Graham is getting so sore :(

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Leslie,

I am sorry to hear about poor Graham's leg. I wish it had never happened. It breaks my heart to think of Graham being in pain and mostly not getting to do stuff doggis live for!

May I make a suggestion? Why don't you and hubby take the dogs together to the dog park. That way one of you can tend to Kersey and the other one makes sure Graham is still able to play but within his physical capabilities.

I know that amputation is very difficult for all of you, but may be the best solution if your vet recommends it. If it comes down to it, I am sure that Graham would be better off that how he is now. I have seen dozens of dogs with an amputated leg and they seem to cope with it well. In fact, they are able to do more with out the bag leg weighing them down.

No matter what happens, Leslie, just remember that we will all be here for you at Pet Talk. I know that you and your husband will do what is best for Graham.

Hugs and kisses to sweet Graham boy and Kersey.

[mruffruff]

I feel so bad for you and Graham. You've been through so much .
I know how much he wants to run & play with the other dogs. My Scruffy used to scream when he was playing with the other dogs. He stopped using his back leg because of the pain, and the muscles atrophied. His vet & I opted to have his back leg removed. Now he can play with no pain. It may not have been the only solution, but it worked for us. He can really fly around the yard. He's a lot happier so I am too.

While I'm not advocating amputation as a cure all, it really isn't the end of an active life. It sure beats pain and frustration for the dog.

I hope you can find a solution for Graham. You both deserve some good times.

Mary

[jennifert]

Leslie, I'm so sorry to hear about Graham's pain. And yours. It does make it harder and more obvious now that Kersey is a part of your family, I'm sure. Some of the other suggestions people have made sound great, especially the swimming.

I'm so tempted to say" Oh everything will be fine, don't worry" but that would be something a non-Pet Talker would say who doesn't understand the pain and hurt you feel over your precious Graham and his quality of life.
And I do and I'm sorry and wish there was more that I could do for you.

[K9karen]

My poor, sweet, frustrated, sad friend Lesle. I actually feel your pain, esp; when to comes to my 2nd favorite boy of all time. Please call the surgeon and get further details on the prognosis. Nothing heals overnight and sweet Graham's ordeal was not an easy one. How about acupuncture? I've never had to use it so far, buth the Codmeister is ten, with bad hips and there's nothing I wouldn't try. I know you feel so desperate. All Cody had was double ALC surgery and I freaked out! I wish there was something I could do. I love you guys to pieces1

[AdoreMyDogs]

Thank you all so much. I have actually been taking Graham to the dog park and basically walking threw the park and threw the gate at the opposite end, which leads to a huge park/nature preserve. The dog park is actually a park inside of a park. Outside of the dog park they have some lovely grassy fields and trails and it's a 10-15 minute walk to a gorgeous, and completely secluded dock where the dogs can swim, and as soon as it's warm enough, I can join them. The water is lovely, clean and unpolutted. I have been taking Graham swimming daily either in the park outside of the dog park, or at the lake across the street from me. He SOOOOO much enjoys it. I am really glad that he loves swimming so much because it's pretty beneficial to his recovery.

Today we had a really crummy thing happen that will prevent Graham from having much fun for the next couple or more days. I took him to the pond across the street and was swimming the dogs, when it seemed like Graham started swimming funny...then when he got to shore he was holding up HIS GOOD FOOT!!! I put him in a down and rolled him over. I lifted up his good foot (his right front foot) to examine it and he started wimpering! I knew he hurt himself but it took a bit of exploration to figure out how it was hurt. I first bent his ankle and it seemed fine, then I moved to his pads and didn't notice anything. I then began spreading his toes one by one and I found that he had pierced the webbing on his good foot between his toes and it was bleeding pretty bad. Poor guy He now has 2 bum front legs

I thought about carrying him home because he was limping so bad, but he's 47 pounds and I had a good distance to walk so I just walked slowly with him, and Dan walked with Kersey. When I got home I put Graham in a down, rolled him over, and began to cut all the hair around his puncture wound so I could see if I saw any foreign objects sticking out of the hole, and it looked like it was just a puncture wound. I then carried him into the bathtub and with the shower head, irrigated the hole and washed away all the cut hairs so he could heal. Then I took him out of the tub and poured peroxide around and inside of the hole and then put antibiotic ointment on his foot. Then I put a doggie bootie on him so he wouldn't lick the wound. I'll wait it out today and see how he does with my make-shift veterinary care. I also gave him a rimidyl because he was really holding the foot up. If he's in alot of pain tomorrow and he appears to be no better then I am going to take him in to the vet to make double sure there's no foreign objects or splinters in the wound. They may also give him a dose of antibiotics because my guess is that whatever he stepped on in the water while swimming, it was not sterile.

I hope he's ok and this puncture wound heals quickly. I have no idea what he cut his foot on but my guess is that there was a block of wood with a nail sticking out of it. The puncture wound on his foot webbing is about the sized of a large nail. My poor angel We just aren't having luck lately.

I feel terrible for him but I am trying to remain positive that the nail, or whatever he stepped on in the water, will not infect his foot. I will keep a close eye on the puncture wound and his willingness to use the foot. My poor baby

[LoudLou]

Ah, Graham. So sorry you are having such a tough go at it lately. Hope things turn around soon. Just know that we all LOVE YOU and your Parents! We think about y'all all the time. Loves to you all.

[sabies]

poor Graham, hang in there! Even if it leads to amputation Graham will still be a lucky, happy dog. Hope things get better.

[Gio]

Gosh, not this as well . Continued thoughts and prayers are on your way Leslie. Please keep us posted when you have the time.

[Albea]

Oh Leslie! What a run of bad luck you and poor Graham had lately I hope his new injury heals quickly.
Could you ask your vet if glucosamine would help the mobility in his operated leg? It's just a thought. I wish I could do something more useful to diminish his pain (and yours).
You are always in our get well soon list.
Love to Mr. "G" from Carina and Alicia

[jennifert]

Holy Mackerel!! ( That couldn't be what he stepped on could it! ) It's just one thing after another... Poor Graham!! Poor Leslie!!

Here in New York, we have things called zebra mussels in the water and the dogs cut and scrape their paws on them. We have built them a ramp now so they can climb in and out over the rocks. Could those be what he stepped on? They are as sharp as razor blades!
Duncan went to the vet for some of his cuts and the vet said to keep it clean and put triple antibiotic on them until they heal.
What a bummer that the swimming thing didn't even turn out...Well things will get better!! PROMISE!

On a side note Leslie, this morning I was walking the dogs at the park near my house and Duncan was lagging behind. Jack and I just kept walking as he will usually just run and catch up. Well, he did but he took a shortcut to us, RIGHT OFF A 10 FOOT WALL!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes and it was like slow motion when he was in the air! My life (and your's and Graham's) flashed in front of my eyes!!!! I was terrified what I would see when all of a sudden he just came running around the corner like "No big deal Mom!!" AARRRGGGHHH!! I'm at work now but I felt his legs and we walked about another 2 miles and he seemed fine. Unbelievable, the things they do to us!

[RachelJ]

Of course this thread is heartbreaking to me. The other posters have offered some very good suggestions, so I am not going to try to add anything except all our love for Graham.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Thanks for caring, everyone. You are all super wonderful. I just got back from the vet with Graham and Kersey. Kersey had her rear dewclaws removed and Graham's foot swelled quite a bit where he stepped on the nail. Out of the hole in his foot, there was puss oozing out. I knew that they had to treat him, because I can't have him developing permenant damage to his good foot too.

All is well. I am soaking Graham's foot in epsom salt and nolvasan, plus he has an antiobiotic plus another refill of rimidyl tabs. If his swealing does not go down by Saturday I have to take him back to the vet to have them anesthitize Graham and look into the hole and make sure there are no splinters, or anything. My poor pups

Kersey also surprised me after we left the vets office I took the dogs to go to the bathroom before we hit the road, and Kersey pooped and there were these white things that were MOVING in her poop!!! Now I did put her on Frontline and Advantage when I first got her, but she must have ingested a flea at some point in her life before she came to live with us because she has TAPEWORMS!!! I was really disgusted! On Saturday I even had them run a stool check on her and it came out negative for any parasites. So Kersey was also de-wormed today. That is probablly why she's just so thin, and she does not seem to be gaining any weight even though I feed her alot.

I hope that this is it for the vet care for awhile! I also hope that Graham's foot heals up.

Thanks again for the nice comments. And thank you for helping me through this with all the kind words.

Love,

Leslie, Graham & Kersey

[lizbud]

Hi Leslie,

Just checking in to see how Graham's foot is healing.

After reading about Graham's latest injury, I was just
heartbroken. God must have something great in store
for Him, as he's been given so many trials. What a Trooper!!
Hugs to Grahamy & Kersey. Liz & Buddy.

[K9karen]

Oh Les, you poor girl! Just reading abour Graham and kersey just breaks my heart! I mean, when Cody had ALC SirJury the 1st time, I thought I would die from grief and misery and fear. Well, he did better than me, but I was no better the 2nd time around. So my heart isjust aching for you and the kids. Poor, sweet, sweet Grahammers. He must be so confused. I was so shocked once when walking Cody in the local school yard, he turned around & quickly walked home..very unusal..He was lifting his right front paw and licking it, and just before I had a chance to examine it, out pops a thumbtack! ACK! Thank God for Neosporin! I swear, he's gonna give me a heart attack! I think the tapeworm description was TMI, thanks Les, (LOL) but I'm glad Kersey is OK. People think I'm nuts, but I do an exam everytime C does his elephant droppings! Lots of kisses and hugs to everyone..I love you guys!

[lovemymaltese]

Oh my, that is so sad! Could it possibly be arthritus? It can happen to even younger dogs. If so, I know of a wonderful drug called arthromine (spelling?) Ask your vet about it, it can also be found cheaper on internet sites. My dog is 16 and wasn't able to hold himself up and he limped/whined. After 1 month on that stuff he was like a puppy again. Maybe you should check it out. I pray that you find a way to relieve his pain. All you can help him with for certain is supply him with endless love and affection.