I have an amazing dog with so many health issues. She's a mutt, probably a Shepherd and Lab mix. She has a heart murmur (ok not so bad), probably epilepsy (vets have never formally diagnosed her), and Addison's Disease. She has almost died and been in a coma due to a really bad seizure and brain swelling. And now due to the medication she is on she can become extremely thirsty and hungry and has ransacked my pantry. Due to her thirst issues, she has developed bladder issues and has problems leaking.
I'm just curious if anyone else has a dog with any of these issues and how they cope. Her treatment can be extremely expensive, but she is a member of our family. Thankfully, we have amazing support from out in-laws who love her as well and would never stop caring for her.
RE: Has anyone had a dog with as many issues as mine?
The one problem I had with my dog had to do with his teeth. When we took my dog to the vet, we had to remove nearly all of his teeth, but from what I would understand later, it would make my dog feel better in the end. My dog also takes medication because for some reason my dog has an itching problem that seems to go away when the medication is administered. I don't know what is causing the itching either, and if I could find a way to put a stop to it, I would.
RE: Has anyone had a dog with as many issues as mine?
The fact that you are still not giving up on her just means that she's mighty special. How old is she now? It can be due to age or it could be that her genetics aren't as good as mix breeds are supposed to have.
The worst experience I had with my dog was when he was a very young puppy. He had mange which I had no idea how to treat back then because it was my first dog and I wasn't allowed to use soaps because he was less than 3 months old. I tried bearing with it (because that's what the doctor said) then he grew corneal ulcers because he kept on rubbing his face to the cage. Fortunately, I was able to go to another vet who had the solution to all our problems.
It probably sounds minuscule to what you're experiencing right now but I've realized that sometimes researching and reading about our dog's ailment can greatly help. Maybe some of your dog's problems can be reduced or minimized with proper diet. (e.g. my dog's melanoma was greatly reduced after adding turmeric in her dog food).
