I mentioned a while back in some dog-related thread that one of The Killer Elite developed IVDD http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Intervertebral-Disk-Disease/Symptoms.aspx and we were going to give it a go at rehabilitation.
This went down in November, and we weren’t sure if Ol’ Doxie was going to be around come Christmas. He was paralyzed in his rear legs, lost control of bowels and bladder and was starting to go downhill pretty fast. We were real afraid things would snowball and we’d have to do the unthinkable.
Wife did the research, and we put him in a box for 8 weeks, had to carry him outside, hold him to do “his business” 3 or 4 times a day, rain or snow. Blah, blah, blah…
I’m happy to report this Hero is back on his feet! He’s earned a couple new nick-names. “Christopher Walken” and “Walker, Texas Ranger”. I ask him if he wants to hear some Patsy Cline. (He says, I’m Crazy!)
He’s not 100%, but he is doing his best. He staggers around a little, like he’s been drinking, and when he tries to chase the other dogs around, he drags sometimes. But, he’s improving a little every day and hopefully will be around for many more years. Most importantly, he seems real happy to be somewhat independent again. He’s riding in the Jeep with the other dogs, just like the good old days.
I’m posting this because I put him out today, in the wind, mist and coming snow, and I look out the window and he’s hopping around, tail wagging and just looked so happy. Made my day! My wife deserves most of the credit (it’s her dog) but I did an awful lot of late-night potty calls, too.
Picture of him recovering in a box. I’ll try to get a short vid of him on his feet looking jaunty soon…
