In Memory of Pets

My elderly german shepherd dog Jennie is not able to get up without help from me. Her back legs are giving out. They are very weak. I've been giving her pain relief for arthritis but she also has a 14cm (probably bigger now) adrenal gland tumour. Maybe that is causing it. I'm taking her to the vet this morning for a check up. The day before yesterday she was as bad and I thought I may have to send her to The Bridge. I was a mess. I rang yesterday morning to see what vets were on at the clinic and none were there that I was keen on. After I hung up, Jen actually got up herself and managed to wobble (with some guidance from me) outside to the yard to do her business. I didn't take her to the vet yesterday as I thought she was maybe getting better.

Last night and this morning she isn't too good. She isn't able to get up by herself. I managed to help her outside this morning, gave her her brekkie and insulin needle (yes she's diabetic). I took a bowl of water out to her and she has been drinking when she needs. She is now munching on a bone She is bright in herself, eating, drinking, 'talking', weeing and pooing normal, that's why I don't want to send her to heaven. The thought breaks my heart....a happy bright dog being sent to heaven just because her back legs have given out

I'm looking into getting her a wheelchair to support her back legs . Thankfully we are on the easter break so I'm here with her. I live with my elderly Mum. Unfortunately Mum is frail and isn't able to help lift Jen as I've been doing, so if the vet isn't able to help with any medication that may give her strength in her legs, I'll take some leave from work and sort the wheelchair thing out.

Can anybody suggest anything else for Jen?

Suz

We're back from the vet.....he looked at the x-ray taken from her sprained ankle the other week and what he can see is most of the minerals not in the bone. The adrenal tumor has probably drawn out most of the calcium therefore making them weak. He said continue what I'm doing, pain medication and also give her 600mg daily of Caltrate D (calcium with vit D). He said getting her the wheelchair was a good idea for when she wants to go walkies and we can also buy a support for her back legs/pelvis which we hold onto like a strap and help her walk. My Mum will use that during the day while I'm not here and I can put the 'wheels' on if she wants to go walkies in the garden without my help, but of course I'd be watching out for her. In the meantime I can use a soft towel to support her and help her walk. So it's off to ebay (I saw a wheelchair there I can buy) and I'll put an order in for the support strap from a website I looked at.

Suz

Well good news.....Jennie is back on her legs again unaided. I'm not sure if it's the 600mg Caltrate D each day I'm giving her or what, but the Friday after I'd taken her to the vet (on the Sunday), she was able to get up and walk by herself. There have been a couple of times she's needed some help up but then she gets herself walking by herself. I'm dumbfounded by it considering how bad she was. I am also very relieved that she doesn't need the wheelchair I bought her.

Well since my last post, there has been very sad news. Please see my post under 'Pet Loss'