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Posted 9/12/2013 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

Like I mentioned in the other thread. I currently have my second one (perianal abscess) and it is very painful. I don;t know when to go to the doctor - ie. don;t know if I should wait until the abscess 'matures' or if I could go straight away. I called the surgeon who did lanced it the first time and his office folks told me that he was away on vacation and would return after a week. I feel like crying. I feel like it ages me faster than anything else. I've been a healthy male and now after a colonoscopy the doctor thinks it is Ilietis, possibly Crohns.

The issue is compounded by my anxiety/ mild depression and it is very hard to stay upbeat. I'm worried how it may affect my work as I'm the only earning member of the family. Sorry if I sound too depressing, but looking for some positive feedback/ thoughts.

Coming to the subject of this thread:
I was planning to get a labarador or a beagle before I knew of my condition, but I still want to go ahead with it hoping that the dog can bring some level of sanity and needed distraction. I would like to ask other members who have a pet - Have you felt that your dog has helped in your in anyway in managing your condition?

Please don't get me wrong - I'm not going to go get one because I think it will help me. I want to get one because I always wanted to have one.

Post Edited (wanttobehappy) : 9/12/2013 10:43:35 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/12/2013 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, go ahead and get that best friend! They are extra work, but totally worth it in my experience (and I have a bad dog!!)
Posted 9/12/2013 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, get yourself a dog. I have 3 fur baby's. Two are Belguim Malinois and one Irish Wolfhound (150 pds.) They do create extra effort and extra work, but they love you through all the good and bad times. Right now i can not hardly post because of the wolfhound putting his head on the ipad. I would not have it any other way. Please google labs and beagles to understand breed specifics (activity levels, temperaments, and grooming.) Do you what a high maintenance dog or low maintenance....

I hope you start to feel better soon.....Good luck!
Posted 9/12/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
The doctor just called and he is putting me on Cipro and Flagyl. Never took them before. I'd rather just bear the pain and get it lanced instead of taking these drugs.

I would like a low maintenance dog but that can be very interactive. I was looking to rescue a moderate energy lab from our local lab rescue group in the DC area.
Posted 9/12/2013 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
I also was just put on Cipro/Flagyl for the first time in July. I tolerated the drugs in a positive way with little side effects.

I am so glad your working with a lab rescue organization group, so many very good dogs are in shelters and rescue groups, they usually have history on all dogs and will help place you with the one that fits your needs.

Again, good luck.......
Posted 9/12/2013 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I tried to get a dog. It was a puppy, so take that into consideration for sure.

I couldn't do it. Luckily, the breeder was a family friend and was able to take the dog back. A relative ended up taking the dog anyways, but it was just heartbreaking. :( I had always wanted a dog, and was devastated to discover I couldn't physically handle it. I remember going to my boss at the time and sobbing, as I had to leave early to feed him and make sure he went to the bathroom before my folks picked him up.

However, I think if it wasn't just me, I would have been able to do it. I just had no help. So, definitely take that into consideration. Also, a puppy is much more difficult than an older dog. I think I will try again someday, but will get a dog with much less energy.

(Also, the relatives who adopted the dog adore him, and love having him. It ended up working out much better, as they are around more and can give him more time and attention and exercise.)
Posted 9/12/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Girlzilla I hope you are able to find the right dog soon, I think the idea of an older dog is a good one. A good companion does wonders. : )
Posted 9/12/2013 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have two. Once you get them trained, they are less work than kids, lol. The only time they are a hardship is when I'm flaring, and barely can move, and they need to be let out, and fed.

Don't get a dog that is too old because then their health problems start setting in, and boy, having a senior dog that is sick is a lot of work when we ourselves are sick. One of my dogs is blind, deaf and confused and is starting to mess in the house. It is hard looking after her, but she is still alert enough to not want to put her down just yet,

Good luck on your fur baby.
Posted 9/12/2013 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I agree w/BB on getting an older dog. My 13 year old Malinois passed away in march of this year, he was my biggest and most loyal "help" that i could ask for. Skip was trained to help me. Here is a small list of what he could do....
Pick up and bring a ringing phone to me
Carry anything in his mouth
open doors
Pick up any objects that I dropped
Help pull me up
Go get someone if I needed help
Know left and right and forward and backup
He was so smart, and he flunked out of the Virginia State Police program for working dogs. I was given this wonderful animal because he did not fit in their program, but that was 13 years ago and I was in better health and could participate in his training.

If at a later date you have the health and desire to get a dog, check into if the state you live in has service or therapy trained dogs that "flunk out of program" they already have basic obedience,socialization and house and crate trained.
I hope you you feel better......
Posted 9/12/2013 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
I would get a dog that has a bit lower energy level than a lab or beagle but I would get one they help a lot with anxiety and other ilnesses. I would pick a pup that loves to go out and play but who can also relax if you have bad days. I have standard poodles and my dogs are just like that. Good luck
Posted 9/12/2013 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have two King Charles Spaniels. They were a full-time job as puppies, but they're both over a year old now and much calmer. They love to play in the backyard or go for walks, but if it's a slow day for me, they're just as content lying at my feet or on my lap. They know when I don't feel good and are very solicitous.
Posted 9/12/2013 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
My dog is my best friend. She always knows when im sick. She follows me to bed every night instead of my parents. She will comfort me when im sad and kick me when I fidget roo much lol. She never fails to cheer me up.
I think having a pet is a must have especially one that can bring as much joy as dogs do.
And they give you a reason to get out of bed on those down days!
good luck in finding your match :)
Posted 9/13/2013 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
I had a perianal abscess in May and it lasted till July. Since my GI didn't want it to be lanced, I was put on antibiotics. First, I took cefalexin 1g/12 hrs for 3 weeks. Then, my surgeon declared the abscess to have cleared. However, a week after, I started to have pain again, so I was put on cefepime im injections for a week. An MRI done afterwards showed there was no abscess anymore.
I have a cat. Though she is not as helpful as a dog, she elevates my mood when I play w her. I regret not owning a cat in the past.
Good luck :)
Posted 9/13/2013 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
After I had my fistulas and anal/rectal abscesses operated on our springer spaniel was my life saver, he just sat with me all the time with his head in my lap and I could almost feel him "drawing the infection out of me". He would sit with his paw in my hand as I lay down for the district nurse to "pack" the open wounds with kaltostat.

After having fistula #4 laid open to drain (it was "intra sphinctular") leaving and upen wound inside the anus, going to the toilet was searing-eye-watering agony, but crazy as it sounds he would come into the bathroom with me and lean his head against my thigh as I sat doing my business and somehow it made it all bearable.
Posted 9/13/2013 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm freaking out about a recto-vaginal fistula starting to develop right now...I've ben on flagyl before with no issues...if I am developing a fistula it will be my first one and it's freaking me out.

We had a dog, but even though he was a small one, he was still too much for me to handle with 2 kids as well, so we gave him to my in-laws who spoiled him deservingly so it was a good choice...we do better with cats, even though I hate cleaning the litter boxes, it's still better suited for me being at home, though she does have an obsession about following me into the bathroom every time I have to "go" and sometimes she even anticipates that's where I'm going and beats me in there (I guess she just wants to comfort me while I'm in the bathroom (lately it's been painful trips for me) she's always done this...I won't get another pet after she's gone though, the last cat we had before this cat, died of old age and I lost it for a week, just spontaneously bursting into tears, and that particular cat was closer to my kids than me.

I think you should get a dog if that's what your heart desires, if it doesn't work out I'm sure you will find it another loving home....Sorry for the pain you've been experiencing with the fistula, I hope you don't end up having crohn's, many non-IBDers can get fistulas so stay hopeful because you don't have to have an IBD in order to get fistulas.
Posted 9/13/2013 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I think dogs are wonderful animals, but my husband would not be able to handle the dogs on his own when he is really sick. There's no way. We have dogs, because we share the responsibility for the dogs, and I am there to take care of them.

I think dogs will be wonderful if you can share responsibility for them with another person, who will pull up the slack when you're sick. They do need a lot of attention, time, and work - food, clean up, bathing, training, etc. In addition to this - there is one big thing we discovered with dogs - we had to clean the house a whole lot more. So, it is definitely more work, but they are worth it. But my husband will definitely not be able to take care of the dogs on his own when he's sick.

my 2 cents.

i hope you feel better soon.

PV
Posted 9/14/2013 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
We have 4 dogs, and I absolutely adore them. They provide a lot of comfort on those bad days, that's for sure. They can be more work though. But I think they are totally worth it as well. I am lucky that my son and husband helps out with taking care of them.

We have a 9 year old beagle. She's just a sweet heart. We have 2 mini dachshunds, 4 and 2 years old, and then there is Ginger. She's my 1 year old English Bulldog. She's my shadow, she will go everywhere with me! They are a lot of fun to have, and a great distraction. I hope you get one!
Posted 9/16/2013 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
I couldn't live without a dog! We have a white german shepherd and a traditional color german shepherd who live in the house. And we have a beagle that lives outside -- she's a hunting dog. Oh, and a cat that darn well better leave with my son if he EVER moves out.

If you aren't opposed to an older dog, it's definitely worth looking into. My oldest son just adopted the most adorable 7 yr old pit, beagle, lab mix. She is the most gentle laid back dog, but still has a lot of personality. She's great around the kids and their other dog and she came from the shelter.

I hope you find one who fits you, they can be a great comfort when you're having a bad day. Mine even know from the tone of my voice when I'm in a hurry to get to the BR!
Posted 9/16/2013 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Absolutely yes. My 15 year old lab/collie mix would barge into the bathroom and rest her head on my knee or just lay next to me whenever I was feeling bad, even at the end. She's gone now, but my mini-dachshund does the same. Except she's small enough to sit on my lap, so she does that and paws at my chin until i hug her. Alas, my apartment doesn't allow pets, so I had to leave her with my parents. But the two of them helped me through so much suffering.

Labs are good, and equally happy lazing about or sprinting around (but, like us, lazing about isn't healthy). Dachshunds are smaller, but again equally happy doing either. You really need to be careful with their weight, though. A pound overweight on a 5 pound dog is huge. That's mini, though. Full size dachshund would be closer to 10-15 lbs. Still applies, though.

Whatever you decide, always keep a bag of baby carrots around. They make excellent healthy treats for you and the dog.

Post Edited (Bane) : 9/16/2013 10:11:54 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2013 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
My horse and my dog (and my son) always keep me smiling. Go ahead, get yourself a new best friend! Totally worth it
Posted 9/18/2013 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
we have a 6 year old maltese, she always understands when I'm sick and she doesn't leave my side. She completed our family, so my husband and I always say that we have three daughters, not two!

If you feel you can take care of a dog then go ahead! of course it is hard work, but the love you get back is priceless...
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