Dakota Update

The OP Pack's Mom here. I know many of you have been asking for an update on Dakota. This has been a very difficult day here. Dakota managed somehow to get hurt in the yard yesterday while she was out for a potty break by herself. She was only outside for about five minutes. Normally she goes to the bottom of the deck stairs, takes care of business, and is back at the door looking to come inside. When I didn't see her there, I went out to find her. She was all the way on the other side of the yard and could not put any weight on her rear left leg. I think she may have lost her balance on the very small incline there and twisted the back end of her body which is very weak due to muscle atrophy. I brought her to the vet this morning after she continued to be unable to support herself with her back legs.

The initial evaluation from the vet's physical exam indicated a possible hip fracture. However, x-rays showed a badly torn ACL. In addition, blood work showed some major changes in her already fragile physical condition that is complicated by Cushing's Disease. She has also lost close to another three pounds in the past two weeks, continuing her recent lost of an average of three pounds per month, all of this despite her continuing to eat well with no restriction on my part as to the volume of intake. She is staying at the hospital tonight where they have sedated her to try to alleviate some of her discomfort. She is already on two different anti-inflammatory medications and so there isn't much more she can be given.

We are left to decide where we go from here. Surgery is the easy answer for the leg issues but given her fragile physical condition and the discomfort of the healing process, we are not sure it is the right call for Dakota. Our decision will not be easy but Dakota's best interest will be our guide. We are so very appreciative of all your good thoughts for our princess.

Kathie