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On our way to Brandon Fl (about 2 hrs away) for consult. Unfortunately, luck ran out for how well he had been moving after the bone strengthener last week. He was holding his paw up this morning. The thing that concerns me is he won’t hold it up and hop. If he can’t put that leg down, he just lays down and won’t move. I had to give him a little extra gabapentin and once that kicked in he started walking but uses the leg even though it’s clearly causing him pain. I keep reading dogs have shown they can manage on 3 legs for by hopping on the 3 legs before the surgery. Is he then showing me he can’t?
My other worry is, in order to do radiation/chemo we have to actually be able to GET him to all those appts. If he isn’t feeling well or can’t walk and picks up on the fact that getting in the car means going places to get poked and prodded when he already isn’t feeling well, he may stop cooperating with getting in the car. I can’t space things out with the fun outings we were doing, if he isn’t mobile enough to do them and I think the radiation is a 3 days in a row scenario.
9:58 am
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Bucketeers
22 February 2013
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So sorry the pain has taken over now. I think we were all holding our collective breath knowing the inevitable was lurking in .the shadows
Is he then showing me he can’t
Absolutely not! What it is showing you is that his pain hurts so badly (and the bone pain is making his whole body hurt) that he doesn't want to move. It may be that the bone has already fractured My Vet told me it was an absolute myth that if a dog can, or cannot, walk on three vefore surgery is indicative of how well they can manage three. That was just one opinion.
Every dog's recovery is different!! There is more of a common thread sometimes that little dogs hop on three sooner than bigger dogs. Many larger dogs, not all, need a few days to get their sea legs and need harness assistance helping to get up and get in standing position. In all my years here I do not ever recall a dog not being able to adapt to three in their own way at their own pace. I think there was one older dog who had a "stroke" of some sort and it made his hind legs immobile that was a separate issue.
Please knowI say this with love and compassion for you and an understanding of how agonizing this decision is. Please know that, okay? HONOR IS SHOWING YOU HE IS IN SEVERE PAIN. HONOR IS IS TELLING YOU HE DOES NOT WANT TO ENDURE THIS INCREASING PAIN ANY LONGER. AS HARD AS IT IS, HE NEEDS YOU TO MAKE A DECISION ASAP TO REMOVE HIS PAIN.
We know how all the uncertainties and unknowns of a path forward can bog us down and keep us stuck. Honor is showing you he no longer has that luxury of his hoomans staying stuck. There are risks, there are things that are not figured out 100% yet as far as transportation, recovery, Etc We can assure you they will get figured out. And again, as hard as it is and as impossible as it may seem right now, decisions must be made and the details can be worked out.
YOU KNOW HONOR BEST! Based on what you'be said, you know numerous carrides, trips to the Vet, etc will continue to stress him out. Yes, tea sport in and put of a car is a hurdle. Maybe neighbors can help, maybe you can get a gurney from the Vet to help, lifting a dog with the help of a harness with two people is doable.
Regardless, sounds like you are at the end of all the research, options, etc and his pain is almost to the point of unbearable.
1. Amputation (one surgery, one recovery, bone pain is 100% removed instantly.) Sure recovery is no picnic for a week or two-ish , but good pain management is the answer.
2. Radiation (will most likely end in amputation anyway and no guarantees the treatments will relieve the pain for weeks or months, etc)
3. If none of these options resonate then eventually (probably sooner than later) Honor will need to be released from his pain once Gaba stops working
We are surrounding you with care in our hearts and the hope of peace and clarity as you move forward.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
10:11 am
15 March 2023
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I keep reading dogs have shown they can manage on 3 legs for by hopping on the 3 legs before the surgery. Is he then showing me he can’t?
For what it's worth Ellie never went to 3 legs before her surgery, even though she was in obvious severe pain, and she adjusted great.
I have a Xterra, so know the struggles of getting a big dog into a high vehicle. I got an extended ramp (I wonder if it's the same one you have??) (<a href="