Hello everyone,
I am sorry to have not kept up, I've been overwhelmed with caring for two sick boys and starting a new job. I wanted to report on buddy's condition.
He had two sets of x-rays that reveled nothing to the vet to explain what was happening with his legs. The vet wanted to do an MRI to see if there was cancer somewhere but I can't afford that and if he did/does have it there is nothing I could really do as I would not subject him to the treatments they explained. He would not tolerate it well, of this I am sure. The films did, however, reveal to my chiropractor that his spine was in need of adjustment, everything was wonky: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. Everything had something that was not aligned, his hips were twisted weird. The vet didn't think so though,
, she DOES NOT agree with chiropractic. We have a new vet, same office, she thinks more openly.
Buddy has had 4 adjustments and after each there is an immediate and visible improvement in his walking. Not that he was cured but a true improvement, he began the task of walking up the stairs right away though I wouldn't let him go down the stairs for a couple of weeks. He still goes up them slowly and down them slower than he used to, not to my liking though two days ago he raced me up them like he used to and he won!
The vet prescribed Dexamethasone, anti-inflammatory, for 20 days. After that half a pill for two weeks. Yesterday we began a half a pill, every other day. He had not recovered 100% but I would say 90%. He has even begun jumping on and off the bed on his own without the stool, an act I thought I'd not see again. We had a big bout of diarrhea the first week on the Dex but a day of fasting and another of baby food seemed to clear it up.
All in all there hasn't been much improvement for a couple of weeks and he seemed to stabilize. He has developed a (I hope) side effect of the Dex, he had begun having red spots, hair loss and itching on his ear, face and forearm. New vet is looking at the pictures I emailed her today, (it's her day off and she knows I am broke) she will look and let me know what she thinks and if I need to take him in or not. If it is Cushings induced by the Dex it should go away when he is off it. If it is Ringworm, and I pray that it is not, please pray that it is not, I am not looking forward to the degree of cleaning I will have to do.
Strangely, yesterday he seemed to tweek his back again and he is having a hard time getting all the way up on the bed today. I can't help wonder if it is because he is getting a smaller dose of Dex or if he just needs to be adjusted again. The old vet said he may need a lifetime on Dex and the Chiro said he may need additional treatments here and there. I will attach pics for the curious and would love to know what experience any of you may have with Dex, ringworm and cushings.
As for the boyfriend, well he is one lucky so and so. He should have, according to the surgeon, died from injuries to the spleen. He should have had internal bleeding that killed him. Broken bones around and behind his left eye, lacerations and abrasions from head to toe, shattered/removed spleen and broken ribs. He stayed in the hospital for two weeks during which he had allergic reactions to several of the meds and suffered severe depression and blistery rashes from them. Big bouts of crying and anger until we got him off the pain killers. It was so hard having them both sick at the same time. On the up side, he has healed remarkably well and quickly, he really is a lucky son of a gun!
OH! wanted to let you know that I DID apply for the Care Credit and was shocked to be approved for $500, even with the shot credit from the foreclosure and lack of income! Paid for the blood panel, meds, x-rays and fluid injection with it and it was a huge relief.
Thanks to all of you for your well wished and help. Please keep sending them as Buddy is still struggling, he can't seem to get a break, poor guy. It seems when we get over one hurdle another pops up to deal with. I love him though and won't give up on him.
PS just got word from the vet, she thinks it looks like ringworm, UHgggg!!!
Pics: Buddy sleeping peacefully before the ringworm and then after, BF in hospital, and both my boys on the way to taking them both for an adjustment.
I am sorry to have not kept up, I've been overwhelmed with caring for two sick boys and starting a new job. I wanted to report on buddy's condition.
He had two sets of x-rays that reveled nothing to the vet to explain what was happening with his legs. The vet wanted to do an MRI to see if there was cancer somewhere but I can't afford that and if he did/does have it there is nothing I could really do as I would not subject him to the treatments they explained. He would not tolerate it well, of this I am sure. The films did, however, reveal to my chiropractor that his spine was in need of adjustment, everything was wonky: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. Everything had something that was not aligned, his hips were twisted weird. The vet didn't think so though,
Buddy has had 4 adjustments and after each there is an immediate and visible improvement in his walking. Not that he was cured but a true improvement, he began the task of walking up the stairs right away though I wouldn't let him go down the stairs for a couple of weeks. He still goes up them slowly and down them slower than he used to, not to my liking though two days ago he raced me up them like he used to and he won!
The vet prescribed Dexamethasone, anti-inflammatory, for 20 days. After that half a pill for two weeks. Yesterday we began a half a pill, every other day. He had not recovered 100% but I would say 90%. He has even begun jumping on and off the bed on his own without the stool, an act I thought I'd not see again. We had a big bout of diarrhea the first week on the Dex but a day of fasting and another of baby food seemed to clear it up.
All in all there hasn't been much improvement for a couple of weeks and he seemed to stabilize. He has developed a (I hope) side effect of the Dex, he had begun having red spots, hair loss and itching on his ear, face and forearm. New vet is looking at the pictures I emailed her today, (it's her day off and she knows I am broke) she will look and let me know what she thinks and if I need to take him in or not. If it is Cushings induced by the Dex it should go away when he is off it. If it is Ringworm, and I pray that it is not, please pray that it is not, I am not looking forward to the degree of cleaning I will have to do.
Strangely, yesterday he seemed to tweek his back again and he is having a hard time getting all the way up on the bed today. I can't help wonder if it is because he is getting a smaller dose of Dex or if he just needs to be adjusted again. The old vet said he may need a lifetime on Dex and the Chiro said he may need additional treatments here and there. I will attach pics for the curious and would love to know what experience any of you may have with Dex, ringworm and cushings.
As for the boyfriend, well he is one lucky so and so. He should have, according to the surgeon, died from injuries to the spleen. He should have had internal bleeding that killed him. Broken bones around and behind his left eye, lacerations and abrasions from head to toe, shattered/removed spleen and broken ribs. He stayed in the hospital for two weeks during which he had allergic reactions to several of the meds and suffered severe depression and blistery rashes from them. Big bouts of crying and anger until we got him off the pain killers. It was so hard having them both sick at the same time. On the up side, he has healed remarkably well and quickly, he really is a lucky son of a gun!
OH! wanted to let you know that I DID apply for the Care Credit and was shocked to be approved for $500, even with the shot credit from the foreclosure and lack of income! Paid for the blood panel, meds, x-rays and fluid injection with it and it was a huge relief.
Thanks to all of you for your well wished and help. Please keep sending them as Buddy is still struggling, he can't seem to get a break, poor guy. It seems when we get over one hurdle another pops up to deal with. I love him though and won't give up on him.
PS just got word from the vet, she thinks it looks like ringworm, UHgggg!!!
Pics: Buddy sleeping peacefully before the ringworm and then after, BF in hospital, and both my boys on the way to taking them both for an adjustment.
