Update on Maisie (Worried Even More)

Hi,
So, the latest instalment with Maisie.
I had mentioned in my previous post abut Maisie having a broken pelvis that was undetected for over a year - during my trial run at the Park with the Gentle Leader I received a call from our vet who had told me that the results had come in from the Glasgow Vet School and they said there was nothing to be concerned about the vet suggested we saw the surgery behaviourist as Maisie's reaction to being touched might be behavioural rather than real pain.
Anyway, last Sunday I noticed a small white patch on Maisie's bottom lip - like a mouth ulcer so we took her down to the vet on Monday (she's fine and on antibiotics). I used the Gentle Leader given her behaviour round other dogs and thought it's be a good chance to ask the vet if the fit was ok.
I noticed a big difference in the waiting room as normally Maisie would bark and do the usual "Staffie Singing" that she's known for but she actually lay down on the floor quietly.
The problem came when we saw the vet. I lifted her on to the table and explained about her mouth. The vet went to have a look and Maisie mouthed her arm. Now, Maisie normally loves the vet and I know she may have been reacting to the fact her mouth was sore but she went to have another "go" at the vet. During the exam I'd been explaining about what happened with our neighbours son and the vet said that she thought we needed to see the behaviourist urgently as she'd noticed Maisie had growled as she'd been lifted onto the table but her tail was wagging - as the vet said this is a warning for her as the dog is giving mixed signals. She also advised us to be very cautious with her being around our little boy (3 yrs old) and has said that if training doesn't help we may need to face facts that Maisie is not the right dog for our family but she thinks it's good she's still fairly young as she said sometimes they don't see dogs with serious issues until the only option is euthanasia.
She went on to say she'd also like Maisie to have physio for her pelvis and didn't think the behaviourist would help with that aspect.
Anyway, I contacted Clare (behaviourist) and she asked me to email her some observations/history which I did.
She's emailed back to say she'll be in touch regards a face-to-face meeting shortly but she wonders if I'm missing cues from Maisie as there should be some other signs before she growls.
Maisie is currently sitting beside me on the sofa and she has growled a bit at me as I went to stroke her - my hand may have brushed across her side - I've told her no and moved my hand but I'm at the stage now I'm watching her constantly and am also worried something is wrong with her as she is much more subdued recently.
Initially I thought the biggest problem we were facing was some dog-agression but the fact she's now adopting some attitude around people is a lot more concerning.
I'm forever telling my little boy to be careful of Maisie's sore back and legs and to be honest most of the time I think he sees her as a part of the furniture and doesn't pay her that much attention but she will growl and move away if he climbs up beside her on the sofa (she probably shouldn't be on the sofa but has been allowed to do this since we first got her).
Anyway, wanted to give an update/vent a little bit.

Pamela you have a lot on your plate. Some dogs do not go through all the normal sequences of escalating aggression behaviour signals. This is a worry, especially with your son in the house. Your dog should not be growing at people. You should see the behaviourist urgently. You cannot expect your son to always be sensible around Maisie, he is only three! From what you are saying things are getting worse rather than better. You may have to keep dog and child separated until this is sorted. Ultimately your family and Maisie may not be matched. I have seen some very serious dog bite injuries to children. If Maisie has chronic pain, her tolerance levels will be lower than normal and a bite more likely. Best of luck.

Surely her pain is the cause of this behaviour?

Hi,
According to the vet her pelvis has healed and she shouldn't be in pain (??). Another vet is telling me to see the behaviourist urgently and then sort out physio for her later.
Hope to have an appointment with the behaviourist this week - she's met Maisie when we've been in the surgery before so will speak to her further and see if she thinks it's pain related or behavioural.
Will update again after speaking to her.

Maisie's reaction to being touched could well be a 'learnt' response due to her having so much pain with her pelvis earlier on. Until you can see the behaviourist have you tried gentle massage? Maybe if she is gently handled to show that she won't be hurt, she might respond better?

Hopefully the behaviourist will be of help. Agree with Caryll it could be a learned response.

i got as far as "had a broken pelvis that was undirected for a year"

May i ask why, or how? I don't want to be judging without knowing the story.

Small breaks can go undetected for a very long time, causing pain all the while. This has actually got me worried about Rascal. She has a limp that comes and goes, however a few days ago she scaled a 6ft fence (don't ask!!!!!) and the limp was really bad for a few days. We have an appt with the vet next week. You've got me thinking here....!

Hi Everyone,
I'm back!
Maisie has been back to the vets as she's not been doing so well.
The other week she started soiling round the house - she's been fully housetrained - so I took some advice from my cousin who is a pet trainer/behaviourist but is in Canada.
She said it sounded like a pain response so we went back to see the vet.
We saw a vet called Rachel that has dealt with Maisie since she was tiny and Maisie adores her (or the fuss she makes of her!).
Anyway, explained everything and Rachel went to examine her. Maisie freaked out, yelped and turned on Rachel - she didn't make contact and was apologetic afterwards (whining/trying to lick her/head down etc). I think Rachel got a shock too as she commented that "this isn't the Maisie I know".
She was put on Metacam and we were to go back in a week for a further chat.
So on Tuesday we went back to the vet. The soiling had stopped and Maisie seemed a little better.
She reacted the same way when Rachel tried to examine her so X-rays are being repeated and we've to see the behaviourist again.
Last time we saw her I felt she focussed more on Maisie's behaviour outside the house rather than her behaviour at home.
I was asked to email the behaviourist who has now come back to me saying we may want a referral to Glasgow Vet School as they have a behaviourist who is also an expert in chronic pain.
Sorry I'm rambling it's just I feel so rubbish for her. The fact her Mum attacked her and this is the suspected cause of her pelvic fracture and the fact she'd gone so long without it being picked up.
Anyway, she's back for x-rays next Wednesday so I'll post another update with how she got on after that.
Pamela (and Maisie)

ah poor maisie and poor you too,it must be very worrying for you wondering if she is in pain or not,i hope you get to the bottom of it soon,keep us updated on her ><

OMG you poor thing. What an awful thing to go through for all of you.

Let's hope that the new investigations will help.

Lets hope the xrays at least show something up, then you will have an explaination, sounds like you may be getting somewhere.

Hi,
I just wanted to give you a little update:
X-Ray on Wednesday was cancelled as the surgery handyman had painted the table so it couldn't be used so Maisie had her x-ray on Friday.
The vets was crazy busy when I went back to collect her and our vet was the only one consulting so Maisie was discharged by one of the nurses and I was asked to call Rachel, our vet, on Monday.
Maisie was really dopey and her ears, nose and paws were freezing when I got her home so she had a really quiet night on the couch.
She seemed fine over the weekend but Sunday night/early Monday morning my hubby and are were woken by Maisie whining so hubby went to take her out. She made it as far as the landing and then had uncontrollable diarrhoea and has got worse over Monday and today to the point it is literally yellow water she's passing.
We called Rachel yesterday who wants to see her tomorrow if it's not cleared up by then and she told us to stop one of her painkillers (Metacam) immediately. She was also on Gabapentin (one capsule twice a day) and this has been reduced now to one capsule.
Rachel said the x-ray is being referred to Glasgow Vet School (again) but shows Maisie's hips are "squared". We should hear something by Friday, fingers crossed.
I feel so sorry for my poorly girl - she's on a rice and chicken diet and her appetite seems good - it's just it seems to be running right through her.

Poor little thing. Try giving her a day without meat. Try some mashed potato or cooked sweet potato with some scrambled eggs. Spread it out over 3 or 4 meals during the day to give her stomach a bit of a rest.

Good luck with the results, let's hope they can come up with something positive.

Oh wow, have only just read this. It sounds like you all have been through the mill lately. I really hope the vet is able to help, and well done you for not just giving up on her like so many would have. I have all my fingers crossed for good news for you.

ahh poor girl hope u get it sorted for her real soon

Poor Maise I hope the vet is able to resolve the problem soon. This must be very hard on you all

Poor baby. I hope you can get to the bottom of this really soon as she seems to be in a lot of distress.

Just re read your last post and noticed that you are giving Maise Gabapentin. Are you giving her the tablet with food ? This is a medication I am taking myself and I feel yukky if I dont eat when I take it.

Amongst the listed side effects is vomitting, this may be contributing to Maise's illness.

Hi,
We're off to the vets at 1930 as Maisie still has diarrhoea and there was some blood through it earlier.
She does get the Gabapentin with food. I'm wondering if she should have still stayed on Metacam and stopped the Gabapentin altogether although the vet told my Hubby that Metacam can cause ulceration
Will update again when we get back but thanks everyone for the advice/support.
Pamela (and Maisie) x

weegreendragon wrote:Hi,
We're off to the vets at 1930 as Maisie still has diarrhoea and there was some blood through it earlier.
She does get the Gabapentin with food. I'm wondering if she should have still stayed on Metacam and stopped the Gabapentin altogether although the vet told my Hubby that Metacam can cause ulceration
Will update again when we get back but thanks everyone for the advice/support.
Pamela (and Maisie) x

Good luck >< ><

Let us know how it goes.
Good Luck

Hi,
We're back home.
Maisie has a temperature of 39.9 and the vet gave her an antibiotic injection and send us home with a probiotic oral syringe thingy (Prokolin+).
She may have an infection and we've to take her back tomorrow at 5.20pm - if there is no improvement she'll probably be admitted for further tests.
No word from the Vet School yet but plan to ask vet about this at tomorrow's appointment as Hubby and I feel we've been left hanging a little bit as no-one has told us what (if anything) can/should be done about Maisie's squared hips.
Just hoping we're not woken at 5am by a explosive-bottomed dog (for her sake more than ours).
Pamela (and Maisie) x

Fingers and toes crossed >< and paws ><

>< >< >< for maisie

All fingers and paws crossed here for Maisie ><

So ... just back from vets and Maisie has been admitted as her temperature is still high.
I thought the diarrhoea was improving a little bit today (she was very loose at 7am and a bit more solid at midday - nothing since) but vet wants to run bloods, possibly an ultrasound and check a stool sample.
On one level I'm glad she's in hospital so we can find out what is going on but on the other I feel awful leaving her there.
Our insurance company are going to love us!
Pamela (and Maisie) xx

Aw poor Maisie! I hope the vet can figure out what's wrong and help her feel better. Poor you too, you must be really worried and really missing her ><