hemi_mygirl
04-19-2006, 11:23 AM
Hey all, due to the recent increase in PM's about Hemi's leg, I figured I should post a big update. Not that I don't love all the concern you have about her, it just gets tedious reiterating the same thing thirty times. :laugh:
Her leg is still just as swollen, albeit not as "puffy". I can see details to her leg again, yet the joint is still pretty swollen. From one angle (looking straight on), it looks like the swelling hasn't changed at all, but from another (stretching her leg out and looking from underneath), it looks like it's gone down. Either way, it's nowhere near the same size as her other legs.
Despite the swelling, it seems she's not in any pain. She walks without even a hint of a limp, wheels regularly, plays normally, and is eating/drinking normally as well. Everynight I count her kibble intake, and since injuring herself, it has actually INCREASED, despite her being on Baytril. Before medicine, she was eating about 17-21 kibbles per night. Now, she's up to about 33-40 kibbles nightly. Her water intake is normal - she drinks about half her bowl nightly, and her bowl holds about 6 ounces.
Her pooping and peeing is normal as well. Each morning, I wake up to a yucky wheel and little footprints all over her cage liners. It's a nice "motif" for her cage, I think.
I'm glad summer is on it's way though - Hemi loves to play outside. And before anyone asks, no one on our block uses any form of pesticides, and she's terrified of any insect, so there's no worry there. :) Although, she has been known to stretch out and sleep in a sunbeam outside...
So that about wraps up my update on Miss Hemi. Her follow-up vet appointment is at the end of this month. I have to double-check to make certain, but I believe it was made for April 28 or 29. At this appointment, I'll either ask for a biopsy or an ultrasound to better test for a cancer. I'm not experienced with this, so could someone tell me what is better to test for cancer? Thank you. Also, if her regular vet decides it's cancer, we'll be heading to the other end of the city for a second opinion.
Either way, if both vets say it's cancer, I've decided not to amputate or do any form of treatment. Rather, I'll let her continue on for as long as she's not suffering and then humanely put her down. No sense in risking an amputation and taking away her chances to wheel. She'd get too depressed.
And please, if you don't think what I'm doing is the "right way" to go about this, don't tell me you're appalled at my lack of action or that I'm not doing the best for Hemi. If that's all you can say, then please don't reply. Maybe it seems like I'm not doing the most I can, but believe me, I am. Maybe I'm not doing the exact thing you'd do for a hedgehog of yours, but she's not yours...she's mine, and I think I know her better.
Thanks again.
Her leg is still just as swollen, albeit not as "puffy". I can see details to her leg again, yet the joint is still pretty swollen. From one angle (looking straight on), it looks like the swelling hasn't changed at all, but from another (stretching her leg out and looking from underneath), it looks like it's gone down. Either way, it's nowhere near the same size as her other legs.
Despite the swelling, it seems she's not in any pain. She walks without even a hint of a limp, wheels regularly, plays normally, and is eating/drinking normally as well. Everynight I count her kibble intake, and since injuring herself, it has actually INCREASED, despite her being on Baytril. Before medicine, she was eating about 17-21 kibbles per night. Now, she's up to about 33-40 kibbles nightly. Her water intake is normal - she drinks about half her bowl nightly, and her bowl holds about 6 ounces.
Her pooping and peeing is normal as well. Each morning, I wake up to a yucky wheel and little footprints all over her cage liners. It's a nice "motif" for her cage, I think.
I'm glad summer is on it's way though - Hemi loves to play outside. And before anyone asks, no one on our block uses any form of pesticides, and she's terrified of any insect, so there's no worry there. :) Although, she has been known to stretch out and sleep in a sunbeam outside...
So that about wraps up my update on Miss Hemi. Her follow-up vet appointment is at the end of this month. I have to double-check to make certain, but I believe it was made for April 28 or 29. At this appointment, I'll either ask for a biopsy or an ultrasound to better test for a cancer. I'm not experienced with this, so could someone tell me what is better to test for cancer? Thank you. Also, if her regular vet decides it's cancer, we'll be heading to the other end of the city for a second opinion.
Either way, if both vets say it's cancer, I've decided not to amputate or do any form of treatment. Rather, I'll let her continue on for as long as she's not suffering and then humanely put her down. No sense in risking an amputation and taking away her chances to wheel. She'd get too depressed.
And please, if you don't think what I'm doing is the "right way" to go about this, don't tell me you're appalled at my lack of action or that I'm not doing the best for Hemi. If that's all you can say, then please don't reply. Maybe it seems like I'm not doing the most I can, but believe me, I am. Maybe I'm not doing the exact thing you'd do for a hedgehog of yours, but she's not yours...she's mine, and I think I know her better.
Thanks again.