Joey's physical therapist (Jennifer) just called. She says the limping he's been doing over the past couple days is because his knee joint has apparently loosened to the point where it comes out of its socket periodically. What! He had surgery to remove his hip joint while he was with the rescue group I got him from because of some sort of genetic defect. And that's why he's been in physical therapy ever since I got him over a year ago. And now the knee joint on that leg is apparently defective, as well, and that's going to require yet another surgery. Good grief! Poor guy! (And our poor bank account, as well!)
Jennifer said I should keep him on a leash each time he needs to go out so that he can't get excited and hurt himself until he can be evaluated and the surgery scheduled. She and Torri have recommended he see a particular doctor who won't be "on" for a couple weeks, so it would be mid-August by the time he's seen at LSU. It's possible Ashley Balkom, one of the doctors at AVS, our regular vet, could do it. AVS has 7 or 8 vets, but Ashley does only surgery, so it's entirely possible we could have it done by her for a fraction of what it would cost at LSU. Unfortunately, Ashley will be away from work for the next two weeks! So Joey is just going to have to "suck it up" and try and walk carefully for a couple weeks until we can get him in to see SOMEONE appropriate.
I'm telling you -- this year everyone seems to be needing medical help of one sort or another . . . every one of our animals AND Mark AND me. Expensive. VERY expensive. But still waaaaay better than the year before last when so many of our older pets were dying! Guess I need to keep reminding myself of how much better this is, huh?
No comments:
Post a Comment