CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: KellyT on June 09, 2012, 11:00:52 PM
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Millie has not been right all day :'(
I think she is in pain somewhere, but I can't quite pinpoint it - I think it's her shoulders. She's reluctant to move, though moved for her breakfast. She came up the stairs this morning, willingly, but weirdly, one at a time, where as usually she trots up them in quite a fluid movement. This was when I noticed it first.
I went to the hairdressers this morning and when I came back hubby had wrapped her in a blanket because he said she was shivering. I took her temp and it was 38, which is a little low but ok. She perked up a bit once she was warm.
She didn't want to go for walk, but ate her dinner. She yelped when hubby was stroking her chest/shoulders. She was shaking when standing, and at one point doing a slight dreaded back arch, but this was when I was feeling her all over, and she was incredibly tense all over as I think she thought I was going to hurt her. She didn't arch a lot though, and she's in no way painful to touch her back / neck etc, it's definitely her front legs / shoulder area :'(
I confess we have some rimadyl left over from Jennie's op earlier in the year, so I've given her some of that to see if it eases her discomfort - if not that it's probably a call to the vet in the morning. She's sleeping at the minute, and willingly came outside earlier for a potter around the garden.
I wondered if anyone had a cocker with arthritis? As she has been 'lame' before now on a couple of occasions, however at the time I just thought she'd over done it on a walk as on both occasions we'd been on a longish walk and she had been a loony on both of them, but totally fine the next day. Given this latest incident though I'm wondering if there isn't something more to it, and given our experience at the beginning of the year I'm liable to all sorts of scary nightmares about it :-\
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Hi Kelly no advice im afraid but sending you all big hugs. xx
You have been a god send to me over this last week so if there is anything I can do plz contact me, you have my number xx
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:bigarmhug:'s Kelly - can imagine how worried you are about your girl. I think I'd be inclined to get her to the vets anyway, even if it seems like the rimadyl has helped, just so you can put your own mind at rest by getting a diagnosis of whats wrong.
Hope she's having a quiet nite :luv: Sending gentle squidges from me and Maggie xx
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I think I'd be off to the vets too I'm afraid. I don't want to frighten you but The first thing that springs to mind is a disc :( :( Dogs with disc problems in the neck usually present with pain as the predominant sign. Hopefully its something simple and easy to fix and nothing at all like a disc. Hope she's feeling much better this morning :)
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No advice I'm afraid, just hoping she's feeling better soon. X
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Poor Millie :'( no advice I'm afraid but sending hugs to you both :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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Sorry to hear that Kelly. :( Sorry I don't have any advice, but I really hope she's feeling better soon.
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I think I'd be off to the vets too I'm afraid. I don't want to frighten you but The first thing that springs to mind is a disc :( :( Dogs with disc problems in the neck usually present with pain as the predominant sign. Hopefully its something simple and easy to fix and nothing at all like a disc. Hope she's feeling much better this morning :)
I know all about disc problems unfortunately, as thats what we had at the beginning of the year with Jennie. This is not the same, though I know 2 dogs' symptoms never would be.
She's the same this morning, though brighter in herself than yesterday, but we'll see what our vet has to say.
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Hope all goes well at the vets. :bigarmhug:
Just wanted to add that as she may have hurt her neck or back, I'd not let her go up and down stairs at the moment. ;)
Hope that she's a lot better very soon :bigarmhug:
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Hope all is ok at the vets, Kelly x
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Hope she is feeling brighter soon x
Could she have been stung?
Pat x
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Glad it doesn't look like a disc:) They're a jolly nightmare and having been through a disc rupture with my monster I think I've become a little neurotic about them ;) Hope she's back to normal soon and that its something simple and easily fixed :)
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What a worry for you. Hope Millie :luv: is feeling better soon. Thinking of you both :bigarmhug:
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Hope the vet visit went well and that your little girl is feeling better soon. :bigarmhug:
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Hope its something easily treatable & Millie is back to full health very soon :luv:
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Sending lots of :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: to you both, hope Millie is better soon :luv:
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Any news on Millie? xx
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Hope Millie is feeling better.
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There's no change really, she's not really picked up today, just slept a lot.
We have the vets first thing tomorrow at 9am; I wanted to see my usual vet, and not some locum-vet who was on call.
I rang earlier today and explained all that was happening. They were happy not to see her, unless I felt she had worsened considerably through the day and said if she was eating / drinking that tomorrow to see her would be fine. They wouldn't do anything other than pain killers and rest anyway, and I'd rather she was here. She's sleeping at the minute, and seems comfy enough.
Got the morning off tomorrow so I can take her to the vets etc. Fingers crossed it's nothing .. I don't think I could cope with another round of the insanity of diagnosis problems like we had with Jennie :-\
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Awe poor Millie, hope it is nothing major and she`s back to normal soon. Sending you both :bigarmhug: and will be thinking of you tomorrow X
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I really hope you get some answers tomorrow, you must be beside yourself with worry. Fingers all crossed for little Millie and you tomorrow and lots of these :bigarmhug:. Thinking of you. xx
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Hi all,
thanks for your well wishes :) :-*
Well my vet says he thinks the pain is in her neck area. He couldn't fit her in for X-rays today and just wanted to see how she would get on with some pain relief, crate rest and separation from the other 2 - I did say that basically that's what she'd been getting the last 2 days, albeit just anti inflamms and no actual pain relief. But he said that he'd rather medicate now and so if it's muscular rather than dive straight in with x rays etc. It kinda makes sense... just irritates me, I won't be waiting 2 and a half weeks for a referral this time if thats what she needs! >:D
So she is home, doped up on tramadoml and rimadyl and looking as sorry for herself as previously. Back wednesday morning (or sooner if she worsens) for a check up and x ray.
I'm working from home this morning, and hoping to stay here this afternoon too if work can cope - they probably can.
thanks again x
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Hope she's feeling better soon. :luv:
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:bigarmhug:'s for your girl and you Kelly.... can imagine how frustrated you must be feeling. Got everything crossed its something muscular that will ease with the rest and meds. xx
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Hope the rest helps Millie x :bigarmhug:
Good to see you and Hazel yesterday.
Pat and Jinley
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Big hugs for you and Millie xx Hope she gets well soon. These precious fur babies are such a worry arnt they? xx
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Send big hugs and positive thoughts that it is just something muscular :bigarmhug:
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How is the little girly today?
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Sorry, just seen this. Sorry to hear Millie's not too well, seems to be so much of it around at the moment :'( :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: from me and Bingley and Darcey too xxxx keep us posted.
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Hope the rest is helping
:bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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Sorry I missed this Kelly - hope Millie is on the mend and is feeling a bit better today :bigarmhug:
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Hi Kelly, is Millie any better?
Pat
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Sorry to have missed this - how is Mille doing? :luv:
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Hi all,
thanks for all your well wishes for our eldest fur baby :luv:
She was not good this morning so we got an appointment to see our vet again with a view to having X-rays today.
The X-rays have showed a calcified disc in the middle to lower region of her spine, as well as spurs and growths on several other vertebrae. We knew she had some calcification from a previous X-ray she had done about 5 years ago, and it seems to have gotten worse.
At the vets Millie seemed totally fine (!) although still with a hunched back. By the time we got her home the adrenaline and sedatives had worn off and she was back to shaking & occasionally crying out when she moves.
The suggested course of action is to continue with the pain relief (yeh .. ) and anti inflammatories, and to make an appointment with the specialist who did Jennie's surgery with a view to doing an MRI to find out exactly what is going on with the discs and growths, and make a decision from there.
She is not as bad as Jennie was at all, but she is obviously in discomfort and sore. She hasn't been for a poop for over 24 hours :'(
thanks again
x
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Oh no Kelly big hugs for you all xx
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Fingers crossed the specialist can sort get out. Do you have an appointment yet?
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So sorry to hear that Millie :luv: is no better :'(
I hope you can get an appointment with the specialist very soon.
:bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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Sending you :bigarmhug:
Hoping the specialist will sort your little girl out :luv:
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Big (((((hugs))))) and :-* :-* :-* for you and your girl Millie hope she gets well real soon Hun :luv: :luv: x x x
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Thank you all.
I shall be calling the specialist in the morning to get an appointment; my vet did some blood work as well so I want to make sure I have those and my x rays ready to take. I've no doubt I'll be able to get an appointment Thursday, they are usually very good and fast - such a shame I know this!! :lol:
I do wonder though - what on earth have I been doing to my spaniels if this is now 2 slipped discs?? Anyone would think I've been chucking them out of windows or something - which I haven't BTW :lol:
I must be a bad mummy, letting them do stuff that injures them :-\
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Hi kelly,
Just saw this, sending you and Millie lots of :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
xxx
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Thank you all.
I shall be calling the specialist in the morning to get an appointment; my vet did some blood work as well so I want to make sure I have those and my x rays ready to take. I've no doubt I'll be able to get an appointment Thursday, they are usually very good and fast - such a shame I know this!! :lol:
I do wonder though - what on earth have I been doing to my spaniels if this is now 2 slipped discs?? Anyone would think I've been chucking them out of windows or something - which I haven't BTW :lol:
I must be a bad mummy, letting them do stuff that injures them :-\
You are not a bad mummy! Just having bad luck methinks. Sorry shes no better. Must be so hard on you xx
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So sorry Millie isn't any better Kelly :'(
Hope the specialist appt. can help asap :shades:
Sending lots of :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: 's :-*
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Hope the pain relief is making it easier for Millie x
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So sorry Millie isn't any better Kelly :'(
Hope the specialist appt. can help asap :shades:
Sending lots of :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: 's :-*
From me too :bigarmhug:
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Sorry Millie isn't better, sending lots of :bigarmhug:s
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Sorry, only just seen this thread. Sorry to hear your Millie isn't well. :bigarmhug: 's for you both :luv:
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Kelly you havent done anything wrong I am so sorry Millie is going thru this. It is the luck of the draw when it comes to back issues and IVDD. An MRI should tell you exactly what is going on. Fingers crossed it all works out for you and Millie
Cathy
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Ditto that thought!
steffxxx
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Here if you need to pick my brains. Not that there is much to pick! :luv:
ETA. When we saw John Ferguson (who is the best spinal expert ever in my eyes), I asked the same as you are saying....was I a silly or careless Mum? What he said was that it can be as easy for a dog as a human to slip a disc. A cough, a sneeze, a turn the wrong way, anything really so it cannot be avoided and it certainly isn't anything that you caused x
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Aww Kelly I'm so sorry that news is not so good - been following your thread & was holding out from commenting, in the hope that when I did, it would be in celebration ...sadly not eh :'(
Millie couldn't be in better hands being that you've had to go through this with Jenny but how sad for you that this has happened for a second time ....... but like others say - it's in no way your fault - just one of those things ;)
Thinking of you & Millie & send special thoughts & wishes, that the specialist can give you a good insight into what is going on & also, that Millie isn't in too much discomfort until they can make her better again :luv: :bigarmhug: :luv:
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Here if you need to pick my brains. Not that there is much to pick! :luv:
ETA. When we saw John Ferguson (who is the best spinal expert ever in my eyes), I asked the same as you are saying....was I a silly or careless Mum? What he said was that it can be as easy for a dog as a human to slip a disc. A cough, a sneeze, a turn the wrong way, anything really so it cannot be avoided and it certainly isn't anything that you caused x
I want to show how easy it is for us hoomans to hurt our backs...me, 27 years old, walking up the stairs with 2 jars of jam (those tiny ones) - got to the top of the stairs...I had to lie down as the pain in my back was so bad. Ok I hadn't slipped a disk I'd just pulled something, but it's not like I did anything to cause myself injury. These things CAN happen doing normal things :)
:bigarmhug:
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thanks everyone, I just feel so sorry for her, and I know in my heart that I can't be as lucky as I was with Jennie again - not all of these kind of problems end as positively as Jennies outcome.
I just hope that it isn't a slipped disc, though if it isn't I can see that I'll be in that situation not so far down the line.
To be honest, she is seeming brighter today. Although she's still painful she has pee'd and pooped (which she wouldn't do yesterday).
Rang the specialist this morning, the earliest appointment I could get is next Tuesday - the girl on the desk did say if the situation worsens etc then my vet could speed things along (as he did with Jennie).
So it's just a case of watching and waiting at the minute, unless she gets worse.
My vet doesn't feel at the moment that she's an emergency case, and in honesty she is nothing like what Jennie was, but it's still hard being told that her being in discomfort and painful as she is isn't an emergency :'(
Had a good old argument about it all this morning with hubby - basically it's all falling to me again to give her tablets, get her out for the toilet, keep the others off her, carry her in / out / up / down, whilst still looking after the other 2 as well. This morning I got really angry about it, especially so when I was trying to give her her tablet, and the other 2 were trying to steal it and she wouldn't take it; in the end she yelped in pain and ran away from me and hid under the coffee table :'( I didn't mean to hurt her, and don't think I did anything as I was only holding out a piece of bread and peanut butter for her to take whilst keeping the other 2 at arms length with the other hand; however as she's partially blind, and the room was a bit dark I wonder if I frightened her somehow (sometimes if you approach her right side she can be a bit nervous) and then she jumped / tensed and caused herself to have a twinge of pain .. but then I was so angry and upset she was hurt, and wouldn't take her tablet and the other 2 were bouncing around - hubby took the brunt of it. :'( >:D :-\
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hey that's what a hubby is for!
:bigarmhug:for you Kelly!
steffxxx
oh and :-* for Millie from our Ellie :blink:
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Aye, I had the same with Mr Sheryl. Well, to be fair, he was totally useless! He only picked Lyla up twice and managed to do his back in the second time. I think unless you have gone through it, nobody knows how utterly exhausting it is. My back was sore, my tennis elbow came back, I didn't sleep etc etc etc! I did everything but in all honesty he is useless anyway where the dogs are concerned. The only thing he can do right is love them!
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Hiya Kelly, you are an excellent spaniel mummy.
Dont beat yourself up over it, I keep with things going through my mind in realtion to Willow and could I have done something to prevent it and a few days ago I was starting to feel ill. You musnt think that way.
I am in the same boat as you with OH, but on the plus side I am not working atm and only have one doglet to manage. He was with me at the second specialist appointment when he went through the meds and it was some how my fault I had been giving her more tabs than she needed.... gggrrrrr!!!!
I am only 20 minutes up the road to the centre Kelly so providing Willow continues to improve at the speed she had been if you wanted another person with you I could come to the appointment with you.
Our appointment is on Wednesday, shame we arnt there at the same time.
Take care. Maddy xx
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Kelly I am so sorry that you are going thru all this again. Please do not be so hard on yourself. When our Charlie came home post surgery still paralysed in his back legs I was exhausted looking after him, meds, lift out to pee etc then passive movement exercises 4 to 6 times per day and keeping a constant eye on him so he didnt try to do anything he shouldnt. I am so lucky with my OH he did 50% of the work right down the middle. He did first session in the morning exercises meds feed then lifted out to toilet etc. I did the last session at night and the rest we split down the middle. Even at that we were knackered week after week. Was it worth it yes so right it was 7 years on the lad is still going strong but it is hard demanding work. That does not take into account how frightened you are in case you do something wrong even to letting them get over tired plus the emotional side as well. Our Charlie blew his disk jumping off my recliner chair no warning just happened I felt once he went down then surgery I thought I must have done something wrong. Like you now I know what I know I didnt any more than you did.
Hugs to all
Cathy
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I did everything but in all honesty he is useless anyway where the dogs are concerned. The only thing he can do right is love them!
:lol: :lol: yes! that's exactly it! Today he's been very good though, he sorted her out for wee's, gave her some love and entertained the other 2 for a bit so I could have a cuddle with her :luv:
Thanks all for your kind words and well wishes. In my heart I know I've done nothing wrong, but the doubting thomas in me is questioning everything.
She's not really any better or worse, but is nowhere near the level Jennie was at. Millies bad moments are probably matching intensity of Jennie's good moments - if that makes sense.
I spoke to my vet again today - he wants to see her again tomorrow before the weekend, so he can ensure he's happy with her condition. He knows I'm not happy, but I understand that she isn't an emergency case, even though she's painful and uncomfortable :'( :'( when I compare her to Jennie back at the beginning of the year she's in a different league; as much as it pains me and breaks my heart to see her so sad and hurting :'(
She has moments where she is totally relaxed though - earlier on she was lying on her cushion, reclining back looking at me wagging her tail, we took her out for a wee about 20 mints later and she's been uncomfortable ever since :-\
anyway, thanks again all :) xx
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Good luck tomorrow. hope she is can be sorted soon.
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good luck at the vets paws crossed here
Ian and Grace
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Sending :bigarmhug: to you.
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Good luck at the vets Hun sending you and Millie loads of these :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug: 's and little cocker :-* :-* :-* :-* from phoebe and mia x x x
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Hoping you get some sense at the vets, fingers all crossed and big one of these :bigarmhug:
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Hope you get on ok today Kelly - gentle squidges for your girl :bigarmhug: xx
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Good luck today Kelly :luv:
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Let us know how you get on today.
Pat x
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I hope your ok, and you have some positive news soon Kelly xx
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Hi all :luv:
Back from the vets. He is comfortable with her condition, and won't be referring us for an emergency - which I kinda knew really before we went.
Anyway... The good news is that he gave us some robaxin to give along with the painkillers and anti inflammatories ... And this evening she has been pretty much normal! The robaxin relaxes muscles and it has definitely made her feel better! She still isn't quite right, but she's singing and walking about wagging her tail :D :D
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Thats good news. Hope Millie has a comfortable weekend :luv:
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Oh bless her... pleased to hear she's ok. Is it worth looking for a good physio for her Kelly? I know when I had maggie diagnosed with IVDD I went for a few physio sessions with her and she could feel exactly where she was struggling and just applied some hear treatment/gentle physio to loosen up her muscles which definitely tighter around the pain areas... she came out definitely walking easier - just a thought ;)
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Aw Bless Millie, glad she is feeling a little bit more like it :luv: :luv: :luv:
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Thats wonderful news good girl Millie.
Gwyneth
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Singing has to be a good sign :005: :luv:
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The news is terrific, I also tried acu puncture when I still had my oldie ESS who at 12y/o had bad arthritis. Altough I couldnt see much difference after a session she really did enjoy them as she would stride into the consulting room and plonk herself down on the rug and look at the vet to say right lets get this going put the needles in please, that was good enough for me. So we kept on going for a while until other serious issues overtook her and we had to say goodbye
Cathy
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I've only just caught this thread.
I'm glad the specialist seems happy with where she's at atm and it sounds like the muscle relaxant along with the other meds will be of benefit to her.
Thinking of you both.
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Hi Kelly, let is know how you get on today seeing the specialist. We are back there tmw. Maddy xx
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Hi all,
back from the specialist today. He wasn't overly concerned by her current state. She wagged her tail and plodded around the office happily and actually pulled me along when we were walking up and down to show him her movement :o
He gave us 2 options;
1) go home, strict rest for 4 weeks and come back for a check up. Come back sooner if she goes worse again. The risks being that if she's blown / blowing a disc and she could end up paralysed / in pain etc.
2) General anaesthetic and an MRI, followed by whatever they think they need to do as a result. Having the MRI has it's own issues; she reacts badly to anaesthetic, the MRI might not show anything or it might show something but not enough to warrant surgery right now and by the time whatever it is needs surgery we'll be looking at a second MRI to determine state of things at that point, which is another £1600.
His opinion was that an MRI would be interesting, as he sees cockers that have fully blown discs but display little or no symptoms (yes I have experienced that!); however given how well she's doing keeping her rested for a further 4 weeks, keep going with the meds I have until they run out, and then seeing how she does off them is equally a good option.
We opted for bringing her home and resting her for another 4 weeks whilst keeping a close eye on her. The robaxin she started taking on Friday has done wonders, and once the meds are all done we'll see if she has recovered or if it's just meds masking problem.
However the specialist did say that it could as easily be the extra bone she's got 'growing' on her vertebrae pressing down on the equivalent of her sciatic nerve, rather than her discs, but obviously only an mri would tell that.
So she's home, she's eaten and she's now sleeping, she was very pleased to be home.
I just hope she continues to feel better. Fingers crossed. :luv:
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I think the rest is the best option :)
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Ditto to dipsydoodlenoodle. Big hugs to you all xx
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Thanks for the update Kelly :shades:
Let's hope the 4 wks. rest does the trick :luv:
Sending lots of get well wishes to Millie :luv: :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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I hope the rest does the trick, good luck.
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Kelly thanks for the update I would have gone for the 4 weeks rest option as well, rather than do an MRI now then a second one if needed later.
I hope with rest and meds things look better.
Cathy
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Between a rock & hard place for that decision eh Kelly :-\ .......not an easy choice either way for you :'(
Sounds like you've made the best decision for Millie though & will keep paws crossed, the rest sorts the problem out, without need for further investigation :luv: :luv:
gentle squidges for you all :bigarmhug: :bigarmhug:
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It's a hard decison isn't it, but I have my fingered crossed that the rest will do the power of good kelly.
Millie is in great hands with you :luv: xx
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Sending all best wishes to you and Millie x
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Hi all! Thanks for the well wishes :luv:
I think the power of COL strikes again, as Miss Millie is doing very well...
She's totally off all her meds now and has been for the last 24 hours.
She is a little bit hesitant occasionally when standing, sitting and walking, however she is back to 85% herself :lol: she sings, waggs her bum and does her happy dance, wolfs her dinner down with gusto again and even brought me her bear earlier, though we couldn't play :-\
She's not doing well being crated, but she is good at staying in her bed and not charging around when we are in, when we are out we've been crating her.
Occasionally we are getting the sad face, I think she's still a bit twingey... But fingers crossed some more rest sorts that out :)
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So glad your little one is doing so much better :) Fingers crossed she's back to 100% really soon.
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Really glad to hear this Kelly!!
Great news :luv: :luv:
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So glad there's a big improvement Kelly. Hope she is 100% very soon. :luv:
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Wonderful news that your little one is doing well. Everything crossed this end for you all.
Gwyneth xx
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Hi there - I am new to the forums - but a Physio to trade (management now) and a Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc sufferer myself at 3 levels of my lumbar spine as well as degeneration in my joints now :'(
The best thing now that she is off the meds is to keep her rested as much as you are now and let the rest of their effects wear away. After a few days and everything staying ok you can start to slowly increase what she is allowed to do. The graduated approach to building up activity works wonders and allows time to pause and consolidate with out rushing too much. This part is important as the supporting structures and the muscles need to build up in stages.
As a human with this problem I can reason with myself - a dog needs a lot of support as you cannot explain to them, how ever if you gradually build the activity levels up and use any signs of wincing or pain of any sort as your guide then you can have the best possible outcome.
I am really glad she is feeling better and send :bigarmhug: to you.
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So glad she is on the mend kelly xx