A trip to the chiropracter vet

Well Mr Beebs condition is worse than ever and I was up all night worrying and wondering what was going on. When I woke up this morning it occurred to me that his problem could be his back and spine and not his leg. That the symptom isn't necessarily the cause/I massaged his back end for about 15 minutes and then let him out to go potty. He hopped around quite a bit better...which made me think that maybe he had a pinched nerve and he couldn't feel his leg.
So I went online and found a chiro vet in Stamford Ct.Mr Beebs responded very well to her treatment and visibly relaxed while she was performing her task. He seems less wobbly and we go back Thursday...one day before our vacation .
His wheelchair will be ready in 2 weeks and I was very impressed with the quality of the chair itself. Ultra sturdy and well thought out. He was measured by the staff and his back leg will be able to walk along and yet it will support his back and hips. So perhaps if we have any luck at all.Beebs, Sydney, and I will be able to go to the park once again for a stroll. This entire ordeal has me very depressed and anxious. My sleeping is very turbulent and it seems like every single day I am trouble shooting yet another complication.
It is truly a TPLO nightmare. NO more ab's...for now at least. Although it is only 2pm I am so tired from the 3 hours of driving today and the 5 yesterday I want to take a nap.I hope we can take our vacation and a crisis doesn't arise as soon as we leave town.I can always pray for a miracle. I have all along and the fact that he's still here 14 months later maybe shows that it really is a miracle considering the trauma over this past year plus. Okay...the war continues.

A trip to Mass.

Tommorrow I'll drive Beebs up to Shelburne Mass. to have him fitted for a wheelchair. His back leg is in such bad shape I can't stand watching him walking on it. Exactly what I feared would happene after amputation. This wheel chair will provide freedom from pain...and mobility...happiness to resume a walk in the park.I'm crossing my fingers...its not cheap at $500.00 ...but I can drive there if there's a problem.Its a 2 hour ride which compared to dving to Georgia is nothing. He deserves a break and so do I.

Feeling down

Mr Beebs has never been a humidity dog and here in CT the humidity is way up there. Right now he is eating a bone and seems happy...yet his face every morning has a depressed look about it...a sadness, as does mine for the pain I feel for him.

A wheel chair is in our future. I think he may be frustrated and bummed because he has been so weak for so long.K9Karts( is a developed product from an orthopedic vet). I'll call them asap and ask...his advice. Mr Beebs front end and stamina is huge and yet his back leg is a burden. He drags it and wobbles ..sometimes falls. Thats why I think he is so upset. Who wouldn't be?

Everyday I wish to God I had never done a TPLO, and especially with the surgeon who did it, in the place that he operates out of. I can't change the past but I can point out glaring inequalities. On a side bar: I get email from Bella Moss ...a lady who's dog in the UK suffered and died because of MRSA. Bella died from a contagion that has now become an animal problem as well as human. The Bella Moss foundation tells the horrible story. Because our companions have no rights beside market value/purchase price... their harsh deaths from contagion goes unnoticed. As does mal practice and negligence.Without recourse or justifiable condemnation. I personally want to acknowledge the bond between companion animals and humans and say ..please...they are not washing machines and toasters...they are in our family photo albums. I have more photo's of Beebs and Sydney than any vacation , trip or, social accomplishment. Why? Because they are my family.

Where is the culture report?

I did get a copy of Mr Beebs initial care at the hospital back in June of 2006. Whats interesting is that the culture report which had the original enterobacter organism listed was not in his file. Could be that its was an oversight.Could also be a deliberate attempt to bury the results. I'll have my regular vet call and ask for it and see what happens.
Fortunately...I had already copied this report 9 months ago and brought it to Geogia with me. So there are numerous copies of that still in existances.
Maybe I'm just paranoid.....Beebs is still wobbly today and I considered getting him a wheel chair, so he can still go for short walks without falling down.
I registered for a heavy load of college courses in fall and can't wait to dig in.One day I hope I can represent animals in my state and protect them as I believe they should be. Funny how a dog can change your life .

up and down and not sure how bright the future is

Every day is different in regards to Mr Beebs health.Today he is a little perkier than yesterday, but still tired. I was on the CDC web sight today and noticed just how resistant to treatment GNB (gram negative bacteria) are becoming. Several of the species Beebs has or had are resistant to all known ab's and the mortality rate is staggering. How we made it to this point is a miracle. I truly believe that my love and devotion coupled with his will to live and strong heart have given us one more year. I don't know how much longer the ab's will continue to work...or if they too will become fatalities in our war with the bacteria. I see that he has lost alot of life force since the amputation. I also believe that taking him off everything and assuming he was bacteria free was a huge mistake on the part of the vets. It gave the organism 10 days to start invading body systems ...and weaken the poor guy terribly.
Its as though no one takes it seriously. Are doctors lazy? Is it to much effort to implement safe precautions. Is it because animals have no rights that the vets do only as much as they need to and not a drop more. After all...what recourse do we have ? None.But not for long.
I found out by reading manuscripts from the Harvard law conference that the California vet assoc. tried to change the law regarding animals as property to companions. Guess who lobbied to stop em and won.The pharmaceutical company that I won't mention by name but is in the top 10 .So in that case the vets tried to remedy a bad situation/ an unfair situation and a big gun drug comp. paid off someone in the legislature (its called lobbying)...
I have been studying the disastrous clinical trials of the big guys and will make surer I have enough damaging evidence to shut them up before they try and stop me here in CT.
There;s an old saying "Know your enemy"...well I intend to and with that in mind I will imagine Mr Beebs how he could have been had it not been for this horrific lack of sound judgement.He would have lived a very good and long life had I never taken him in for that TPLO with that surgeon in that hospital. I hope I can turn these lemons into something useful...just so I can live with this outcome.

Pathology from Yale New Haven Hospital

Just to see for myself..I went on the Yale University site looking for a pathologist I could speak to about the various organisms I have come in contact with myself. While looking at the university info I found the Yale hospital precaution list for contagious diseases. Well after reading about enterobacter cloacae and seeing that from day one Mr Beebs and I should have been in a private room...they should have been wearing masks and gowns...upon entering and thrown out when leaving.The gloves that were worn should be thrown out and the examing doctor should wash their hands as well. It goes on and on and the more I read the more disgusted and upset I became.
Today I will go speak to my own doctor regarding this as I have felt punky/gastro problems for about nine months. Could be an ulcer from the stress of this or it could be the bacteria that flew into my face while I was syringing the tract.
I also noted that when in fact any hospital has a diagnosis of a contagion such as the numerous ones in Mr Beebs leg...they are to notify the public health dept. within 48 hours. It is very doubtful that the animal hospitals did that. Ironically I called the Public health dept number in hartford....I was told that the doctor I would be speaking to is a veterinarian! That I found astounding..that the State of CT has an animal doctor over seeing this .It was on the yale web site.
He was in a meeting and did call me back to say..that it is very unlikely I would get sick from bacteria...he used his very biggest words to describe why I shouldn't worry. If its not a worry why did my reg vet wash his hands thoroughly every time he examined the dog amd warned me to do so as well.
Today Beebs is limping more and seems tired.He over did it yesterday or Sydney banged into his back end. He is eating well and playing with his toys. But...his face is so much grayer lately.
I bet ifd it weren't for lady Clairol my hair would be white.

one week after resuming AB's

Phew...well its been one solid week of ab's and Mr Beebs is hopping around like a puppy.He is eating well and being a pest which is a wonderful sign. However it points to one very obvious problem.The bacteria roaming his body ..is here to stay.
The vets have been wrong.It is systemic and it is obviously well versed in hiding.I wondered if it wasn't the scar tissue from his traditional acl surgery from 7 years ago. Wherever it is the blood supply is not carrying the medicine to the infection or a few rogue cells. That says that its got a place to spawn and once the ab's hit the generalized blood stream they back way down and hide.That I believe is why his back leg is so tender and painful...until he was put back on the various drugs.Perhaps in a few days I'll let the vet exam him while I hold his head so he can press on that femur and see if it bothers him.
Thank God for ortho dogs...I went up to Maine to sell my parents rv trailer and I was deeply distressed about Beebs condition when I left.I saw a brightening but felt it was dangerous to be 6 hours away.That night when I went to bed I was hashing all the possibilities through my mind. The next morning at 5am I sat bolt upright and said to myself.."This is Norman all over again". It was such a strong feeling that I had my dog sitter pick my dogs up and bring them home to watch them like a hawk. My Mother whines about giving the dogs pills and does a bad job of it. I always find pills that have been spiyt out after she watches them.The last thing on this earth Mr Beebs needed was to miss a pill or have my mom forget if she gave him his "life saving" drugs. So...if it hadn't been for the Norman story...which is the exact opposite of what all the vets here have said. Mr Beebs would be going down hill fast just like Norman.There is no doubt in my mind that "their assumptions " would have killed him. I even called my vets and told them to look up the Norman story and read it.Read it and perhaps learn a very powerful lesson.
Thanks to all those people sharing I was able to see the trend....and make a snap decision that was the right one. He is playing, bright eyed ...and goofy...even more so than his 7 year old son!Thank God

brightening

Well Mr Beebs was taken off anti biotics Friday morning and put back on them Monday.Today is wed. and he is not faliing down like he was. He still seems weak...but not exhausted.He went out to potty this morning and didn't fall down once.I am holding my breath.
I have a feeling the infection is still present and that his back end is the weakest part of his body and thats why it manifest in that area.Its the weak link in the chain.
I can only guess thats what I'm seeing ...but i do see a brightening in his appearance and ability to move around.If its a sprain maybe its corrected itself...however it is my gut instinct that says...ab's for the rest of his life.
When he is taking them he is running...yes running around like a rabbit.
Quality over quantity.If it causes damage long term ...so be it...because he needs to feel good in the now...
I spoke with my vet about the legislative tack I am taking and hopefully I can get some honest compassionate vets onboard with me so that a "reasonable" solution can be made.It is in their own best interest to be apart of it...
Right now I am focusing on getting Beebs a few good days that manage to turn into a few good years. If I am really in the end only pushing back the tide...I'll have to end his suffering .And that will pierce my heart like nothing else could.

x-rays of existing back leg

The domino effect would be the best way to describe this ordeal. I called a local vet who is very down to earth and honest.He examined Beebs and could not find anything wrong...however when he pressed on his femur beebs lunged at him out of pain and I was glad I had my arms around his neck.
So we went to the hospital...he works out of and I waited in the waiting room because I would not leave him off there after they let him bite his cage.
The x-rays look okay...but a radiologist will view them and get back to us.
The doc says stop the AB's it might be a sprain and long term use can do more harm than good.
My gut says its something hiding in him...the 48 hours after the ab's were stopped were really telling.
I bought 60 days worth of them at a cost of $512.00.I asked the pharmacist if she made a mistake...wishful thinking on my part.
The hospital where the TPLO was done was the place I was at today.I asked for my records and they said Dr...TPLO would not release them to me or any other client...so the vet I do like and trust asked for them and I got them.He lso gave him a shot of morphine...so tired.

The fight continue's...

Well I was afraid 3 days ago that when I stopped the anti bio tics I would see a change...well I did and rapidly. Lethargy...stumbling like he is too exhausted to walk.Today I took him and the other boxers to the park for a bit. He walked half the lenght of a football field and was falling down and couldn't get up.
He does not have a temperature.He never has as a matter of fact.But after over a year of watching this nightmare i can see the signs in a heartbeat now.
I called one of the vets who must be quite shocked as she was the one who said "Its localized "when we amputate we will take the source....Well today she made light of it saying.
Its an even better systemic infection than the last one.She called in the refills and luckily I had some older capsules left from the numerous drugs I have stockpiled. I'm tired...and I was in tears in that park.I hate those doctors for doing this to us...especially to see him struggle.Its not in my nature to wish ill feelings but...I do hope what goes around comes around. Sorry if I sound bitter.
Thats the latest.
Lori and beebs

Father , son, holy ghost

Beebs and his son and daughter...

anti biotics

Oh okay here we go...I'm holding my breath its been 21 days of ciproflaxacin HCL and clindamycin since amputation. I will know in very short order if all the various strains of bacteria have been killed once and for all.
I am still astounded that the vets that did the amputation thought that he didn't need any anti biotics after a year long fight.
They assumed...(key word) that the infection was localized...that the leg was the source.
Well just like cancer a tumopr could be in one place and still besending out its cells all over the body. How can 2 doctors who have had 16 years of school between them not see the obvious?
Because Mr Beebs has contracted 3 different strains after each and every surgery...I finds it hard to belive that the culture results point to some rapid mutation between May 27 to June 6th to june 15th.Highly unlikely. What is more likely is that he got the new infections from the surgeries in Georgia and Connecticut.
I was told by onew of the vets up here...that
"they are cleaning the place all the time" That the bacteria's have become resistant to the cleaning solutions"
What a load of fecal matter that is. I bet common amonia and water kills 99% of all pathogens.The more I read from my Harvard animal law manuel the more outraged I'm becoming. If its the last thing I do on this earth I'm going to affect a change in our CT legislature to change the status of animals from property to companion.
Why? Because I have NO legal recourse in this state for what numerous parties did to my guy Mr Beebs. None...zip...
When I've compiled all the arguements I will post it as a link for all to see and then I will petition CT state residents to get behind this. Once people know the truth they will be equally disatifyied with the currant status of our laws here.Lasw written in the 1800's.
I pray Mr Beebs is finally clear of any contagion.I will never not feel heartache when I look at him and what he has endured....It should have never happened.

My Babysitter and nurse Sydney who has also paid a price

Well I ordered another booty which is smaller and a hock brace to stabilaze the poor guys back left leg. When he walks it reminds me of that old movie "The Mummy" who also dragged his leg just like Mr Beebs.I recently....(had to stop laughing) Recently is a relative term over the last year for us. It could mean every day at the vets..every other day or a surgery every two weeks.So Recently in this case as of July 5th 07 is 4 days ago which is a long stretch for us.The vet did a reflex test on his back leg and it did respond fairly well.He did walk into the kitchen on to the hard woodf floor for the firts time in search of cooked chicken. So thats good. As far as a wheelchair. The vets says nop don't do it.Build the leg up. Well at 10 years old...I'm afraid by the time he builds the leg up something else will go wrong and he'll never get to go on a stroll with his buddy Sydney ever again.
Sydney is my other boxer who happens to be Mr Beebs son. They are like pea's and carrots and Sydney has beeen a wonderful babysitter and nurse for me.He has also lost a year of his life during all this though. It has made me very aware of what people go through when they have one sick child and another that is healthy...what I've been doing is whats best for both of them and in the mean time I've been depleted by the whole situation.I feel guilty that one dog wants to run and play for hours and the other wants to and can't...If they were children I might be able to explain this but all they see is one is leaving and I'm made to stay.Almost like punishment.Truth is I never leave Mr Beebs alone without Sydney.

A face that says it all

His last days trying to save that leg

This is a photo of the fixator that was put on by Dr Budsberg in UGA of Georgia.It was our last ditch attempt to fuse the leg bone together even with the bacteria present.

After the doctore found out that several beading attempts failed his response was
"Shit...I wish I had seen him 9 months ago".So do I.In truth most vets/surgeons are way out of their league when it comes to super bugs and the complications from them.The doctor in Georgia works strictly with these sorts of things and God knows I wish I had heard about him a year ago. The truth is that when the fixator was cut away before amputation one of the surgeons noticed that the screws that had broken off in the bone back in January were now in a position to be taken out. The reason: The bacteria had eaten its way down the screws virtually routing out the bone.So I see that in the end...there was no other option left and that not only was it systemic but any hopes of healing that bone were over. All because of procedure.
I've recently gone back to school and wonder if micro biology or animal law is where I belong. I'm conflicted and feel strongly about both.I spoke to a state rep yesterday about going through legislative channels here to change the law regarding pets status as property verses companions.She is willingto help me.Hopefully over time CT can be a leader in animals rights and the rights of owners to competent treatment of their companion animals.

What happened and Why it shouldn't have

Systemic infection afterall...slight anemia

Well The docs assumed....and thats the key word that the infection was strictly localized. A week after being home Mr Beebs became more and more lethargic and dispondant.The clavimox we were told to continue come to find out were useless in fighting what ever roaming bacteria was in his body. The culture arrived on a Friday the 22nd of Jubne and a wek later a receptionist informed me that I needed to change the AB's and bring in the unused.I was beside myself. The poor guy had suffered so much already and here it was 10 days after surgery and his body was being attacked and unprotected once again.
I got alot of excuses...and my response was that this amputation and infection weren't exactly a hang nail.Unacceptable.He is perking up Thank God....his is taking two other drugs that attack the bacteria that was reported in the culture taking at the time of the amputation. What made the vets think it would stay in one spot is beyond me.All that brain power and years of training and still lots of blundering going on.I had my regular vet do a blood sample and he said it came back showing Beebs was slightly anemic.Massive blood loss. Which I can understand having his entire leg cut off. There needs to be an animal /owner protection agency. This has been an experience I never want to repeat as long as I live.I will get the report out and post the exact nature of the beast.