He could be one of the Bratpack?
We had a meeting with the vet on Saturday to talk through the results. Jet has dysplasia in both of his elbows, but in the right on, part of the bone has broken off. He will have to have an operation on both elbows, six months apart, starting with the right one. In the right side, the orthopaedic surgeon will place metal plates to realign the joint so the stress is better distributed across the three bones in his elbow. It will be a six week recovery period where Jet will have to be in one room, only being allowed into the garden on a lead to do the necessary. The vet talked about a cage, but psychologically that wouldn't work do any of us and we don't have a cage or the room to put one.
Sporting the country gent look, complete with teddy...Brideshead Revisited?
The vet said he must be in constant pain, but not once does he ever complain or snap. He really is an absolute treasure :)
The financial aspect of this is a bit scary as we have already spent nearly £1000 on the scans and the operation on his right elbow alone is being quoted as £3000. The insurance covers £3000 per condition. We will try to persuade them to cover each elbow separately (my motto is "Don't ask, don't get") but I suspect we will have to pay the extra thousands. Still if it means he can walk comfortably and get back to enjoying his walks then it's worth every penny.
Mr D and I are still suffering with our necks. I have physio this week and him next week. We have emptied the car ready for them to take it away as we are very unlikely to see it again. Obviously all of this will leave us out of pocket because we will end up having to buy a new (to us) car which will cost more than the present value of the ruined car. How blinking irritating! We will definitely push for the most money we can get for the car from the insurers - we have paid in enough over the years!
I had the steroid injection in my foot last week, so I'm hoping that I will fall in the 70% for whom it brings complete relief from the plantar fasciitis. It's not as painful as it was, partly due to the silly priced shoes I bought.
We had some friends stay over at the weekend with three small children all under 4. I can honestly say that I have no idea how they cope. They're not even particularly difficult children, but it's constant and the lack of sleep would finish me off. These days I'd have to be going to bed at 7.30 when they did, just to survive! Fortunately I am hoping those days are long behind me and I have a way to go before grandchildren......
Even Jet was done in by the end of the visit :)
I have to say, I'm feeling a little jaded around the edges just at the moment. I might need some music to get me going this morning.
Poor Jet, it seems a long time to be out of action, but the long term benefits will be worth it for him x
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so. I'd hate to think of putting him through all that for little or no benefit!
DeletePoor all of you but you will manage in the end. Annoying isn't it whn the cost of a replacement car isn't enough to replace it!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, but, as you say, we'll find a way through it :)
DeleteThinking of you. I thought I'd had a difficult week or so but nothing compared to what you've been through. I was just wondering if it was worth keeping our pet insurance but you've persuaded me to keep the policies in place. I know of a dog who had this same problem but it was just in one leg. Does the vet think this is a breeding problem or just bad luck? He's such a handsome boy Jet and he is with the right family to get through this. Keep smiling xx
ReplyDeleteThank you. I think the vet felt he would have been born with it but that there's no way of knowing unless you X-ray all puppies so we've just got to deal with it now. If it had been picked up busy his previous owner, it would have been much simpler to deal with, but it wasn't so we will face it now.
DeleteIt's a pain when everything always seems to happen at once!
Poor Jet. I bet he thinks the pain he' s in is just normal. Labs are such great dogs. I hope his treatment makes him feel much better. At least you know it can be sorted. Poor you, poor hubby, poor car too! Re. The kids - at one stage we had 3 under age 5 and now when our 2 granddaughters visit who are 2yrs and 5 months it's like hell on earth in a nice way!!
ReplyDeleteYour comment about the little ones made me laugh! I can only do it in small doses. If they sleep well that makes it easier.
DeletePoor Jet and poor you, but if he's like our Miss Kitty he's a full member of the family and what has to be done, has to be done. Bummer about the car, I'd sue the other driver's insurance company for enough money to get a new(er) car, that's generally what they do here.
ReplyDeleteWe'll try our best to get as much as we can. I think they'll offer us silly money first so we will have a fight on our hands, but quite frankly I'm quite good at getting agro as is Mr D!
DeleteLove the photo shoot what a gorgeous boy he is. Its always difficult when they need an op its like you're causing their pain.
ReplyDeleteHe is adorable isn't he? :) I'm just hoping this all fixes his problem so he can get back to running around and enjoying himself.
Deleteawwwww poor Gud Dug. So sorry to hear this. What a sweet baboo to hurt so much.
ReplyDeleteHe is such a wonderful member of the family. Much loved.
thehamish had lens replacnemt in both eyes. We are now back uo to 5 drops a day from just 4 drops (2 twice a day) and 2 insulin shots. And even after all this he has deposits in one eye that are pushing through the lens. So he will lose sight in that eye or one more opperation. I spend more money on doctor bills for the Gud Dugs than myself.
Keeping him quiet we be ok, thehamish had to be quiet because of no bumping of his eyes/head or even the blood rushing from walking to much. I think you will be ok. Sometimes they understand to be quiet.
Sorry about the car and your neck. I hope you heal and feel better fast.
cheers, parsnip
cheers, parsnip
Thanks for the good wishes. Hopefully, over the next few months, things will start to improve in all areas and we can have a little break from minor catastrophes for a while?!
DeletePoor Jet, what a lot he has to go through :-(
ReplyDeleteAs you say he is a fantastic dog to be so good tempered even though he must have been in pain for such a long time.