Reply With QuoteI hope you'll be able to keep him comfortable...that sounds so painful...and that the neurologist has some good suggestions. It's horrible to watch them suffer.
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Well Apollo spent Monday and Tuesday with his vet last week. Luckily he loves his vet and all the techs and I think he gets lots of loving and kisses when he's there. His vet didn't see much on the x-rays from the emergency vet (which were only really the lumbar region) but she could tell he was in pain. She saw two spots that she showed me that could indicate compressed discs. Her suggestion was an MRI. I am willing to do that, so she said we needed full body x-rays first, which is why he went back on Tuesday. The good news from the x-rays is that he has "beautiful" long bones and a "beautiful" heart. He has no masses that she could see. The bad news... the spondylosis in his thoracic region is awful. Even to my untrained eye, it was very obvious. He has multiple areas of bridging. She said it is not surgical. Additionally, she showed me an area in his pelvic bone that she has questions about. She said it could be osteoporosis because he's an older, large lab, but she's not sure. She said that she would feel more comfortable if someone else looked at that area. So we have an appointment on March 6 with a neurologist in New Orleans. Its a consultation and he will look at the x-rays and examine Apollo, then recommend whether an MRI could be beneficial. It feels pretty overwhelming to me at this point. In the meantime, Apollo is doing somewhat better. He still cries immediately upon getting up in the morning, but his pain does seem to go away fairly quickly. The rest of his day seems pain free (well no crying or shaking), but he is much less active. He still gets excited over food and going outside and wags his tail. He is still eating, drinking, pooping, and peeing normally. I haven't been able to find any place local that offers anything for dogs like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, but I plan on talking with the neurologist about those type of options as well. His office offers an abundance of amenities like those, I'm just not sure how doable it will be to travel the distance on a regular basis. So I guess at this point, we will just wait and see what happens, but I am super nervous about all of it!
I hope you'll be able to keep him comfortable...that sounds so painful...and that the neurologist has some good suggestions. It's horrible to watch them suffer.
Thank you for your thoughts
I got Apollo in 2008, and shortly after discovered this board. I remember when Sunnie had her babies! I would check everyday, all day to see how they were doing. Sunnie and Danny look so good in your picture, it makes me happy to see them
SunDance (02-26-2017)
It's so difficult to see them age and the problems they endure with beautiful grace.
Sending many prayers for the best quality of life.
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Kissing Bandit
Thank you for the prayers Poptop.
Awww....thank you for mentioning that. Eight years ago the last day of next month. (cliché time...time really has zoomed by)Originally Posted by Apollo
Thank you for your thoughts
I got Apollo in 2008, and shortly after discovered this board. I remember when Sunnie had her babies! I would check everyday, all day to see how they were doing. Sunnie and Danny look so good in your picture, it makes me happy to see them
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