YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community


Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member!

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us.

Go Back   YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community > YorkieTalk > Sick & Injured / Emergencies Talk
Register Blogs FAQ Calendar JavaChat Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 10-04-2013, 12:16 PM   #1
YT Addict
 
Lolli_lah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gainesville, GA, USA
Posts: 406
Blog Entries: 2
Rain In tears with worry..

So I posted before about Lolli's herniated disc. She's better from that and we are still on the prednisone. It's only been 4 days since that vet visit so she's definitely on activity restriction still.

It keeps rolling through my mind all the things she is going through. Lolli is 11 years old now. I got her when she was 7. I can't believe it's been that long already. I love her so, so much. I can't get it out of my head about her suffering and me unable to help if it's something that I could be doing but just unable to afford.

But now Lolli is showing symptoms of her Stage 3 luxating patella. She will walk fine but she's starting to hold her leg up and I never seen her do this before. I know what the problem is, because she's diagnosed from the vet with patella already and the symptoms match.

But what do I do? I don't live near an orthopedic surgeon and even if I did, I'm in such a horrible tough spot right now. I can't afford that kind of thing. My credit sucks, CareCredit won't accept me. I'm even crying writing this. I don't know what to do. I have pain medication for her, Tramadol. I am going to start administering this because I don't want her to be in pain. But what else should I do?

Please don't tell me how much I suck as a doggie parent. I already know. I just wanted to save her from her having to be a breeder her whole life and have some little baby to love. I thought I'd be at a better place with $ by now. But my job, I love it. But I don't get paid a lot. I have family, but none that are capable of helping either.

What could I do? To help her, if/when she needs help?
__________________
Lollipop
my Pretty Little Princess
Lolli_lah is offline   Reply With Quote
Welcome Guest!
Not Registered?

Join today and remove this ad!

Old 10-04-2013, 12:21 PM   #2
YT Addict
 
Lolli_lah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gainesville, GA, USA
Posts: 406
Blog Entries: 2
Default

I actually did just locate one at ngvetspecialists.com that's about 25 mins away. But I fear I would not even be able to afford it. We couldn't afford the x-rays for her spine but they said unless we took her to an ER vet where they can do MRI, they would not really be able to see if she had the herniated disc anyway, it was a very small chance and the treatment would be the same. So that's why, we opted not to do the x-rays.

I can't stop crying..
__________________
Lollipop
my Pretty Little Princess
Lolli_lah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 12:41 PM   #3
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member
 
ladyjane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 27,448
Default

First you need to take a deep breath. Luxating patella is not the end of the world. In my mind the spinal issue is the priority right now. Keep her on crate rest and yes, medicate her for pain but only with Tramadol. Don't use anything like Rimadyl or Metacam with her being on prednisone because she could bleed.

There are some ways to get funding for vetting. The one that I hear the best results with is IMOM Home
There is a lengthy list of other organizations here: Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care? : The Humane Society of the United States

Grade 3 LP does not always need surgery. She is older and the surgeon I use does not repair them unless they are really an issue and causing pain. Temporary pain like you are describing sometimes will ease up. If she has torn a ligament that could be a different issue, but for right now, I personally would let her rest .. and look into funding help. Perhaps you will qualify!

Keep us posted! I will keep her and you in my thoughts and prayers.
ladyjane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 12:42 PM   #4
YT 500 Club Member
 
cummins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Arcola Il
Posts: 554
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Just pray to God and ask for his help to see you through this
cummins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 12:58 PM   #5
Donating YT 30K Club Member
 
Patti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 35,509
Blog Entries: 6
Default

It could be her lp is being aggravated by her spine issue. Crate rest will definitely help both issues. My Cali has grade 4 lp in both knees and we have been able to avoid surgery so far. So hopefully Lolli will show good improvement with the medicines and the crate rest. I will keep you both in my prayers.
__________________
Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08
http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html
Patti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 01:13 PM   #6
and Shelby's too
Donating Member
 
MandiesMom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Millbrook, AL
Posts: 7,842
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ladyjane View Post
First you need to take a deep breath. Luxating patella is not the end of the world. In my mind the spinal issue is the priority right now. Keep her on crate rest and yes, medicate her for pain but only with Tramadol. Don't use anything like Rimadyl or Metacam with her being on prednisone because she could bleed.

There are some ways to get funding for vetting. The one that I hear the best results with is IMOM Home
There is a lengthy list of other organizations here: Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care? : The Humane Society of the United States

Grade 3 LP does not always need surgery. She is older and the surgeon I use does not repair them unless they are really an issue and causing pain. Temporary pain like you are describing sometimes will ease up. If she has torn a ligament that could be a different issue, but for right now, I personally would let her rest .. and look into funding help. Perhaps you will qualify!

Keep us posted! I will keep her and you in my thoughts and prayers.
I was on this screen for since you posted until right now because I wanted to post that list that Linda just posted. Then, work called me away until now. Look into that ok?

You are NOT a bad mama!! You are a fantastic mama! You spared that lady from a horrid life and you love her so much that you are crying. Don't you EVER think you are not a good mama to Lolli. You are great!
__________________
Terri, proud mom to Mandie & Shelby-Dale
MandiesMom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 01:37 PM   #7
And Rylee Finnegan
Donating Member
 
Ellie May's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
Default

I agree with the above. LP is waaay down on the list of concerns right now.

There are many bad pet owners in this world. You are not one of them.

Crate rest is indicated for both issues. I'd take the restrictions one step further than your vet is recommending and give her no space to do anything except rest. A kennel, playpen, or your lap... Even walking around is not going to help her back.

She should be on pain meds. It sounds like you are worried about giving Tramadol? It is a very safe drug. When my girl takes it she takes a very high dose and does fine. The biggest problem (which isn't really a problem at all) we have had when medicaring Ellie for her back is that the drugs make her realllllly, um, b!tchy. When she is in pain she soetimes just lays around. When it gets worse her ears and tongue get hot, she stretches out like a board, etc. Fast breathing tels me she is in severe pain which has only happened once. Just watch her close.

A neuro consult would be about $150. Your vet could do xrays and have a neuro look at them. You could just let her rest. If there are any signs of paralysis that would be an emergency.

Every owner is different when it comes to how far they want to go. As long as any pain is managed, that is ok. I elected not to go beyond xrays with Ellie simply because I wasn't going to do anything with added information. I wasn't about to let somebody cut her because she wasn't a good candidate.

your best iption s to try and get funds together in case they are needed, keep close contact with her vet, and bring a neuro into the mix if possible.
__________________
Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶
Ellie May is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 01:40 PM   #8
And Rylee Finnegan
Donating Member
 
Ellie May's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
Default

ETA:

Dodgerslist is a nice site for IVDD. As with any forum, don't believe everything rhey say..but it's a good resource.

The contributing neurologists there are very, very good doctors. One of them was the neuro that read Ellie's xrays.
__________________
Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶
Ellie May is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 02:13 PM   #9
YT Addict
 
Lolli_lah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gainesville, GA, USA
Posts: 406
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Thank you, thank you so much ladyjane. I really do enjoy your presence here on YT. You're right I just need a breath. She's got to heal her herniation first and foremost. I guess I just feel like it's perhaps aggravating the patella. Although I did think it was patella at first but the vet did the examination tests and said it looks way more neurologic at this point the way she moves them.

So I will just keep her from doing anything and give tramadol. It's the only thing I will give her with prednisone, since it's the only thing I've got lol. But thank you for the warning. I do know prednisone can be tricky.

I really appreciate the links. I guess I should have checked out the forums for this kind of thing. I'm sure there is a stickied post somewhere. I bookmarked IMOM and if she has continued issues and the vet thinks she needs to see a specialist, I will try to apply with them. They only approve life-threatening situations at this time, more or less.

I applied for one of those fundraising websites. Maybe that will help. I have a fairly decent network on Facebook, hopefully I could get it around a bit. If nothing else, I will use the funds to get her some tests and see exactly what's up with her spine and everything at a orthopedic vet.
__________________
Lollipop
my Pretty Little Princess
Lolli_lah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 03:10 PM   #10
YT Addict
 
Lolli_lah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gainesville, GA, USA
Posts: 406
Blog Entries: 2
Default

I posted before you others had replied but forgot to hit "post" haha oh well.

He didn't say crate rest specifically but just to limit it a lot. So I will try to limit it much more. He said to keep her off slick floors. I am going to move her water to another area, we have a giant bathroom in the master bath and there's a whole area for her to have water at night when she's locked in here with us, but since that floor is slick I'll move it to the bedroom someplace instead. I'll keep her in here with me, my computer is in here which is also where I work. She really has not been roaming around the house much anyway though, so maybe I won't need to keep the door shut (it gets really warm) but just make sure I tell her to stay. Here with me.

I do have a question perhaps someone can help me on. The vet showed me how to pick her up more proper, so as to support her back. I live on 3rd floor apartment so I have to carry her down the steps. My bf is usually the one to carry her, he's super tall and good on his feet. I'm chubby and clumsy so I've been weary to be the one to carry her. But he is dog-sitting his parents' doggie this weekend. Can someone help me on how I could maybe hold her comfortably and not risking her back?

The thing is. I lost over 100 lbs this year, and I have a lot of arm flap. And I can't get her back to be flat under my arm like the vet showed, because of that. And today when I was carrying her how it is comfortable for me to where I feel I won't trip with the odd weight of carrying her like that, I thought I heard her whine just very faint but I'm not 100% sure because I live in a noisy area.

I feel so weird saying that lol but I don't want to hurt her worse or be the one preventing her from recovering because of my inability!
__________________
Lollipop
my Pretty Little Princess

Last edited by Wylie's Mom; 10-05-2013 at 07:04 AM. Reason: Removed portion of post
Lolli_lah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2013, 11:19 PM   #11
Donating YT 1000 Club Member
 
MauiGirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 7,740
Default

Can you carry her in a dog carrier like a Sherpa or something that has a shoulder strap to make it more secure and comfortable for you too?

It seems that it could keep her level and somewhat restricted. Also, how about a stroller to keep her in to be close to you when you are working.

I wish you lots of luck in helping her recover.
__________________
SANDY, MOM TO TIKI , KAYLA , KARLEE , R.I.P. MEIKA
MauiGirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2013, 06:26 AM   #12
YT 500 Club Member
 
kimp5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 890
Default

how big is she? I have this purse thing with leg holes I carried jess around in when she broke her leg. It keeps them pretty straight in their back. Your welcome to it if she can fit.
kimp5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2013, 07:30 AM   #13
YT Addict
 
Lolli_lah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Gainesville, GA, USA
Posts: 406
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kimp5 View Post
how big is she? I have this purse thing with leg holes I carried jess around in when she broke her leg. It keeps them pretty straight in their back. Your welcome to it if she can fit.
She is about 8 or 9 pounds! That would be wonderful if she could fit!
__________________
Lollipop
my Pretty Little Princess
Lolli_lah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2013, 01:42 PM   #14
YT 500 Club Member
 
kimp5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 890
Default

oh no its really small..for a 5 lb dog..sorry....
kimp5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2013, 11:12 AM   #15
YT 2000 Club
Donating Member
 
gemy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Huntsville,Ont,Canaada
Posts: 12,335
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Here is what you can try. Stand her up on the table top on a placement. slide one hand palm up between her back legs, move your hand forward to underneath her chest and wrap one finger around her leg ; then with your other hand thumb and forefinger only, place along her jawline, stead her head with that hand, and lift her straight up. She will have her tummy resting on your forearm, and her legs dangling free. Then bring your arm with her on it close into your midriff, and then you can free up the hand that is holding her head.
__________________
Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018
gemy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks



Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




Google
 

SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167