[Dailydrool] Back Issues

[bassetslave at comcast.net]

We have had three bassets with bad backs: 
  
Nudgie- The sweetest baby ever. He had some back issues and was on Deramax for a couple years. He was getting a little shaky on his paws and went to the vet. Who thought he needed to switch to Rimadyl but said he needed to be off his medication for a week to make the switch. Gave him some Tramadol for the duration. Which knocked him out. When he walked up, he could not walk and never did again. Dear Nudgie used a cart, somewhat, and went to the bridge a few months later for semi related issues that I can't type about without crying. The local alternative/back specialist vet's office said he had no feeling in his hind legs and we brought him there too late. Nudgie was 14. I'm not sure if we would have put him through surgery, but didn't have a choice. 
  
Cakie - Cakie could not walk one day. We took her straight to the alternative/back specialist vet's office. He gave her some pred and she started walking within a day or so. She had Xrays followed by quackpractic treatments and some injections that were supposed to help. When the pred stopped she could not walk again. Took her back to the vet who put her back on Pred, but did not warn us what to look out for in terms of complications. She was going every week. Vet did blood work that said she was anemic. Still no warning. Rich took her in and she saw a fill in vet. Who immediately had him rush her to the emergency room. Two days of fancy care, transfusions....they could not stop the internal bleeding from the pred. She died. Cakie was 12. Not sure surgery was necessary, but we still sob over her being killed by the doctor who was supposed to be saving her. 
  
Pawtunia - Cakie's dawGter. Could not walk one day in January 2013. She was 8. Rich took her to the vet who gave her some pred but it did not get her on her paws. Took her to the Orthopedic Vet that got one of the NJ Groves' hounds back on her paws. Paid a small fortune for surgery. Did months of PT they prescribed. Tunes is a little wobbly, but on her paws and the happiest basset girl on earth. I have video to prove it. She has resumed her social calendar and had a little pawty for her 10th birthday. Worth every penny every time I see her. 
  
At the same time, a colleague of mine took his grand basset to a teaching vetspital. Paid 2/3 what we did. The furkid did not have a smooth recovery and did not walk. It is not all gum drops and lollipops. They did try. 
  
In the words of Melba Toast. Nuff said. Research what orthopedic surgeon does nice work and mortgage the farm. 
  
dawnslave 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.dailydrool.org/pipermail/dailydrool-dailydrool.org/attachments/20140609/7a1ac22d/attachment.htm>