August 21, 2011

• Daisy’s got trouble

  Sorry, no pix.. Thank you again Xanga!!!

  Daisy is not yet three years of age. My little best friend has been limping intermittently. I scrutinized every movement, trying to figure out where and what the problem was.
  She was not in pain, but I decided not to prolong the issue
  and take her to the Vet for proper medicating before it became chronic or healed improperly.

  We took X-Rays and confirmed there was some tissue damage and decided on a round of meds and returned in two weeks.
  No changes.. so we did another round of X-Rays and sent them off to a radiologist in Ohio. ( we have no dog radiologist on Island).
  His report saw there was major problem.. that she had suffered severe trauma to her right elbow.

  Neither Steve nor I have seen said trauma.. but there it is.

  Can it be that her crawling under the couch has a part in this.. She does this when the temperatures get in the 80′s.

  She started to crawl up under there when she was smaller She still does.. and has been swimming/digging her way in and out using her elbows now that she is a much bigger dog. 7 pounds vs the 3/4 pounds the breeder …..
  While we had been discouraging that..
  She still did so we have physically blocked the under couch hide-away.

  Still, this is a very active young dog, easily jumps up on furniture as she pleases. We are actively trying to out guess her and pick her up and down.

  Our bed is high so we got her a fabric covered hassock.
  The Vet’s order no jumping is a serious issue.
  Immediately we looked for steps.. while some were almost tall enough, she’d still have to bring pressure on her joints.. for the last jump, and steps were too narrow to get up or down for a smaller dog.

  We quickly realized that steps were out.

  We decided on a ramp and built that. It is 6 foot long and carpeted.

  She would still rather jump, but.. has used it on her own and easily walk goes up and down.
  The ramp lays flat under the bed.
  Daisy luvs ‘her bed’ for naps or to just get away ….always at night.

  Dr Aaron is keeping a good eye on her.. will see her and check her kidney function every three months.. just to make sure…
  She will be using Cosequin DS to help rebuild her bone and an anti-inflammitory called Metacam

  We are holding our breath and keeping our fingers that this will work. It will not be an overnight fix, but a lengthy one The alternative is not good!

  • 2:40 pm
  • 1 Comment