Disaster!

[Jordan]

Well hes home alright and i'm exhausted.

He was so excited to be coming home it was only the last few minutes of the journey he settled down to sleep. Gave him a little food with his meds when we got in and then introduced the cage he went straight up to it and in no problem, quess hes used to being in one at the hospital. Left him to rest and made myself something to eat and sort a few things out, he was fine. Let him out for a bit for toilet and cuddles before heading for bed. Then the trouble started.

Wasnt happy to be in cage for bedtime I think he was hoping to share my bed so he was whinning escalating to barking but i never let on so maybe after 10 minutes it all went quiet. Rest of the night was fine.

This morning i went down to organise things and he waited quietly until i was ready to haul him down for his breakfast and out for the toilet..........bad timing. Neighbours were both out and Dominos fiend Mitzi was in the garden so it was a bit much and way too exciting to toilet. Hauled him back in and waited a bit till coast was clear, tackled the stairs again and Mitzi was just setting off for a walk..grrrr third time lucky! Just got him settled to rest in the cage again when knock at door..........unexpected visitor. Course he wouldnt settle with them here whinning and barking so hauled down the stairs again! He was totally happy at my feet.

Later this afternoon out for toilet he had a massive dose of diahorea (sp) Maybe down to change of food or meds or overexcited so will see what develops. He was in a bit of a mess and smelled a bit from being in the hospital anyway so gave him a good rub over with a wet cloth........he enjoyed that. There was a ton of hair came out, course he wont have been brushed while in hospital, so now he looks and smells a bit better. he rested quietly after that and i got dinner and stuff organised. So here we are sat down at last, just hauled him out for a pee and now hes at my feet as i type. Tell you i aint goina last 8 weeks of this! My back sure is complaining.

Seems he was having twitching episodes in hospital but it wasn't recorded as they thought he was just dreaming! Neurologist has seen the youtube video of his episodes and asked the nurses if theyd seen him twitch, which they had. She spoke to me about an hour on the phone asking various things and concluded that based on the info she has so far and the results of the tests she was able to do with Domino in his present condition indicate he isnt having seizures but has a REM sleep behavior disorder. Treatment is with seizure meds, cause can be same as seizures and she recommends an MRI and spinal tap to see whats going on in his brain at a later date when hes feeling better. Not that you'd know he has a broken elbow just now! How do you tell a dog hes not allowed to play for 8 weeks!

[Kimmikins]

Bless him! I know your back probably isn't thanking him for being so bouncy, but I have to tell you that I'm really pleased to hear how well he's recovering. Bouncy, excited and wanting to see friends just fills me with joy after the scare you've both had

I don't envy you having to try and keep him quiet for 8 weeks!

[kristina]

Lordy Jordan good luck with that trying to keep him quiet and relaxed just gone through that with Xena after her little op,nothing like Domino's but well they are  dogs and most have the common  sense of there own to know their limits but it's hard,just happy that he's home with you bless his cotton socks what a little star your Domino is.Kristina

[Jordan]

Make that nearer 16 weeks......still got his other leg to get pinned before it fractures too! Second op will go ahead as soon as right leg healed enough. Bless his wee heart i get some terrible looks when i put him in the cage. Bedtime last night was fine not a single peep out him.

Hes taught himself a new trick. He has his lead on all the time in the house or out as per instruction but I dont hold onto it all the time as he settles down to rest fine while i work in the same room. So today when we were going into a different room he volunteered to pick the lead up for me, clever boy! so i've made that his job each time now, it feels good to be doing something with him and giving him a treat. Hes also emptying the washing machine for me which he already did. Will have to think of some other little tasks for him to do that wont get him too excited or stress his legs that way his mind is still getting exercised!

[kristina]

What a sensible little dog you have there bless him guess he's happy to just be with you,tried the washing with Xena she just runs off with stuff including the ball with the liquid in!!!!!! she is a nightmare so full of naughtyness just hope 1 day she will be sane and sensible as Domino.Kristina

[Kimmikins]

It's adorable that he taught himself to carry the lead! I think he'll relish some great mental training

[Jordan]

Well I think things have settled down into a new routine now and we both know what were doing, although a certain party is still hoping for a walk when hes out! And is reluctant to go back in after his 5 min stroll back and forth outside the door but I've never had to force him in.

We were learning to hand target before all this happened so were doing that again and I think it should be safe enough to advance that so today I introduced a teabag on a plate for the target then we'll progress to just teabag with the intention of him having to sniff it out under a cloth eventually. I saw someone doing this ages ago so hope I'm going about it the right way?.?.? Just as long as he doesn't try to get at it by pawing with his feet! Its hard to think of things he can do that doesnt mean moving about!......hes supposed to be resting his legs.

[Jordan]

Heres a photo of my wee man ..............bare leg and wound.

[kristina]

Bless him Jordan he looks cool though and happy also clocked his harness?? been looking at dozens on web sites for 1 for Xena she has a Loopi but I don't like it much too thin for my liking I feel some thing more padded would be better and she responds much more on a harness as opposed to lead on collor or the Halti she is hard work!!!
Sure you will think of stuff for Domino to do but it's hard to keep the brain stimulated for these clever dogs when they are supposed to be kept quiet on the exercise side of things but dogs are clever and I am sure he will know his limits.Kristina

[Jordan]

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0062ME8WG/ref=wms_ohs_product_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Kristina this is the harness Domino is wearing.I like it and he likes it and no it does not stop him pulling! It has coped with a lot of pulling over the year so have you can be sure it will stand up to Xena. He doesnt feel restricted in it and its nice and quick to grab and clip on lead if need be. Domino has the medium size with room to adjust up or down so think this is the size Xena would need.

[Jordan]

Thats us 2 weeks into recovery at home. He had his wound check last week at local vets and the joint sees to be okay but a little soft tissue swelling under the insision so he prescribed antibiotics for a week to be sure theres no infection starting. It was looking okay until tonight when he started limping and offering me his leg. Hopefully it will settle again. Were back this week for another check anyway.

Hes been having a few other problems since he came home. Bladder issues, not being able to pee very well and urine is very smelly. Took a urine sample with us when he went for wound check and it showed protein level up and very concentrated but no blood or sign of infection so not sure whats causing that. I've been adding more water than normal to his biscuits to make sure hes taking plenty fluids and i think thats helped. Not nearly so smelly anyway. Will take another sample when we go back this week.

Hes also been very itchy all over since coming back and i thought he might have picked up some flees at the hospital so i treated him but its made no difference. Vet checked as well and nothing to be seen! Yet another new problem is what appears to be acid reflux. He'd wake up and smack his lips, licking like he had something in his mouth. So vet prescribed antiacid tablets but its still happening. So all a bit of a mystery!

He has become very vocal since being away. He gives everyone a massive welcome when they come even the delivery man, not just barking but a whole range of sounds and when hes in the cage he makes the most pathetic noises real sorrowful howls and the like! I ignore them so they dont last too long but for someone who barely woofed before hes very communicative now!

[Jordan]

Thats 5 weeks into healing but things do not seem to be going well. Domino started limping occasionally on the broken leg a couple of weeks ago and its gotten worse. He was in quite a bit of pain a few days back and wouldnt weight bare in the house although he did when he was out side for toilet.So the vet put him on Tramadol and that seems to have helped but at this stage he shouldnt be becoming lame so hes to go on Monday for an xray.

His change of meds for the seizures doesnt seem to be working either with the episodes becoming more pronounced again. Plus theres a growth on his penis that may be the reason for difficulty passing urine. If things dont improve soon they will want to biopsy to see whats going on.

Poor Domino is now absolutely terrified and i mean TERRIFIED!!! of the vet. He shakes and dribbles pee everywhere. So am trying supplements for anxiety and adaptil spray to try and relieve his fear a bit.

Poor wee man has had a tough year and a half since i got him. Fingers crossed everyone, we need to get him on the road to recovery so he can enjoy life again.

[Kimmikins]

That's not the news we were hoping for with his leg, I hope the x-ray shows that it's nothing serious, maybe just over-doing it or muscular. Fingers crossed for him!

He's really going through the works isn't he, no wonder he's become so fearful of the vets. I wonder if there's anything they'd be willing to help you with to try and help him stop associating the clinic with horrible experiences? Such as being able to visit without having a check up, getting the staff to give him treats and fuss him etc.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Domino, he's been through so much he deserves to enjoy the rest of the summer.

[Jordan]

DISASTER strike 2

Well things just go from bad to worse. Bad news is the x ray showed the main screw holding elbow in place has loosened now the swelling has gone down so theres a gap in the bone and it wont heel AND the pressure from there has worked its way up the leg and the screws holding the plate have broken so whole elbow unstable and painful. They sent the xray to the orthopedic surgeon and he phoned me to say my options were do nothing, re do operation with larger screw and new plate in different location or amputate!  No gaurantee re op would be any more successful than 1st one and maye end up with amputation anyway. Left elbow a worry as it needs pinned to stablise it and may end up with same issues. He said he would not be able to survive with a double amputation. So what do i do??

The general feeling from everyone i've spoke to seems to be just throw in the towel now and not put him through the stress when thers no gaurantees, they reckon his quality of life wouldnt be much anyway as he just lives to run...........remember the video of him in the field. His legs are never going to be as they were and theres the other issues  with seizures going on not to mention the money aspect as the insurance will not cover all this!!  I can see what theyre saying BUT its not a descision i think i could take. My wee man is not ill and dying for goodness sake hes only got a broken leg............ohhhhh ii dont know what to do for the best!!! HELP!!!!!

Good news is the Adaptil spray and tablets seemed to have worked really well. He was a bit anxious as we pulled in and was shaking as we went into the waiting room but he lay down at my feet and stopped shaking. we had a good 10 minute wait before he was called in and he was a bit clingy but no shaking and NO PEEING, not once. He even went exploring the room so he was really relaxed! He did brilliant bless his wee heart.

[Kimmikins]

Ohhhh, it really upsets me when people are so quick to jump on the "the kindest thing..." wagon. I know that we are compassionate for our pets, and would never dream of allowing them to live in suffering, but sometimes it feels like those outside of the situation go straight to the "kind" solution.

If there's a possibility that re-doing the op will work, I'd be leaning towards that one; it sounds like they were too tame with their choice of screw and plate position and it hasn't worked, but now they've seen the pressure exerted on the joint they can go in with a more robust solution. If it doesn't work, the worst position you'd be in would be identical to the one you're in now, only you'd be facing the certainty of amputation. Dogs can survive perfectly well on three legs, even running addicts like wee Domino. In the meantime I'd be ensuring that the vets are well on-top of his other leg and have a plan in place to a) keep it from worsening unnecessarily while the other one heals and b) perfecting the op plan if the left leg needs operating on.

I disagree that he can't survive with a double amputation. It has been done, and there is a growing industry targeted at helping limbless dogs get around. You'd be facing a question of quality of life, but in terms of pain and mobility that wouldn't be a deciding factor.

Investigate hydrotherapy, it will help to strengthen those legs in a pressure free environment, and will be invaluable at keeping him mobile and easing pain and discomfort. I'd imagine he'd also love being in the water!

Ultimately, you know what's best for Domino. But to see how happy he is running hell for leather, and learning tricks with you, makes me think that he's not the kind of dog you do "the kindest thing for". He's the kind of dog that makes you move mountains, investigate all avenues and don't accept bad news just because it comes from a vet. They're human, they're not perfect, and what one vet says isn't necessarily the be all and end all.