Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Bummer Winnie is still having issues. I'm glad that all her work is at the Vet are coming back good though.
In the FWIW column, there could be a high likelihood that she has really tweaked her back . Perhaps a disc issue, or maybe even badly pulled muscles, pinched nerves, in her back, neck and shoulder area. The fact that she did show "some" improvement after the antiinflmmatory may indicated that to be the case. The Vet may decide a need for a steroid/cortisone injection
When you massage all up and down her spine, her neck, her shoulder, does she show any signs of tension? Regardless, continue to do some massaging to help relax her and avoid anytifht muscles.
Give that sweet girl a smooch for us and let us know when the appt is, okay? This will get figured out and Winnie will be herself again!
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!
Oh gosh that is a short distance. Yeah it does sound like she's got a pulled muscle that's bugging her, Sally is spot on with that insight. When our Wyatt Ray had issues, his therapist gave him a muscle relaxer along with his pain medications. I hope you hear from them soon. Don't be shy about following up, they should know this is really important.
For now, gentle massage and R&R for your sweet girl. Some fun interactive brain games can keep her mind busy so she doesn't get bored. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you SO much honestly! Hearing that it may just be a pulled muscle sure helps ease my anxieties. Just one more day to get through and then hopefully some more answers tomorrow! I gently scratch her spine from her neck to her tail and it seems maybe towards her tail is the source of her pain, she doesn't yelp when I touch it but the look on her face tells me its there haha. Poor sweet thing doesn't deserve to go through this...
Stay tuned....
You are so welcome. Yes, we see it happen quite often!
Good job noting where and how her symptoms appear when you massage her! That's very intuitive, you are so close to your girl.
I hope by this time tomorrow you get the answers you both deserve. Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad you were able to pinpoint the tenseness. Massages really to identify issues with Tripawds sometimes. Onward and upward.👍
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!
So we did another blood test at the vet this afternoon and platelets were still low so off the Meloxicam and onto a steroid (Prednison) to see if that helps her make new ones. She said she could have an autoimmune disease, or there were a couple other things it could be but trying this first. Rehab consultation is being put on hold until this gets figured out. She said it could be causing her to have low energy and thats why she's not moving around as much. Even though it looks like she's in pain to me and what you've all told me about pulled muscles or pinched nerves it seems like thats what's going on. BUT i'm not a vet so we'll do what she says. She told me to watch for any bruising or blood in her urine, if there is bring her in and they'll try a different approach. We go back next monday for another blood test to see if the steroids are working.
So. Frustrating.
Side note: Winnie does seem a little more alert and peppy the last couple of days, she was excited when she saw we were going in the car but then froze in the car when we got to the vets and then was shaking when we got inside....now she's mad at me 🙂
Gosh I would be frustrated too, I'm really sorry there aren't any answers yet. How long of a course of prednisone is she doing?
I'm not a vet either and would probably do exactly as your are doing at this point. It's good to rule out other conditions. Prednisone can help do that to a point by reducing inflammation and tricking the body to think it's healed, but it doesn't address the root cause of whatever is bothering her. That's one thing I don't like about it.
So yeah of course follow your vet's advice. The one thing I would do differently, is to at least book an appointment with a rehab therapist now. There can be such a long waiting list and odds are you wouldn't get into a time slot within the next week or so. By the time you get in, you should have some answers, hopefully and if things go in that direction of what your vet suspects, then you can always cancel the appointment if you'd like. But even if she does have another condition causing low energy, rehab can still benefit her (and you) in so many ways. So I would at least get that process happening so you can be ready.
Follow your gut instinct, you know her best. I'm glad she's got more pep in her step and has hopefully recovered from the vet visit. Has she always been fearful at the vet?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm starting her on Prednisone tonight, we had to give her 24 hours to let the Meloxicam get out of her system as they can't be combined.
I might call the rehab vet and see when I can get in, just do it anyways...
I just want answers, and I know things take time. She's mostly laying down all day, we'll hang out outside just for a change of scenery but this can't be fun for her.
Ah yeah the wash out period. How long will she be on the pred?
No fun at all, I totally get it. Hang in there. I know it feels like you're the only one who's experienced recovery issues but I promise you are not. Sometimes things just take longer to fall into place. You are doing everything humanly possible to help her feel good again. You'll get there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just trying to connect the dots with my non professional FWIW brain.
Seems like low platelets are one thing, but wouldn't be connected to the tense spots when you massage her or the lack or the decreased mobility. So a Rehab appointment would definitely address those issues while the Vet is try to address the low blood count........or so it seems to me
So to piggyback on Jerry's suggestion, go ahead and make the Rehab appt and if they can see you quickly, that's all the better!!! Jist seems like their may be two different issues that aren't connected.........certainly not a Vet and just offering FWIW
And yes, the Pred will help if there is inflammation involved, so that's a step forward.
Hang in there! And Winne probably doesn't mind just lounging arou d outside sniffing all the scents arou d her. And maybe take her on a carride to get a cheeseburger, NOT to go to the Vet!
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!
Thanks again everyone 🙂 She'll be on the Prednisone i'm assuming at least until we go back to the vet on monday for another blood test to see if they're working? The vet mentioned to that her breathing was a little faster than normal too but that maybe have been due to the stress of being at the vet and the heat. At times she does seem to breathe a little faster i guess, I just can't help but imagine the worst!
A faster pace breathing could DEFINITELY be due to a Bet visit...especially they way toy described how she was shaking when she got inside! Have no doubt that would cause a change in her breathing pattern. As far as ypu noticing it now that the Vet mentioned it....may be her normal pattern in the heat but you never pai that much attention to it before. We hoomans can scare ourselves silly some over nothing. .
As hard as it is, try not to jump to worse case scenario. It's what we all do so well, but there isn't really any reason to think bad scenarios right now. And even IF some unexpected challenge is uncovered, you and your Bet, and Winnie too, will map out a plan forward.
You know we have to see more Winnie pictures, right???? We'll be waiting👍
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!
UMMM so Prednisone is amazing 🙂 I gave her half a pill last night and this morning she got right up to go out to pee and then ate all her breakfast at once (she hasn't been jumping to eat her breakfast/supper but eventually and slowly shed eat it). She's even looking more her happy self. Then she sat on her bed (she hasn't been doing that, always laying). We've only been up a couple hours but I think its going to be a good day!
🙂
YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!! Over the moon Happy to see this!!!!😁😁😁
Yes, Pred can certainly be a miracle drug sometimes.....and this seems like one of those times!! And that was with just the first dose! Paws crossed for continued improvement!
Keep up with the Pred, giving her massages AND not letting her overdo as she starts to feel better.
Thanks so much for the update. Your tripawd family is so happy!!
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!
Ok that is the best news all week! YAY! I know you must be so relieved to see her sparkle back. That's terrific, thank you for sharing this huge improvement with us.
When pred does what it's supposed to, it's great. This is one of those times like Sally said. Our Jerry and Wyatt had mixed reactions to it, all dogs are different. I'm curious, what exactly is your vet trying to pinpoint by using the pred? Is she trying to see if there is disc or osteoarthritis inflammation, which the pred can help alleviate? Or is she looking for another condition that would be helped by it? Just wondering.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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