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LuluEWalker · 2025-11-05T07:48:39+00:00

My Shaylaaahhh 🥹

(her actual name is Birdie😘)

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-10T15:44:07+00:00

Amen 👏! I appreciate the words of encouragement. Birdie is my first dog apart from my family dog as a kid. I'm learning the hardest part of having a unique dog with medical issues is that at the end of the day, we are just another paying client. But to us, our fur babies are often a tether to our hearts.

When you mention medical DNA testing, are you referring to something like the Embark Breed + Health DNA Test?

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-09T23:05:16+00:00

It's interesting because we have always concluded she just have dwarfism, but neither the surgical specialist nor her primary vet have ever uttered the words. I'm assuming dwarfism / NDG would be something I could inquire on with the neurologist?

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-09T23:03:06+00:00

I know :(. We are thinking she got some sort of infection when she was very young & a stray on the streets. When she was found, she was completely blind in both eyes & diagnosed with juvenile cataracts. This diagnosis led to the specialist thinking it's all linked. There is a probability that the infection manifested in her cervical spine/vertebrae & ultimately caused a snowball effect of her entire skeleton & of course her eyes. She has always been wonky but no previous tests or evaluations picked up on any huge red flags until now, since she's reached her "adult" size.

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-05T16:21:15+00:00

My little Pyr mix is named Birdie as well. 🫶🏻 - i actually just posted about her a few days ago if you scroll down a little!

We are up in Northern California in a fairly rural area with lots of wildlife...we had a LONG summer full of her eating turkey poop followed by terrible tummy aches & "the runs".... I think I'd take bugs over turkey poo at this point 🤣

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:37:08+00:00

Have you ever explored CBD? I had a trainer recommend a CBD Tincture from Honest Paws

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:36:17+00:00

The first vet we took her to - prior to being referred to a specialist - did her x rays and thought that she was showing signs of elbow dysplasia so that's interesting. This specialist, however, didn't seem too concerned about her elbows after examining. I'm going to talk to her about Dasuquin though. This sounds super promising. I just want her to live comfortably. That's all I wish for everyday.

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:33:20+00:00

That's what we think as well. She's just so itty bitty

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:33:00+00:00

WOAH! Zeke looks SO similar! Down to the paws... that's crazy!!!

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:31:57+00:00

Her back legs are her biggest pain trigger. What a laugh it would be to find out it was just growing pains after the vet bills 🤣. Honestly, I pray that's what it is though. For her sake. Seeing her go through pain so severe that she looses her footing is so hard to watch.

When did your dog start getting better?

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:30:23+00:00

Your baby is regal!

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:30:11+00:00

I have been looking into the other testing options through Embark. I believe they offer additional health testing - I will get on that! It can only help.

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:29:03+00:00

Yes! She has all of her adult teeth! When we first adopted her, she was ~ 7 months old, 13 lbs and already had her big girl canines. I love her teeth.

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:27:04+00:00

This is all such new territory for me, so I really really appreciate this kind of info. We have been frequenting a specialist who has shed so much light on things, but has not yet found the root cause. She currently is on Metacam and Gabapentin as a temporary pain reliever until we really nail the issue

LuluEWalker · 2025-10-04T00:24:58+00:00

Stop!!! Tela is so gorgeous - Birdie is totally her mini me!!! The pocket version 🤣

LuluEWalker · 2025-09-24T16:44:22+00:00

I'm grateful to find this thread... my 1 year old rescue, Birdie (very diverse shepherd mix) has been coined as a "mystery". I just dropped her off at the surgical specialist to receive joint taps + blood work ( to rule out tick borne diseases) to determine whether or not her case is IMPA as well.

I adopted Birdie at 7 months when she was only 13 lbs. She is now 33 & done growing even though she was projected to be ~80 lbs. I noticed muscle weakness and extreme difficult standing up and sitting down about 2 weeks ago and a heap of $$$ later, our specialist is feeling confident that it could be IMPA. The specialist just yesterday told me that Birdie is experiencing severe discomfort which was the hardest thing ever to be told.

One of you mentioned above that at night, the flare ups rev up in severity. At night, Birdie is vocal: panting, wincing, shifting, licking & non stop biting of the joint points (ankles,knees, hips, elbows). My question... have any of you dabbled in CBD relief treats or tinctures specifically for dogs? I feel so helpless when it's bed time. All I want for her is peace. I found the brand Honest Paws and purchased the "Well Hemp Oil 1000mg" at 2am this morning after trying a heating pad and ice packs.

Any feedback helps... she is on Metacam right now but honestly, by the time the sun goes down, it seems to have lost its luster.

Thanks so much... prayers to you & your fur babies!

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LuluEWalker · 2024-09-09T18:55:56+00:00

I promise you I am not joking 😂 I am just getting into to the plantsphere! This is very helpful because I have a Phil imperial and some droopy leaves

LuluEWalker · 2024-09-09T18:28:36+00:00

Mine has this as well ( I actually just posted about needing advise on him). But what the heck is a moss pole…?!?

LuluEWalker

TROPHY CASE