Pele, My Love!
Apr. 5th, 2008 09:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hsifengI took our greyhound to the vet today, she has been having an issue with her back legs acting 'stiff' for about two weeks now. I had been under the impression that she had pulled a muscle (this has happened before and I have been accused - by my vet - of being paranoid for popping into the vets office every time one of my fuzzy kids acts a little weird). But this time the sprain wasn't healing up as I thought I should so I made an appointment.
Dr. Brewer took some x-rays, did some mobility, function and nerve sensitivity tests and has settled on a diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy, sort of like MS for dogs. While this seems to be most common in German Shepherd's, it is also found in other breeds. I am in the process of doing some research on the disease (I am not 100% sure this is the cause and have a few blood test I want Dr. Brewer to run this next week including one on Pele's thyroid and an inflammatory disease panel): In the meantime, hubby and I went out and bought a list of supplements that were recommended as well as the ingredients for a 'home made' dog food which will be much better for Pele's overall health. We are also looking into acupuncture and possible water exercise therapy.
The dog food was a pain to make but she loves it! It is portioned out into servings and is in the fridge and freezer - should last us about two weeks before I have to make another one.
The long and the short of it is this: Pele seems to be at what Dr. Brewer calls 'stage two' of the disease. She is having some fine motor control issues - tripping, crossing her legs up sometimes and not reacting well to the 'standing on the top of her foot test' - all of which are exacerbated by stress (which meant they were really acting up on a Saturday at the vet's office). The work that hubby and I are doing - exercise, diet and medication/supplements - can help to delay the onset of stage three. Stage three is the loss of deep nerve use and paralysis. She may well loose the use of her back legs and bladder, followed by the slow progression of the disease up her spinal column.
This is not a trip we are looking forward to, and not one that we think Pele would want to make without a fight.
On the other hand, we don't plan on pushing her past the point where her quality of life suffers. If she is up for a doggy wheelchair and a diaper then we will work with her on that, if not, we will have to let her go.
With any luck, the work will mean she is around for at least another few years - what we could expect from a regular greyhound lifespan.
I love this dog - I love her more than I have loved an animal in a *long* time. I could have done with better news at the vet, but we will deal with this.
Dr. Brewer took some x-rays, did some mobility, function and nerve sensitivity tests and has settled on a diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy, sort of like MS for dogs. While this seems to be most common in German Shepherd's, it is also found in other breeds. I am in the process of doing some research on the disease (I am not 100% sure this is the cause and have a few blood test I want Dr. Brewer to run this next week including one on Pele's thyroid and an inflammatory disease panel): In the meantime, hubby and I went out and bought a list of supplements that were recommended as well as the ingredients for a 'home made' dog food which will be much better for Pele's overall health. We are also looking into acupuncture and possible water exercise therapy.
The dog food was a pain to make but she loves it! It is portioned out into servings and is in the fridge and freezer - should last us about two weeks before I have to make another one.
The long and the short of it is this: Pele seems to be at what Dr. Brewer calls 'stage two' of the disease. She is having some fine motor control issues - tripping, crossing her legs up sometimes and not reacting well to the 'standing on the top of her foot test' - all of which are exacerbated by stress (which meant they were really acting up on a Saturday at the vet's office). The work that hubby and I are doing - exercise, diet and medication/supplements - can help to delay the onset of stage three. Stage three is the loss of deep nerve use and paralysis. She may well loose the use of her back legs and bladder, followed by the slow progression of the disease up her spinal column.
This is not a trip we are looking forward to, and not one that we think Pele would want to make without a fight.
On the other hand, we don't plan on pushing her past the point where her quality of life suffers. If she is up for a doggy wheelchair and a diaper then we will work with her on that, if not, we will have to let her go.
With any luck, the work will mean she is around for at least another few years - what we could expect from a regular greyhound lifespan.
I love this dog - I love her more than I have loved an animal in a *long* time. I could have done with better news at the vet, but we will deal with this.
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Re: Pele
Date: 2008-04-07 03:50 pm (UTC)