For the love of Pod

[HangingOver]

All aboard Podsquad, it's Pod thread number 4.

In case you were wondering:

• What is this (surprisingly) long-running thread about? A unique lunatic rescue Podenco, known as Pod. Featuring his pals, Stanley, GentleHowl, BabyPod, GentleBounce, Fastest and Princess and many more.
• What makes you so special that you get your own thread? See above

Seriously, if anyone is considering getting a teenage/rescued/sight-hound/Podenco/all of the above and has NO idea what they're doing, please enjoy the previous instalments from the day we brought him home, to now, six months later. Posts will oscillate wildly from euphoric to mental breakdown and back again.

Here is thread No. 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thedoghouse/5248472-they-love-a-bit-of-him-podlife?page=1

Here is thread No. 2 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thedoghouse/5197068-the-pod-cast?page=39&reply=141216881

And thread No. 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thedoghouse/5177112-oh-my-giddy-god?page=1

Pic of the handsome prick in question.

Ugh, best 'find something easily treatable that makes Pod a comfy boi' thorts here! Also hugs and cake.

I'm so sorry your family are suffering through so much, Hanging 😟

Keep putting one foot in front of the other, there's better times ahead. Your vet will sort your boy's sore tum and these crappy days/nights will be a distant memory 🙂

Aww Hanging sorry to hear you’ve had to leave him for a bit. I’d say fingers crossed they find nothing but then again an answer would be nice if it’s not something awful.

Leaving him at the vet sounds like it was hard. Hopefully they’ll be able to work out what his tummy troubles are being caused by, and he gets a good sleep from the sedation.

Have you managed to get a decent nap?

Yes I had a GLORIOUS nap.

They didn't even do the scan. They said said his bloods are fine and he's so well in himself and no signs of any abdominal pain that it's not worth sedating him for it at this point. He's back in Monday a.m anyway for his jabs so I guess watch and wait. He won't have slept a wink at the vets so if I give him the full dose of gabapentin tonight then maybe he'll sleep through and sort of reset himself.

We'll all cross our fingers for the whole Hanging household to get a decent night's sleep tonight 😴
Hopefully the first of many!

I do hope they sort out Pod's health issues soon.

I'm sure you'll miss sweet Melty, and not miss Mad Wiggle at all :)

How was himself overnight?

I hate this.

I made sure he got everything he needed today, enrichment, exercise etc. he was nice and tired at bedtime and went to sleep. Then he woke up and started all over again at 1.30. I decided to try out taking him out for ten minutes in the garden then bringing hin back in and going back up to bed and seeing if he'll settle. So he chewed a hole in the hallway wall. Drove him over the the field rather than walk him round home to reduce the chance of cat sightings. He saw a rabbit from the car window and screamed his head off. Pooped immediately at the field and we've just got home and he's carrying on exactly as before. He's got his chewy and his bones. Nothing works. I bet he'll carry on now until he does another shit, which if the last few days are anything to go by will probably be about 5am. But according to the vet there's nothing wrong with him. I am so stressed.

Time for a second opinion, probably from a sighthound vetty behavioury expert.

I would also see if you can speak to Sarah Fisher, Ttouch bod and adolescent dog expert and has some excellent experience in dogs with gut issues who behave like twats as a result... http://www.tilleyfarm.org.uk/index.shtml or if not (its easy for me to say but I do some of her courses, see her at conferences etc, not sure she actually sees private clients), one of her ACE/Ttouch practitioners.

Another approach, related to ACE/Ttouch is this https://www.dynamicdog.co.uk/dynamic-dog-assessment she's damn good, if she can't come to see you, she'll likely know someone who can.

Keep a diary of his nighttime behaviour. Times of walks, poos and unsettled behaviour. Also of his daytime with walks, sleeps, meals, etc to show that he’s getting plenty of activity and stimulation during the day so it’s not like he’s awake because he hasn’t expelled that energy or had a chance to poo. Posts on here should be able to help you start the diary because you’ve already been noting down that type of info.

Take videos of him when he’s unsettled at night. Take a photo of the hole in the wall. Take videos of him sleeping during the day and on walks during the day. Give the vets observable proof.

When is the sensible vet on shift again? The one who wanted to do the ultrasound? Go back when she’s on and ask again. Make sure she writes down in Pod’s medical notes why she wants the ultrasound done. Preferably make sure she does the ultrasound or is at the clinic when it’s done if specialist staff do the ultrasound.

Time to be a squeaky wheel.

I really feel for you. Pod is obviously unwell and it’s really affecting you. I wish they’d take you seriously and work out what’s happening.

I’ll second @WiddlinDiddlin this is probably now more behaviour territory/and or second vet opinion

Do you think it could be food related? Would it be worth trying a hypoallergenic diet like Hills z/d for 3 months to see if it resets his guts? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but didn’t all this start after the giardia?
I really feel for you (and poor Pod) 🤗

I'm so sorry, Hanging. This probably isn't useful, but I wonder if the giardia has left him hyper-sensitive to the feeling of needing to poo, so that it's harder for him to hold it?

Does he poo during the day as well?

I've no advice to offer except to get second opinions about everything you can, but heartfelt sympathy for this torture. You're both suffering and it's painful to read.

It does seem like poor Pod has lasting issues caused by that evil giardia 😬

At this point, trying the most easily digestible food you can get seems like a sensible thing to try 🤔

You're doing your best, things will get better 💐

If Pod was a human child and not a furry child he’d be put on an Osmolax/Movicol regime for at least 6 months to manage his bowel and poo. Is there anything like that for dogs?

Maybe his gut is inflamed and he needs a long term low dose steroid treatment or something. Like Prednisone but the dog form. Or maybe he gets cramps and spasms and needs something like doggy Buscopan?

There has to be an answer.

I'd be asking for a referral to a specialist at this point. You can't go on like this.

If you are anywhere near Bristol, I can recommend Guillaume Ruiz at CVS Referrals, who gave us an extra year with our beloved boy who had immune-mediated pancreatitis.

Fingers tightly crossed that no overnight post means you and Pod got a good night's sleep. 🫰Hope all's well.

Sorry for le silence. Pod is currently at the vets having a CT scan.

Turn out the vet I was convinced didn’t give a toss actually turned out to be really kind and helpful yesterday. He listened carefully and said if it were his dog, he’d go ahead with a CT. He’s under general anaesthetic right now (Pod, not vet). I am trying not to picture his stupid furry little face (again Pod, not vet). The house is too quiet without him (apart from Wiggle yelling obviously). Will update when I know more. Please cross all fingers, toes, paws and whatever else you’ve got spare.

Ahhh Hanging, everything crossed here xxxx

I can see a huge group of worried Podsquad, everything crossed, in my minds eye...😎

Hopefully you'll get the answers you need after the scan 🙏

Oh poor you and poor Pod. I have everything crossed and have made the cats cross their paws too.

Everything crossed here as well, Hanging. Thinking of you and Pod. I really hope everything's OK and you can get the answers you need.