Observer, Jlaak, Anne, and everybody else:
Thanks for the candid advice. I wish I knew about the biopsy issues before deciding to do it, but quite frankly, the Vet Specialist said it was the 'only way to know for sure'. So I chose to do it. (?) Then Xena spent several weeks walking on 3-legs, which she was NOT doing before the procedure! That tells me it must have REALLY hurt, considering how good they are at hiding their pain.
But she's much better now, not quite running & jumping, but not immobilized either. Ever since we started the pain meds she's been able to walk on it, but with some amount of hesitation. After getting all excited out in the yard barking back & forth with the neighborhood dogs in her proud & mighty Rottweiler stance, she holds it up slightly. But that fades quickly & she's back to herself in no-time.
I feel that the pain meds I'm giving her are a balance between fending off the pain, but not masking it completely. I think that's important so that she does not feel over-confident about her leg & cause herself a fracture. That would be a very bad ending to her story!!
As far as the carbs go, I've dramatically reduced the amount of kibble she's been getting & increased the amount of her meat-heavy wet food. She hasn't complained one bit! LOL........
I've also been giving her the leftover milk from my cereal in the morning which she LOVES!! She lays on the floor next to me waiting until I'm done, then gets very excited when I stand up because she knows it's time for the good stuff!!!
God.....I LOVE my dog!!
