Yesterday was a blur. Drove 2 1/2 hours to UC Davis. Took Delilah with me - best decision I could have made. The brought out a gurney to wheel him in and he kept looking back to make sure Di and I were there with him. Took her into the exam room and they kept licking each other for reassurance. When they finally took him to the back for further exam, I took her to car and she was fine. She is not whining but is definitely moping. At least she knows where he is.
Met with 4th year student who did intake. Doctor then came in for consult. They took him back so entire Ortho department could take a look. They also called in a neurologist for a consult due to severe tremoring in hind legs. The final meeting with Doctor lasted over an hour. They are amazing people - we discussed every possible issue.INitial thoughts: Minimal OCD - both rear knees blown - possible (remote) neuromuscular disease of some sort (causing tremoring).
I visited Sammy before I left and cried like a fool - it was hard to tell who was creating a bigger mess - my tears or his slobber. He had several people just hovering around him, scratching him, petting him and hugging him.
They admitted him and did blood work. Student called me last night - all blood work normal. They had created a "home" for him in a large kennel run with fleece coverings and a pillow. 24 hour monitoring from staff. He promised to call me this am to report how he did during the night.
Schedule for today: They put him under at 11 am. First - Penhip - xrays of joints - emg and joint taps. If no neuromuscular problems or severe OCD - will proceed to either TPLO or Suture to repair left hind leg. Decison not yet made as to which procedure - they plan to huddle with entire department due to fact he is still growing and fast. This may rule out TPLO. They plan to keep him several days after surgery to make sure he is mobile, eating and going to bathroom okay.
As for pain management, not only do they do an epidural, but they use these patches which they put on them after to time release pain meds for several days.
Future: Right rear leg to follow in 3-6 months depending on recovery - physical therapy a must as part of post op -
I am so impressed with UC Davis.
Met with 4th year student who did intake. Doctor then came in for consult. They took him back so entire Ortho department could take a look. They also called in a neurologist for a consult due to severe tremoring in hind legs. The final meeting with Doctor lasted over an hour. They are amazing people - we discussed every possible issue.INitial thoughts: Minimal OCD - both rear knees blown - possible (remote) neuromuscular disease of some sort (causing tremoring).
I visited Sammy before I left and cried like a fool - it was hard to tell who was creating a bigger mess - my tears or his slobber. He had several people just hovering around him, scratching him, petting him and hugging him.
They admitted him and did blood work. Student called me last night - all blood work normal. They had created a "home" for him in a large kennel run with fleece coverings and a pillow. 24 hour monitoring from staff. He promised to call me this am to report how he did during the night.
Schedule for today: They put him under at 11 am. First - Penhip - xrays of joints - emg and joint taps. If no neuromuscular problems or severe OCD - will proceed to either TPLO or Suture to repair left hind leg. Decison not yet made as to which procedure - they plan to huddle with entire department due to fact he is still growing and fast. This may rule out TPLO. They plan to keep him several days after surgery to make sure he is mobile, eating and going to bathroom okay.
As for pain management, not only do they do an epidural, but they use these patches which they put on them after to time release pain meds for several days.
Future: Right rear leg to follow in 3-6 months depending on recovery - physical therapy a must as part of post op -
I am so impressed with UC Davis.
