KathyM Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Hi you lot I know I seem to only post when the proverbial hits the fan, but I need you again. The day before yesterday was the first sign of anything wrong with Dharma - she yelped as she got down from the sofa and stood with her front feet on the floor and her back end on the sofa for a minute or two before finishing her descent. She stuck to her bed for the rest of the day and we rested her that night. Yesterday morning she seemed a little brighter but still a bit lame after exercise, so we booked her in last night at the vets. The vets is only a 10 minute walk, so we took it slowly down there (taxi wouldn't take her). By the time we got there, she was completely knuckling the left front foot under, and we had to remove her Walkezee as it was clearly uncomfortable to her. We went into the vet's room and told the vet that she was in pain on her left shoulder, and the stupid bint proceeded to greet her with 4 hefty slaps on the shoulder (God how moronic!), at which Dharma screamed, and continued to scream for some time after. She was given rimadyl/norocarp and synulox injections (I daren't even mention the cost as it shouldnt matter) and sent home for rest. Vet was stumped, asked what "else" had happened to Dharma, as if the sofa incident wasn't enough. I asked about OCD then as Dharma has had hock problems on the same side in the past. She didn't even reply, said she'd see us today - I asked if she needed an x-ray and she said it's just nerve damage. I asked what that meant, and she said it's most often temporary, but didn't say what we could do to determine the cause. She also asked if Dharma is "normally friendly" - now considering that dog had been slapped til she screamed and hadn't taken her face off, I think that's answer enough (Dharma did that awful scaredy appeasing licking the air thing, it was so upsetting I cried in shock). I wasn't happy at all with her treatment of Dharma, and am hoping when we return tonight we'll get a vet that is a. able to hold a reasonable discussion in English and b. holds some authority over her from last night. I was wondering if anyone knows the general course of action for OCD when more than one joint is involved, or of any supportive therapies we can try at home? Just so we can be prepared. After Seth, this is all a bit much for me, she's absolutely my baby and much as she does my napper in when she's a kangaroo, I absolutely hate her being depressed as it means it's bad (I'd rather have norty boingy Dharma back please). ps: I have a brand new Walkezee - last night was her first walk in it - in XL that she'll probably never be able to use again if anyone needs one. That was a waste of £25 (I do wonder if that has contributed to this as she spent all her youth in one, in which case this is all my fault). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClazUK Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Do you meant CHD. Kathy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyM Posted December 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 No OCD: http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/healthtip...ochondrosis.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClazUK Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 I didn't know that.... I had visions of Dharma washing things up and cleaning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyM Posted December 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 LMAO Baz asked if it means she needs to turn the lights on and off 30 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranirottie Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 a lot of young heavy breeds like GSD's and Rotties suffer from OCD in their elbows. x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 (edited) Jeez, that vet sounds a right @rse I don't have any experience with OCD, but did look into it when I was trying to find a cause for Daisy's gimpy leg, but I wouldn't think the harness would have caused it so no need to feel guilty Oops, nearly forgot to say that Louie (GSD) used to get a sore shoulder all the time but there was nothing wrong with him at all it was just a muscle strain. Edited December 9, 2008 by celeste Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 many years ago I had a bitch who had disintegrating discs in her neck. When it happened she would suddenly scream when you touched her shoulder, as in stroking her down the side of her neck and on to the shoulder. She was treated with complete rest and painkillers. Just raising her head could make her scream. It happened six or seven times, over the years, and each time it took about six weeks for the disc to totally disintegrate and the pressure on the nerve to go. If it is something like that you may be able to feel a hot bit ( the inflamation) if you take the back of your hand slowly over the area. If you are not happy with the vet you saw I would ask to see another one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebob Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 I'm sorry I know nothing about OCD. Good luck with sorting out Dharma's lameness and I hope it's nothing so serious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyM Posted December 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Thanks all of you. We're back. Guess what she did again?? Luckily for her this time Dharma didn't scream, or I would've decked her I think. Dharma has radial nerve damage. She says this isn't from the slip off the sofa, it's because she hasn't got a waist and has slim wrists She reckons Dharma, who is a VERY lean and tall bullmastiff, is hugely overweight. I said that she hasn't maybe had as boisterous exercise since Seth passed away and that I agreed that maybe she could do with a higher muscle to fat ratio (she has a bit of a whattle, but is otherwise very lean), and the vet literally shouted no, she needs to get "skinny". I asked if it could be OCD and she said yes it could be but it's most likely just because she's "lazy and fat" - I said repeatedly (and anyone who knows Dharma, or has even just met her for 30 seconds can back this up) that lazy is not a word any sane person would use to describe her, and that she's just not kangaroo bouncy now because, let's see, she's in pain and the vet hit her. She said she needs no exercise at all, will permanently not be allowed her usual walks (as if!) and that if in three days she hasn't fully recovered, she will be referred to a specialist, which we can't afford. I just want to curl up and die now please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 So sorry you've had such a bad vet. is there anyone else you could see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Blimey Kathy, thats a bit confusing Is there another vet you can see or is that not an option, what with getting there etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyM Posted December 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Unfortunately they're the only vet we can get her to at the minute, although there is one on the other side of town if I can find a taxi firm who will let her travel in their car (been impossible so far unless, get this, we can fit her in the front footwell with Baz in the front seat *sigh*). TBH I'm going to complain about her tomorrow to the head vet, who is an arse but at least has a brain. Anyone'd think this woman expects Dharma to be a lurcher in size lol, and sorry but I don't care if she didn't mean to hurt her - patting her hard one night is bad enough, but two nights running? She's a bloomin' Nazi. I feel like I have to defend my dog and my ownership to her, but what use is that when it comes to Friday and we have to say about our financial status - I am so regretting cancelling the insurance (with Seth passed over we were trying to find a better deal for Dharma). This is all such a mess, and it's all my fault. I've read a bit about radial nerve damage and it says that for permanent damage amputation is the only option, which isn't an option in a heavyset dog's front leg. Please God let her get better before Friday, I can't lose two dogs this year, I just can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboae Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Kathy, if you need a lift to the vets, you know where I am. Seriously, I'd jump at the chance to help, and as long as we can work the appointments around a few time commitments of mine, it would be no trouble at all. You know where I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kats n greys Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Sorry to hear about Dharma Is it Keighley you live in? If it is how about a http://www.paws4awalk.net/pet_taxi.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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