through me and I looked down at her, eyes glossy with tears. I bent down and rested my head against hers. I laughed, though it sounded more like a sob. For the first time in days, I felt whole again.
Lucky still loved me.
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Hi there. Yesterday morning, my elderly dog got up like normal, helped me get the kids ready for school, had her breakfast, and laid down for her after waking up nap, as one does.
Later I went downstairs to wake her and take her out to do her thing. Usually I need to clap loudly or snap to get her attention, as she doesn't hear very well anymore. She got up with her normal grunts, and made it about half-way to the door (about 8-10 feet), and then collapsed.
She has fallen before, as she has pretty bad arthritis in the hips, and is on a daily dosage of carprofen. However, this wasn't a slip, she just dropped like a rock.
I go to try and help her up, but she will barely use her legs and won't stay up without help. I called my vet, and I had an appointment set to show up within the hour.
During this time, she was alert and didn't seem to be in any pain I could tell that was obvious. It's not obvious with her anyways, but she wasn't even panting heavy. Took treats fine, wanted pets, but just couldn't walk.
I have a younger dog who wanted to play while she was resting and waiting, and he started barking, which got her barking and she attempted to run to us. She got up, and fell immediately. Before I could rush to her, she got up again, and wobbled her way to us about 10 feet away and collapsed again. This was the last time I saw her walk on her own.
When We get to the vet, he does a couple physical tests, and tell us it's most likely a ruptured / herniated disc, probably related to IVDD. He said we would need to go to the animal hospital / specialty services to further diagnose her. So, we take her there, and they see her for 5 or so minutes and came to the same conclusion, stating her nonamulatory tetraparesis could be disc related, but couldn't rule out neoplasia, or even a vascular episode. She said it was PROBABLY herniated disc related, but wouldn't know unless we did an MRI, and said the disc issue would be best case. If it was cancer, there isn't much they could do for her age.
They aren't willing to do an MRI unless we agree to surgery, as they would just perform it while she was still under from the MRI, and even still, the MRI by itself is about $4,000....the surgery in total is $8,000-$9,000.
We were told since it's affecting all four legs, and because of her age and her bad case of arthritis in her hips, even if the surgery went well, recovery would be very, very hard on her.
As of now, she is essentially paralyzed neck down, but seems to have feeling in her feet. She is on a regimen of gabapentin and presitone, but I am really low on hope.
I don't know if paying almost 10k for my pup to suffer for the rest of her days is a route to go, if the surgery is indeed not a good option? I honestly don't know what to do. I'm going to keep up with her regimen of pills, but I don't know what any timeframe of any possible recovery looks like? The vets I spoke to said if there isn't any improvements in a week, maybe two, it probably won't get any better, but have been reading stories on here it can take 6-8 weeks before there was any improvement?
Thank you in advance

Hi there! First time posting here. First, want to thank to all of the vets who volunteer their time answering all fur parents’ questions. The following post is about my dog Toby, a 15-year-old neutered Silky Terrier weighing 16.6 lbs.
Toby was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma. We had a mass removed from his house a few weeks ago and biopsy came back with those results. Today, we had X-rays done on the chest and abdomen. Chest looked fine but they found an enlarged mass where his liver is. Given the size and his age, we’ve elected to give him the best quality of life for the time he has remaining on earth.
Otherwise, he’s eating, pooping and sleeping very normally with no signs of pain or discomfort.
My inquiry is about CBD for pain management and recommendations. I’ve read in various places that vets don’t recommend CBD treatments. However, when I asked my vet, she seemed open to the idea so long as I start off with a low dosage and monitor two weeks of usage at a time to see any improvements / changes. There are a lot of bogus CBD brands out there and I just want to make Toby as comfortable as possible.
Please let me know if you recommend or not, why and brands if you support going the CBD route. Thanks so much in advance!

They will only cover it if I have type 2 diabetes, even if I am pre diabetic now
It’s super frustrating but I honestly think I would benefit greatly with this medication, I’m going to start door dashing and dog walking to see if I can make any supplemental income to afford it out of pocket!
I did look up Groupons and some clinics offer like 6 weeks for $250 and I’m thinking of doing that but back to back different clinics lol and hopefully there are enough clinics around me I can get a decent amount of dosages
Ugh I hope this medication becomes more affordable soon, I know so many people that will benefit and improve their health with it!!just wanted to vent lol

Hi, I'm about to take my pup in for a sick appointment and beforehand picked up from the vet some pills for him to take.
So the vet prescribed my dog combination gabapentin and trazodone two administer prior to vet visits (not as a regular thing).
They told me to give him two of each pill, for a total of four pills. The gabapentin is 300 mg and the trazodone is 100 mg. That makes a total of 600 mg of gabapentin and 200 mg of trazodone.
Does it seem typical? This feels like a lot. He does get pretty stressed at the vet, but it's not an unmanageable amount. He doesn't try thrashing or to bite, and I have him muzzle trained as a precaution because I know stressed dogs can do things they wouldn't normally.
He's 60lb, intact & 2 year old dalmatian. I've taken him to the vet on a singular 100 mg trazodone pill (no gabapentin) before and he was woozy then. This dosage just seems like a lot.
Should I actually give him the full dosage? Thanks!

My 11 month shiba absolutely hates his harness to the point where he will bite and growl at me when I try and put it on. He will go right into hiding under my bed for hours till he knows I do not have the harness on me. It got to the point where he was afraid of seeing me because he didn't want to put the harness on. I tried all the tricks of trying to get his harness on. Many treats, waiting hours till he'd go up to it, many harnesses and collars but nothing has worked. I then decided that since he loves to go for car rides and loves to go to the dog park I'll take him to a regular park and walk him there. This also got to the point where he was shaking with anxiety when he saw the regular park and just recently got to the point where he started to pee himself while in the car. Idk what to do at this point because I don't want to scare him or have him be so anxious that he's peeing himself. I just got cbd treats tonight and tried dosing him with those. This didn't help at all with the harness part but definitely helped him to calm down afterwards. I'm gonna try a higher dosage tomorrow to see if that helps him with it. I also do not know if I should take away his safe space in under the bed since he will hide and never come out from there no matter how long I try. Although I feel like this is a terrible idea though since that is taking away his safe space which I do not want to do. I have also been debating on keeping his harness on him at all times until he is over the harness being on him. I also do not know if I should do this because I do not want to stress him out more then before. I want to be able to allow him to just go off leash but my apartment won't let unleashed dogs around and I do not trust him. On top of that I want him to be able to use the harness to allow my family or friends to watch him if I need. And if I can't get him harness trained then idk how I'm gonna let him get watched by them. I do not know what to do. Is there any suggestions that you guys would think would help?

Species: Dog
Age: 13.5
Sex/Neuter status: Female / spayed
Breed: Beauceron / shepherd mix
Body weight: 50lbs / 22.7Kg
Clinical signs: Nonambulatory tetraparesis
Hi there. This morning, my elderly dog got up like normal, helped me get the kids ready for school, had her breakfast, and laid down for her after waking up nap, as one does.
Around 1130am, I went downstairs to wake her and take her out to do her thing. Usually I need to clap loudly or snap to get her attention, as she doesn't hear very well anymore. She got up with her normal grunts, and made it about half-way to the door (about 8-10 feet), and then collapsed.
She has fallen before, as she has pretty bad arthritis in the hips, and is on a daily dosage of carprofen. However, this wasn't a slip, she just dropped like a rock.
I go to try and help her up, but she will barely use her legs and won't stay up without help. I called my vet, and I had an appointment set to show up within the hour.
During this time, she was alert and didn't seem to be in any pain I could tell that was obvious. It's not obvious with her anyways, but she wasn't even panting heavy. Took treats fine, wanted pets, but just couldn't walk.
I have a younger dog who wanted to play while she was resting and waiting, and he started barking, which got her barking and she attempted to run to us. She got up, and fell immediately. Before I could rush to her, she got up again, and wobbled her way to us about 10 feet away and collapsed again. This was the last time I saw her walk on her own.
When We get to the vet, he does a couple physical tests, and tell us it's most likely a ruptured / herniated disc, and would need to go to the animal hospital / specialty services to further diagnose her. So, we take her there, and see her for 5 or so minutes and came to the same conclusion, stating her nonamulatory tetraparesis could be disc related, but couldn't rule out neoplasia, or even a vascular episode. She said it was PROBABLY herniated disc related, but wouldn't know unless we did an MRI, and said the disc issue would be best case. If it was cancer, there isn't much they could do for her age.
They aren't willing to do an MRI unless we agree to surgery, as they would just perform it while she was still under from the MRI, and even still, the MRI by itself is about $4,000....the surgery in total is $8,000-$9,000.
We were told since it's affecting all four legs, and because of her age and her bad case of arthritis in her hips, even if the surgery went well, recovery would be very, very hard on her. This was also the same reasoning she gave us that she isn't a good candidate for a medicinal route (I'm guessing anti-inflammatories and steroids?)
As of now, we have an appointment set up for an in-home euthanasia tomorrow evening, and were prescribed 15mg Codeine every 8 hours to keep her comfortable until then. Obviously we are grasping at straws, and know the end is near....but, is there ANY chance a medicinal route COULD work? She doesn't seem like she's in pain, and I don't know if this is something that would just be prolonging her suffering. Is surgery risky? I don't know if paying almost 10k for my pup to suffer for the rest of her days is a route to go, if the surgery is indeed not a good option? I honestly don't know what to do.
Thank you in advance