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Tillie's Vet Appt...

6K views 69 replies 31 participants last post by  TilliesMom 
#1 ·
Well, the day finally came. Tillie's long awaited FULL check up and re-check.
It was quite the appt and a lot of things were done and addressed.
I'll start by saying that Tillie is OFFICIALLY 'breed standard'!!! Her weight today was 10.0 lbs! Can you believe it!??? My little girl is 'all grown up'! :D

Anywhooooo, the appt started out ROUGH. I had to run home from work to get Tillie and NOT let her pee, because she needed to pee at the vets so they could catch it, right? So, I go out with her and the vet tech and the vet tech MISSES her peeing!!! sigh.:frusty: So then we walked around for another 10 minutes hoping she would go again. nope. no luck. sigh.

I had brought a list of questions and things I wanted done. She was a trooper through all of it. I can imagine she will be sore for a few days.
She was heartworm tested, got her DHPP 3 yr vaccine, had her anal glands emptied, teeth checked (he said they look great! GO home cooking!!) AND then the vet ended up feeling her bladder and deciding that she had enough pee in there to go ahead and "collect it" so he shaved her belly while the vet tech and I held her down and then stuck a needle in her belly and drew the pee out. As painful as it sounds, she was SUCH a trooper, didn't cry, barely even struggled. :( The vet did a fantastic job, one shot, filled a whole syringe. That urine will be sent to a lab for full urinalysis AND he was able to get enough to send some for culture also, to make sure that what ever has been going on is resolved and if it ISN"T that we are able to figure out what's going on in her bladder!

So, ya, that was a big part of the appt. BUT there's more ... he did a physical exam of her body and discovered pretty quick that her BACK was really messed up!!! I brought up the trembling, the pee I find in her crate in the morning sometimes and he is VERY certain it is all connected, to her BACK. Her problem is in L3,4,5. So I was like, okay... now we need to see a doggie chiropractor?? and he raises his hand. lol "HERE" sooooo, he's ALSO a doggie chiropractor!! :peace:
So he used his tools to get her back lined up and then used a special heating tool so the muscles don't spasm and then adjusted her again... when we were leaving, Tillie was smiling... :jaw:

So, time will tell if this is our answer. I'm really curious to see how her trembling is tomorrow morning as typically the morning is her worst trembling time...

Thanks for always being here for me and Tillie throughout this journey...
 
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#3 ·
wow, that's interesting. If indeed her back is causing this that is just another example how pain can influence behavior like peeing uncharacteristically. How long is this back adjustment supposed to last.?
 
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#4 ·
Glad you had a good appointment with Tillie and she was smiling when she left. Sounds like she got a really good checkup and was a great patient. Strange about the back issue though. You must have been quite surprised with that diagnosis. I'm sure you weren't expecting to hear that. Hope the realignment helps with her trembling and peeing problems and her urine comes back negative for all bad things. Sounds like you're headed in the right direction, Tammy. Keep that chin up for you and Tillie.
 
#5 ·
Thanks! ya, I was really shocked (and somewhat relieved!) when he found the problem with her back!
*I*. an untrained animal person can totally FEEL the difference in her back. She did have a 'bump' that is no longer there after the adjustment!! other than being tired she hasn't had any trembling yet... (fingers crossed!!)
He wants to see her back next week for a re-check of her back. IF the trembling has gone away and the urine culture comes back clear then we are free!! Only to return if there is an issue... praying there isn't anymore problems!! If so, she will need more extensive blood work.
 
#6 ·
That would be interesting, and wonderful if this is the fix you've been looking for. I really hope it works. Let us know what happens tomorrow.
 
#10 ·
Wow, well I hope the adjustment does the trick. I will be curious to see how she is the next few days. We are all rooting for her!! If it turns out to be her back, I have a great supplement to suggest. Bella takes it and is doing well on it. I also limit Bella's walking. Fingers crossed Tammy!
 
#12 ·
Don't know why it didn't register before I posted earlier, but my DH had very bad pain in his legs for months and was sent by his PCP for PT. Instead of getting better, he began to get worse - could barely walk without severe pains in his legs and had to stop driving. After several months, he was seen by a NP, as the doc couldn't see him that day, and it was the best thing that happened because she suggested an MRI which showed he had several herniated discs in L5 with nerve compression. When the neurosurgeon saw him, one of the questions he asked was whether he had any incontinence as that was a symptom of this back problem. Luckily he did 't but had surgery and has been back to normal again.
Maybe that will be the route of all of Tillie's problems too. I hope that's the answer for her and she recovers as DH did. Just my two cents after the light dawned on Marblehead.
 
#19 ·
Wow, Tammy, that is a surprising outcome. I didn't even know that there were doggie chiropractors, though it makes sense that they could have back problems just like us. I really hope that this is the turning point, and that Tillie, and you, will finally get some relief from all of the stress and pain and worry. Well, I'm sure you've been worrying, but that is one advantage that dogs have over us -- they do not worry. :)
-- Eileen
 
#23 ·
The wonderful vet Missy and I useis a chiropractor too... That's why I initially started taking Kodi to her. He hurt himself doing agility, and the local vet tried to convince me that the reason he could hardly walk was a parasite. I was so impressed with her that I switched him to her for everything. It's worth the longer drive to know I've got a vet who will really listen, and treats the WHOLE dog.
 
#24 ·
for SURE! I actually asked him what could have happened if I had taken her to a "regular" vet? He said they would have most likely NOTICED her back because it was that bad, but they may have not said anything, knowing there wasn't anything they could do. Maybe put her on pain pills or something...

It is just shear luck that we ended up at this vet AND that he is even here in the middle of no where. We may not have doggie day care, a dog sitter,or any other havs within a 3 hr drive, BUT we have an awesome vet! :D
 
#20 ·
Tammy, I hope that the back issue is the root of this problem, that it has been found, addressed, and that she will continue to feel much better!

As a side note, I know chiropractic treatment helped a young boy who was having bed-wetting problems. He was taken in for an adjustment for something else--and the bed-wetting stopped.
 
#25 ·
Having an answer is such a relief! Beau's vet has started a rehabilitation program recently. One of the vets was sent off to get the specialty training she needs and they are now expanding their program to do much more for pets! (Rehabilitation is a comparatively new specialty for humans, too!) If you get a clean bill of health urinary tract-wise at the next appointment, you might ask the vet about some exercises you could do with Tillie that would help to strengthen her abdomen and back muscles. Maybe water therapy? Maybe some version of doggy stretching and bridges and sit-ups? Chiropracty can put things back in place, but she will need the right exercises to help her keep things aligned. If the vet can't help with that, maybe you and he can do some research on doggy physical therapy! This sounds all good for you and Tillie! Give her a hug and a kiss from all of us!
PS: I'm a spinal cord injury nurse specialist. If I can help you with understanding the connection between the spine and the urinary tract, please don't hesitate to ask. I don't want to tell you what you already know. Hang in there!!
 
#27 ·
Check this site out:

http://www.balldynamics.com/fitpaws.php

We have both the Fitpawz Ball and the donut, and Kodi works on them about 3x per week for core strengthening. My vet suggests it for all longer back breeds (that includes our Havs) that compete in agility.

Tammy, in your case, because I know you don't have a ton of room, the donut might be a better choice... it's a bit smaller. (BTW, your kids will enjoy it too!)
 
#30 ·
she did have some trembling this morning, but no where near as bad as it has been.
And when I felt along her back the trembling got more intense, so I know she is still in pain. I am hoping it is just because of all that was done yesterday. Planning on keeping her as still and resting as possible today... we are hopeful that she is on the mend...
I will look into those exersices, thanks!!
 
#31 ·
My vet as warned me that they are often MORE uncomfortable 24 hrs after a major adjustment, even if they felt WONDERFUL leaving the office.
 
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