Rusty- help please!!

[2bullymama]

Sorry to hear all this is going on with Rusty. I pray he is OK and meds ,are not needed.

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

Sorry to hear all this is going on with Rusty. I pray he is OK and meds ,are not needed.

Thank you!

 

[Mavis]

He said we have to pick him up a certain way to support his back end.

I agree. I don't pick Jelly up by the arm pits because he is too heavy and it stretches his back. (When he was a puppy, I could pick him up with one hand under his belly.) I get both hands underneath him so that there is no bend to his back.

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

I agree. I don't pick Jelly up by the arm pits because he is too heavy and it stretches his back. (When he was a puppy, I could pick him up with one hand under his belly.) I get both hands underneath him so that there is no bend to his back.

I used to pick Rusty up by the armpits but don’t anymore cause he is too heavy too.

I usually just put my hand under him on his belly and lift him up like that, my mom does that too and same with my dad(when he used to pick him up)

Now the specialist showed us on a statue thing of what spots to grab, which is what I’m trying to get used to doing, it’s 1 hand on his stomach and in between his front paws, and the other hand directly in between his back legs(directly under his bum right in between his back legs), it’s hard to get used to but looks like it’s easier on his back.

Dad still won’t pick up Rusty, he keeps saying, can you pick him up for me I’m not picking him up!
I keep saying, I’m paying the big fee to see the dr ($300 just to see him), take his advice dad and pick him up!

I’m not taking his advice for the medications now or the food info(I will never switch him to kibble or canned), actually funny thing about the kibble and how picky he is(he hates kibble and canned food),
I was watering my neighbors flowers last week, so he of course comes with me, they have a dog that eats kibble(chicken with tons of grains), all of which Rusty is allergic to!

I was watering and he had his leash on of course but I wasn’t hanging onto it, he went in the garage(I was there with him), and he seen the bag of opened dog food and there was a few pieces on the floor and he seen it before I did and he picked a piece up, I said ‘ Rusty you leave it’ and while in his mouth for less than 5 seconds he had a look on his face like , ew what is this? And he spat it right out and looked as if he was trying to get the taste of it out of his mouth, LOL, that was so funny but I thought that’s a relief that he doesn’t like it so he won’t try to get it again!
Sure enough, just from licking the piece before he spat it out, he had quite a few new hives/bumps cause he is allergic to it, and he didn’t even eat it, just was in his mouth and licked it and spit it out!

Did you end up finding out which kibble it is you give them?

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

I agree. I don't pick Jelly up by the arm pits because he is too heavy and it stretches his back. (When he was a puppy, I could pick him up with one hand under his belly.) I get both hands underneath him so that there is no bend to his back.

I just also realized the neurologist also wants a ultrasound done(I read the report plan details they sent), and we have to drive back in there for that, once we get the X ray of his chest and the liver test comes back good.

No vet Clinic around us does ultrasounds, you have to have it done at the same specialist clinic.

So I am hoping after these liver tests and X rays come back clear(hopefully they do), I will call the specialist clinic that the neurologist is at, to see if they can do the ultrasound(he wants the ultrasound BEFORE they do the MRI), so I’m gonna see if they will do the ultrasound the same day before he has the MRI as he isn’t allowed to eat(just like for the anesthesia too), so it would make sense to hope they would do the ultrasound and the MRI in 1 day.

For the appointment, we left @9:45am and got back home @3:00 because of the traffic. Which it’s only 1 hr away from us, but OMG it was a long day! Hopefully they will be able to do the ultrasound the same day as the MRI.


I can almost guarantee that all This is gonna cost a fortune!
One person I know said for a specialist to do the ultrasound it’s $1,500.
And the neurologist when I asked, said a minimum of $3K for MRI, ouch!

But he seems very knowledgeable on this breed, that’s why he requires the ultrasound and also a X ray of his chest before he will put him under anesthesia for the MRI.

So glad I have pet insurance!

 

[Mavis]

Did you end up finding out which kibble it is you give them?

No, but I will - I'm curious, too! I believe we started on Orijen but switched to Acana because I thought it was better. Will let you know.

I love that about Rusty and his kibble experience. Jelly is a canine vacuum cleaner - he will eat anything! Yesterday, he ate a Japanese beetle!

 

[Mavis]

I just also realized the neurologist also wants a ultrasound done(I read the report plan details they sent), and we have to drive back in there for that, once we get the X ray of his chest and the liver test comes back good.

No vet Clinic around us does ultrasounds, you have to have it done at the same specialist clinic.

So I am hoping after these liver tests and X rays come back clear(hopefully they do), I will call the specialist clinic that the neurologist is at, to see if they can do the ultrasound(he wants the ultrasound BEFORE they do the MRI), so I’m gonna see if they will do the ultrasound the same day before he has the MRI as he isn’t allowed to eat(just like for the anesthesia too), so it would make sense to hope they would do the ultrasound and the MRI in 1 day.

For the appointment, we left @9:45am and got back home @3:00 because of the traffic. Which it’s only 1 hr away from us, but OMG it was a long day! Hopefully they will be able to do the ultrasound the same day as the MRI.


I can almost guarantee that all This is gonna cost a fortune!
One person I know said for a specialist to do the ultrasound it’s $1,500.
And the neurologist when I asked, said a minimum of $3K for MRI, ouch!

But he seems very knowledgeable on this breed, that’s why he requires the ultrasound and also a X ray of his chest before he will put him under anesthesia for the MRI.

So glad I have pet insurance!

It's really sad how much vet care can be, especially important diagnostics. Do you know how much of the ultrasound and MRI are covered? I feel better having pet insurance, too.

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

No, but I will - I'm curious, too! I believe we started on Orijen but switched to Acana because I thought it was better. Will let you know.

I love that about Rusty and his kibble experience. Jelly is a canine vacuum cleaner - he will eat anything! Yesterday, he ate a Japanese beetle!

Ok

Oh no! Silly Jelly eats a beetle, gross!

My other dog is a vacuum too, Rusty Is very picky though so I think that’s why he won’t eat everything.

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

It's really sad how much vet care can be, especially important diagnostics. Do you know how much of the ultrasound and MRI are covered? I feel better having pet insurance, too.

It definitely is.

I called my pet insurance and they did a pre -approval to cover anything regarding seizures and back issue.
So they will cover it hopefully.

But the only thing is that they will only cover 50% of the bill and I have to pay the other 50% because they cut my coverage from 80% down to 50% which started in January because of the amount of vet bills I have had over the past 2 years and it being expensive.

So 50% is better than nothing, It was definitely better when I was paying 20% of the bill and they paid 80% of each bill.

I’m worried it’s gonna cost more than $3K just for the MRI, I have no idea what the liver testing and X ray is gonna cost.

Same goes for the ultrasound

I hear at the specialist clinic(cause they are also a 24hr clinic emergency), if a dog had to stay overnight for care, it is $1,500 PER night!
I seen it on a Google review.

So expensive!

Our vet now, is $103 to walk in the door and see the vet. That doesn’t include any medications or any testing!

 

[Mavis]

It definitely is.

I called my pet insurance and they did a pre -approval to cover anything regarding seizures and back issue.
So they will cover it hopefully.

But the only thing is that they will only cover 50% of the bill and I have to pay the other 50% because they cut my coverage from 80% down to 50% which started in January because of the amount of vet bills I have had over the past 2 years and it being expensive.

So 50% is better than nothing, It was definitely better when I was paying 20% of the bill and they paid 80% of each bill.

I’m worried it’s gonna cost more than $3K just for the MRI, I have no idea what the liver testing and X ray is gonna cost.

Same goes for the ultrasound

I hear at the specialist clinic(cause they are also a 24hr clinic emergency), if a dog had to stay overnight for care, it is $1,500 PER night!
I seen it on a Google review.

So expensive!

Our vet now, is $103 to walk in the door and see the vet. That doesn’t include any medications or any testing!

Please remind me why you are considering an MRI - is that so that you can rule out back issues vs. a seizure disorder?

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

Please remind me why you are considering an MRI - is that so that you can rule out back issues vs. a seizure disorder?

We know for sure it’s seizures, but the following has to be ruled out(all these can cause seizures):
-Liver issues(liver test is getting done on the 3rd at my regular vet)


-Brain tumour
-Cyst on his brain

The ONLY way to know exactly what is going on and to know for sure no cyst or brain tumour is by doing a MRI.
He will also make sure there is no bad spots/areas on Rusty’s spine that could also be an issue.

If we treat it like it’s just epilepsy(seizures with no known cause), we aren’t treating the issue (if there is one), but I’m worried now about a brain tumour or cyst that’s causing these seizures.
And I’m also gonna be relieved when he checks his spine so we know 100% sure what we are dealing with.

He could have a bad area on his spine we don’t know of as well as a seizure, and we need to rule out those scary causes of the seizures.

 

[Mavis]

I’m worried now about a brain tumour or cyst that’s causing these seizures.

Honestly, I'd put your mind at ease until you know otherwise from the tests. Luckily, I think a brain tumor or cyst are pretty uncommon, considering. Fingers crossed that Rusty is healthy and doesn't have those issues.

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

Honestly, I'd put your mind at ease until you know otherwise from the tests. Luckily, I think a brain tumor or cyst are pretty uncommon, considering. Fingers crossed that Rusty is healthy and doesn't have those issues.

I know, it’s just hard to not think about it, just like Jelly and Petey are your fur babies, Rusty is my Fur baby, and my friend, I hope it’s nothing, if I knew right now nothing is causing this, and the MRI was already done and we knew how his back is and we know for sure no brain tumour or cyst or liver issue, I would be happy.

My dad still won’t pick up Rusty, I said the Dr said you should continue to pick Rusty up, my dad said listen to the Dr, I said you should listen to the dr, pick him up please(Rusty will go up to my dad and stand there and bark, waiting for him to pick him up, but he won’t) and Rusty doesn’t understand why, I’m trying to convince my dad to just pick him up cause Rusty really wants him to pick him up!
And that’s another thing, cause we don’t know 100% sure until the MRI that his back is ok. So if dad knew his back was good, then I think he would want to continue to pick up Rusty.


One of our Customers, she had a dog that had a seizure and didn’t come out of it, it was a brain tumour. That’s also part of why I’m so worried, I’m trying not to worry though, cause even though rare, things like that happen.


Thank you, I really hope too Rusty is healthy and has none of those scary causes.

Me and Rusty appreciate the support and thoughts

 

[Mavis]

Rusty will go up to my dad and stand there and bark, waiting for him to pick him up, but he won’t) and Rusty doesn’t understand why

Poor Rusty! I think your dad just needs to pick him up as the vet instructed and not worry about him. It seems that frenchies always want to be on your lap. They just love their people. I hope your dad will start picking him up again. He and Rusty are both missing out!

Good luck with everything.

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

Poor Rusty! I think your dad just needs to pick him up as the vet instructed and not worry about him. It seems that frenchies always want to be on your lap. They just love their people. I hope your dad will start picking him up again. He and Rusty are both missing out!

Good luck with everything.

They definitely are!

Thanks for the good luck.

I will keep you updated on what the liver test shows on the 3rd

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

Poor Rusty! I think your dad just needs to pick him up as the vet instructed and not worry about him. It seems that frenchies always want to be on your lap. They just love their people. I hope your dad will start picking him up again. He and Rusty are both missing out!

Good luck with everything.

Just a update on Rusty,

Rusty had his liver testing and X rays done yesterday, although it was tough for him going the full 12 hrs without eating, he did well.

We got the results of his liver test today, and they are normal thankfully

Now comes the tough decision, whether I want to go thru with the MRI or not

 

[Mavis]

Just a update on Rusty,

Rusty had his liver testing and X rays done yesterday, although it was tough for him going the full 12 hrs without eating, he did well.

We got the results of his liver test today, and they are normal thankfully

Now comes the tough decision, whether I want to go thru with the MRI or not

Excellent! I am really relieved for you.