A bit worried

First topic message reminder :

Flo has had a sore paw so we took her to the vets last week and he prescribe some antibiotics. I also mentioned that she seemed to have slowed up on walks and was wondering if it was arthritis causing her discomfort. the vet (one Flo hadn't seen before) said straight away that it was, a rather rapid diagnosis considering he hadn't actually touched her I felt, anyway he prescribed something for that too. He went on to say she had little back leg muscle but to be honest she's always been like that.

Yesterday Flo couldn't keep her footing on the smooth kitchen floor and then I noticed she has a very weak back left leg ( the one that has always looked the weaker since her TTA on the other side )
Having seen that, we booked an appointment with the vets for tonight and I'm hoping she gets to see her usual vet but I'm still worried for her. The vet didn't think it could be a side effect of the meds he's given her but I think it may well be that, at least I'm hoping it's that.

Even though she is in obvious discomfort the brave little lady managed to climb two flights of stairs before the wife realised, just to have a cuddle with me this morning. I have to confess I am worried

Sounds like Flo is coming on great, well done

I'm so glad that Flo is going from strength to strength

Brilliant progress, well done young Flo!

Great news Ian. Flo is making progress all the time

Ah great news well done wee yin

Today we had a slight mishap... Basically I came home at lunchtime to sh*tmaggedon!!!

Saturday Flo pinched two of Sainsburys finest shortbread cookies that my eldest son had left on the table. She had climbed up and nabbed them the little minx and my son is now barred from leaving any type of cookie laying about and must hand them over to me. Poor little lass had a moment of deliciousness followed by a day of the most horrendous squits.

So tonight I have washed the sofa, cleaned the cupboard and washed the carpet but there is still a certain whiff about the place. Needless to say Flo Also suffered the indignation of having a bath as she has a vet appointment tomorrow and poo paws will not do!!

On the upside, her balance continues to improve along with her coordination when she takes things slowly

Poor wee flo

Oh poor Flo, bet she enjoyed them at the time but not after

Glad her balance is improving as long as she takes it slow, and is not weighed down by biscuits! Can't be having poo paws at the vets, most undignified.

Sorry to hear of flo's little mishap,never mind it will all come out in the wash,as they say Ian. Slow but sure improvement is all you can expect from a senior Ian,but she will get there soon i'm sure.

Poor Flo. I hope her tummy has settled down now

Ouchy for the cookies and the consequences.
But at least you'll have a clean Flo striding in for her appointment and that's the best

Poor Flo. It's lovely to gear of her getting better xx

But... I was only practising my back leg exercises, stretching up towards that table, and then those naughty biscuits went for me so I had to fight them off then accidentally swallowed!

Hope the visit goes well and the vet's happy with Flo's progress.

@ liz they threw themselves into her mouth!

yeah those biscuits have a lot to answer for.

Vet visit went well today, he said everything was good so no need for further scans but could benefit from some hydrotherapy to strengthen her right rear leg. She is now allowed progressive walks so will start with 15 mins as soon as possible as Flo is getting cabin fever.

We will carry on with the physio, Flo is now officially allowed back on the sofa and the vet says there is no reason for her not to be herding the squirrels back up the trees within a couple of months

YES! So happy for you, that's cracking news! I've heard great things about hydrotherapy for dogs, do you have a place nearby?

Let us know how Flo finds her park, have the squirrels been running amok?

Oh well done to you flo and ian bet the squirrels are missing her

This is terrific news, Flo will love getting walks & cuddles on the sofa

What great great news !

That's great news Ian Good luck to the squirrels when Flo gets there

Aww poor Flo - shes a love. Good luck xxxx

Well things haven't really moved on for Flo since Tuesday, we are struggling to get her upset tummy sorted. Thought we had it all good midweek and put her back on her regular food but the upset resumed almost immediately

We've been walking her a little further each day but today was disappointing, she had a little sniff around and walked a short way then she stopped and lay down. She made it clear she wanted to go home so now I'm a little worried again, is it the upset tummy making her not want to walk or is there something else with her legs/back

Aw no! Hope her stomach stops playing up, how upsetting for you.

Poor Flo . And poor you for the worry. Might the not wanting to walk be due to her tummy? Maybe try changing her food back to what settled her and see if the walking pick up again?

Poor little girl, is she better today Ian?

I'm sorry to hear that Ian, poor Flo. I hope her tummy settles soon

Poor Flo, let's say that this is one step back to take three forwards very soon

Sorry to read this ian

Well Flo has been n the chick n rice and let's just say the bum gravy was missing today so hopefully a few more days on that and she'll be ok.

Three of us walked with her over her big park today and I have to say what a huge difference, she was looking for her stick and wanting to run, I can't tell you all how pleased that made me

Sorry for the roller coaster posts, hopefully soon it'll all be just a faded memory and back to normal

Yes that's fantastic news Ian!! So happy for you, well done Flo you little star x

Very encouraging news
Everyone knows that rehab always takes the roller-coaster route so confirms that you're well on the right path

That's brilliant Ian. Its quite a journey your going on with Flo, im really pleased her tummy has settled. I don't think id want to go a walk with a sore tum either

Excellent! Even if it takes a while for her tummy to settle at least it's better that than her legs.

Ah bless wee flo she will be chasing them squirrels soon

cracking news, hope her tummy continues to behave.

How's her tummy now Ian? Hope she's doing ok in the heat, too.

Thanks for asking, her tum is still a little bit suspect so staying on the bland diet for a while yet, not that she seems to mind, she goes nuts for chick n rice

She fine with the sun and loves her sunbathing so no worries there. Her rehabilitation is still moving in the right direction. Popped her along to the physiotherapist lunchtime today who was pleased to see progress and loved the way Flo tried to train her with the treats

We have a hydro session booked for next week and a follow up physio two weeks after that so we need to practice some new physio moves to impress her again. She is walking but being a stubborn Staffy she dictates where and how far and we are letting her get away with it.... For now. The sling is only used to support her when she wobbles and both paws & legs are working correctly though some of the nerve messages are a little slow.

The one negative is that the insurance company have refused to pay but I'll post about that in the relevant section once they've replied to my latest email

Oh ian blooming insurance eh hydrotherapy is mesnt to be good. Good on ya flo nice to see your staffyness my o.h was always conned by mias treat cupboard

Glad to hear things are looking up Ian. She's such a little star!

Glad Flo's up to trainign the physio, gotta get them in order.
Sorry about the insurance co. that's lousy of them.

Well done Flo. You know I'm starting to wonder if a savings account is better than insurance but I'm not confident in my saving ability. I hope you can sort something out with the insurance company Ian

Well a week has passed and I guess an update is due...

We have been used to seeing Flo improve day on day however she seemed to have plateaued at the start of last week. We had been taking her for supported walks but it has simply been too hot for her to walk, even late in the evenings.

She has still been very reliant on her front legs and obviously this is a lot of strain so with the heat we had backed off the walks for a couple of days. Friday she had hydrotherapy and was fine in the tank until they filled it as being very front footed her head dipped. They reduced the water level and whilst she did complain she had a good walk on the treadmill.

Now I might be seeing things but today her walking was really good so we think a combination of her hydro and the physio we are giving her are really starting to pay off, she is now walking almost perfectly up the garden until she decides walking isn't quick enough and then she stumbles a bit.

She has two hydro sessions next week so hopefully we'll see another stepped improvement. She is, in herself, back to normal with sofa cuddles and the like though still frustrated that she can't come in the kitchen and watch her dinner being made

The insurance company are refusing point blank to pay out on something they say was a "possibility". On that basis no insurance on anything would ever pay out ! I'm not letting this go yet, however, I'm not confident I'll get a single penny from them.

When we've exhausted all avenues with the insurance I will post what has been going on should they stick to their guns and not pay, so as they say, watch this space.

Glad Flo is doing better, but that's absolutely outrageous behaviour by the insurance company. It's the last thing you need.

I don't think any of us wanted to walk far in the heat, so we'll let you off with that one, Flo! Hopefully the cooler weather will suit her better and her progress will continue.

As for the insurance company... keep fighting! Have you been to the Financial Ombudsman?

I had to call the financial ombudsman about an insurance miss sold to my Mum, it's worth getting in touch

Good to know that Flo is continuing to make good progress
Our airco was out if order last week so with 30 degrees, that wasn't fun.
I can completely understand Flo not wanting to do much with the heat so should be easier for us all now !

Outrageous insurance issues - don't let them get away with it. Good luck

Flo sounds like she is coming on really well That heat last week slowed us all down I think
As for your insurance company They make up the rules as they go along!!
Stand your ground Ian & fight them!!!

wow....poor old flo...glad she's on the mend ian...poor girl been through the wars and shxmaggedon.. typical insurers though won't pay out...find any reason not to..name and shame..could try ombudsmen..but as you wrote..pot luck..p.s...I found with mine when they have..on what you call gravy poo..rice is an accelerant ..found cutting that out and just give kibble.. but each to their own.