Our Tripawd Experiences

I only have a quick moment, but every day I remember I need to update you folks and then next thing I know, it’s the next day!

A very brief update: Sable is doing great as related to the ivermectin toxicity.  She will make a full recovery and all will be well there.  I met with the Director of our clinic who has processed a request to their corporate office to refund me for the total associated ER cost.  While that helps from a financial perspective, it certainly doesn’t address the scare and concern my husband and I experienced.  I specifically asked the Director of the clinic what his approach would be on a going forward basis to be sure this never happens again.  He indicated they’d be using it as a “teaching moment” and would have a meeting with all of the vets, techs, etc. to discuss what happened and how much worse the situation could have been.  He advised he’d be back in touch with me after their meeting to confirm it took place and to discuss the ideas his staff had to ensure having this happen again was completely out of the question.

Regarding, her itchiness, at this point, they’ve put her on a 10-day cycle of prednisone with the hopes that it will ultimately resolve itself and not require ongoing treatment.  She’s about a week into the prednisone and is not biting, scratching or clawing at herself incessantly any longer; however, she is having several “accidents” overnight… every night.  As she is not the first “baby” we’ve had on pred, I know this isn’t unusual and am hopeful it’ll resolve itself once she’s off the medication.  She is still taking the liver pill and everyone believes that once the ivermectin is completely out of her system (which it should definitely be by now!) the liver will return to normal.  I do realize, and our vet told us, that prednisone will “mess up” the validity of any liver enzyme test we do now so we will re-check her once the pred has run its course.

Long story short, as terrifying as this experience was, she is almost back to her normal wiggly self.

As for Sebastian, our beautiful Tripawd, he is still doing remarkably well.  Every day he’s showing a little more enthusiasm and is getting around a little bit better.  He does have a mass on his remaining front leg near his dewclaw which I’m thinking we need to get biopsied, or at least checked out in some way, but I’m concerned about doing any type of procedure to his “good” front leg given it provides his balance and ability to be mobile.  Has anyone else experienced such a thing?  The mass is still small enough that it could potentially be removed without any issues.  I realize that if it’s cancer again it should definitely go, but my hesitation is “messing with” his only front leg as he’s just gotten used to getting around on 3 legs.  Thoughts from anyone on this situation?  Keep in mind he’s 70+ pounds and will be 12 1/2 in September.  I obviously want to provide him with whatever care he needs, but also don’t want to jeopardize his ability to “keep kicking” given the fact that he’s already down to 3-legs.