Re: [PyrNet-L] HEALTH, CHAT: Elegantly Fragrant, A Clondike Update

["Joy McCarron" <joym@monmouth.com>]

David and Nancy,

How wonderful Clondike is doing!! This is so great!!  I wish I could have
been to the party to see all of you.

Tell her to keep up the good work.  You too.
Have a great holiday season. Joy and Maggie

----- Original Message -----
From: "David P Kintsfather Jr" <kintsfat@kutztown.edu>
To: "Great Pyrenees Discussion List" <PYR-L@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Cc: <LGD-L@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM>; <pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 04, 1999 11:10 PM
Subject: [PyrNet-L] HEALTH, CHAT: Elegantly Fragrant, A Clondike Update


> Clondike is a 12 year-old Pyr bitch who was diagnosed with lymphoma in May
> of 1998.  Following a 4 month remission on traditional chemo she has
> attained 2 more remissions on a rescue protocol so inefficient that most
> oncologists have stopped using it.  She is currently 27 weeks (that's more
> than 6 months, folks!) into remission #3 and the oncologist just shrugs
> and says we are lucky.
>
> Chemo and lymphoma both reduce the effectiveness of the immune system,
> leaving the patient subject to a variety of infections.  A couple of weeks
> ago Clondike began having urinary symptoms, and we took a urine sample in
> for our regular vet checkup.  The urinalysis was essentially normal, and
> on examination, Dr. Sammons, Clondike's regular vet, diagnosed an external
> vulvitis and prescribed a topical antibiotic/steroid called Topagen.  We
> also use Babywipes to assist Clondike with her personal hygiene.
>
> Unfortunately Dr. Sammons is out of town for 3 weeks, and a few days
> after seeing her, Clondike's symptoms began to get worse.  Then she
> started throwing up--so we made an appointment with Dr. MacLeod, "the new
> vet."  Some folks may remember my post about Clondike's reaction to the
> news that Dr. MacLeod, who had been assisting in packing Clondike's anal
> sacs, was just out of the Univ. of Minnesota vet school--NOT amused!  Only
> seasoned professionals should attend the Diva!
>
> In any case, I assured Clondike that Dr. MacLeod is now MUCH more
> experienced, and in we went.  Dr. MacLeod admitted right off that she was
> nervous treating a patient with such a complex case history, but she was
> very patient, listened carefully, and then examined carefully.  She felt
> that the stomach thing was unrelated to the vulvitis, and prescribed
> another 24 hours without food and a couple of days on Centrine with a
> bland diet.  You can imagine how Clondike took this news!
>
> For the vulvitis she prescribed a medicated shampoo twice a day followed
> by the Topagen.  She also suggested we take a culture and check for
> sensitivities to different antibiotics.
>
> Now Clondike doesn't HATE having her butt shampooed, but she keeps looking
> back over her shoulder as if to ask "what in the heck are you doing back
> there?"  The shampoo bottle says it has an "elegant fragrance" so I've
> tried to pitch the advantages of having an elegantly fragrant butt if Mr.
> Right should happen along.  Clondike remains unconvinced.
>
> I have also tried telling her that all over Minnesota on these cold winter
> nights, people without cable TV are gathering around the fire with their
> dogs and giving them butt shampoos--a fun activity for the whole family.
> Unfortunately that hasn't gone over very well, either.
>
> The bad news is that Dr. MacLeod called this morning to say that the
> bacteria living on Clondike's butt are resistant too every antibiotic
> except an exotic one usually used on horses.  She feels the antiseptic
> shampoo is our best approach to treating this.
>
> The good news is that the affected area seems to be less irritated and the
> urinary symptoms are abating slowly.  The stomach problem seems totally
> resolved and Clondike is back on half dog food and half hamburger and
> rice.
>
> She was well enough to attend the Penn-Dutch Great Pyrenees Club's
> Christmas Party today and had a great time.  She is still very much the
> Queen Bitch of Penn-Dutch and she greeted the dogs graciously, while
> letting the bitches live.  We didn't notice any special attention being
> paid to her butt, however, so maybe the shampoo isn't all it's cracked up
> to be.
>
> The continuing support of people from the various lists has helped a lot
> with the stress of caring for our girl.  We really appreciate it.
>
> David, Nancy and Clondike (the elegantly fragrant one)
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>  David Kintsfather, Ph.D.       | PHONE:       (610) 683-4497
>  Prof. of Telecommunications    | FAX:         (610) 683-4659
>  Kutztown University            | E-MAIL:      kintsfat@kutztown.edu
>  PO Box 730                     | "We need not think alike to love alike."
>  Kutztown, PA  19530-0730       |              Francis David
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>
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