Lady got her MRI on August 27, so here I am, 3 and a half weeks later, finally updating this fundraiser.
They didn't find anything.
They did the MRI, tested her spinal fluid, and all of the results came back "unremarkable."
So we're at... square 2. We know what *isn't* wrong, and that's better than before.
The neurological veterinarian, Dr. Haley, at Friendship Hospital for Animals was great. I could tell she really, really cares about her furry patients and their humans. She discussed everything with me, called and followed up a couple days later, and then called and discussed the spinal tap (CSF) results with me when they finally came back.
The total cost for all her services on August 27 was $4,411.00. Thank you everyone who donated, your generosity went DIRECTLY towards that bill.
Since almost all our spare funds are tied up in moving expenses, every little bit is a huge relief to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
So, what's the plan now?
Physical therapy!
Right now the diagnosis is that she has a severe iliopsoas muscle strain, and it just hasn't been getting better. This all started in early June, so this poor girl has been dealing with pain and difficulty walking for over 3 months. I'm reading that early detection and treatment are important in the management of this kind of injury, so although I wouldn't say we figured it out "early," at least we're finally on the right track.
It makes sense that the veterinary orthopedist thought it was a neurological issue with her spine, because the psoas muscles connect to the lower spinal column and the femoral nerve goes through there too, and some apparent lack of sensation in her feet and legs can be caused by the inflammation kind of squashing that nerve.
Lady and I went to her first physical therapy
appointment yesterday,
and they did a session of cold laser therapy. I'd never heard of it, but it's becoming more widely used because it's pretty darn effective.
"Laser therapy for dogs is an alternative therapy used to manage pain, inflammation (swelling), and wound healing. The interaction between light from the laser and the dog’s tissues is called photobiomodulation."
Cold laser therapies for dogs lower pain and encourage healing by:
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Causing the release of endorphins
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Decreasing the release of inflammatory chemicals
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Causing lymphatic vessels to dilate (expand so fluid moves out of the tissue)
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Increasing blood flow to an area
https://www.petmd.com/dog/procedure/laser-therapy-for-dogs
We will be going back once a week for a few weeks because the benefits "stack" on top of each other and it's best to have a few sessions close together instead of spacing them out. We also have some stretches to do at home, and strict instructions to not let Lady play with Clara until she's healed. She's also taking a medication called gabapentin, which is finally something that has been making a dent in her pain levels. Carprofen (Advil for dogs) is the most commonly prescribed pain relief med by vets, but that didn't have any effect. With the gabapentin, she can go up and down stairs now (slowly.)
Anyway, thanks for reading all this. It's been a journey, and even though I am a very experienced dog mom, there are always new things to learn.
Thank you again <3
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Lady needs an MRI as soon as possible.
My 2 year old Shiba has been limping for the last couple of months and the vets can't figure out why.
The veterinary neurologist said it could be a herniated spinal disc, an infection, or a spinal injury. Lady is in a lot of pain, and if she isn't treated soon, it could develop into paralysis. It's quickly getting worse.
The estimate for the MRI is between $3,700 to $6,300, and that's just to diagnose her. She might need surgery, but we don't know yet.
We've already spent almost $2,000 trying to find her the right care, and we could use help covering whatever expenses are in the future. It's going to be... a lot.
Any donations are incredibly appreciated.
Donors who give $100 or more will receive weekly emails containing pictures of this ADORABLE SHIBA INU.
