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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Update (June 26)

    The board has been quiet so I thought i'd post an update

    I've calmed down some since my last post. There is an undercurrent of stress but there will always be. Rocky and I are finding our groove, finding limits, finding what works and what doesn't. I've kept his panting very limited which I hope is helping (and seriously - he pants we go stop, calm down, then head home- and I don't venture far, I head back sooner and go back and forth if he's doing well).

    We tried going to Petsmart to walk and that is a big no. He did fine sniffing outside but we barely made it down one isle before the panting started so we went backing the car and I cooled him down.Not sure if it was excitement, stress or what, he also was heading for the door. Even once home he was panting on and off for a bit (had him cool down before taking him upstairs). Now we know. He is fine with company at my house. I dog sat for a friend Saturday and that was good. Storms still don't bother him.

    He is still doing the stairs but I am helping him to be safe.

    Walks are...well he is much weaker. not sure what is bringing this on but his back end is really declining. On cool morning we do a half hour (but cover less distance than before). I try to get at least 20 mins in the AM and if it's cool enough 10-15 at night (but I suspect this won't be doable much of July-Aug). I try to do more short 5-10min walks back and forth on the block. Or after work I go out 5-10 mins, back in to cool down, then back again for 5-10.

    He can chill outside even when it's pretty hot (though I try to direct him to the shade!). But I find even if he wasn't panting his internal temp must go up as he'll sometimes pant when he comes in (on and off) so I have to let him "cool down' before going upstairs.

    In the last few days his breathing has gotten noisier again. He gives more small coughs. so something is going on on that front. Hoping it is one oft hose "comes and goes "things that...goes.

    I try hard to concentrate on today and now. He seems happy enough I think.

    Our next goal is getting past July, which brings anxiety as it brings with it a year from the day I lost Penny.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
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    Thanks for the update. Sounds like you guys are finding a “new normal”. Hoping he remains relatively stable for a while now. As for the rear-end weakness, that is probably from the LP, which as you know is a neurological problem so it can affect both the larynx and other parts of the nervous system. Jolie had LP, and while her breathing never got bad (she had one scary episode but snapped out of it quickly), her rear did get weak. There’s not a lot you can do about it, and I didn’t get the impression that it was painful for her - we just tried to give her as much gentle exercise (slow, short walks) as she was up for, and towards the end put a lifting harness on her in case she fell down and needed help getting back up. The rear-end weakness isn’t why we lost her, but it was a factor in considering how aggressively to treat other problems.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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    Tanya (06-26-2017)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Rocky has had rear end issues for a few years now (at least 2 since noticeable changes in his gate/not really running, we'd been keeping an eye on things before that I think). we've been doing neurotherapy (neuraltherapy??) since October I think. It seemed to help stabilize the progression thru winter but since April or so it's declining steadily (but slowly). Curious if the advancement of the LP is actually directly making the back end worse (or progress faster than it would have without). or if it is worse in the summer? Honestly I always assumed that would be what takes Rocky, loss of mobility (to the point of no quality of life). I'm pretty shocked he has total control of bowel movements/bladder and able to do stairs.

    My vet keeps saying neurological issues don't hurt. He is on gabapentin though. but that's it as far as pain relieves. Some days I think the arthritis acts up so I may check again on maybe adding in something. I can tell by how he licks his front paws, and issues pulling up on sitars, and sometimes he stumbles on the front leg (not often though). He is off nsaids due to kidney issues.

    Findings things that work/we can do has helped me a lot. Much of my fear was the unknown and imagining worse case. we are not quite worse case so I will enjoy that

  5. #4
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    I was wondering how he was doing...thanks for the update. I wish he was doing better but he could be doing so much worse with the hot weather now. It sounds like you have a handle on what's going on and are working with it. You know he appreciates you!!!

  6. #5
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Good to hear that it's going well. Having bowel control is impressive. We just had Fran adjusted because she was losing it. Chiro can help with that kind of thing if it comes up.

  7. #6
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Thanks for the update. Sounds like you have a good plan and schedule.

    Have you tried range of motion exercises? When our seniors got to the point that walks were difficult, the range of motion exercises really helped with keeping muscles from tightening up and being more limber. It was something fun we did every evening, after dinner and became our special time.
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  8. #7
    Senior Dog MontananDakota's Avatar
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    I haven't been on in a while, so I dont know whats going on, but this sounds very similar to my reason for posting today of all days...Dakota's back end has been getting weaker as well and I try to really control her walks and there is a lot of panting...I don't want to steal your thread, but that's so similar. I hope your baby is feeling well and that your stress eases. I know we worry about them so much.

 



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