holly

[Jo CIMDA]

I truly sympathise Christina.  Tramadol is a commonly used pain killer drug and it might be an alternative to morphine for Holly.

Wish you and Holly luck.

Jo

[christina]

Thanks jo,
I will ask vet about tramadol,
Still no walks but it very difficult as she tries to jump up seats and wants me to play ball and i wont and normally she sits on seats but i am discouraging that she doesnt understand and looks upset.
I try to reassure her that its not a punishment but she looks peplexed.
Waiting for dog bed to arrive
At night she sleeps on my bed she jumps onto a seat then up
Going to try get her to sleep on floor not sure how succesful that will be
Shes,only 4 and used to things the way they are and determined
I guess all i can do is do my best not to strain her elbow joints in any way
But obviously being a springer i cant comoletely stop her..springing ..
But have to try subdue it all for her own safety
Phew..completely wrong breed to have to do this with as she is such a natural high jumper and bouncer
Day at a time i guess
We can only do our best
X

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

I hope the new bed helps and everything improves very soon for you and Holly.  You can only keep trying.
Jo

[christina]

Thanks jo
Saw 2 vets i didnt know last week and another new one today,my vet is on holiday
Vet last week said it was morphine she is on
But vet today said its tramadol!!!
So im.pleased its not morphine ,i think she said that so id know it an opiate but tramadol is a lotvbetter than morphine
Shes syill lame ,still sore to touch
And it upset me as the vet got sold to another practice recently and the vet could not find hollys medical notes re her 3 heart scans ,why not!!!
I will need to see my vet next week.
If they dont have that they wont have on record her imnune disease records either!!!
Vet says if she is still lame in 10 days need think re anaesthetic n xray
But i said ...the 2 vets who dealt with n examined heart said significant

[christina]

Mitral valve disease,enlarged heart ,leaking out both atriuma
So if the new vets dont have access to the specific records detailing hollys disease how can they make a fully informed decision regards the safety of her going under anaesthetic ?
I hope it was just this vet whos new who couldnt find the records!
I told her the other 2 vets really wouldnt put holly under not even when infections and could do with being speyed as very difficult seasons
I hope to god her wee elbow heals itself
As it doesnt feel safe to me at all if they anaesthetize :-(
X

[polly]

 How incompetent to lose the records of a dog with so many problems.  I hope that they were only temporarily mislaid and that your regular vet returns from holidays very soon. It is horrible to see a pet suffering and I hope that the elbow heals itself with enough rest.

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

I'm so sorry to hear that your vets have been so useless, you really don't need that too at the moment 

Hopefully with lots of rest and tramadol, she will start to heal.

[christina]

Thanks polly and penel
Yes i hope sooo much that holly will heal ,though with any exercise at all she limps more ,so it isnt looking good.
But im still hoping that it will be ok.
Got her a great memory foam matress pad bed for dogs and shes getting used to it,cover all seats  when i go out,dissuading her from jumping on my bed or jumping or running ,though being a springer she still does,a bit and then limps.
I fell half asleep cuddling her on her wee bed there ,her big brown eyes half awake looking at me with love.
Oh shes just a fantastic dog ,great nature ,full of afection and a very good girl really.
I have been totally blessed to have her as my dear companion and friend
Hope to god she will be alright
I dont have any family,cant have kids( have endometriosis) never had luck in finding a partner so stopped trying to a while back so our pack consists of me and her.
Bit scary when we get so attatched to our dog companions
But thats my reality
All my friends do love holly however!
Whats not to like!!
But she is fragile
It does,make me love her all the more
Because i never take
The fact that she is here for granted as i know how fragile she is and how life can be x

[Jo CIMDA]

Oh Christina, 

I'm so sorry you are having this stress.  It all seems so unfair for you.  Thankfully your Holly is unaware of the stress and she carries on regardless and gives you so much.

I do hope her limping improves so that you don't have to think about her have a GA - and nag the vets about her records.  You never know someone might just find them.

Best wishes

Jo

[christina]

Thanks jo !
As long as holly can get through this ok ,thats my concern!
Could the lameness be to do with immune mediated disease at all?
Its focused on her right elbow but there isnt much inflamation ,i guess thats why vet concerned that it may be the rare form.of elbow dysplasia that springers get.
I was just wondering if it was her immune disease would it be the leg in general and not localised to one area?
The fact that there isnt much outward inflammation vet was concerned that it not trauma but an inward genetic problem.
She is jumping on my bed from hers wanting hugs !
I try to.get her to use a chair as she is determined!!
Wee monkey!
Because she limps afterwards but im doing my best to limit jumps and runs
Tiny walks
Fingers crossed x

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christine

I think you can assume this is not an immune mediated problem because it would be more than one joint/leg involved.  It is likely to be due to an injury or it could be a genetic problem like OCD.  This is an informative site.

http://www.chenoagsd.com/elbow_dysplasia.php

Holly seems so happy with her life I think there is a lot to be said for just optimising her good health so she can continue to be your 'wee monkey'.

Have you tried supplements such as Yumove?

Jo

[christina]

Hi there
Im realy upset as holly was improving after nearly 3 weeks of rest,limping a bit but i was hopeful and then today she got up quickly ..didnt even jump
And she yelped very loudly several times in pain and now canr walk on her front leg again at all is obviously in.pain ,i doubled her tramadol dose as had reduced it
Im so sad as it looks like she will have to go under general anaesthetic now and i got msm and glucosamine and a comfy bed n was doing everything i could to help her
But...we are back at square one again
Poor holly :-( x

[christina]

Thanks jo
I just read your post re that you dont think its immune  related.
Yes ,it seems to be either an injury or elbow dysplasia i will check out the link you have posted thanks.
Problem is ,i wanted NOT to get anaesthetic or operation because of heart disease and it could be stressful for immune mediated problem too
I hoped by minimizing exercise i could help her
But all she did today was get up quickly she didnt even jump and she is in a lot of pain though tramadol helps
It looks like she cant live like this as even moving too quick or in the wrong way brings on damage
:-(x

[polly]

Hello Christina,
So sorry that Holly is still in pain despite resting. I understand how reluctant you must be for her to undergo an anaesthetic. I feel the same way in regard to Jasper.
Has the vet clinic found her medical records yet?
I am so pleased that my vet is supportive. I took Jasper for his regular check up last Thursday and was very worried  when  the vet said that the red cell test result done in the clinic showed deterioration.  He said he would do full blood tests and send them to a laboratory where  more accurate results would be obtained than the test he did manually.

  I didn't expect to get the results until next week because my vet does not work Fridays or weekends however yesterday he phoned me (on his day off) to say he had been in touch with the lab and  Jasper's red cells are still within the low normal range and everything else is good. He said he did not want me to be worrying about it all weekend .  Quite a contrast to the way you have been treated.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

You are in a difficult position as she is in so much pain.  Do you think your vet would agree to an x-ray on Holly's leg without a general anaesthetic?

Jo