Consult on Zack on Friday - Vibes Please

[jcj528]

Zack is going back to the Orthopedic Vet on Friday for a consult. He's becoming more and more challenged by his condition. I'm hoping there is some way to help him.

Please keep him . . . er . . . us actually on your Vibes List on Friday.

Thanks

[Jespah]

Lots of cool Canadian vibes coming to you and Zack Julie. Let's hope for the best.

+WUBCLUB+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+WUBCLUB+

Deb

[keedokes]

Vibes coming in!!

[mtoy]

Oh yes, and I do hope there is a quick, easy and permanent solution to the problem. +WUBCLUB+

[CorgiMum]

Lots of vibes coming from the West Coast for you and Zak. {{{{{}}}}

[MVons]

Vibes for you both.

[Akatihsa]

Good luck Julie and Zack! We'll be thinking of you.

[corgiland]

Lots of good vibes going your way Zack & Julie.....

[disraeli ears]

Vibes for the Zack man. ~~~+WUBCLUB+

[LuvMy2Corgis]

{{{{{{Vibes for Zack and Julie }}}}}}+WUBCLUB+
Lori

[glencorgi]

Definitely will be thinking of you and Zack and hoping for a positive treatment solution.

Debbie

[Fluffypants]

~~~~Vibes for Zack~~~~ +WUBCLUB+

[Abbykat]

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Bodrins/AAClipArtGifs/0cdc1fcb.jpgVIBES FOR ZACK & JULIE

[jcj528]

Thanks for all your good thoughts, ya'll. Zack and I will be heading for the vet at 3:30 tomorrow. As he has rebounded a lot since I have been more regular in administering his pain meds, I think that both his regular vet and the ortho vet will just check his back and hind quarters to make sure that more injuries aren't happening as he favors his right wrist. The good news is that while his pain meds are making him more comfortable, they are not turning him into a zombie. He seems pretty much himself under their influence.

Thanks for all your good thoughts for us. We really appreciate them!

[dcole]

Hoping for a good report from the ortho vet tomorrow! +WUBCLUB+

{{{{Zack}}}} {{{{Julie}}}}

[Kassie]

We'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Good vines to you and the Zackster, and clarity to the vet.

[jcj528]

Well, there was good and bad news about Zack. Yes, he can take the pain med everyday and it should not significantly affect his overall health. His hips are largely okay but did show some arthritic changes. The vets hope that by keeping up with the glucosamine and chondrotine we can limit the damage. All in all pretty positive.

The bad news: Zack is probably not a candidate for the wrist reconstruction surgery, amputation or a cart anymore. The vets were explained that with the damage to his left wrist and his arthritic hips, Zack's quality of life might not be increased and indeed could be decreased.

The best news, though, is that this morning before the work crew arrived, Zack was actually playing chase with Ziggy for the first time in a long time. So for now, the pain med is doing its job. The question is, I guess, is how long that will be true. The vets couldn't say and I confess I didn't actually want to know.

The overall impression I came away with is, Zack is doing about as well as it was hoped he would. So things could be alot worse.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and vibes today.

[Jespah]

Well, it's a tough one Julie. Zack isn't suffering and hopefully with the pain meds and the supplements he'll be able to live a good life. Maybe a not as long as you would want, but a quality life - which for me would be the best thing. Let him enjoy himself as long as he can and you enjoy him too.

Glad to hear he was playing with Ziggy, that's a good sign.

Deb

[LoveMySadie]

How old is Zack, Julie? I'm glad to hear that the meds are working...maybe regular pain meds will keep the pain at bay for a very long time. We're all hoping so!

Leslie

[manymuddypaws]

julie,

i was in a similar position not too long ago and I had decided that as long as the meds were keeping the pain at bay it was okay. So I am glad to hear that is working for Zack.

Just make sure that he doesn't over do it because he "feels" so good. He can do more damage that way.

[CorgiMum]

Glad to hear that the pain meds are still working for Zack, and I hope that they will continue to keep on doing so for a long time.

{{{{Zack & Julie}}}}

[corgiland]

Glad to hear that the pain medication has helped for Zack...and hope it continues to do so.

[jcj528]

You're right, Amanda. Though I didn't see it happen, both vets think that something happened to Zack to cause his problem that generated the consult. The good news is that whatever it was had no long term effects.

You're right too, Deb. The plan is still let him live out his life, however long that might be, as he understands it. As long as he's comfortable, we go and enjoy each other.

Leslie, Zack will be eight in April. His problems are generated by his poor conformation. Corgis are just not supposed to have long legs, I guess. Plus, he has always been a "flying corgi" where he was convinced that nothing was beyond his reach. If I had managed his life better, things might be different. But then a very real part of his charm is that he fully lives into the "enthusiastic corgi" life.

Thanks everyone. Zack will continue on his pain meds and be a happy guy for as long as possible.

[Bobbie]

Why did they think a cart would not help his quality of life? I'm surprised at that as a dog with one good leg would probably do quite well in a front-support cart. In some cases the hips are too painful to make using a cart practical; maybe that is his situation, but in most cases if you can take some of the weight off the affected limbs the dog will feel better.

[jcj528]

Interesting. I may have misunderstood. What with the house and everything my mind may have wandered. I know I was worried about the three dogs at home with the demolition happening. I will call my regular vet on Monday to confirm.

Thanks for the tip, Bobbie

[disraeli ears]

+FUZZHUG+ For Zack and Julie.

[Bobbie]

Interesting. I may have misunderstood.

Well, they could be right, too, but in my experience a lot of vets do not really get what a cart can do for a dog. They see it as sort of a sad last resort for someone who can't bear to give up their ailing dog, not as an aid to a happy and active life.

On the other hand, some dogs with hip problems are not comfortable using a cart. I don't think I'd give up without trying, though. If you get to where he can't walk without pain, it's worth considering.

This is the kind of cart I'm thinking of:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee256/Bobbie54_2007/Charles%20and%20Liz%20get%20carts/Liz2.jpg


Liz's owner has since replaced the front wheels with skateboard wheels that turn more easily.


And another photo (different dog) of the same kind of cart.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee256/Bobbie54_2007/Georgiefront.jpg

She isn't using her back legs as she has DM that has progressed to the front legs, but in this style cart a dog easilly can use his back legs. The owner added the support sling under the belly as the belly tends to droop when the muscles go.

[jcj528]

Thanks, Bobbie. The little girl looks happy and well adjusted. Is it okay with you if I show the picture to the vets here? I would like to believe that if Zack would be introduced to it gently, he could be as happy as that little girl.

[Bobbie]

Yes, be my guest. Liz, in the first picture, is 15, and I would have sworn she would NEVER take to the cart. She has done amazingly well. Georgie, in the second picture, has graduated to four wheels so had used her cart for a year before getting the front extensions, but Liz had not had anything before (at least not that fit.)

Here is a link to the photo of the cart without the dog.

http://www.k9-carts.com/K9-Carts-Products/Speciality-Dog-Cat-Wheelchairs.php

[MVons]

Hugs to you Julie.

Thank you Bobbie, I never knew about 4 wheel carts to help those with some front weakness. So neat.

[Fluffypants]

+FUZZHUG+ to you and Zack, Julie.

[dcole]

Wow, I'd never seen a 4-wheeled cart, either. Good to know.

More hugs for Zack and Julie! +WUBCLUB+