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.

Thank sweet baby jesus/budda/allah/Kris akabusi for Pardale V. We all got 8 hours sleep I could actually cry.

Hurrah!!! So glad to hear it, that's brilliant news. Hope that lovely vet can figure out the cause soon, but meanwhile you must all feel so much better to have had a good night's sleep.

Fabulous news!

Well done both of you for rescueing the little owl. Bag for life made me smile. What have you bought in Tesco today? Oh, just an owl.

Have you looked at natural remedies to help with sleep? I use Valerian Root from time to time but I don't know if it's ok for dogs? Hopefully, you won't need it soon.

Yay for sleep! I hope that the nice vet can work out what’s wrong with Pod. A colonoscopy sounds like a great idea to try to diagnose him. It kind of sounds like he might have a dog version of mesenteric adenitis.

I googled what the medication is. Bless the codeine! Is there any chance of it causing constipation for Pod like it often does for humans? Poor boy and you don’t need a new tummy problem added to his woes.

Hope the owl recovers well.

I was worried about that too but apparently not. Vet said they don't metabolize codiene like we do. Look at this boy.

That’s good. Pod looks well rested and beautiful. Such big ears and so much legs!

The adventures never stop! The bliss of a full nights sleep when you’ve been deprived. Fingers crossed things getting sorted now nice vet is back.

You must feel like life is finally back on track 👏

Decent sleep and a pain free Pod, that's what the Hanging household needs 💐

Just reading this as part of a course on canine adolescence, and thought you (and others in the Pod Squad!) might find this interesting - warning - nerdy.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0097

Thanks @WiddlinDiddlin I'll take a looks.

Enviously reading the posts on that dog thread about the compressed air thing from people saying they have trained their dogs to always come back, to walk calmly past sheep off lead, perform somersaults etc. when I just had an actual wrestling match with pod in the middle of a pitch dark field because he was determined to rip my coat pocket open. I slipped on a slug and accidentally grabbed a bit of him and he yelped at which point he gave up on the landshark attack. Accidental slug related aversive.

Oh and I'm drugging him to get him to sleep.

So, some work still to do.

He's had his meds tonight but is still yelling. Albeit laying down. He's cobbing me a LOT at the moment, a lot more than normal

So two things on Facebook this morning about dogs being in undiagnosed pain. Not a dog owner myself but have a couple of very dog involved friends 😁
The first one being how undiagnosed pain is causing issues with posture and not pooing and the not clearing bowels leading to anal gland issues, the other being behavioural but caused by spine issues, but very rare so unlikely, however sharing the links just in case the info is useful for Pod.

Edited, first link wasn’t working but the info is on the Facebook page for
Luisa Greig Canine Myotherapist. (This was shared by a friend who’s dog had been having big pain issues)

https://www.facebook.com/100063861945101/posts/pfbid04KVZMC6Yk532CUJ5Nx1ZhTzfnErqXpRRnyUuqCxRB6Usn7HQzc4waHe2FjNYzGQEl/?

This is honestly the first night since we first got Pod that I've thought about how I could give him away.

The painkillers only helped for one night and now we back to square one. My joints are agony from walking him all day to try to tire him out and then walking him all night because it doesn't make a blind bit of fucking difference. My entire day is about Pod and nothing else. We can't even watch a TV show in the evening anymore because he won't settle for more than five minutes

I'm sleeping two hours every afternoon to try to make up for being awake every night. But I've got a new work contract starting soon which will mean working more hours that I physically haven't got.

Tonight he's been out at 11pm 12pm and 1am and he's still pacing the house shouting and trying to rip the plaster off the walls so I'm back out with him in a freezing cold field, and this has been going on for weeks.

I literally cannot keep fucking doing this any more.

He has a colonoscopy Tues and pee/poop cultures but I can tell they're not expecting to find anything.

I literally have no more ideas. I just do not know what to do. There literally isn't anything I can do. I cannot re-home him because who the fuck would want a dog that doesn't sleep. And also I love him more than I've ever loved anything and it would kill me.

It sounds so hard. I've followed your threads from the start and have often thought how difficult it all sounds and whether I could have endured everything you have. I know you love Pod and he is gorgeous, but often after you post about his latest behaviour I wonder how much longer you will be able to continue with no sleep and the injuries and aching joints. I don't know the answer, but just wanted to let you know that I completely understand your feelings and empathise with them. It sounds like torture for all of you.

Hopefully the colonoscopy does reveal something but nothing sinister.

What about booking him into the kennels he loves? Book him in for the first week of the new contract. Let yourself start the job well.

I understand completely. I just wish I had suggestions to offer that would help.

Please see if there is a registered animal behaviourist (and by that I mean Animal Behaviour Training Council registered- not someone off FB. The ABTC have a website you can search by area) Insurance should cover this (referred by your vet)

Although it maybe pain related, he needs to learn there are more appropriate ways to behave

Also regarding his tummy issues, have you thought about a Microbiome test? Biome4pets analyse poop samples (in the same way for people with IBS/etc - you are what you eat) If recommended by your vet - insurance should cover it

I’m really sorry it’s so fucking shit right now

Oh Hanging, I'm so sorry.

Jesus, you have really been to hell and back with your boy, Hanging 😭

You are important too, you know! Show yourself the same kindness that you've always shown Pod and have a break - the suggestion from FeralWoman ( give Pod a little holiday ) would do you the world of good 💐

Thanks loves.

Kennels are absolutely stacked this time of year unfortunately. I have dropped them a line about having him on Mondays but haven't heard anything yet.

I think I'm going to film some clips of 24 hours in Podland to show the vet and trainer to make absolutely sure they understand the seriousness of the situation.

I have had one more idea that I'm currently trying out. What if, just what if, because of his infection he's developed a bit of a night time poop phobia (he was very very distressed the times he accidentally went in the house when he was sick). Between waking up and 8 and going to bed at 2 - 3am, he poops seven times, four in the day and three at night. They're totally normal size and shape. Maybe his GI tummy food is somehow producing too much poop. So I'm trying mixing in some of the HA food again, because when he was eating that he barely made any poops at all, it all magically vanishing inside him.

He's sitting next to me in the sun on the sofa and he looks absolutely shattered, can't keep his little eyes open.

That’s a lot of poo. I think a lower residue food would be worth trying. Less residue = less poo. His tummy didn’t handle a raw diet did it?

Filming him to show proof of his behaviour is an excellent idea. It’s what frustrated parents are often told to do when doctors won’t take them seriously about their children.

Take photos of the poos too with something for scale so they can assess if it’s an unreasonable amount of poo to be producing.

You need the equivalent of a sleep consultant or night nurse but for dogs. Someone experienced and specialised in dog sleep and things that impact it, and who will let you rest and then teach you the skills or refer you to further help.

Sending heaps of positive vibes to you and your beautiful boy
So wish that I could say/do something more helpful x

I have no helpful words, just want to say I am thinking of you both.

As always, Hanging, you're on it like a car bonnet 🕵
That does sound like a lot of his food is leaving as "waste", meaning his body won't be getting any usable nutrients from a large percentage of what he's eating. It must be quite a high % of filler.

You know your boy inside out, and for what it's worth I also think you could be on to something with Pod being worried about accidents inside ( he's such a good , clean boy it must have been really upsetting having an accident in his home 😟)
Sending positive vibes your way 💐