Summoning Chummie's Fan Club
Our regular vet told me he'd been in touch with the neurologist and while they were ok with letting me wait and see, they were really hoping I would go for the MRI. So I discussed it with them directly yesterday and they arranged for me to bring her in for a scan today. I was pretty impressed that they made space for her right away. Maggie and I dropped her off at the hospital. At first, Chum didn't want to go but then I told the assistant to hold some treats just out of reach of her mouth and Chum went charging off trying to snap at the treats in her hand. . . That was pretty funny. She didn't even see us leave. So wish Chummie luck! Her bloodwork was perfect so hopefully she will do well. I'm hoping for something very treatable. |
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| I'm crossing my fingers for Chummie....and you. Please let know as soon as you hear something.
Teresa |
Good Luck, Chummie!!! Your fans from Indiana wish you all the best. 
Chummie such an inspiration to all of us who have dealt with older dogs or dogs overcoming medical problems. And no one has done more to improve a dog's quality of life than Val has done with this girl.
I'm particularly fond of Chummie because she reminds me so much of Maggie McGee IV, the same sweet look and quiet determination.
Please keep us posted on her progress. 
Nita & Nelson |
| You've got our most positive thoughts & energy, support & prayers. Hoping for a good outcome - something very treatable.
Chummie's biggest fan, |
| I wish Chummie all the best. I hope it is something that is easily treated.
Carley sends Sheepie hugs. Let us know how she is doing. |
Belly rubs and sheepie hugs to you Chummie  ! You are such an amazing girl-you have overcome so much. Keep it up, we are all praying for you.
Val, you also are so amazing to me! |
| Come on Chummie!
I hope this is something easily fixed... |
| Chummie baby,
Aunt Darcy and Panda wish you only the best and quickest of recoveries...youre an amazing girl with the stregnth of 10 sledding dogs...dont stop here now girl, there are too many years left of barking in parked cars!! Val, my thoughts and prayers are with you, always! |
| I will be thinking of you gals today.. waiting for a positive update.
Hugs to Chum and Maggie and you! Brenda Dudley and Murph |
| BIG hugs to that precious Chummie girl for a positive outcome of the MRI. She's such a sweetheart and I feel a special connection with her. Waiting anxiously to hear the outcome. |
| Good luck! She is such a trooper! |
come on Chummie-girl!  You're my hero! You can beat this!
You and Chum have gone through so much together, Val. I'm sending lots of good wishes that this will something easily treatable, so you guys can finally have a break!  |
| We love you, Chum! |
| C'mon Chummie! One more hurdle! |
| You can do it Chummie!!! Your mommy and your many friends are rootin' for you. I agree on the many belly rubs. You deserve them! I hope Chummie has good news! |
| lots of kisses to chummie |
| Chummie's #3 fan present and accounted for!
I Chummie! |
| Hope everything goes well for Miss Chum. Give her a couple extra treats from Aunt Wyn and the BR Gang. |
| Chum, I know how much you loved your spa days at Alameda East - who wouldn't. Water aerobics in your own personal pool, private masseuse (though you told your mom it was PT), room service, video conferencing with all of the other Sheepies.... I understand why you think it's time for another trip.
But this is not the way to go about it. Remember your mom is still healing and doesn't need this stress either. Besides, we are all waiting for more of the furry adventures of Chum and Maggie on the Road. Positive thoughts for something simple & easily fixed this time. |
| Sending good vibes to Chummie! |
Ron wrote: Chummie's #3 fan present and accounted for! I am sad to report I have been demoted to Chummie's #4 fan. I Chummie!
...but still I Chummie! |
| You were not demoted!! I don't actually believe Maggie deserves the #2 slot. . . Her support is casual at best.
Ron wrote: Ron wrote: Chummie's #3 fan present and accounted for! I am sad to report I have been demoted to Chummie's #4 fan. I Chummie!...but still I Chummie! |
| Good luck, kiddo! |
| Oh, I am sad to hear Chummie is still having problems. Chummie plz get better soon. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way!
Aussie and Sheepie hugs! |
| Any word yet? I'll tell Stella all about it ... misery loves company ya know, lol. |
| Kisses to Chummie. Hope all goes well. Val, you are an amazing mom!! Your girls are so lucky to have you. |
| Dutch and I are sending good thoughts and a hug to Chummie and Val who have been through so much |
Lots of butt rubs from me to Chummie! And Bailey sends sloppy wet kisses, whether she wants them or not  |
CHUMMIE Go girl you can get through this.  |
| No news yet. The MRI was late in the day so she is recovering overnight at the hospital. They say she handled the anesthesia just fine. . . . I expect to know more tomorrow. |
| YAY Chummie!
Now I have my fingers crossed for a good report.... |
Ron wrote: YAY Chummie!
Now I have my fingers crossed for a good report.... Ditto!  |
| Fingers and paws crossed for you and Chummie, Val.
Big hugs from Vermont Kim & Finnigan |
| Val- Poor Chummie!! Max felt so bad that he made a get well card for her!
Excuse the dirty dog- he was playing in the field when I called him in to tell him about his hero not feeling well... We are hoping the best for that dear- dear girl! Ron might be her #3 Fan- but she is Max's #1 Hero! 
 |
| LOL!! That is the cutest, sweetest card ever!!! That really made my heart leap. Thank you! |
| Awwwww |
| OK so this is sort of interesting. The neurologist did not see ANY spinal problem in the area where Chum was exhibiting pain. Not even discrepancies within normal range. That area all looked good.
The only area that looked questionable was the location of her prior surgery but he could not tell whether it was scar tissue or an actual problem. They offered to run a CT scan for free so they could further investigate. Free is pretty compelling. So I am waiting for news on those results. |
| Free sounds VERY good, and I think not finding anything is good news so far! |
| Wishing you and Chummie lots of luck with the CT! |
Still keeping our fingers and paws crossed...good luck with the CT!!!! We love Max's card  . |
| Hmmm, I hope they find something...
Oh Val, weirdly, I had a dream with Chummie in it last night! The area we were in had just had a storm, so the middle lanes of the freeway were blocked with debris, but the far right lane was okay. So, Chummie was sort of in a car, but it was really more like a platform, but it was going as fast as a car, but all open air. Then, she slowed down and got off the platform and was trotting along in the bushes, trying to find the Statue of Liberty, which for some reason she had to find because she had to swim to it. So she finally saw the Statue of Liberty but didn't want to swim--she was just sort of looking at it from the edge of the water...Talk about strange! |
| Hi I'm wishing Chumley the best of luck..that card was so way cute. You are a very good mom, and you take such good care of her |
| Sorry to hear that Chum is suffering. Hope you find out what is wrong soon. Poor girl. |
| Good Luck Chummie. |
barney1 wrote: Oh Val, weirdly, I had a dream with Chummie in it last night! The area we were in had just had a storm, so the middle lanes of the freeway were blocked with debris, but the far right lane was okay. So, Chummie was sort of in a car, but it was really more like a platform, but it was going as fast as a car, but all open air. Then, she slowed down and got off the platform and was trotting along in the bushes, trying to find the Statue of Liberty, which for some reason she had to find because she had to swim to it. So she finally saw the Statue of Liberty but didn't want to swim--she was just sort of looking at it from the edge of the water...Talk about strange!
That is an extraordinarily bizarre dream! How funny! She really does not like to swim.  Thank you for channeling Chum's wild spirit!! |
| lol...Steph, what ever you ate, stop eating it.....
I loved chummies card...this is the best place in the whole world!! Val, good and positive thoughts are still coming thru!! |
| The card is so cute.
Go Chum we are still sending all good thoughts your way girl.  |
Great card Max! 
Well...so far thing sound positive....if mysterious
Keeping the good wishes coming! |
| Here are some thoughts about the symbolism of that dream:
The open platform -- perhaps the picture of Chummie on the wheeled gurney right after surgery? The swimming -- all of the underwater treadmill rehab work? The Statue of Liberty -- The freedom of movement from doing all that exercise? The freedom is across the water of all that work... in other words you have to do the work to get to the freedom. |
| Ron: not only a Guru, but a Prophet as well! I love it. |
Ron wrote: Here are some thoughts about the symbolism of that dream:
The open platform -- perhaps the picture of Chummie on the wheeled gurney right after surgery? The swimming -- all of the underwater treadmill rehab work? The Statue of Liberty -- The freedom of movement from doing all that exercise? The freedom is across the water of all that work... in other words you have to do the work to get to the freedom. Wow! I love it. |
| Maybe the highway with debris symbolized Chum's blocked spinal column...? |
| Keep your chin(s) up Valarie and Chum!
We're all pulling for you here in Johnstown..... Ali & the furrkids. |
Ron wrote: Here are some thoughts about the symbolism of that dream:
The open platform -- perhaps the picture of Chummie on the wheeled gurney right after surgery? The swimming -- all of the underwater treadmill rehab work? The Statue of Liberty -- The freedom of movement from doing all that exercise? The freedom is across the water of all that work... in other words you have to do the work to get to the freedom. Wow Ron, that's quite a dream analysis there. |
| Loved that special card and Ron the Prophet!
Chummie and Val how amazing you guys are! Fight through Chum like you always do, we are counting on you! & |
| Number 1 Chummie fan club member here....sending well wishes to that special girl of yours! My boys are sending sloppy kisses too..(sorry they can't part with their treats).
I'm sending good vibes your way as everyone else is. We love you Chummie!!!!!!! Marianne PS that's a wonderful card!!! |
| Get Well Chummie! We are pulling for you! |
| Get well Chummie! *hugs* |
| Val, I am sorry I missed this post. With vacation and my Dad's terrribly slow dial up I've missed sooooooooo much important stuff. But we are here in the South pulling for Chummie girl!!!!! |
| What a precious card Max sent Chumley! How sweet.
I hope they do find the source of her pain with the CT scan, so treatment can be started. I know Chum's will do her part.  |
| Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, they really didn't find anything that would explain her recent deterioration. There are some "areas of concern" near her former surgery but he says those issues have been there the whole time and if she was doing great before, they are probably not the explanation.
They are thinking maybe the pain from her arthritic hips is getting worse since at this point, most of her difficulty is in getting up and down and she is not stumbling or slipping out once she is up. Thanks as usual for all the well-wishes. I think it helped. |
| hugs for you and chummie girl |
| hmmm... well...we are certainly glad there is no additional damage. I do wish there was a more definative (sp) answer though. Where do you go from here with treatment? BIG-BIG hugs to you and the girls. And an extra, REALLY BIG (gentle) HUG to Chummie! |
| I'm sorry you still don't have answers.
Hopefully Chummie will start feeling better soon. |
How frustrating! All these tests and still no answers. 
I hope that sweet girl is feeling a bit better. Is she home yet? |
| Yup she's home and in pretty good spirits. She stole Maggie's dinner. That says she's feeling rather spunky. . .
I guess I am just going to hope that some combination of meds will keep her feeling as good as possible. |
| Val,
I'm really sorry you are back on this rollercoaster again. I can't help but think how many sheepdogs have and will be helped down the road because of what you and Chummie have experienced. What's that saying something about it's tough when you're leading the pack? I'm hoping there are more options to consider with managing the pain. I was watching a video in the vet's office about magnet therapy. It was very interesting and has been used to treat every kind of illness including paralysis. If you run out of conventional treatments and are interested in unconventional I've heard of a few things: Chakra therapy, color therapy, energized water, chiropractic adjustment, electroaccuscope (this I swear by) etc. I'm hoping for a miraculous turnaround for Chummie! Hang tough Val, I really admire you! |
| Val I am sorry you where unable to find the answers you where looking for. Chummie is such a sweetie. I bet she enjoyed Maggie's dinner. I am sure the neighbors will be happy to see the "patrol" is back in the neighborhood.(watching from inside the parked car).
Aussie and sheepie hugs to you and Chummie. |
| Go Chummie, go!!! You can have anybody's dinner that you want!
Keep us posted, Val! |
Chummie you can do it!!  Sending you ALL the Sheepie Huggies and cuddles you can get, hope you feelin soon ok! |
| It is so frustrating when medicine fails to give us definite answers. I'm glad that Chumley is home and in good spirits. I so hope she continues to improve. |
Valerie wrote: Yup she's home and in pretty good spirits. She stole Maggie's dinner. That says she's feeling rather spunky. . .
Haha- good girl Chummie! |
| I just caught up on this one, Val.
Good news that there is no visible spinal column damage, and that her surgical site doesn't appear to be hurt. I hope you have good luck with supplements and meds to get her hind end feeling better. |
| Come on Chummie. Wishing you good news and quick recovery. |
| Thanks everyone.
She's not doing very well. She is back to nearly constantly needing help getting up, she is unsteady on her feet, and she does not want to walk farther than the car.
I thank Bissell every day for my SpotBot. Also, I think as a result of the prednisone, she has a nasty skin infection on her back. I am going to talk to the neurologist about getting her off the steriods and back onto NSAIDs. I think we will try Metacam this time since the Deramaxx did not seem to be working for her anymore. . . I just don't understand how she was doing so well for so many months and now she is struggling again. I am glad she at least had a brief few months of joyful, pain-free enthusiasm. I suppose I need to come to grips with the fact that I can't freeze the passage of time. My Vet thanked me yesterday for my support of his children's college fund.  |
| Oh I am so sad... She HAS to be on the pain meds.
Please try the piroxicam and Tagamet (or Cytotec) combo Val. There was some work done and studies of it at Tufts. It is old and powerful stuff, and can be tough on the tummy (hence the stomach protection right off the bat, and give in the middle of a meal) but I think it's easier on the liver. The dosage for the piroxicam is .3 mg/kg, I can't recall the tagamet dosage. |
| Hi Val,
You sound like me I often look at my vets state of the art building and feel I should have my name emblazoned on the front as a major contributor.
I'm sorry about Maggie's recent decline. Shaggy did that for a couple years..and everytime she bounced back - I regained the bounce in my step too. Maggie has such a great mom and no doubt she knows it!
Stealing dinner is a good sign! Keep it up Maggie girl! The boys are sending sloppy kisses. Marianne |
| ^^
I assume you mean Chumley. Maggie is just fine (in case anyone was worried). I appreciate the sympathy. |
| Aw, Val, I'm so sorry You guys have worked so hard this last year. Hugs and kisses |
| Hi Val sorry to hear of the latest update on chum, sounds like you do need to get her off the prednisone, most times that is just a short term treatment and if she is rashing up then best to wean her off the drug if your vet thinks so too.
Hope the metacam helps your sweetie and just thought you might want to have a read of this link too. Natural supplement that might help also (can't hurt to try) along with trying the metacam. Kelsey is back on this one and doing better then I thought she would this time around. Had to take her off the metacam as it was affecting her with the long term use. Took about 4 weeks for the supplement to make a difference and she has it every day now.
http://www.alternativehealth.com.au/Product/seatone.htm |
| Hi Val-
This sure isn't the post we wanted to see! I am hopeful that the different combo of medications help. Max is on Tryxsin- it is a daily supplement that helps with regeration of cells etc. While it certainly isn't a substitute for the pain meds - I do think Max had benefited from the supplement. Doc says it helps with arthritis more than anything he has used....Maybe worth a try for after the right meds are found for pain. Big hugs to Chummie- and as usual a big Thank you to you for being such a great Mom. |
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