[attachmentid=134]Hi Rita, I'm new to this so please bare with me. I just read your wonderful loving story & I feel the same way you do. I just lost my boy on May 9th and I cannot seem to function ever since....how do we go on??? I feel so alone. I'm a stay at home mommy of my 4 year old girl and my 6 year old Rott/Doberman & I just can't seem to hold it together for them. My husband works 24-7 so he doesn't have time to sit and think about it as much as I do I guess...I just miss my guy so much and his remains are awaiting for me to pick up at the vet but I just cannot do it yet because then it will seem all so final...My friends don't understand because most of them don't have the Love & Passion as I do for animals so they think I just need to get over it I guess...So I'm hoping joining this can help me a bit. People who don't have the Love & Passion for animals like we do just don't understand....so if you don't mind I'd like to share my story: I now only have my 6 year old male Rott/Doberman Mix & I don't want him to go through what his brother went through so I'm looking for some all natural supplements & dog food to put him on. We just lost our 9 year old male Rott/Weimerainer on May 9, 2007 because he was diagonosed with Valley Fever in October 2006 so his medication he was taking for the Valley Fever ended up making his Liver Enzymes get real high and his Liver was not doing good and this was in February of 2007 so then our vet changed his Valley Fever medication and he really started going down hill, he was on Rymidal, steroids anitflamm meds, he got this auto immune disease and he had edema really bad in his left leg which made it really swell up and it hurt him so badly he could barely walk and the antibotics weren't helping him so they had to put him on steroids to relieve the pain and swelling and it worked and he got way better but it only lasted for a week and a half and then he stopped eating and his Liver got worse and we were taking him in every day for Iv's and fluids but then basically his immune system just couldn't handle all this medication he was on and his body just shut down on him and he didn't eat for 13 days so we finally had to let him go to rest because he was just so bad. And this was the hardest thing we've ever had to go through. And now I'm wondering if it's my fault for NOT knowing all the dangers and risks about medications for dogs so I'm really beating myself up on this whole thing & I feel if I knew then what I know now that maybe my boy would still be here with us. So after moving here to AZ. 3 years ago and learning all about this Valley Fever and chemicals in dog food and in house cleansers and all the chemicals in the pest control we were using I've been trying to do research on my household products and dog food, etc. I just started feeding my dog that is still here with us "Innova Large Breed Senior" and I'm still not sure if I like it and if it's really good for him, he is morning the loss of his brother and he only eats his dry dog food if I put in some boiled chicken and rice in with it or some cottage cheese or plain yogurt, so I'm just trying to find ways to keep him healthy, I don't really have the time to cook him all human meals so I need help. I also want to get him on supplements for his joints because he is a large breed and I'm already noticing he is having problems with his joints and back legs when he sits or gets up from laying down. His fur has also got real dull and flakey in the past 6 months and he sheds really bad and I'm brushing him every day and right now he is on the 3V caps for that but I want to know if there is a better supplement he should be on. I also want to know if I should put him on Natural Azmira remedies such as Mega Pet Daily, ImmunoStim'R, Yucca Intensive, Garlic Daily Aid, Flower Remedies, & D'toxifier? I also just took him in to my vet for his senior wellness exam and next week they are going to test him for Valley Fever and do a complete blood work on him. I want them to check out all his blood work and make sure he is healthy. I just recently noticed a 2 lumps the size of a quarter on his left side and they move around though so they think they are hopefully just fatty. But he's been losing his nails recently also and the quicks are exposed and he's been licking at them and they put him on a antibotic for a few weeks until he gets his teeth cleaned then they will also take a nail out and have it tested for fungus but they think it's probably "symmetrical lupoid onchodystrophy" so now I'm concerned about this on top of everything else. He is also growling when people pet him and he gets very mad when I brush him but so I recently just bought a muzzle to put on him while I brush him because he is so mad but yet he lets me give him baths, and shove pills down his mouth and he lets me do anything to him except for the brushing and I've learned a lot of things from Cesar Milan too but I obviously need more work with him because he doesn;'t like my husband at all right now, he always growls at him when he trys to pet & love him but yet he runs up to him with his tail wagging and wants to be pet when my husband gets home from work every day.....Basically I have lots of questions and I wish I knew all this stuff before about all the natural and homeopathic herbs and vets out there. So if you can help me in any way or guide me int he right way I would greatly appreciate it. I want to try and advoid medications that can harm my doggie and have him on a healthy diet with no byproducts and all those harmful ingredients that are in these dog foods. Thank You for listening...with Love & Hugs, Tara...If you'd like to view my boys Memorial please feel free too: http://www.ourpreciousmoki.critters.com
