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Introducing Chuy to Tripawds
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Mesa, AZ
Member Since:
27 April 2009
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10 May 2009 - 10:55 am
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Hi everone!  Chuy and I are pretty new here and I felt it was time to introduce him to everyone and share his story with you.

We adopted Chuy from a shelter at Thanksgiving 2008.  Chuy is a Chow/Golden Retriever mix missing his left front leg.  He was already a tripawd when we adopted him.  The shelter told us that he had been hit by a car, when they found him at about 4 months old his left front leg was shattered and dead.  They had no choice but to amputate.  He lived with the shelter people for another 4 months until we came along and fell in Love with his irresistible personality.  We then decided to foster him (to make sure he got along with our other dogs) and of course he did!  Adoption completed 1 week later.  Chuy had a home for Christmas. 

He was scratching constantly, the shelter told us it was allergies.  We tried omega 3's, didn't work.  We tried antihistamines, again no luck.  Diet change to lamb & rice for 6 weeks, no luck and then to the duck & potatoe for 6 weeks per the vet, no luck again.  We had his fur shaved off, took him to the allergist/dermatologist only to find out he had demodic mites.  Thank goodness our dogs were Frontlined!!!  Three treatments of Revolution 3 weeks apart and the mites were gone.  Finally!  We thought, Chuy will be comfortable, happy and have a roof over his head and food on his table for the first time in his life! 

He turned 1 year old in April.  Smile  Birthday Party!!  We made a meatloaf cake and had biscuits and a puppy party for him.  Celebrate the boy has a family!  Unfortunately our German Shepherd Rory got a little too rambunctious and pushed Chuy down hard on his left rear leg on the ceramic tile in the dining room.  He cried out in pain for about 3 minutes.  Oh my gosh!!!  I was so scared for him.   He got up and limped into the living room, laid down on his bed and went to sleep.  The next morning when I got up, Chuy tried to stand and cried out.  I called the vet right away.  Unfortunately, our vet had had shoulder surgery the previous Monday and wasn't working that week.  I called another vet, they took Chuy in that morning and did 1 x-ray.  That afternoon they told me he either had Valley Fever (we live in the SW) or cancer.  I thought NO!!!! He can't have cancer, he's too young!  The vet ran bloodwork for VF titer and said that if it came back negative we should do more x-rays in 2 weeks.  In the meantime, she put him on Metacam for the pain. 

The titer came back negative.  O.K.  Now I'm scared and panicing.  Cry  For 2 weeks I don't know what to do, I'm babying Chuy, ignoring my other dogs and all 7 cats and my husband.  All I can think of is that poor Chuy has had a life that has been harder than H E double hockey sticks and he doesn't deserve this.  We go back and get the x-rays done, I tell them to do a chest x-ray too, just to  make sure he's o.k. there.  This time they do 5 x-rays.  They tell me now that he either has a ligament problem in his left knee or Legg-Calve Perthes Disease.  Now, why would they tell me cancer to begin with and have me worried and scared for 2 weeks?   Grrrrrrr!!!!!!!  They send the x-rays to the radiologist.  (I posted them in Ask the Vet under canine leukemia).  The vet says, "We'll have the results for you tomorrow".  This was on a Thursday.  On Monday, I call, "What did the radiologist say?"  "Oh yea, we were supposed to call you"  By this time, I'm fed up with this vet.  They tell me Chuy has Legg-Calve Perthes Disease, a fracture in the ball of the femur and a possible ligament problem in the knee.  The vet in the forum here was right, I should have just gone with her!!!!

Off to the Orthopedic Specialist on Wednesday.  We sit down on the floor with the little guy.  He starts the exam, Chuy is licking his face, wagging his tail, the usual I'm your buddy stuff.  Then the Ortho starts the leg exam.  Toes, o.k., foot, o.k., hock, o.k., knee, o.k., hip, not so o.k.  No ligament problem in the knee.  He does have the femur problem and we had 4 choices. 

1. Do nothing…….not an option as far as we are concerned

2. FHO surgery…remove the ball of the femur

3. Repair the fracture..means they have to refracture and repair – could cause problems in the future and he could still break the leg or hip

4. total hip replacement – could cause problems in the future, needs both hips done, costly

We chose option #2, expensive but the best option at this time for Chuy. He is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday May 12 at 2 p.m.  We're nervous and scared as it is the rear leg on the side he's already missing a leg, but he's got a great Ortho doing the surgery.  This vet has done 100's of them and says that Chuy should do just fine with it.  He said 4 days recovery and 8 weeks of physical therapy and he'll be a new dog.  We know that he may need to have the right rear leg done someday, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Eleanor

Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!

Chuy's Short Stories

My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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10 May 2009 - 11:13 am
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What a sweet face.  Crossing all paws and fingers in our house that Chuy has a speedy recovery from the surgery. 

Oh, and thank you so much for adopting a tripawd, they are really special and bring joy into your life.

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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10 May 2009 - 7:02 pm
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Eleanor, it's so great to see Chuy's handsome face here, thank you for sharing his story. Welcome!

Chuy has been through so much, but what an amazing boy! A real testament to the resiliency of dogs. We know he will come through this surgery just fine, especially with an awesome dog mom like you to help him with the recovery.

We are so glad to hear you have some concrete answers and solutions about his situation. Don't "should" all over yourself! Yeah, it stinks that that lame-o vet office didn't call you back. Grrrr. But, what's important is you are making progress now, and have a plan. Good luck this week. Please keep us posted and let us know how things are going OK? We'll be thinking of you both.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Mesa, AZ
Member Since:
27 April 2009
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11 May 2009 - 8:05 am
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I'll update everyone as soon as I can.  He comes home on Wednesday, so I'll have tomorrow to get things ready for him.  Smile

Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!

Chuy's Short Stories

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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11 May 2009 - 9:19 am
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Best wishes to you and Chuy!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Northern CA
Member Since:
23 December 2008
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12 May 2009 - 9:34 am
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Sounds like you've had quite a ride. We are sending good thoughts your way that all goes well for Chuy.

Pawsitive thoughts coming your way.

Seanne and Angel Wrigley

Mesa, AZ
Member Since:
27 April 2009
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12 May 2009 - 3:49 pm
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Thank you for the pawsitive thoughts.  It's almost 4 p.m. and he's still in surgery.  Oh how I wish they would call!Sad

I'm sure he's fine, but the waiting is killing me.

Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!

Chuy's Short Stories

My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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8
12 May 2009 - 6:08 pm
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They will call soon, it just seems like a long time when you're waiting to hear.  ((Hugs))

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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9
12 May 2009 - 7:10 pm
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Keep us posted. We send our love.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Mesa, AZ
Member Since:
27 April 2009
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13 May 2009 - 7:04 pm
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The latest news on Chuy is that he is home. Finally! He is only allowed to go out on potty breaks and we have to use a leash and a sling for the first 3-4 days for that. He is required to rest the remaining time, no play allowed! He is wearing a Phentanyl patch for the pain and we are to continue the Metacam pain meds as well. Is the Phentanyl patch going to make him whine alot?  He's whining like crazy!!  He is also being given an anti-inflammatory med every 8 hours. Lots of drugs, so he's pretty cranky right now. We're keeping him in a big crate with an e-collar so he doesn't bother his stitches, cuz he tends to lick at them when we aren't watching him. On Saturday we can remove the patch and hopefully we will be able to stop using the sling too.

Rory doesn't dare go near him as he growls and snaps at him. We know this is from the drugs and anethesia. (he was like that after his x-rays too)

We purchased an 8 ft. round by 2 ft. deep galvanized water tank for him so we can give him the water therapy he will need when his stitches come out in 10-14 days. His daddy is going to build him a ramp this weekend so he can walk up the ramp and go in the water. He loves swimming, so there shouldn't be a problem getting him in it. ; )

All in all we are just glad to have him home. There is a long road ahead of us, but the trip will be well worth it.

Any advice?

Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!

Chuy's Short Stories

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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14 May 2009 - 6:31 pm
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Hey Eleanor,

As we were talking about in the chat last night, yeah, Fentanyl patches tend to make dogs whiny. They are confused, don't know what's going on with all that painkiller med going through they're system. He should be OK but if you sense anything is drastically wrong, call your vet. Oftentimes once people take the patch off their dog, they quickly get back to their normal selves.

Hang in there, it gets easier after a few days.

We can't wait to see him swim in his new pool. How is he doing today?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
3 May 2009
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12
14 May 2009 - 7:28 pm
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Hi Eleanor,

Chuy is such a sweetie!!! I hope everything goes well for him and that he has a complete recovery.  Good luck to both of you!

Ginni (Zack's mom) from Charlotte,NC

Mesa, AZ
Member Since:
27 April 2009
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13
15 May 2009 - 8:17 am
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Update 5/15 Chuy is doing great!  He slept thru most of the night last nite.  Still hasn't pooped yet though.  I'm talked to the vet yesterday and they said to call today if he doesn't poop.  Believe me I will call.  Took him out to potty, he just laid down in the grass.  I took the sling off him and left him there, figured he pee where he was.  My husband was on the porch to watch him, I went to get dressed, it was 8 a.m.  when I came back out Chuy was on the porch.  Tevis said Chuy got up on his own, hopped across the grass, started to go potty and then fell down, finished his potty, got up and came up to the porch all by himself.  I guess he's too embarrassed to want help to potty.Wink  He's resting now, seems to be comfortable on the porch.  We'll go inside when it starts to get too warm.  He's eating like a champ. 

Now if we can just get him to poop!Winker

Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!

Chuy's Short Stories

My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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14
15 May 2009 - 3:58 pm
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Many of them are slow to poop.  He will, just give him time.  We found after the surgery Trouble liked to lay outside a lot more than she had before.  She had surgery in November so it was pretty chilly outside when she was wanting to just lay out there an look around.

It is a shame the medication is required, it does make it more difficult for us humans to interpret what is going on.

Chuy sounds like he is doing well, that's great news.

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15
15 May 2009 - 6:39 pm
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Yeay! We've been thinking about you both and wondering how things are going.

That's a Tripawd for you. Determination knows no bounds, we will do what it takes to get on with our lives. Thank you for the help but we can handle it, we say.

Yeay Chuy. No worries, there will be plenty of poopin in no time I'm sure. Keep us posted!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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