Gigi's Medical
Donation protected
GIGI, a charming, young female pit bull type dog needs your financial assistance. She came into the shelter this spring from an abandonment, starvation situation. She was very much underweight. After a few months, Gigi reached a healthy weight and was able to be spayed. When she returned to the shelter from her surgery, it was discovered she had lost the use of her rear legs. She was taken back to the veterinarian who performed the surgery and received a diagnosis of “degenerative spinal disease”.
Our trainer then advocated for Gigi to be seen by a neurologist and shortly thereafter, an animal organization offered to arrange for and pay for Gigi’s appointment. The neurologist said Gigi’s issues were neurologically based and not necessarily degenerative and confirmed her hind limb weakness and ataxia. It was recommended that further diagnostics would be needed to determine the nature of her condition.
In the fall 2016, Gigi was taken, for yet a third opinion, to a neurological consultation at Angell Medical Center
in Boston where it was determined that she had had a stroke, in addition to arthritis in her elbows and hocks and rear leg ataxia. An MRI and Spinal Tap were recommended to determine the cause of her ataxia and to rule out other possibilities.
Gigi’s recent MRI and Spinal Tap revealed a disc herniation in her lower back, a spinal lesion and compression of her spinal nerves.
Recommendations for Gigi were exercise restriction, anti-inflammatories, pain medications as needed and physical therapy. Holistic treatment, including acupuncture and Chinese herbs, could possibly alleviate her pain and weakness. Radiographs and joint taps were suggested to determine the cause of her elbow and hock swelling.
Gigi's follow-up appointments, medication, special foods, supplements and physical therapy are going to be taxing on our funds, taking away monies from other cats and dogs in need our help. To get Gigi feeling better, she will need the following:
Ø Radiographs & joint taps (to determine cause of swelling)
Ø Physical therapy (to gain strength back in her legs)
Ø Acupuncture (to alleviate pain & weakness)
Ø Nyzmo Antioxidant treats (for pain relief)
Ø Liquid Glucosamine (for joint lubrication)
Ø Diet rich in omega-3 (for joint lubrication)
Ø Omega-3 supplements (for joint lubrication)
Ø Probiotics (for gut health)
Because Gigi is an “anesthesia risk” due to her previous stroke, the least invasive approach will be tried before any surgery. However, if none of the recommendations relieve her pain, surgery may be the only option left if it is decided to even go that route.
Taunton's Animal Care Facility in Massachusetts is a municipal animal shelter that provides care and a temporary home until the cats and dogs get adopted.
The Friends of the Taunton Animal Care Facility's ("the Friends") is the fundraising group organized for the sole purpose of financially supplementing basic necessities above and beyond city funding (ie. food, shelter, medical care, medicine, and facility improvements). Medical care expenses deplete most of our funds but helps dogs and cats get their medical needs tended to, subsequently being able to be healthy enough to go into forever homes.
This is our mission for Gigi.
Our trainer then advocated for Gigi to be seen by a neurologist and shortly thereafter, an animal organization offered to arrange for and pay for Gigi’s appointment. The neurologist said Gigi’s issues were neurologically based and not necessarily degenerative and confirmed her hind limb weakness and ataxia. It was recommended that further diagnostics would be needed to determine the nature of her condition.
In the fall 2016, Gigi was taken, for yet a third opinion, to a neurological consultation at Angell Medical Center
in Boston where it was determined that she had had a stroke, in addition to arthritis in her elbows and hocks and rear leg ataxia. An MRI and Spinal Tap were recommended to determine the cause of her ataxia and to rule out other possibilities.
Gigi’s recent MRI and Spinal Tap revealed a disc herniation in her lower back, a spinal lesion and compression of her spinal nerves.
Recommendations for Gigi were exercise restriction, anti-inflammatories, pain medications as needed and physical therapy. Holistic treatment, including acupuncture and Chinese herbs, could possibly alleviate her pain and weakness. Radiographs and joint taps were suggested to determine the cause of her elbow and hock swelling.
Gigi's follow-up appointments, medication, special foods, supplements and physical therapy are going to be taxing on our funds, taking away monies from other cats and dogs in need our help. To get Gigi feeling better, she will need the following:
Ø Radiographs & joint taps (to determine cause of swelling)
Ø Physical therapy (to gain strength back in her legs)
Ø Acupuncture (to alleviate pain & weakness)
Ø Nyzmo Antioxidant treats (for pain relief)
Ø Liquid Glucosamine (for joint lubrication)
Ø Diet rich in omega-3 (for joint lubrication)
Ø Omega-3 supplements (for joint lubrication)
Ø Probiotics (for gut health)
Because Gigi is an “anesthesia risk” due to her previous stroke, the least invasive approach will be tried before any surgery. However, if none of the recommendations relieve her pain, surgery may be the only option left if it is decided to even go that route.
Taunton's Animal Care Facility in Massachusetts is a municipal animal shelter that provides care and a temporary home until the cats and dogs get adopted.
The Friends of the Taunton Animal Care Facility's ("the Friends") is the fundraising group organized for the sole purpose of financially supplementing basic necessities above and beyond city funding (ie. food, shelter, medical care, medicine, and facility improvements). Medical care expenses deplete most of our funds but helps dogs and cats get their medical needs tended to, subsequently being able to be healthy enough to go into forever homes.
This is our mission for Gigi.
Organizer
Paulette Ward
Organizer
Taunton, MA
