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

Thanks for all your support guys, Flo is getting there

Poomaggadon was rough Stu but gave the specialist a laugh when I told him, thankfully we are well over that now.

I've e-mailed a final give me all you're info to the insurance company and asked serious questions so await a reply, the ombudsmen is the next step but I want all the company's files on Flo provided from them so that I can prove we didn't know and couldn't know that something that had nothing to do with her op could "possibly" have affected her.

More and more I'm starting to wonder if insurance is worth it at all.

got to pay attention to their small print and see exactly on what you can and cannot claim on...they're quite happily take your money..until they need / should pay out...a family member's insurance stopped after their dog was 10 years old..un be told to them they kept paying thinking the dog was still insured...admin error from the pet insurance company apparently should of informed them but didn't...wasn't until the dog had a major vet bill when everything came to light...and yes they did get their premiums back...but made me wonder how many people this has happened to...without knowing.?..and when they're beloved pet has passed then stopped paying the insurance fee..sorry not out to scare anyone..just be careful and pay attention....good luck in fighting them ian..hope it works out for you and flo.

What's the latest on Lady Flo?

Thanks for asking, I thought I'd leave it a while as I'm sure daily updates were getting a bit much

Following on from my last post Flo had her two more hydro sessions, the first went really well but alas the second didn't. I went along to the last session with my wife but Flo had got wise to walking in water and decided to simply sit down and enjoy a massage in the big bath. We left her to it in case we were distracting her but no, she would not walk on the water treadmill

Last week she had a trip to the physio and she could see improvement from Flo's  visit 3 weeks previously which is encouraging but she couldn't suggest anything more than what we are already giving her. We've decided with the physio that £50 a go for hydro isn't going to help as Flo isn't actually doing anything and Flo has effectively been signed off from the referrals but we can go back to the physio at anytime.

We have loads of exercises which Flo is doing, mainly because there is food involved and the big news is.... She is now walking unaided in the park

It is a slow walk of only about 20 mins which we will slowly increase as she gets stronger on the back legs. She can wobble a little and can't run or trot yet but at least she is out and about and is enjoying the walks quiet clearly, if she wasn't she would just lay down.

I still want my old Flo back and hoping it's a just a matter of time but in all other respects she is back to being her old cheeky self and wanting to play as much as she used to.

The insurance company haven't replied to my requests so the next move is a chat with the financial ombudsman this week to see if we have a case to move forward with. Depending on what they say I will post which company it is and the details of their refusal.

Thanks for all your ongoing support

Fantastic news about Flo, and I'm absolutely seething on your behalf regarding the insurance company. Absolutely abysmal customer service. I love hearing your updates about Flo, it's great hearing all the little things that she can do now, and amasing about her walking 20 minutes. delighted for you

that's goos news about flo...and not so with the insurance company....that's bloody rude of them not to answer any correspondence..good luck in fighting them..hope you get the results you and flo deserve...

Good stuff flo

It's great Flo is doing so well. I really am disgusted at the insurance company

Thought it's about time for another quick update on Flo. She's getting steadier on her back legs and there is no knuckling under of the rear paws at all now. Her right rear leg is still much the weaker of the two, however, the walks have increased in length and distance and she is doing really well.

With her walking she picks up both paws nicely but when she places her right rear paw it does tend to turn in. We think this is a muscle thing so should improve further over time. When she trots she tends to keep both legs straight which gives her an odd waddle and we think again this is through lack of good use.

Last night she had her Stix for the first time since before her op and she did some very light running and used both her knees properly, so we know she can

She's not quiet there yet but progress seems to be made weekly if not daily and the walks are without doubt helping build her leg muscles again, to be honest it's just nice seeing her out and about again enjoying all the smells and such.

Can't say anything about the insurance except it's now in the hands of the financial ombudsman so that detail will have to wait, fingers crossed though.

Thanks for reading and your continued good wishes.

Well enough for Stix - that is a great milestone! Squirrels beware...

After all the worry, it must be joyous to see her progress - her first Stix, her first run.

Fantastic to hear she's coming on well

LizP wrote:Well enough for Stix - that is a great milestone! Squirrels beware...

After all the worry, it must be joyous to see her progress - her first Stix, her first run.

It is good to see, though tonight she really didn't want to walk, she made that clear. It could be that it's the old park or that rain was in the air but no way was she up for a walk.

Tomorrow we'll try somewhere different and hopefully she'll be back n ready for her Stix

fingers crossed for the ombudsman coming out in your favour.
Glad you've seen such an improvement in Flo and I hope the change of park does the trick.

Good to hear that the progess is there, even if it does seem to be well hidden some days

Flo update:-

Well as they say two paws forward one back!! Though we've only been walking Flo lightly and on a mixture of surfaces she managed to damage her heal pad on her left rear paw. More meds and more sofa rest unfortunately. That has now healed but once again she's hurt one of the front pads on the same paw.

We are having to cover the paw with what I'll call a balloon for walks until that pad heals over. I think the problem in part is that her left leg is the stronger and thus takes more weight so we will have to keep a close eye on that issue.

Good news is that for the past week or so she has been running after her Stix again which has delighted us more than anything and will go a long way to building up muscle in both rear legs.

I was hoping, foolishly, that she would be like she was before the op but have to keep reminding myself that it's only 4 months since major surgery and for a senior girl not bad progress at all.

No news on the insurance as yet but below is a quick clip of Flo with her red balloon on taken a week or so ago.

https://youtu.be/2DvPJEARQ-I

Wowzers, look at her go! Seriously, Ian, even if that's as good as it ever gets it's blimmin' marvellous! She's clearly lost muscle, which is only to be expected, and it's a distinctly sexy gait but given that there was a prospect of her never being able to walk again, well just wow!

Oh it's lovely to see her out and about Ian! You must all be so happy with her. Its lovely to hear of her progress.

Thanks guys, we aren't sure how long she would have gone without surgery so feel we did the right thing. She clearly has a zest for life and her Stix even if it is at a slower pace

Hopefully she will get stronger as time passes and if we can get the pads sorted.

Oh wow, watch her go
Don't forget that you've probably the impression of little progress over time but it's because you see Flo all the time.
Well impressed, viewed from the outside

She's rocking that red balloon and the strut. She seems more like herself with each update, I'm so glad she's doing so well

Aww Flo, she has done so well. I hope her pad heals soon

Looks like she is doing great Ian

I do agree that being with her I see less than if I didn't see her every day. The balloon really doesn't bother her, I'm really surprised, tonight we came back from the walk and left it on by accident and she didn't try to get it off at all

I really do appreciate all your kind comments and I'm sure Flo would give each of you a Staffy cuddle and kiss

I think Flo has dealt with all this really well & you Ian. It's very obvious you love Flo very much & she means so much to you. This must have been very stressful for you & you have done everything possible to help Flo recover. Your a great owner

Ah thanks Laura. I think anyone in a position to do what we've done would do so, she is such a character and loves life (and the sofa) may be being a little optimistic but I long for the day she climbs the stairs again and gives me those 5 min morning cuddles

They say that anything is possible, it's just a question of probability.
Flo's is increasing day by day

How is flo? Ian

Mia05 wrote:How is flo? Ian

Sorry Crystal only just seen this, Flo is doing really well with her walking and running, however, she does keep making one of her rear paws sore so it kinda hampers building up the leg muscles.

We are getting there little by little and she has certainly recovered her zest for fun

Thanks for asking

Bless her stubborn wee staffy socks

Hey Ian, just wondering how are Flo's paw and leg muscles going ?
And compared to the Flo "before", what are your feelings today several months on ?

Ah thanks for asking

Flo's back legs are still not as strong as they should be but I think we've probably reached the upper limit now, however, she can run and asks for her Stix to be thrown on every walk. Her walking is really odd in that sometimes she waddles with straight legs but in long grass or wooded tracks she walks perfectly

It's hard to say if it's better than before as we don't really know how she would be now if she hadn't had the surgery but quiet probably she would have lost all control of her back end from mid spine.

It's been and still is a long journey, she has had some set backs and just now seems to want to make her paws sore through licking, but she has always done this and we so wish we could find a cure and not just treat the symptoms.

Would I put her through it with hindsight?, yes. She has amazed us with the progress and is mobile, has a zest for life and is now wanting to climb the stairs and has done so when our backs were turned (cheeky monkey) and can manage up and down in her old clumsy way

That's great news Ian! So happy for you. Well done Flo xx

Thank you so much for Flo's news.
Really happy to know that all is well and she's daring to do what she shouldn't - means she's feeling good

That's brilliant, Ian. Just brilliant. Super star, Flo

I wonder if the different walking is due to the different sensations, that some surfaces stimulate her feet differently to others? But as long as she's walking and even running, who cares!!!

"Life in the old dog yet" excellent news

Flo has amazed me again, this week she has started to chase Squirrels again and managed to climb two flights of stairs for a morning cuddle, she's been itching to get up those stairs for the passed week or so.

She is also now walking on smooth flooring much better without skating. Walking is hit or miss depending on what the surface is, on long grass she walks perfectly though short grass she does sometimes keep her knees straight which makes her waddle in a strange way. Running isn't as quick as before and she is still stronger on her left rear but at least she is running.

It's been 6 months since this all started, some really tough times for her and us but to see her happy and mobile is such a relief

Stairs and Squirrels! Fantastic news, she's doing so well even if the short grass is thwarting her a bit. Well done Flo

... unless you're a squirrel that is!

Oh Ian, that is such great news ! So so happy for you and especially Flo.
Hey pesky squirrels, your run of the kingdom is over !
go Flo, GO!!!

Great news Ian. I can't believe it's been six moths, where has the time gone.

Thanks all

Hopefully if someone is in our position in the future they can read this thread and get some hope that with hard work, good luck, time and fantastic surgeons, all can come good in the end

I'm so happy to read just now how well Flo s doing. You have been fantastic Ian & really just the best most dedicated owner