Re: OT: Raffi-->Oh Thank God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Rhea, that is great! Poor little guy, he's been through allot. I'm so glad

things are looking up for him. To bad he can't get in for the water therapy yet.

I'm sure it would do him allot of good. Sounds like he will be running around to

play in the falling leaves! Give him an extra belly rub from Cindylouwho, OK?

[Guest guest]

Rhea, I've been reading Raffi's ordeals with much sadness - I love

dogs so much, and can feel what you're going through. I'm so glad

it's beginning to heal. Please know I'm praying for his continued

healing and recovery!

Love Lana

> We had a rough week with Raffi. After his splint change he started

> to go down hill again. He seemed to be in pain all the time,

stopped

> weightbearing all together on his leg, and even started yelping

again

> at times. It was awful. I was giving him aspirin and we had our

vet

> appt moved from the coming Friday to this Monday. We were all

scared

> stiff that the worst had happened and that we were slowly being

> forced into amputation.

>

> When we pulled up at the clinic Raffi started barking hysterically

> and struggling in my arms to get away. It was heart breaking

having

> to hand him over and walk away all while wondering if we would be

> schduling for surgery again in two hours. After three hours we

were

> called back to the clinic to pick him up, were told on the phone

that

> he 'hasn't been healing as well as expected' and the vet 'wanted to

> talk to us'. You can imagine what we were thinking on the drive

over

> and the hours wait at the clinic.

>

> Thankfully, the news wasn't that bad at all! Raffi has a fever, so

> we're on stronger antibiotics and 2 doses of aspirin a day. But,

he

> had more x-rays and they show a little bit of healing!!! Not as

much

> as the vet would like to see ideally, but bone regeneration and

> healing no less, even in the unpinned smaller bone (ulna)!!! During

> surgery the vet found the ulna bone had previously shriveled from

> inflammation so to see it regenerating is a BIG DEAL! YAAY! I got

> to see the x-ray films myself and it sure felt good to see that

> little bit of grey on the x-ray. This is just wonderful news! And

> I'm not too concerned about healing slower because little dogs are

> often that way. They discovered when they removed his splint that

he

> has a large sore on his elbow from the 6 or 7 weeks of constant

> splinting so that was tended too. They also would like to see him

> weightbear again. So, he's in a different aluminum splint now and

> they cut it down lower so it's not rubbing on his elbow, and padded

> up the elbow with gauze. We're all so thrilled that the yelping

was

> from a sore and not from a surgery complication!

>

> Unfortunately, because his healing is so slow the vet expects at

> least another 5 to 8 more weeks in a cast. ARG!!! The little guy

> has been in a cast since Father's Day, so this has been getting

> tiring for all of us but no matter because if it means a healed,

> strong leg than its all worth it. Oh yes, and because of the

healing

> he's still on *strict crate rest*. The poor little guy. He's so

> weak from all the crate rest that his hind legs wobble when he goes

> for a potty outside. So, during his potty breaks I'm going to try

to

> encourage him to use the leg a little more, but that's about all

> the 'rehab' we can do for a while. I guess his life jacket I've

> ordered for pool therapy will have to wait in the closet a while

> longer!

>

> So that's our news! We're cautiously optimistic right now :-D

Thank

> you so much for the prayers, thoughts, and kind and encouraging

> words. They really all have obviously helped tremendously! Here's

> hoping that his fever will soon cease, his sore will heal, and

he'll

> start to ***weightbear**** on that leg.

>

> Thanks so much my special CEDA family for all the love and

(((HUGS)))

>

> -Rhea and her furkid 'Raffi'

>

> PS. Thanks to those who've asked about my back. I now go every 6

> weeks for x-rays and appt with the surgeon instead of every 3.

Last

> appt I was given the go ahead to start PT, but unfortunately the PT

> has caused back spasms and aching, which after discontinuing the

PT,

> still haven't gone away. Bugger all >:-p I'm being patient,

taking

> it easy, and we'll see what the surgeon says in two more weeks

time.

> Maybe its just too early to do PT with this body.

[Guest guest]

Rhea,

Thank goodness Raffi is beginning to heal--whew!

Please keep me posted on how he's doing. He sounds like such a precious little

fella.

Your back must need a bit longer before beginning PT....

From my personal experience, it takes twice as long to heal up as it does others

(non EDS people). Have you ever had that happen?

Love and hugs to you and Raffi,

CindyH

Wisc.

From: Rhea

We had a rough week with Raffi.

[Guest guest]

Oh Rhea, I am so thrilled that there is new bone growth!! that is

just the best news. I have been praying so hard for the little chap

and hope that this is just the first small step towards his full

recovery...the poor little one has been through so much.

I hope that he is feeling much better now that his fever is being

treated and his sore has been dealt with, after the past few days

dealing with my own " brace sores " I can fully sympathise with Raffi

on that one!

Please give your little darling a gentle healing hug form me and

know he will stay firmly in my thoughts and prayers until he is back

on his feet good and proper.

Good job on looking after him Sweetie, I knew your nursing and love

would make the difference - just make sure you take care of yourself

too, or I may just have to come over there and lay Florence

Nightingale! hee-hee

Love and hugs....Jo

xxx

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jo! :-) Ha, Florence Nightingale for sure LoL We had a

wicked thunderstorm this morning so I woke up to round up Hannah (she

hates them) only to discover Dad had her too. Nothing cuter than a

big strong man cuddling two little scared poodles LoL.

How is your sore Jo? Raffi sends his sympathies! Will write to you

soon hun.

(((HUGS)))

-Rhea

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jo! :-) Ha, Florence Nightingale for sure LoL We had a

wicked thunderstorm this morning so I woke up to round up Hannah (she

hates them) only to discover Dad had her too. Nothing cuter than a

big strong man cuddling two little scared poodles LoL.

How is your sore Jo? Raffi sends his sympathies! Will write to you

soon hun.

(((HUGS)))

-Rhea

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindy (H)

Thanks! He is a 'character'. LoL

Thanks for telling me your experience with healing! Sure makes sense

to me. From my research the protocol I have been getting thus far

matches exactly that they give to an osteoporotic geriatric person

except that protocol doesn't list PT until the 3rd or 4th month. The

back spasms are finally calming down a little. Phew!

(((HUGS))) right back to you Cindy!

-Rhea

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindy (H)

Thanks! He is a 'character'. LoL

Thanks for telling me your experience with healing! Sure makes sense

to me. From my research the protocol I have been getting thus far

matches exactly that they give to an osteoporotic geriatric person

except that protocol doesn't list PT until the 3rd or 4th month. The

back spasms are finally calming down a little. Phew!

(((HUGS))) right back to you Cindy!

-Rhea

[Guest guest]

Thank you for keeping this little one in your prayers Lana! I'm sure

they are helping!

Big (((HUGS))) Lana, and I hope to tell you some more good news

soon :0)

-Rhea

[Guest guest]

Thanks Cindy! Oh yes, you won't believe it... we found a TINY

chihuahua sized red kong for Raffi at the vets. It's so small, it's

hilarious. We've stuffed it with a few treats and kibble a few times

and he loves it.

Yeah, I've been just itching to start him in the tub, especially with

his body so weak from all this crate rest. Ah well, patience. I

will post a photo of his first water session though LoL ;-)

((((HUGS)))) and Raffi sends licks to your canine crew

-Rhea

[Guest guest]

Thanks Cindy! Oh yes, you won't believe it... we found a TINY

chihuahua sized red kong for Raffi at the vets. It's so small, it's

hilarious. We've stuffed it with a few treats and kibble a few times

and he loves it.

Yeah, I've been just itching to start him in the tub, especially with

his body so weak from all this crate rest. Ah well, patience. I

will post a photo of his first water session though LoL ;-)

((((HUGS)))) and Raffi sends licks to your canine crew

-Rhea