checking in: sad news at my house

kscolorado · Post by **kscolorado** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:51 pm

i haven't posted for awhile, last week, we had to unexpectantly put our little sheltie (Todd) down. When we came home from work he wouldn't eat (was fine in the morning) and progressively got worse as the night wore on. We took him to an emergency pet place and they told us his spleen had ruptured and he had blood in his abdomen. He was 11. They could have done surgery but couldn't guarantee that he would make it through the surgery and if he did he would need to start chemo right away and maybe would live 2 months. We opted to not let him suffer. It was very tough. I still have a ten year old sheltie at home who is pretty confused right now but doing okay. I took Todd for his annual check up last summer and they did a full blood work up ect and all they found was hypothyroidism so we are all shocked since he showed no symptoms.

Diet issues, I am doing okay but have noticed now that I am eating Christmas goodies that I am feeling funky again. They are gluten free of course but pecan pie, pumpkin pie ect must be too much sugar for me or possibly fructose? Within a couple hours, I have slight hypoglycemic symptoms (lightheadness mostly) then stomach rumbles and loose stools the next morning. I am one of those that can't eat fruit (except bananas and blueberries), honey, or fruit juices without feeling cruddy so I've suspected fructose malabsorption but haven't tested for it. Do some of you that have problems with fructose have to limit the Christmas cookies ect as well? I made the pecan pie with corn syrup and molasses so I know that was a biggie on the fructose load but so darned good!

Jan · Post by **Jan** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:43 pm

Dear Kathy,

My heart broke for you over the loss of you Sheltie. I have a mini schnauzer that is like our child. I don't know what I'll do when it is her time to go. Also, understand that your other Sheltie will also go through a grieving process.

I don't have any answers for you on your sugar issue. I don't eat much sweets (even this time of year). I tend to crave the salty, crunchy stuff.

Hugs to you,
Jan

Post by **Rosie** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:10 pm

Kathy, I feel so bad for you. It's when something happens to our pets that we realize how closely they are woven into the fabric of our lives.

Sometimes I wonder about the value of vet check-ups. We took our border collie to the vet for a "enior wellness exam" with all the blood tests. Two months later she started acting a bit "off" and when we took her back she was far into kidney failure. The vets really push these "senior wellness exams", but I think they are pretty useless for dogs that aren't showing symptoms of anything. Like you, we decided that the available treatment was pretty grim and wasn't right for her, but it was so hard to have her put down. Both my DH and I were bawling our eyes out.......

Rosie

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:43 pm

Kathy,

I'm so sorry that you've lost Todd. It's very difficult to see our precious pets suffer; even more difficult to make the decision to let them go.

It does sound to me like you are having fructose reactions. You might be interested in this thread:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... se&start=0

Gloria

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:10 am

Kathy,

So sorry to hear about your loss. Pets hold a special place in our hearts and when they pass unexpecedly it's so hard. My thoughts are with you.

Mary Beth

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:27 am

Kathy,

So sorry about Todd. We lost Ginger last January and it was hard. They are special in our hearts.

I am fructose intolerant. I used to react to even sucrose which is 1/2 fructose and 1/2 glucose. I seem to be able to tolerate some sucrose now. I try to limit it though. Homemade things seem to work better than prepared. Never know what is in there. There must be a difference between corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. I seem to do ok with corn syrup but not high fructose corn syrup. Karo doesn't have high fructose corn syrup. The store brand here does. Even normal people have some trouble with too much fructose. I have been able to eat some oranges ( no white parts- kind of a pain to remove it) but I have over done it. Good luck.

Pat

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:43 am

http://www.answers.com/topic/corn-syrup

Scroll down and you will find the difference between corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup.

Pat

kscolorado · Post by **kscolorado** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:26 am

Thanks everyone and also thank you Gloria for the link, that was a ton of good information!

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:22 am

Kathy----our pets are our family too--

Sorry U had to let Todd---go to sleep----I know how me and L. felt when we had to do the same when each of our Hot-Dogs develped cancer and we had to let them go--
they were our Becky---Frankie---and Holly---and Holly is the one that pushed my buttons

A very spiteful beauty----always left me deposits when ever we went out---

Have a healthy day---

Barbara

kscolorado · Post by **kscolorado** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:38 am

Pat, I looked and I did use Karo so no high fructose corn syrup there. I used a recipe where you also use molasses so I still had a huge sugar and probably fructose. I was a pig and had a piece of both pumpkin (with cool whip that does contain the hfcs) and pecan. Just wanted to fit them both in.....

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:14 pm

Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear your very sad news.

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
It just made me cry.......

kscolorado · Post by **kscolorado** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:57 pm

Again, thank you everyone for your kind words. In case your wondering why the heck we named a Sheltie Todd, its all my daughter. We rescued him from a shelter when he was 7 for a playmate for our other Sheltie Malcolm. Todd had the coloring like a fox with dark spots on the tops of his ears. My daughter is a great fan of the Fox and the Hound disney movie and the fox's name is Todd. Malcolm's name comes from the sitcom Malcolm in the middle. Funny how you get names! I'm finding it easier everyday and talking about him and good times helps as well.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:52 am

So sorry to hear of your loss and our pets are part of our families. He will see you on the Rainbow bridge.

Love, Maggie