Marlin's turn to the vet. Status #9

[robinh]

It is so emotionally draining to have your babies sick. Especially when you love them so much. Hope things get better soon.

[Freedom]

Marlin had a rough night. At times, he kept one rear leg up, at times the other. I got the impression he wanted to hold both up with no weight on them. By the time we went to bed, his entire rear end was down and he couldn't get it up for anything. I had to carry him outside for his final pee, then in to my bedroom and get him settled in a pet bed for the night. (Then I had to do the same for Sugar! Of course Willy had to be locked in another room while I did all this so he wouldn't attack Marlin.)

Marlin got up at least once during the night, and hobbled around a bit. (This morning I see he flooded the kitchen again. Yeah, THAT is still going on as well.) When he returned to bed, he sat for a long time, and when he put his front end down he gave a loud groan.

Part of me thinks I best have x rays done tomorrow - Friday -- because other wise I will be having them done at the ER over the long (3 day) weekend. AND I get this awful thought that I will be called once they do the x rays, that he needs to be PTS (remember my one week foster, Ben).

The Tramadol helped only slightly; and of course it makes him sleep at the high dose he is on.

What to do, what to do. All very sad at this point.

[pomtzu]

Oh no - not my Marlin Darlin too. Sandie - you must be an emotional wreck at this point. We are sending out mega prayers and good vibes to him, to overcome this, and of course for Sugar too.

I feel your pain Sandie. It's so hard to see our furkids get old and get hit with all the problems that comes with it. {{{HUGS}}} to all three of you. Darn - this screen is getting so blurry..........

[Taz_Zoee]

Major LES here. I am so sorry this is all happening at once Sandie. Just stay strong and you will get through it. I am hoping beyond hope that the x-rays will be helpful in Marlin's recovery and not the alternative.

Big HUGS to you and gentle loves to the sick "kids".

[lizbud]

I am so sorry that Marlin is feeling so bad & everything seems to
be going downhill for you. Do you think a stronger pain med would help
him get around easier? Major (((Hugs))) from Indy. This too shall pass.

[pomtzu]

Sandie - how is my Marlin Darlin doing? And Sugar?

Still sending lots of prayers and good vibes to both.

[Freedom]

Sugar is making progress - slow but steady. I am so glad she has a positive prognosis!

Marlin is hanging in there. I decided not to do the x rays for now. I hate making decisions in a rush, and realized that there was no need to this time around.

We know he has bad hips, from x rays 3 years back (or maybe it was 4 years?) The socket of the ball and socket joint is not deep enough. We know he has major arthritis in those joints. The vet said, if we assume that is all (no tumor, no cancer, the only other 2 possibilities), then we just treat the pain. At some point, the pain will be too great, and we won't be able to keep him comfortable. She tried to extend his leg back, as it should move in a normal walking movement, and it won't go. The night he couldn't put it down, she surmises the ball came out of the socket completely, which will also happen with time as the socket continues to deteriorate. So he had a dislocated hip, until it shifted back. And this would explain his squealing in pain.

I can no longer walk him down the street, he is only allowed in the back yard. It is too much for him. (I had stopped taking him to the Farm and on the other 2 mile walks back in June, he couldn't do those any longer.)

You can read about hip dysplasi, here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_dysplasia_%28canine%29

When he was first diagnosed, he was already beyond surgical repair. Now, he is older and has other issues, so he is not a candidate for complete hip replacement.