RE: OT - We need your prayers

[Hideyo Yamamoto]

Hi, Nina. How is Zevon?

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nina
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 10:43 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: OT - We need your prayers

Hi Everyone,
Bruce and I just got back from the Vet.  Our 8 year old German Shepherd 
Dog, Zevon has been having trouble with his back legs for the last 
couple of months.  I guess I've been in denial and have been giving him 
stuff for arthritis etc.  The vet (not his regular ortho surgeon, he's 
out of town at conferences), suspects either a disc problem or something

called, Degenerative Myelopathy, (a degenerative neurologic disease), 
something GSDs are prone to apparently.  He had to stay at the vet 
overnight to treat him intravenously with steroids to see if whatever is

causing his paralysis lessens.  The ER vet said that there is a chance 
that the steroid therapy alone could help him regain the full use of his

legs, (let's hope so, tonight's therapy is costing over $1100 bucks and 
we haven't even started diagnostic work yet).  If this doesn't help him,

Bruce and I have a tough decision to make.  About 4 years ago, Zevon 
took a leap off a very high cliff in Santa Barbara trying to get to the 
surf below.  He sustained severe sprains on both his front legs and we 
were told by three vets to have him PTS before we found a surgeon that 
took on his case and saved his life.  Zevon is a highly energetic dog 
that never lets pain get in his way of having a good time.  The 
operations and months of recooperative down-stays were extremely hard on

him.  He is also vulnerable to reinjury of his front legs and now with 
his back legs in jeopardy, not to mention the fact that he's no longer a

young dog, make his prognosis for a quality life in a wheel chair very 
poor.  Please include him in your prayers.  Please pray that tonight's 
treatment brings us a miracle of at least temporary recovery.  He's so 
important to our household, we all love him so much, dogs, cats and 
humans alike.  He's such a sweet soul, I don't know how we'd get along 
without him.

Thanks for caring,
Nina

Re: OT - We need your prayers

[Nina]

Hi Hideyo,
Thanks for asking about Zevon.  He's really out of it because of his 
pain med patch, but we still have to watch him carefully because he 
refuses to recognize his limitations.  He's suppose to be on 6 to 8 
weeks of crate rest.  It's very hard on him to not be able to follow us 
around the house, or run to the window to bark at anyone with the nerve 
to walk by.  We still don't know if the steroid therapy has helped.  
We're having to use a support strap to allow him to walk because he 
can't put weight on his back legs and they splay out from under him.   
This morning I watched while my husband took him out to relieve himself, 
(the dog, not my husband!).  I watched in horror while Zevon squatted to 
urinate as Bruce continued to support him with the strap.  Of course, Z 
peed all over our new, expensive support strap!  Nothing lasts long in 
this house!

He has refused food and hasn't eaten since Monday at 4:30pm. (except for 
a bit of dog biscuit which he held in his mouth for 30 seconds before 
deciding it was a good idea to chew and eat it).  I'm thinking it's 
because of the fentanyl patch.  I may remove it early and see if it helps.
Nina

Hideyo Yamamoto wrote:
Hi, Nina. How is Zevon?
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nina
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 10:43 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: OT - We need your prayers
Hi Everyone,
Bruce and I just got back from the Vet.  Our 8 year old German Shepherd 
Dog, Zevon has been having trouble with his back legs for the last 
couple of months.  I guess I've been in denial and have been giving him 
stuff for arthritis etc.  The vet (not his regular ortho surgeon, he's 
out of town at conferences), suspects either a disc problem or something

called, Degenerative Myelopathy, (a degenerative neurologic disease), 
something GSDs are prone to apparently.  He had to stay at the vet 
overnight to treat him intravenously with steroids to see if whatever is

causing his paralysis lessens.  The ER vet said that there is a chance 
that the steroid therapy alone could help him regain the full use of his

legs, (let's hope so, tonight's therapy is costing over $1100 bucks and 
we haven't even started diagnostic work yet).  If this doesn't help him,

Bruce and I have a tough decision to make.  About 4 years ago, Zevon 
took a leap off a very high cliff in Santa Barbara trying to get to the 
surf below.  He sustained severe sprains on both his front legs and we 
were told by three vets to have him PTS before we found a surgeon that 
took on his case and saved his life.  Zevon is a highly energetic dog 
that never lets pain get in his way of having a good time.  The 
operations and months of recooperative down-stays were extremely hard on

him.  He is also vulnerable to reinjury of his front legs and now with 
his back legs in jeopardy, not to mention the fact that he's no longer a

young dog, make his prognosis for a quality life in a wheel chair very 
poor.  Please include him in your prayers.  Please pray that tonight's 
treatment brings us a miracle of at least temporary recovery.  He's so 
important to our household, we all love him so much, dogs, cats and 
humans alike.  He's such a sweet soul, I don't know how we'd get along 
without him.

Thanks for caring,
Nina


 

Re: OT - We need your prayers

[Barbara Lowe]

Here's hoping the therapy does work!! I (and my cats and other dog) know
what it's like to lose one of the family pack. We're all sending healing
zibes.
regards
barbara

Re: OT - We need your prayers

[Cherie A Gabbert]

Nina,
I am with you.I am sending healing vibes your wayhang in there and keep us posted
cherieMelbeach [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Sending payers your way now!-Kyle- Original Message - From: "Nina" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:42 AMSubject: OT - We need your prayers Hi Everyone, Bruce and I just got back from the Vet. Our 8 year old German Shepherd  Dog, Zevon has been having trouble with his back legs for the last  couple of months. I guess I've been in denial and have been giving him  stuff for arthritis etc. The vet (not his regular ortho surgeon, he's  out of town at conferences), suspects either a disc problem or something  called, Degenerative Myelopathy, (a degenerative neurologic disease),  something GSDs are prone to apparently. He had to stay at the vet  overnight to treat him intravenously with steroids to see if whatever is
  causing his paralysis lessens. The ER vet said that there is a chance  that the steroid therapy alone could help him regain the full use of his  legs, (let's hope so, tonight's therapy is costing over $1100 bucks and  we haven't even started diagnostic work yet). If this doesn't help him,  Bruce and I have a tough decision to make. About 4 years ago, Zevon  took a leap off a very high cliff in Santa Barbara trying to get to the  surf below. He sustained severe sprains on both his front legs and we  were told by three vets to have him PTS before we found a surgeon that  took on his case and saved his life. Zevon is a highly energetic dog  that never lets pain get in his way of having a good time. The  operations and months of recooperative down-stays were extremely hard on  him. He is also vulnerable to reinjury of his front legs and now with  his back legs in jeopardy, not to
 mention the fact that he's no longer a  young dog, make his prognosis for a quality life in a wheel chair very  poor. Please include him in your prayers. Please pray that tonight's  treatment brings us a miracle of at least temporary recovery. He's so  important to our household, we all love him so much, dogs, cats and  humans alike. He's such a sweet soul, I don't know how we'd get along  without him.  Thanks for caring, Nina   

Re: OT - We need your prayers

[Nina]

Thank you Barbara, Kyle and Cherie, 
We appreciate your kind thoughts and prayers.
Nina

Cherie A Gabbert wrote:

  Nina,
  I am with you.I am sending healing vibes your wayhang in
there and keep us posted
  cherie
  
  Melbeach [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  Sending
payers your way now!
-Kyle

- Original Message - 
From: "Nina" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:42 AM
Subject: OT - We need your prayers


 Hi Everyone,
 Bruce and I just got back from the Vet. Our 8 year old German
Shepherd 
 Dog, Zevon has been having trouble with his back legs for the last

 couple of months. I guess I've been in denial and have been giving
him 
 stuff for arthritis etc. The vet (not his regular ortho surgeon,
he's 
 out of town at conferences), suspects either a disc problem or
something 
 called, Degenerative Myelopathy, (a degenerative neurologic
disease), 
 something GSDs are prone to apparently. He had to stay at the vet 
 overnight to treat him intravenously with steroids to see if
whatever is 
 causing his paralysis lessens. The ER vet said that there is a
chance 
 that the steroid therapy alone could help him regain the full use
of his 
 legs, (let's hope so, tonight's therapy is costing over $1100
bucks and 
 we haven't even started diagnostic work yet). If this doesn't help
him, 
 Bruce and I have a tough decision to make. About 4 years ago,
Zevon 
 took a leap off a very high cliff in Santa Barbara trying to get
to the 
 surf below. He sustained severe sprains on both his front legs and
we 
 were told by three vets to have him PTS before we found a surgeon
that 
 took on his case and saved his life. Zevon is a highly energetic
dog 
 that never lets pain get in his way of having a good time. The 
 operations and months of recooperative down-stays were extremely
hard on 
 him. He is also vulnerable to reinjury of his front legs and now
with 
 his back legs in jeopardy, not to mention the fact that he's no
longer a 
 young dog, make his prognosis for a quality life in a wheel chair
very 
 poor. Please include him in your prayers. Please pray that
tonight's 
 treatment brings us a miracle of at least temporary recovery. He's
so 
 important to our household, we all love him so much, dogs, cats
and 
 humans alike. He's such a sweet soul, I don't know how we'd get
along 
 without him.
 
 Thanks for caring,
 Nina
 
 
 

Re: OT - We need your prayers

[tamara stickler]

Nina, you have my prayers. 

I've seen acupuncture work WONDERS for dogs that had lost the use of their back legs...even old dogs. If western medicine can no longer help...and you feel you aren't ready to give up...find an animal acupuncturistyou just might be amazed.

Good luck, God Bless you both.
Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi Everyone,Bruce and I just got back from the Vet. Our 8 year old German Shepherd Dog, Zevon has been having trouble with his back legs for the last couple of months. I guess I've been in denial and have been giving him stuff for arthritis etc. The vet (not his regular ortho surgeon, he's out of town at conferences), suspects either a disc problem or something called, Degenerative Myelopathy, (a degenerative neurologic disease), something GSDs are prone to apparently. He had to stay at the vet overnight to treat him intravenously with steroids to see if whatever is causing his paralysis lessens. The ER vet said that there is a chance that the steroid therapy alone could help him regain the full use of his legs, (let's hope so, tonight's therapy is costing over $1100 bucks and we haven't even started diagnostic work yet). If this doesn't
 help him, Bruce and I have a tough decision to make. About 4 years ago, Zevon took a leap off a very high cliff in Santa Barbara trying to get to the surf below. He sustained severe sprains on both his front legs and we were told by three vets to have him PTS before we found a surgeon that took on his case and saved his life. Zevon is a highly energetic dog that never lets pain get in his way of having a good time. The operations and months of recooperative down-stays were extremely hard on him. He is also vulnerable to reinjury of his front legs and now with his back legs in jeopardy, not to mention the fact that he's no longer a young dog, make his prognosis for a quality life in a wheel chair very poor. Please include him in your prayers. Please pray that tonight's treatment brings us a miracle of at least temporary recovery. He's so important to our household, we all love him so much, dogs, cats and humans alike. He's such
 a sweet soul, I don't know how we'd get along without him.Thanks for caring,Nina
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Re: OT - We need your prayers

[Lernermichelle]

Nina, my horse Shire had this, and of course it is impossible to deal with 
in horses, but I don't think it is in dogs. I am hoping and praying.
Michelle