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10-04-2013, 12:16 PM | #1 |
YT Addict | 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 |
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10-04-2013, 12:21 PM | #2 |
YT Addict | 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 |
10-04-2013, 12:41 PM | #3 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| 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.
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10-04-2013, 12:58 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | 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 |
10-04-2013, 01:13 PM | #6 | |
and Shelby's too Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Millbrook, AL
Posts: 7,842
| Quote:
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 | |
10-04-2013, 01:37 PM | #7 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| 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🐶 |
10-04-2013, 01:40 PM | #8 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| 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🐶 |
10-04-2013, 02:13 PM | #9 |
YT Addict | 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 |
10-04-2013, 03:10 PM | #10 |
YT Addict | 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 |
10-05-2013, 11:19 PM | #11 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 7,740
| 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.
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10-06-2013, 06:26 AM | #12 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Boston MA
Posts: 890
| 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. |
10-06-2013, 07:30 AM | #13 |
YT Addict | She is about 8 or 9 pounds! That would be wonderful if she could fit!
__________________ Lollipop my Pretty Little Princess |
10-06-2013, 01:42 PM | #14 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Boston MA
Posts: 890
| oh no its really small..for a 5 lb dog..sorry.... |
10-11-2013, 11:12 AM | #15 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | 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.
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