Tabitha
Forums Enthusiast
Continued prayers for you and Tinsel! Keep us updated!
Tinsel's Journey
- Thread starter Tagg
- Start date
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You have no idea how heart wrenching it was for me to read this comment. For a number of reasons (unimportant right now), I can certainly empathize with the toll it took on your heart to watch Tensel walk away with the tech, particularly with the look on his face. However, the thought that crossed my mind when I read this was this: with all of the trials you and Tensel have been through thus far during his "journey", surely the blessings of God rest on you both that he is even able to walk away with the tech without throwing an absolute fit. You and he have done much work to progress this far, and my prayers are with you both.
Thanks for saying that. I didn't even think about how he wouldn't have been able to do that before but you are right. He has come a long way.
Now for the update. There is really good news and a little not so good. His xrays show no sign of dysplasia, in fact the head of the femur fits into the acetabulum beautifully as seen from the ventral and lateral views, so all the laxness we are seeing and feeling is muscle- easily rectified. Once he has his brace we will start on an exercise regimen to build up his back end. He won't have to swim, so no extra bathing required!
His right ear, however, is damaged beyond help. The tympanic membrane is detached and curled up. Instead of being a nice healthy pink, it is "ugly" coloured. We are putting him on a course of Baytril for 2 weeks to make sure there is no further infection but he is pretty much deaf in that ear. Vet doesn't want to treat with ointments because the membrane isn't there to prevent it from seeping into places it shouldn't and causing balance issues.
Tinsel was pretty traumatized by today. There were a lot of emergent clients showing up, including a shepherd that broke his rear leg, and so they couldn't start on Tin until 12:30 pm. We weren't able to pick him up until nearly 6. That's a long time for him to be in the hustle and bustle, hearing whatever he heard from both humans and animals. It certainly showed when we got him - he was in that dark place and didn't recognize us. However, he is home now and is resting his brain from what he endured. I'm sure that he will be right as rain tomorrow. I won't start his meds until Wednesday to give his body a chance to recover from anesthetic. Next week he goes for the cast and first fitting of the brace. They are doing 2 appointments on the same day for us so that we don't have to keep making the trip which is over 2 hours one way. Got to go snuggle with the boy child now. It will be a quiet day tomorrow.
Now for the update. There is really good news and a little not so good. His xrays show no sign of dysplasia, in fact the head of the femur fits into the acetabulum beautifully as seen from the ventral and lateral views, so all the laxness we are seeing and feeling is muscle- easily rectified. Once he has his brace we will start on an exercise regimen to build up his back end. He won't have to swim, so no extra bathing required!
His right ear, however, is damaged beyond help. The tympanic membrane is detached and curled up. Instead of being a nice healthy pink, it is "ugly" coloured. We are putting him on a course of Baytril for 2 weeks to make sure there is no further infection but he is pretty much deaf in that ear. Vet doesn't want to treat with ointments because the membrane isn't there to prevent it from seeping into places it shouldn't and causing balance issues.
Tinsel was pretty traumatized by today. There were a lot of emergent clients showing up, including a shepherd that broke his rear leg, and so they couldn't start on Tin until 12:30 pm. We weren't able to pick him up until nearly 6. That's a long time for him to be in the hustle and bustle, hearing whatever he heard from both humans and animals. It certainly showed when we got him - he was in that dark place and didn't recognize us. However, he is home now and is resting his brain from what he endured. I'm sure that he will be right as rain tomorrow. I won't start his meds until Wednesday to give his body a chance to recover from anesthetic. Next week he goes for the cast and first fitting of the brace. They are doing 2 appointments on the same day for us so that we don't have to keep making the trip which is over 2 hours one way. Got to go snuggle with the boy child now. It will be a quiet day tomorrow.
Sounds like pretty good news (overall), indeed!
When I was a little kid, My Grandmother used to have a saying with a phrase that related to when it was raining and the sun was shining at the same time. I wonder if there was a phrase for when someone cries and smiles at the same time. I could use that phrase right now! God bless you both.
Chris
Forums Celebrity
Tinsel is such a survivor -- he's so blessed to have you!
Tinsel went for the casting and first fitting of his brace today. He put up with it better than I could have ever hoped for considering how much he hates having that leg touched.
When the fitting was done we had to put him on the floor and let him walk with it on. He managed to step on his other front foot, get the leg under his belly and hopped around like a horse with shipping boots on for the first time. He sat and refused to get up but finally he started to make sense of the thing on his leg. It took several treats but we got him going.
Next Wednesday he goes for his next and hopefully final fitting. She is concerned about the other leg as there is a bit of deviation there as well but we are hoping that he won't need something for that one too. I won't tell you what colour we are getting but, instead, will upload a picture when he is wearing it. We are also getting him a boot to cover the brace for wet days. BTW, he will have a foot on this brace to hold his toes and the brace will be hinged. The hinges are mostly to allow him to rest his wrist when he is laying down. Poor Tin. I wonder if he thinks we deliberately try to torment him.
When the fitting was done we had to put him on the floor and let him walk with it on. He managed to step on his other front foot, get the leg under his belly and hopped around like a horse with shipping boots on for the first time. He sat and refused to get up but finally he started to make sense of the thing on his leg. It took several treats but we got him going.
Next Wednesday he goes for his next and hopefully final fitting. She is concerned about the other leg as there is a bit of deviation there as well but we are hoping that he won't need something for that one too. I won't tell you what colour we are getting but, instead, will upload a picture when he is wearing it. We are also getting him a boot to cover the brace for wet days. BTW, he will have a foot on this brace to hold his toes and the brace will be hinged. The hinges are mostly to allow him to rest his wrist when he is laying down. Poor Tin. I wonder if he thinks we deliberately try to torment him.
By the way, Tinsel is waving in the picture. I discovered quickly to stand up when he does this because it hurts when he gets you in the knee with the brace on. He can only wear it for about 15 minutes at a time to start so that his muscles don't get sore. After a few weeks of this, or when he isn't swinging his leg out as much, he can start having it on for longer periods. It was suggested that he only wear it when he is up and about and that it be off for bed or when he is just lounging around. This way, his skin will breathe and he won't be able to chew at the brace. We had to cut off his leg furnishings to make it easier to manage getting the brace on. I'm tempted to scissor down some of his ruff as well as getting the top strap secured is difficult as the coat gets in the way.
At the risk of having to give up my "Man Card" and being banned for life from the "Tough Guy's Club", I have to admit that the picture of Tinsel waving nearly brought me to tears. The tears are not for the incredible sacrifices and heartache you and Tinsel have endured throughout your journey (although they are considerable). The tears are not because of the tremendous obstacles you have both faced. The tears are because the picture is a simple, straightforward representation of a very basic element - the bond between a dog and his human companion. Through it all, your entire journey is (and has been) all about the bond between you and Tinsel, and I, for one, am better for you having the strength to take the journey and sharing it all with us. Thank you!!!!!