heva Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 well....i dont know where to begin. apart form sayign sorry for my spelling we went to chester gates and the specialist checked him over and when testing parts of his back he was in so much pain and took off....thank fully muzzled.....but became very clear there was something not right......she was mainly concerned with his neck area and lumbar part! So he went in for mri scan on spine! Results are not what she thought......neck does have degeneration in the disc between vertebrea but nothing too bad that meds couldnt sort....looks liek start of arthritus. His lumbar section has again wear down on the disc slightly worse than the neck but again where the parts are collecting it could be broken up with medication. Sadly the middle part of his spine....on his top ridge by ribs/lungs.... is totally f*ckd.... the discs have worn straigh down and the parts have recolected in the wrong place and calcified and looking at the mri you can see each vert is a totally different shape to what should be. And so its all knocking by his spinal cord which is when it causes him pain and the fits last yr. So we are quite upset and worried right now! He is on pain killers for 2 weeks and very strict room rest and when i get a crate i have to try him on crate rest........this he will HATE! then in 2 weeks he will go back for a check up on if any parts have managed to break down.....the vet thinks this is very unlikely and that he will prob need spinal surgery....there is big risks with this as it is a very unusual section to operate on as its right by the lungs etc....they havent done many in the section before. Also they can only ever losen and sort 2 or 3 vert at most......king has about 7 damaged. He would need strict cage rest for 4 weeks then starting to build slowly with hydro and physio.... Even if he has the op he will never be able to run around mad (which he loves) jump up on sofa...bed etc.......go on hilly or rough walks....... If he doesnt have surgery he could go on pain killers which would help him but then we run the risk of his back going and i couldnt cope with that incase it was while i was out or on a walk and stuck somewhere! I really dont knwo what to do! I dont think he will cope at all with the crate....we are getting one today and will see how he goes but if he is bad with it i couldnt do that to him for 4 weeks........ king was a yard dog and abused badly beofre i got him and all he has known all his life is to pace around........he just goes mad if he is restricted too much! I really dont know what to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytgirl Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Im so sorry for these results and I really dont know what to say, its such a heartbreaking situation to be in. Lots of love to King and to you at this worrying time...Im sure whatever you decide we all know it will be what is best for your beautiful boy love and thoughts with you all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Lots of good thoughts for King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufus the wonderdog Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Im so sorry for these results and I really dont know what to say, its such a heartbreaking situation to be in. Lots of love to King and to you at this worrying time...Im sure whatever you decide we all know it will be what is best for your beautiful boy love and thoughts with you all... From us too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reds Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Really feel for you, only you will know what is best for him At least he is lucky enough to be with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantan Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Lots of good thoughts being sent for King Marion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Sorry the results weren't better. Maybe King will restrict himself a bit as he starts to realise his limitations and understand the crate is somewhere he can feel safe and comfortable in time. I hope you all adjust to the new situation and find a way to support each other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'm so sorry Heva. Only you know King, what he can deal with and can make this decision based on everything as a hole. It's hard to make a decision with a clear head when you are first told these things. One thing I would ask is how comfortable is your vet with the option of performing the operation. When Sheena was going through her troubles my vet admitted to me that she didn't want to deal with it. I had a very frank talk with the specialist who was the person that actually helped me make my mind up with Sheena to go for the operation and give her the chance. She was positive that she could carry out full leg amputation and Sheena would be fine afterwards. Sheena doesn't like being on rest either. Gets very down. You can also read the dogs sometimes too. I know Sheena wanted me to help her and didn't want to give up herself so we went for it. Each dog is an individual case and different set of circumstances. If you do decide to go for operation just make sure your vet is very knowledgeable and knows what he's doing. Whichever way you do decide to go I'm thinking of you both and wishing him all the best. It could be worth you having a word with EGAR as her pup Parci had to have a very serious back operation. Different symptoms but good to speak to others that have gone through a back op. Hope this makes sense cos one of mine is barking at me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 That is a dilemma , but perhaps he will cope with the cage after surgery, he may not feel up to complaining about being restricted, and in the grand scheme of things four weeks isn't that long, I know it will seem like an eternity to you would lightly sedating him be a possible option ? for you both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Nothing to add Thinking of you. I'm sure you will make the right decision for him. You have two weeks to think about things, ask all the questions you need to and see how his meds work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 sorry to hear your news thinking of you and King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nettie Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Tricky one, only you know how King will react. You've nothing to lose by trying him on crate rest now to see how he reacts, that will give you a better idea of how he'll react on crate rest after the op and help you make a decision. Just make the crate as cosy as possible and put everything he loves in it to give him the best chance of being happy in it. Don't shut him in it to begin with, feed him in it and make it a great place to be, once he's happy to go in it then you can start closing the door for short periods gradually increasing the periods, I think you'll stand a better chance of him accepting the crate this way. I do hope he settles in the crate and you can go forward with the operation. Thinking of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracey.s Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'm sorry the news isn't better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ingipops Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Poor King Thinking about you both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kats n greys Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Tricky one, only you know how King will react. You've nothing to lose by trying him on crate rest now to see how he reacts, that will give you a better idea of how he'll react on crate rest after the op and help you make a decision. Just make the crate as cosy as possible and put everything he loves in it to give him the best chance of being happy in it. Don't shut him in it to begin with, feed him in it and make it a great place to be, once he's happy to go in it then you can start closing the door for short periods gradually increasing the periods, I think you'll stand a better chance of him accepting the crate this way. I do hope he settles in the crate and you can go forward with the operation. Thinking of you. I was also thinking that you had a couple of weeks to see if he could adjust, which will help in making your decision. We are going to try to do similar witH Azzy, but her's is so she can have a little peace from the rest after her op. for you and King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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