Lizzie in Ma Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug::grouphug: How awful, I hope and pray Libby is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug: I hope Libby is doing better today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I just wanted to let you know, Jean, that we're still thinking of your family, including Libby. And still hoping for a good outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thinking of Libby and your family this morning. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug: How's Libby doing this morning? Any improvement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Libby responded well to the blood transfusion. She is "brighter" according to the vet I talked to this morning. Libby has significant neurological problems. At this moment her right front leg does not move at all. Her other legs move but cannot bear weight at all. All of this points to a spinal problem in her neck area. There are 5 possible causes of her disability. Two are permanent unless we do very expensive surgery. Three will get better over time. We are bringing Libby home. We've had a family meeting and the kids know that we are bringing home a disabled dog and will need a lot of care, esp. with regards to going to the bathroom. This care may be just for a month, during which time she will hopefully make some, if not all, recovery. This care might result in the realization that she is permanently disabled in all four legs and will have a very poor quality of life. If that is the case, we will make the very sad choice to have her put down, rather than to make her suffer. We have rearranged our living room to make Libby's crate a place where she can be part of the family and we can give her the care she needs. My ds14 esp. has been a workhorse this morning in managing heavy furniture that I never could have managed on my own. Dd9 helped by leashing the cat and keeping him out of the way;) In between all of this we're still doing school because all of us need some "normal" in our life. After lunch, we're heading out - to Petco to get supplies for Libby's care and then to the vet where I'm sure it will be a many hour process to get Libby ready to come home. Dh was able to be the front man on Tuesday night and all day yesterday (his day off) but today is on my shoulders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Libby responded well to the blood transfusion. She is "brighter" according to the vet I talked to this morning. Libby has significant neurological problems. At this moment her right front leg does not move at all. Her other legs move but cannot bear weight at all. All of this points to a spinal problem in her neck area. There are 5 possible causes of her disability. Two are permanent unless we do very expensive surgery. Three will get better over time. We are bringing Libby home. We've had a family meeting and the kids know that we are bringing home a disabled dog and will need a lot of care, esp. with regards to going to the bathroom. This care may be just for a month, during which time she will hopefully make some, if not all, recovery. This care might result in the realization that she is permanently disabled in all four legs and will have a very poor quality of life. If that is the case, we will make the very sad choice to have her put down, rather than to make her suffer. We have rearranged our living room to make Libby's crate a place where she can be part of the family and we can give her the care she needs. My ds14 esp. has been a workhorse this morning in managing heavy furniture that I never could have managed on my own. Dd9 helped by leashing the cat and keeping him out of the way;) In between all of this we're still doing school because all of us need some "normal" in our life. After lunch, we're heading out - to Petco to get supplies for Libby's care and then to the vet where I'm sure it will be a many hour process to get Libby ready to come home. Dh was able to be the front man on Tuesday night and all day yesterday (his day off) but today is on my shoulders. Praying for complete healing for Libby, Jean. My heart is so heavy for your dd; my dog was hit by a car when I was her age :grouphug:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Libby responded well to the blood transfusion. She is "brighter" according to the vet I talked to this morning. Libby has significant neurological problems. At this moment her right front leg does not move at all. Her other legs move but cannot bear weight at all. All of this points to a spinal problem in her neck area. There are 5 possible causes of her disability. Two are permanent unless we do very expensive surgery. Three will get better over time. We are bringing Libby home. We've had a family meeting and the kids know that we are bringing home a disabled dog and will need a lot of care, esp. with regards to going to the bathroom. This care may be just for a month, during which time she will hopefully make some, if not all, recovery. This care might result in the realization that she is permanently disabled in all four legs and will have a very poor quality of life. If that is the case, we will make the very sad choice to have her put down, rather than to make her suffer. We have rearranged our living room to make Libby's crate a place where she can be part of the family and we can give her the care she needs. My ds14 esp. has been a workhorse this morning in managing heavy furniture that I never could have managed on my own. Dd9 helped by leashing the cat and keeping him out of the way;) In between all of this we're still doing school because all of us need some "normal" in our life. After lunch, we're heading out - to Petco to get supplies for Libby's care and then to the vet where I'm sure it will be a many hour process to get Libby ready to come home. Dh was able to be the front man on Tuesday night and all day yesterday (his day off) but today is on my shoulders. Oh, my word. :crying: I am so sad for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I'm so sorry Jean. Prayers and :grouphug: for your family and for dear Libby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug: i'm glad you are able to bring her home, where she will feel secure and loved. and we'll hope mightily that it is one of the three that will mend with time! :grouphug: ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Still praying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheApprentice Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Praying.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug: I've been following along and hoping for the best. It sounds like your whole family is really pulling together. I'm hoping for a full recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I am so sorry, Jean. It's so hard to watch a beloved pet in this condition. (I'm holding back tears for you...) :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Praying that Libby will make a quick and complete recovery, Jean. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Praying, and wanted you to know my weimaraner injured her back once, and was paralyzed in both rear legs for several days, but recovered fully with time and steroids. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 My mother had a dachshund that was having back trouble once and was totally unresponsive to treatment at the vet's office. The vet gave him a very poor prognosis and sent him home to see if he improved with time(and probably so no one else at his practice would be bitten, the dog was not a happy camper there). My mother brought him home and set him down and he immediately started walking with only a minor limp! I hope coming home is helpful for Libby as well. She will probably feel much more confident in familiar surroundings. Rocky's presence may help as well especially when she is ready for physical therapy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 :grouphug: i'm glad you are able to bring her home, where she will feel secure and loved. Me, too. I'm glad for her and for you all, because you will get a chance to love her up close and personal for as long as you can. I hope with all my heart that she has lots of years to be loved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I can't even imagine how hard it is to see Libby in that condition, and having to worry about your dd on top of it. I hope and pray that Libby's bleeding has stopped and that she will gain use of her legs again. Thank you for keeping us posted. Give Libby a hug from all her friends here!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) Libby is home. As I thought, we were there for 3 hours - emergency rooms even for animals do not move quickly (or rather they were having to move quickly for much more emergent cases that came in). The amazing news is that just for less than a second, Libby stood on 3 legs for us! She can move herself around a bit, commando style, when she wants something- like to get in one of our laps. She is on steroids, an antibiotic, pepcid! and a pain killer. I'll take her to our normal vet in 10 days for a check. I talked to them today and filled them in. The emergency vet will then be faxing them all of Libby's records. Please pray that Libby will start to eat. She has not eaten for 3 days and refused to eat for us today. We did get her to lick about a teaspoon of wet food off of our fingers but even that she did more out of obedience than because she wanted it. We need her to eat some - not only for nourishment but because the medicines are harsh on her tummy without food. The crate I put in the living room is not going to work. I cannot get her in there without hurting her. Instead, we got the rubber pan from the back of the station wagon and have set up an area for her in that, complete with pee pads in case she goes to the bathroom. I'll probably not update for a couple of weeks - until we know more about how she's doing. P.S. - Rocky and Libby got to sniff noses for just a couple of seconds. There was a lot of tail wagging! Edited September 9, 2011 by Jean in Newcastle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Awww! Some good news! It sounds like everyone (including Libby) is doing the best they can. Best wishes for a healing weekend. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Jean I'm so glad to hear she's back home. Regarding the eating, this is one of those times that I'd ignore the general rule about not allowing "people" food. Chicken in broth or whatever else will have a too tempting aroma might be a good start. Praying for her continued recovery. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 The things our dogs find most irresistable are those that smell up the house. For instance, crock pot, jerky, homemade stock. When I make chicken stock I give the dogs the vegetables and crumble chicken bones. Normally I don't give chicken bones but these I can crumble with my fingers and I remove the leg and thigh bones if they are not soft enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvingLife Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Praying here, I hope all goes well.:grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessed2fosteradopt Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Will continue to pray for your fur baby. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 I'll continue to pray, Jean. I agree with the others about people food...whatever works at this point. I have a feeling her appetite will pick up now that she's back in familiar surroundings. I'm not sure what type of painkiller she's on, but narcotics slow the gut and decrease appetite, so it's quite possible that her meds are suppressing the appetite a bit. Just keep trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 I'll continue to pray, Jean. I agree with the others about people food...whatever works at this point. I have a feeling her appetite will pick up now that she's back in familiar surroundings. I'm not sure what type of painkiller she's on, but narcotics slow the gut and decrease appetite, so it's quite possible that her meds are suppressing the appetite a bit. Just keep trying. Libby has started to drink more - this was a bigger concern than food intake because of the danger of dehydration. Libby's diet at the moment consists of peanut butter, Frosty Paws (ice cream treats for dogs) and 2 broth soaked pieces of dog kibble! She absolutely refuses to eat anything else - no chicken, no broth by itself - frozen or not, no wet food etc. She is still on an Opiate and that may be a big reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 She is still on an Opiate and that may be a big reason. Watch out for constipation. Between dope and immobility, this could be bad. I had to give a collie an enema, once, after she got on the counter and at the T-giving turkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Watch out for constipation. Between dope and immobility, this could be bad. I had to give a collie an enema, once, after she got on the counter and at the T-giving turkey. Kay, I appreciate you saying this. Libby and I have an appointment with her vet at 1:30 and this is one of the things we will discuss. Of course I'll have to deal with this if it happens, but I prefer to go proactive on these sorts of things to avoid them if at all possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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