From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2001-12-14 18:44:00 UTC
Subject: tribulations of an elderly athlete
--
Poor old Warp; even at 7 she is startlingly fast and she practises at
it. Well, tonight I was watching her practice full-tilt turns and
suddenly her rear legs weren't working right. We checked them and
the legs and feet don't hurt, she can push with them, and she can
feel with them, but she is stumbling and having trouble not rolling
over onto her sides. She can even curl her toes well.
She is not acting like there is any marked pain but I did get a light
scolding when I laid her on her back, and incredible kisses when I
massaged her lower back.
Everything else is perfectly normal aside from her existing problems
and those are stable (insulinoma with Pred, adrenal growth with
Lupron, and an autoimmune disorder that causes ripping of her small
intestine which presents very differently -- surgery avoided since
she almost died in her last two ops).
She has insulinoma but this wasn't any type of crash we've ever seen;
she stayed awake and cognizant, wanting to be active till we put her
into a sick cage to rest.
We suspect that she has pulled her lower back, and have a call in to
the vets to find out what they want done since we can pump up her
pred easily enough if they want that and suggest a dose.
Warpie won't appreciate warm bathtub rehab but it's an option. Will
have to find the pantyhose sling or make a new one if she is still
having problems tomorrow. I don't think she is that bad to need
either.
Other suggestions?
Okay, they just called back and we've got an increase of the Pred
(which becomes two-stage if she has no improvement tomorrow) and then
a wean-down. If she gets worse, then tomorrow she'll have an exam and
x-rays in case of slipped disc, some aggravated arthritis, or...