Chiropractic Healthiness

Question:

 Thanks–When I posted my question she had only been home from the vet’s a couple of days–and you’re right, something was wrong.  She apparently caught a serious URI while there which is sapping all of her energy & preventing her from eating.  At the moment, learning to walk is the least of her worries. In all the years she’s been with us, Kisha has never once been ill.  I guess when it rains it pours.  8 (

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Last week I was at the vet and saw a dog about > 5 days post amputation of the right rear leg. > He was wiggling and dancing and verrrrry happy > to see his mom and dad.  He was also quite > large (about 80 lbs).  While I’m sure he had > a lot of recuperation still to go, there was no > sign but the obvious that there was anything > wrong with him. > Would I amputate the leg of an elderly dog? > Possibly not.  But I’ve seen too many healthy, > happy three legged dogs running full speed to > think that personal feelings of unease should > affect the decision to save the life of an otherwise > vibrant youngish dog. > I wish the original poster’s dog well and advise > some serious networking with folks in similar > situations as well as a good long talk with the > vet about expectations for how long recovery should > take and where the dog is fitting on the sliding > scale of speed of recovery.  It does sound like either > the dog is super early in its recovery or something > is wrong.

Response:

Last week I was at the vet and saw a dog about 5 days post amputation of the right rear leg. He was wiggling and dancing and verrrrry happy to see his mom and dad.  He was also quite large (about 80 lbs).  While I’m sure he had a lot of recuperation still to go, there was no sign but the obvious that there was anything wrong with him. Would I amputate the leg of an elderly dog? Possibly not.  But I’ve seen too many healthy, happy three legged dogs running full speed to think that personal feelings of unease should affect the decision to save the life of an otherwise vibrant youngish dog.   I wish the original poster’s dog well and advise some serious networking with folks in similar situations as well as a good long talk with the vet about expectations for how long recovery should take and where the dog is fitting on the sliding scale of speed of recovery.  It does sound like either the dog is super early in its recovery or something is wrong.

Response:

We went through this a couple of years ago with our golden. The first few days after surgery are spent wondering if it’s going to work, if we should have done it, etc. Then, after getting all the anesthesia out of his system, the pain subsides, the dog will start to make progress. Our dog had a front leg removed which is actually harder for them than a rear. She will learn to balance and locomote pretty quickly. If you can use a towell or sling at first to help her learn, that would help. Good luck and in a week or two you will have a dog that is getting around well. Try to ignore Elaine’s unhelpful bias.

Response:

>I don’t advocate these Frankenstein surgeries. REAP the results of your >decision.

Yes we know that. However, many dogs live for years with three legs, and are just fine. You may not like that, but it’s the doG’s honest truth. Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Its up to your government to streamline the same laws to all states. Its hardly surprising so much abuse happens when there is no uniformity.<Patch>

Response:

> >I don’t advocate these Frankenstein surgeries. REAP the results of your >decision. > Yes we know that. However, many dogs live for years with three legs, and > are just fine. You may not like that, but it’s the doG’s honest truth.

Where we live there is a golf course that is frequented by a three legged Golden.  It follows us all around the course, once in a while running off to visit another golfer.  It seems quite healthy and happy. It belongs to one of the grounds keepers. Bre – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy > — > Its up to your government to streamline the same laws to all states. Its > hardly surprising so much abuse happens when there is no uniformity.<Patch>

Response:

Have you considered using a sling to help her move about (get used to the three-legged situation, gain some strength in her other legs, etc.). These have been discussed at length here recently, and several Websites have been posted. I’m sure you can do a search for "dog sling" to find some info. The Senior Dogs page has information on both mobility aids and physical therapy for older dogs at http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.fr.html Hope this helps – Michelle & Bruce (13 yo collie-golden-? mix – 3+ y cancer survivor)

Response:

> Does anyone know about physical therapy for dogs?  We had to have our > wonderful dog Kisha’s rear leg amputated due to aggressive bone cancer. We > were told that most dogs can eventually get around on three legs, no prob. > So far we haven’t been able to help her stand up, let alone practice > walking.

Sorry—I don’t know specifically about PT for dogs, but I don’t know why it *wouldn’t* be of assistance.  You may be able to find a practitioner in your area at http://www.altvetmed.com/  Also, your vet clinic may be able to give you a referral to someone in your area who’s assisted others with this transition. My dog needed therapy for a disc problem, and an Occupational Therapist who practices Cranial-Sacral Therapy and just completed Chiropractic school has done a remarkable job bringing him back to better status than before.  While she trained on humans, her skills translate to other species.  Perhaps that would be similar for PT, as well, that is, human-training translating to dogs. Best wishes, Annette

Response:

I don’t advocate these Frankenstein surgeries. REAP the results of your decision. This dog had a good, full life with you. Better than she could ever have dreamed of from her rough beginning.  Let old dogs die happily, whole, and with dignity.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does anyone know about physical therapy for dogs?  We had to have our > wonderful dog Kisha’s rear leg amputated due to aggressive bone cancer. We > were told that most dogs can eventually get around on three legs, no prob. > So far we haven’t been able to help her stand up, let alone practice > walking.  Her morphine patch has worn off & that has made her less wobbly > but more sensitive to being moved (she yelps and nips, bit my husband > yesterday)–I’m not trying to rush her but I think the sooner she starts > moving around the better off she’ll be (especially since we have to keep > moving her out of puddles of her pee, and it’s almost impossible to clean > her up thoroughly).  All I can think of to do is get a muzzle and keep > working with her as gently as possible, but I worry that she’ll get a > secondary infection from the constant moisture.  She’s also not eating much > and we’re having a very hard time getting her antibiotics down her, let > alone aspirin.  She’s a sweet, gentle Shepard/Mutt & we think she’s about 10 > years old (we adopted her from the pound 7 years ago).  The whole situation > is so upsetting, any advice you can give will be VERY welcome.  Thanks.

Response:

Does anyone know about physical therapy for dogs?  We had to have our wonderful dog Kisha’s rear leg amputated due to aggressive bone cancer.  We were told that most dogs can eventually get around on three legs, no prob. So far we haven’t been able to help her stand up, let alone practice walking.  Her morphine patch has worn off & that has made her less wobbly but more sensitive to being moved (she yelps and nips, bit my husband yesterday)–I’m not trying to rush her but I think the sooner she starts moving around the better off she’ll be (especially since we have to keep moving her out of puddles of her pee, and it’s almost impossible to clean her up thoroughly).  All I can think of to do is get a muzzle and keep working with her as gently as possible, but I worry that she’ll get a secondary infection from the constant moisture.  She’s also not eating much and we’re having a very hard time getting her antibiotics down her, let alone aspirin.  She’s a sweet, gentle Shepard/Mutt & we think she’s about 10 years old (we adopted her from the pound 7 years ago).  The whole situation is so upsetting, any advice you can give will be VERY welcome.  Thanks.

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