Update on Copper!

by **msvette2u** » May 25th, 2006, 7:43 pm

Brought Copper back to the vet, he's doing superb - other than he's lost weight! I figured the prednisone would make him blimp out but he's down to 14.8lbs from around 17lbs!!

He's easier to carry around but the vet and I both are worried about WHY he lost weight. He has loss of muscle mass in his rear end though and probably everywhere -that's just where I see it most other than his collar is very loose even on the last hole! So anyway I told her we'd continue the enforced rest for 8weeks, and she was SO PLEASED because she said hardly any of her clients do the enforced rest-and then they call and complain the dog is "down" again!
She felt he'll continue to improve or at least not get worse on the enforced rest and we'll wean him off the prednisone.
So that's the game plan, she said he could go for short walks now, to strengthen his muscles back up.

by **Jesseca** » May 25th, 2006, 7:49 pm

by **pitbullmamaliz** » May 25th, 2006, 7:52 pm

Good for you for sticking to the bed rest!!!

by **msvette2u** » May 25th, 2006, 7:55 pm

Yep and he's got 5 more to go...if not 7.

by **a-bull** » May 25th, 2006, 7:57 pm

Keep up the good work!!

by **mnp13** » May 25th, 2006, 8:07 pm

that's great to hear! is he in pain at all?

by **msvette2u** » May 25th, 2006, 8:12 pm

No he isn't in pain at all. In fact it's tough that he isn't in a bit of pain, because he thinks he's fine and wants to run up the stairs from the yard so we have to leash him for potty breaks. Argh!
Someone suggested L Carnitine to combat the muscle loss. Anyone hear of that?

by **Purple** » May 25th, 2006, 8:23 pm

Good to hear!!

by **mnp13** » May 25th, 2006, 8:45 pm

Demo knows all about that stuff, I'll make sure he checks in on this thread tomorrow.

by **Jenn** » May 25th, 2006, 9:11 pm

Hope he recovers fully soon!

by **babyreba** » May 25th, 2006, 9:18 pm

so glad to hear that he's doing better!

by **msvette2u** » May 25th, 2006, 9:43 pm

mnp13 wrote:Demo knows all about that stuff, I'll make sure he checks in on this thread tomorrow.

Thanks Michelle. I guess it's some sort of protein supplement or something!

by **Marinepits** » May 25th, 2006, 9:45 pm

I'm very glad to hear Copper is doing so much better!

by **dogcrazyjen** » May 25th, 2006, 9:48 pm

Wonderful! I am so glad to hear he is on the mend!

I can sympathize with you on the enforced rest. When Jack cut his toe off, after 2 days he was ready to play frisbee, and poor guy had to wait a whole month! Can you do training with him? Touch, watch, stay, and the 101 things to do with a box? Although he would need a lid :wink:

.

2 paws in, 2 paws out, back paws in front paws out, one paw in, drop things in the box, etc.

I am sending a prayer out for him, to give him patience to heal.

by **cheekymunkee** » May 25th, 2006, 10:14 pm

good to hear!! So he won't need surgery after all?

by **msvette2u** » May 25th, 2006, 11:27 pm

dogcrazyjen wrote:Wonderful! I am so glad to hear he is on the mend!

I can sympathize with you on the enforced rest. When Jack cut his toe off, after 2 days he was ready to play frisbee, and poor guy had to wait a whole month! Can you do training with him? Touch, watch, stay, and the 101 things to do with a box? Although he would need a lid .

2 paws in, 2 paws out, back paws in front paws out, one paw in, drop things in the box, etc.

I am sending a prayer out for him, to give him patience to heal.

OMG it is difficult to describe the extent to which Copper is a couch potato. The only thing that motivates him is food, so I stuffed some biscuits in a Kong and he had at it!
No Debby it appears that surgery isn't even in the horizon. But we can't let him jump again EVER. It is daunting but I told the vet we love him too much to let him reinjure himself. She said she got NO pain response or even drawing up when she felt of his back and legs. I'm so happy.

ps. maybe you missed the update (or maybe I didn't do one!) that he is now in an Expen instead of his crate. He likes it MUCH better and as long as he isn't jumping up on the sides, and we don't let him, he can be in that as opposed to the crate! We reduced it to just a tiny square big enough for him and his bed and a food and water bowl.

by **pitbullmamaliz** » May 26th, 2006, 9:27 pm

dogcrazyjen wrote:2 paws in, 2 paws out, back paws in front paws out, one paw in, drop things in the box, etc.

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!!

by **msvette2u** » May 26th, 2006, 9:52 pm

pitbullmamaliz wrote:
dogcrazyjen wrote:2 paws in, 2 paws out, back paws in front paws out, one paw in, drop things in the box, etc.

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!!

by **cheekymunkee** » May 26th, 2006, 11:41 pm

pitbullmamaliz wrote:
dogcrazyjen wrote:2 paws in, 2 paws out, back paws in front paws out, one paw in, drop things in the box, etc.

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!!

is that REALLY what it's all about??? I think so.......

by **turtle** » May 27th, 2006, 12:51 am

Glad to hear he's doing so much better!

Rest and inactivity does help back problems but it's tough to get them to stay quiet after they start to feel better.

Update on Copper!

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