Zoee's progress

[Taz_Zoee]

If anyone is interested I had a reading of sorts done on Zoee on Karen's radio show. You can see what I'm talking about in post #47 and a few after in this thread. So I thought I'd start a thread to track her progress.

The weather took a drastic turn here in California. It went from beautiful sunny days to freezing (not literally, but it feels like it), rainy, cloudy days in an instant. So since I can't do the frisbee like I had planned I thought of another activity. She loves to play fetch. We used to play this with her all the time when she was an only dog. Since getting Taggart we have become lazy and just assume they will entertain each other.

Tonight Taggart wanted to go outside. Since it was not raining at the moment I put him out. Then I got a toy and sat at one end of the hallway. I threw the toy about 5 or 6 times for her making her wait to go get it and praising her soo much. She loved it!! Eventually it seemed like she was looking for Taggart though. So I let him in and played a few times with both of them. Surprisingly Zoee did not give the toy up to him at all. They play growled all the way back to me both not letting go of the toy. Then I made Zoee wait a couple of times so Taggart could have a turn by himself. Although he'd rather play with her than alone.

When they were done I asked them if they wanted a carrot. They both ran full speed to the kitchen to wait by the fridge. Silly dogs.

Now they are both zonked out in the hall....snoozing. All is well.

This probably seems like such a dumb thing to post about since we should all play with our dogs like this. But I had to be reminded that she wants our attention and interaction more.

I will come back to this thread to update if her mood seems to be changing and how things are going.

[Alysser]

Glad to hear Zoee's "depression" is improving. She's too pretty to be sad. Keep it up!

[Karen]

Sounds great so far, glad to hear you had two sleepy happy pups!

[Taz_Zoee]

Thanks guys.
Today I am going to the shelter until 5pm, but when I get home I need to brush Zoee. She's going to the groomer tomorrow. I know, its like cleaning your house before the housekeeper comes. But she needs to be brushed to make their job easier. So that will be our one-on-one time. Then after I'll reward her with a game.

[Karen]

Does she do a "big shed" this time of year, or just the normal snowdrift? Give her a hug for me, okay?

[Taz_Zoee]

I've never noticed a difference in her shedding. It's bad all the time. LOL

Hugs will be delivered.

[Taz_Zoee]

Ok, so the indoor game is not going so well. First of all Taggart gets in the way and I don't want to stick him outside all the time. So I put him in his crate and was sitting right next to it. He started to whine and groan. I had to let him out.
Second of all, I don't think running on the hardwood floors and sliding is such a good idea for Zoee's leg. So I must find another activity. The most difficult part of all this is Taggart. He HAS to be involved in EVERYTHING that goes on in the house. Even if we are paying attention to the cats....he has to stick his nose in.
I'll figure something out!

[Karen]

Ok, so the indoor game is not going so well. First of all Taggart gets in the way and I don't want to stick him outside all the time. So I put him in his crate and was sitting right next to it. He started to whine and groan. I had to let him out.
Second of all, I don't think running on the hardwood floors and sliding is such a good idea for Zoee's leg. So I must find another activity. The most difficult part of all this is Taggart. He HAS to be involved in EVERYTHING that goes on in the house. Even if we are paying attention to the cats....he has to stick his nose in.
I'll figure something out!

Hmmm, maybe the scent training would be good - ask him to find one scent and Zoee the other?

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, all activity is on hold for Miss Zoee. She is just limping too badly and hardly puts weight on that leg. I have been observing her closely the past few weeks and have noticed that when she runs outside she is not even using that leg. She's so darn fast that you almost can't tell. But the limping is becoming more frequent and needs to be addressed. I'm going to see if I can get her to the vet tonight.
We can rub all over the leg and she never flenches, so we have no clue whats going on. I just hope she doesn't have to live on Previcox for the rest of her life......its not cheap!

[Karen]

Awww, poor Zoee - and that's just so like a dog to run anyway - just won't use that leg! I hope the vet can figure out what's up!

[Roxyluvsme13]

Poor Zoee . Give her a hug from me!

It's really strange that it doesn't hurt if you touch it, but she limps around on it . I hope your vet can figure out what's wrong with the pretty girl!

[Taz_Zoee]

Thanks! Our appointment is 7pm PST. I will update after. I just hope they can figure out what is wrong. Nothing worse then them not finding anything wrong when I can SEE there is something wrong.
I need to jot down some notes to tell the vet. Better do that now while I'm thinking of it.

[Taz_Zoee]

Zoee was so scared at the vets. But she got xrays done and the vet thinks it is arthritis in her knee. The radiologist will review the pictures a week from next Tuesday. So I will know in a couple weeks. For now she is on Previcox.
Does anyone know if I can buy Previcox cheaper somewhere other than the vet? At the vet it is just over $70/month. If she has to stay on this long term I'd like to find it cheaper.

It was so sad....the family in the room next to me was having their dog PTS. And what was worse was I was in the same room where I said my goodbyes to Taz. Good thing they have tissues in there.

[Taz_Zoee]

The vet called me back Tuesday after the radiologist reviewed the xrays. He said she needs surgery. I told the doctor that just is not possible right now. She said it's not an emergency surgery need. Since she is staying off her leg on her own (when she runs she doesn't use that leg) she should be okay. So I said I would just keep an eye on it.
So of course that night I get home and she won't even put that leg down at all. And she did the same last night. I just can't do her surgery right now. It will cost about $3000 and I have to make arrangements with my mom to keep her during recovery. Bruce can't take care of her when he's trying to work at home (unless he changes his mind).
She honestly doesn't seem to be in too much pain. She is still her happy wiggly self. She still jumps up on the bed, couch and chair. She still runs full speed out the door each time we let them out.

The doctor mentioned putting her on tramadol in addition to the previcox she is already on. Does anyone have experience with either or both of these meds??

[dab_20]

The vet called me back Tuesday after the radiologist reviewed the xrays. He said she needs surgery. I told the doctor that just is not possible right now. She said it's not an emergency surgery need. Since she is staying off her leg on her own (when she runs she doesn't use that leg) she should be okay. So I said I would just keep an eye on it.
So of course that night I get home and she won't even put that leg down at all. And she did the same last night. I just can't do her surgery right now. It will cost about $3000 and I have to make arrangements with my mom to keep her during recovery. Bruce can't take care of her when he's trying to work at home (unless he changes his mind).
She honestly doesn't seem to be in too much pain. She is still her happy wiggly self. She still jumps up on the bed, couch and chair. She still runs full speed out the door each time we let them out.

The doctor mentioned putting her on tramadol in addition to the previcox she is already on. Does anyone have experience with either or both of these meds??

So sorry to hear she needs surgery. It's expensive, but you want to do whats best for your fur butt. Puts you in a hard place!

Pervicox is more of an anti inflammatory medication and Tramadol is a pain medication. I don't know a whole bunch about Pervicox, seeing as I work with people, but a lot of my patients are on Tramadol.
Tramadol is an opioid like hydrocodone (loratab) or morphine, but meant for more moderate pain. Although it's a narcotic it doesn't make them as out of it or groggy as other opioids. The major side effect of Tramadol is an upsetting of the GI tract (diarrhea or constipation), but I do think it a good option for pain control.
If she seems she's in pain at all it might be a good idea to put her on Tramadol.

Hope you can figure something out! Poor Zoee!