kandykane wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2019 9:07 pm
Well to much to absorb today
This Vet did a real good exam and a couple of lets see what is what with Skipper
He has Rhinitis gave him antibiotics for 10 days
his chest is not congested clear the way it should be, let me have a listen and gave me a stethoscope
Well good. I'm glad you got antibiotics from this vet, that much is good. I was starting to feel like the other vet was just charging you for exams and not doing anything!
Checked his eyes has a very slight case of glaucoma
checked his ears they are good
had me walk with him with harness, I am doing it properly
while I had him up she checked his legs for movement and strength moved them, says seems like they are some what stiff, but could be he is nervous
she also did the pinch test, said slow response
I'll take slow response. That's fine. Because it isn't no response. Good. Good. And good. Is this the first time you've had a vet actually identify a response? Think I may have told you this already, I don't remember, but it was 149 days before they found deep pain sensation in my dog, that's one day short of 5 months.
we than sat for a while outside let Skipper chill out
He had to pee and lifted himself up 1/2 way by himself
That is EXTREMELY cool. It sounds like he is learning to stand up by himself.
She said don't want to dash my hopes of Skipper walking
But she don't really think he ever will
But he IS slowly getting it back. What you are seeing IS what recovery looks like. It's slow, it's not on our schedule, but a slow recovery is still a recovery. I think some of these pets have a deep wisdom that operates at a speed and schedule that we don't really understand as humans, and they are listening to it and we can try to help if we can kind of tune in to what they are doing and let them lead, or if we don't get it, we can at least show respect for what the pet is doing and step back and shut up and get out of the way. I do not know what kind of experience the vet was going on, maybe she was looking at his age, but she has not seen him take 20 steps and all the other little improvements. And I doubt if she knew the whole story on the dogs she claims to know of that got a little back and that's all. Did they get PT twice a day for months? I'm glad she gave you antibiotics, but beyond that I can't say anything positive.
he has the want to try and has done a few steps a let her know on his own
and he does roll over on his back and gets back over
she says she has seen this in other animals
I've been reading posts on this forum for a long time and some people come here and you can tell their vet is helpful and supportive and seems really up to speed on stuff, and some people come here and it seems like the vet isn't even covering the basic things. I am sorry you have had to go to so many vets just to get basic care for Skipper like advice to crate him, or a prescription of antibiotics(!) This is a little off the subject, but we once had a gal here posting about her dog and she lived in an eastern European country you seldom hear of, I don't remember which one, I'd have to go back and find the post. Anyway, she was listing all the care and treatments her dog was getting there, but she said she was posting on the forum because she felt sure there was more advanced care she could get for her dog in the west. When I read everything her dog was getting, I felt like, ohmygosh, most of us don't have access to anything like that kind of care. I wanted to say, "You don't realize, you are getting state-of-the-art care most of us only wish for." I live in a large city and I certainly don't have access to some of the treatments she listed that her dog was getting. As a matter of fact, I don't care how advanced things are supposed to be in the US, a lot of us wonder where all this advanced care really is, because it sure as heck isn't in our home town. Sorry, that is a little rant, but there is such a high degree of variation in vet care, I don't care what state you are in or even the size of the city. I love my vets and I've had some really, really great care for my pets, but I have also experienced a couple of epic fails at the big regional specialty hospital where they're supposed to be the best. I'm glad you persisted in getting him some treatment for his sinus problem. Honestly, in my experience when a dog is borderline for walking, any little health challenge also affects the walking. I hope the meds will have it cleared up soon.
It's just the disc never really goes back in place and the nerves never really heal properly
they will on occasion do a couple steps and such but never fully recover
Well thank you, Doctor Doom and Gloom. The nerves continue to heal for literally years, and the dog does NOT need 100% nerve function to walk. It took my dog 9 months to walk and I had long since given up any hope and accepted that she would not, and we were just continuing to do PT because it was quality time for us and it was good for her. No one was more surprised than me when she began to walk again. Your dog is only at 5 months and already doing steps and half stands. I would continue to do PT. And probably avoid Doctor Negative because you've got enough to do without having to listen to that. I am so sorry she said that to you.
You could do surgery but at his age and there still is no guarantee with surgery
mentioned acupuncture, as you have before, might have to find a couple of places that do dogs and have a talk with them first
My heart stopped and Skipper is listening and he is smart, he know we are talking about him
got him back to the car and said to him, we will be ok, you just feel what you want to do, we will be ok together no matter what
You will because of the kind of people you and Skipper are, and the kind of relationship you have, but it would be easier if he can walk, and you both seem to be do-ers, so you have the best chance. Sometimes the turtle wins the race, not the rabbit.
Got home got Skipper comfy, told him had to go outside and pick up some more limbs so I could hopefully mow tomorrow,
No I went outside and cried I didn;t want to cry in front of him or where he could hear me
Not surprised. Will answer more in the next post.
But, I am still not giving up and then if he doesn't walk again we will be ok with that too
just breaks my heart