cyber-sibes
09-14-2009, 12:11 PM
Hi PT friends,
It's been a while since I posted regularly, but I till visit often. Many of you know Star from our "Star & Sherman" days. Star is now 12/12, and having a rough summer. I think it's time to ask her PT friends for some pawsitive thoughts, and maybe a pawrayer or two.
The past couple months she has been progressively more lethargic, had ongoing bowel problems, lost 10 lbs, & gotten very tipsy. She's being treated for IBD (Inflamatory Bowel Disorder), & responded fairly well to the treatment as far as getting her bowels functioning properly again. But she's losing muscle at an alarming rate, she can't go up steps anymore, has difficulty getting up & coordinating her walking. The vet gave her a anabolic steroid shot last week and we are seeing a promising response - she's moving in & out of the house several times a day and seems more like herself - responsive to us talking to her. He thinks its neuro-muscular degeneration, which means the damage is irreversible. He said the good news is that she isn't in any pain, & her joints, heart & lungs are all in great shape. As long as she responds well to the steroids, he says we can bring her in about once a month for a shot to help her.
So that is what we are hoping for - that she will keep responding to the steroids & prednizone that she's on, and can have a good quality of life for quite a long time yet. A few weeks ago I didn't think she'd make it thru the next month, but we feel more optimistic now that she's responding to the treatments.
Thanks for sending some good vibes her way!
A couple pics - 1st: how she;'s looked most of the summer
2: after the IBD treatment started
It's been a while since I posted regularly, but I till visit often. Many of you know Star from our "Star & Sherman" days. Star is now 12/12, and having a rough summer. I think it's time to ask her PT friends for some pawsitive thoughts, and maybe a pawrayer or two.
The past couple months she has been progressively more lethargic, had ongoing bowel problems, lost 10 lbs, & gotten very tipsy. She's being treated for IBD (Inflamatory Bowel Disorder), & responded fairly well to the treatment as far as getting her bowels functioning properly again. But she's losing muscle at an alarming rate, she can't go up steps anymore, has difficulty getting up & coordinating her walking. The vet gave her a anabolic steroid shot last week and we are seeing a promising response - she's moving in & out of the house several times a day and seems more like herself - responsive to us talking to her. He thinks its neuro-muscular degeneration, which means the damage is irreversible. He said the good news is that she isn't in any pain, & her joints, heart & lungs are all in great shape. As long as she responds well to the steroids, he says we can bring her in about once a month for a shot to help her.
So that is what we are hoping for - that she will keep responding to the steroids & prednizone that she's on, and can have a good quality of life for quite a long time yet. A few weeks ago I didn't think she'd make it thru the next month, but we feel more optimistic now that she's responding to the treatments.
Thanks for sending some good vibes her way!
A couple pics - 1st: how she;'s looked most of the summer
2: after the IBD treatment started