Kenobi's 2nd round of X-Rays

[samvara]

Woofer has arthritis in both elbows, he will continue to have this regardless of surgery and we can treat this with diet, drugs and lifestyle. Mr. Vet says he can't rule out traditional medications eventually curing him.

Surgery is proposed for the teensy fragments also floating around his elbows which can be removed. It will take 6-8 weeks for him to recover from keyhole surgery and in the first two weeks he will have to not bounce at all. Mr Vet thinks the surgery is a good idea but also says there is a 70% chance there will be -some- improvement ranging from slight to good.

I'm not sure what to decide. It's going to be painful, slow and expensive and may have no positive effects at all. It also will not do anything to help with the arthritis. The woofer has already had some terrible life experiences, I'm hesitant to add to them.

On the other hand, I owe it to him to do everything I can to improve his quality of life.

I wish I could explain it to him and let him choose.

Comments

[mr-booboo.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

[hug] Thanks.

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

*love*

Thinking of you - and if i could translate into doggy words i would! *wibble snuggle*

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

I speak reasonable 'woofer' and quite good 'chicken' but this is beyond me!

I shall provide a great deal of love and hope it speaks for itself.

[japester.livejournal.com]

I think ... he'd say ... if you can afford it.
I'm much the same. Cost, benefit .... those bits of bone floating around won't do him good in the future.
I wish! too that the 4 legged members of our family could speak too.
They love us unconditionally. We are the pack leaders. We are lumped with the hard decisions and they will happily follow us wherever we go. Abide by any decision we make.
Yes. That makes these choices harder, but only from one point of view. Imagine if it t'were yourself. Would you still do it?
Can we keep Kenobi swimming, and not bouncing?

::cries:: I'm glad I don't have to make this choice. I already did it once for Sam, when I had no choice. Torn ligaments mean surgery or a 3 legged puppy. There was the choice of surgery for his other knee. We managed to stave that one off with the drugs.
I've said this to others for other reasons, go talk to my mum! She knows this stuff! Number available on request

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

[hug] Thanks for the advice, I pretty much made up my mind this morning when I stopped being all emo and calmed down a bit. We're doing it.

Can I have your mother's number? I'd like to talk about post-surgery recovery and how it went.

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

This is no good! Hard decision, definitely.

Todaty, deelpy...

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

frined... [hug] I really appreciate you, you know this right?

[artisanat.livejournal.com]

I suppose, since he can't tell you, all you can do is try to put yourself in his place. What would you want done if it was you (including, I guess, not getting told what was going on)?

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

I would want to be taken care of lots and lots ;-)

[maharetr.livejournal.com]

No answers, but love and cuddles and support, always.

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

[love]

[sarren.livejournal.com]

Poor woofer.

I'm sure snuggles from you will help him get through anything.

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That's a really beautiful icon too.

That's my plan; surgery and compensating cuddles.

[sarren.livejournal.com]

Good plan :)

[tiger-75.livejournal.com]

This is a hard one. I think you should go for it and see how he goes. Where there's life ther's hope and all..

Lots of Love,

xxx

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

I think you're right.

Love you, M

[creativemeans.livejournal.com]

How will he react to six weeks without bouncing? Will he understand?

It's a very hard call. *hugs*

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

Once he's not hurting he will scamper around like a mad thing and try to force throw toys on me - he won't understand at all.

On the other hand he is very susceptible to cuddles.