Turkey Tracks: September 3, 2022
Jackpot: Saturday
Night was good. He was dry.
I did sleep next to him, with added floor padding. It was fine.
Thinking to return to my bed tonight—depending on how things go today.
I gave him the dewormer the vet told me to use last night, and it made him totally crazy.
I went against my best instincts in doing it too. Pancur is for ADULT hook worms, and he was clear last Thursday of everything in his fecal sample, including any eggs. Pancur is also very strong, and he would NOT need 6 or 7 days of it. Parasites are NOT the problem here—it’s a novel virus where best treatment is not yet clear. I’ll take him in to retest the fecal on the 16th and to have his blood checked again—and hopefully won’t need more help from them until then. But I am profoundly grateful that the vets were there to help me last Thursday.
Basically, Glenna is/was dealing with 5 puppies who came down with this horrible novel virus. She says no one is exactly sure how to treat it yet. But she knows what she has done that is making a difference. And she knows the adult dogs have not gotten it.
This morning Jackpot didn’t want to eat, and I had to force him to swallow the anti-nausea and the antibiotic. Violent and stressful. He DID eat his breakfast after a bit. And he did poop finally a bit later. It still had some blood in it, and some mucus, but was trying to form up in places. And it had a nice brown color except for where the blood was.
So, the rice/chicken, antihistamine, and probiotics are working.
Oh to have this kind of flexibility again!
We just came in from a lovely walk up at my neighbor’s property which he really enjoyed. (Me, too.) He was bouncing around pretty good by the time we left, and he was not letting me get too far ahead when he stopped to smell things. I cut the walk short as I didn’t want to overtire him. He would have happily gone for much longer.
I am including these videos so you can see he is doing much better.
Today he explored a drainage/wetland area filled with plants. It was a favorite spot of AC Slater’s. He always thought there were critters in there.
Below he played “critter in the bushes” in the middle of the lowest part.
He’s starting carrying sticks for long distances. Maybe there is some retriever in him?
We came in downstairs, and I went to move the dehumidifier from the bedroom to the quilt room, and he took himself off upstairs. I stopped to round him up, and get him back downstairs, and while I plugged in the dehumidifier, he peed the rug!!!
Some loss of communication there—he may think he has to go out upstairs to pee. And maybe that’s why he took himself off upstairs. It’s the first accident in many days now, if we don’t count the poop/pee in his bed Thursday morning when he was sick.
He’s my shadow. If I move, for the most part, he’s right on my heels. Except for getting loose in the house outside the kitchen—territory forbidden to him for the moment. He is especially fascinated with my bed upstairs, which we visit for me to shower or change clothes.
And in the kitchen, he asks to be picked up for belly rubs and cuddles.
After his post lunch quiet time, he asked to go outside by scratching at the door—unfortunately the screen—but REAL progress. And, he peed when he got outside.
Smart boy!
Louisa Enright's Blog 
Oh good to hear much better news on this sweet pup. I will take a scratch at the door, screen or not, as he’s learned that’s where he needs to go out. Thanks for keeping us posted as we all care about this little guys journey.
Me, too. It wasn’t that hard a scratch.
Glad to hear JP is starting to feel better. Praying it continues. I’ve found with some of these meds definitely go with your gut feeling. Mine had a reaction to the flea/tick/heartworm all in one med. Did some research on it — won’t use on her again. She just gets her heartworm med and that’s it.
Thanks. I so agree about the all-in-one medications for heartworm/tick/fleas. I’m in Maine, and Jackpot came from Texas, where fleas and heartworm are a real problem. Here in Maine, ticks and Lyme are a problem for many dogs. That’s a different topic though. Last time I researched heartworms in colder climates, I noted that the cycle in mosquitos needs two weeks of weather that does not fall below 57 degrees to start to develop. BUT, Jackpot might have gotten into the heartworm cycle in Texas after his last med, given a month ago. I’ll definitely do at least one “clean-up” dose when JP is able to handle it. Maybe in November or December. Our nights are getting into the 50s now, so in terms of any NEW infection, it is safe to postpone until I have a better handle on his current issues. The microfilariae in mosquitoes, which they ingest from infected critters, needs to have two weeks of temps above 57 to develop into larvae in the mosquito that can then be given to a host—so I’m not worried about JP getting heartworm here as our nights have fallen into the 60s for a lot of this cool summer and are now in the 50s. Note also that 8 of 10 sponsors—checked by Ted Kerasote and reported in the book, PUKKA’S PROMISE—of the American Heartworm Society included Bayer, Merial, Pfizer, and Merck. And, therein is the huge problem running all across the USA today with regard to medical interventions—which become about industry profit and not about good health. So, my conclusion is that with regard to heartworm, monthly treatments in cool climates, like New England, are not necessary or healthy. The good news is that Heartgard is invermectin, a parasiticide that is very effective and well tolerated by dogs—but maybe not so well tolerated if overused. I didn’t give my last 3 dogs any heartworm meds, and none of them, over a period of 20+ years, got a heartworm infection. They did have a yearly test, to be sure. And with warming weather, I will keep an eye on any 2 summer weeks that consistently are above 57 degrees day and night. In that case, I’d just do two treatments in the early fall, maybe spaced a month apart.
I totally echo your comments!!!! I’m in Florida, so mosquitoes are a constant issue!!! ugh. I get bit just taking the trash out! LOL. I can deal with fleas and I’ve rarely seen a tick by me. (yes, I am aware all possibilities). The neurotoxicity of these combo pills is high. That is not really discussed. These Pharma and biotech companies are too entrenched inner society — animals and people. Oh, that’s a whole another soap box of mine and I’ll just stop here…… that would be more appropriate in a private conversation. I hope you and JP have another most wonderful day…… Xx
We’re on the same page. For sure. You do have a bigger problem with mosquitoes. And, likely, things like hookworms. But ivermectin does get them. No medical intervention comes without some costs though. Sadly. Thanks so much for reading my blog and commenting. Have a great day!