So, I ditched my standing Monday appointment with one of my students and rushed off to take Tipper to Arbor Point / Animal Pain Center to see Dr. Petty. Did I mention that Dr. Petty emailed us back within 24 hours of our desperate contact via his website? He got us in at 4:00 TODAY!
My contact form, my email, and this morning trying to explain to the kind woman on the phone: “I don’t know what we need. Arthritis? Pinched nerves? Euthanasia? Hospice? I just don’t know. I’m sorry I’m crying.”
DER.
DR. PETTY: “Well, obviously there’s a lot going on from what you’ve described and what I can feel. Myofacial, hip, spine, yadda yadda, yadda.”
ME: “Dr. Obradovich doesn’t think the cancer is killing him right away and there’s lots we can do for that and Dr. Rogerson thinks the cancer isn’t causing this specific pain, and Tipper still wants to eat and play and love, and I don’t want to kill a perfectly fine dog over a stubbed toe…but he’s in so much pain. How do I know when he’s in too much pain?”
DR. PETTY: “Oh, he’s nowhere near that.”
With that, they swept Tipper away for some sedation, some x-rays, and a bit of acupuncture.
We’ll go back next week. Sounds like we’ll have some acupuncture treatments, which are far more affordable than I would have expected.
LESSON LEARNED: Actually find out how much rehab sessions / training really cost before you assume that you can’t afford them. Cancer treatment (especially with surgery involved) is beyond pricey. I think if I hadn’t been so freaked out about that, I might have gotten off my tookus and headed for rehab. Admittedly, time was a factor as well. Tipper did have some unique issues with the pads of his feet that I thought might preclude us from rehab, but I’d bet that Dr. Petty would have had some advice for us on that as well. Because of all the foot wounds in the past several months, Tipper has had a real balancing act – literally – moreso than your everyday tripawd, which have worn out muscles in all sorts of places.
Dr. Petty told me to expect possibly 36 hours of muscular pain following this dry needling appointment – BUT NOT TO FREAK OUT! 🙂
Logan was beyond thrilled when we got home today. Too many trips out of the house with Tipper sans Logan in the past few days had him a little rattled. He flew laps around the house and the yard when we got back home tonight.
Sir Logan says, “Hi! I’m pretty cute! All this stuff with my brother has me a little freaked out, but since he’s been in pain, I’ve gotten very, very brave and a little bit pushy!”
So glad to hear Dr. Petty could get you in quickly and the appt when well:). Our Tripawd Bruce’s little sister Marley has had a time adjusting as well. When he was gone for the weekend for surgery we spent extra time on walks, park play time, frisbee throwing (she is nothing but energy), and today with Bruce coming home she’s needing a little TLC too
Great news, and I love your “lessons learned” for this post! I also have two dogs – Tess, the female, had cruciate repair over the summer and Otis was so attentive to her and so loving. When Otis had his surgery, it was the reverse. It is amazing how closely these dogs can bond with one another, and how loving they are toward one another. They each knew when the other was hurting. And today (we are 3 months out), I took them both into the side yard and they played around like big dogs a bit (ok, older, slower, big dogs with various orthopedic issues, but play all the same).
BTW Sir Logan is adorable!
I’m so glad you’re finally getting some encouraging feedback and solutions from Dr. Petty!
Being able to keep Tipper pain free is glorious news! It know it’s…….not going to happen overnight……,.but it sounds like it WILL happen!!
Lots of hugs! You are stronger than you realize!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Keep us updated.