Good News and Not-So-Good News by Jackdoodle

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi, DK friends! I just wanted to say hi and tell you what's been going on with me lately.

Some of you know that recently I have been having a problem running and jumping. I was trying very hard not to let my mom know about it, because I hate to worry her, and I do have my tough guy image to maintain. But my mom figured out that I wasn't running or getting up on her bed because I couldn't, and not because I didn't want to. These smart moms can be very difficult to manage sometimes.

Today I went to see a new kind of special doctor who knows about bones and nerves and things like that.

He was very nice. He examined me and took some Xrays.

The good news is, I have a lot of very good muscle, and very good muscle tone. I am also very strong. (Gee, I didn't need a doctor to tell me that!) The vet says I do not have hip dysplasia or anything wrong with my legs or my hips. My regular vet thought I had arthritis, but this new doctor does not think I do. That's the good news!

What he does think is that there is something wrong with the lower part of my spine. The Xrays showed something there. It might be something called spondylosis, or it might be something called a herniated disc. They cannot tell exactly what it is without doing a special test called an MRI. The new vet does not think we need to do that yet, and I am glad, because I would have to be asleep for it, and that is kind of scary. The doctor and my mom decided that first we will try a new medicine for two weeks and see if that helps me. The new medicine is for pain. So I have to take two more pills every day, which brings the total number to 14. That's the not-so-good news.

My mom also wanted me to ask you if any of you have used a ramp for your dogs to help them get in and out of the car. I can get out just fine, but I am having some trouble getting in. Today Cassie, my vet tech, had to help lift my butt to help me get in, and I felt so embarrassed about it, I couldn't help crying out loud, which made my mom very sad. So she is looking into getting me something called a ramp so I can get into the car (my mom said tell you it's an SUV) easier. We would be grateful for any recommendations or advice.  

Anyway, that's about all for now. I hope you are all having a good summer.

Your friend,

Jackdoodle

UPDATE BY JD'S MOM:

The new medication does not seem to be helping, in fact, it may be making things worse. It's a human anti-seizure drug, Gabapentin. Over the last ten days, he's been experiencing a kind of collapsing of his hind end. It happens randomly when he is just walking, his back legs kind of bow out and his rear end goes down as if he's about to poop, but it's really that his back end just kind of collapses. It only lasts seconds and then he can walk again, but it'a very disturbing and scary. It may not happen for several days and then it will happen repeatedly on a single day. He's also displaying some spatial confusion. So we are discontinuing the meds, and it looks like an MRI will be the next step. I'm going to wait a few days and see how he does without the meds.

 

 

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

I am so sorry to hear this, poor baby. Nothing tears at your heart more than knowing they are hurting. : (  Get better sweet Jackdoodle.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Janie.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh no JD. You will figure it out.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Hang in there JD, it's gonna get better!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, guys, I hope so.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Okay after a good cry I realized that you Jack Doodle are one of the best loved doodles on the planet. I wish I lived closer so I could come over and kiss your big old nose and stroke that lovely head of yours. I also wish I could give that one special lady, who takes such good care of you, a BIG SQUEEZE, please consider yourself hugged dear Karen.

I can't believe you take 14 pills a day, how on earth does Mom get you to do that. I give Daisy one pill 2 times a day and half the time it's in the bottom of her bowl and sometimes it's left on the stand as if she is saying...I don't need no stinking pills!

I would say I will pray for you tonight but truth be told I pray for you and a few other doodles every night, God hears your name all the time.

I hope the new meds work...and good luck with the ramp, I am sure they work, now we just gotta get steps for the bed.

xxoo

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Lisa. Mom and I could both use a good hug tonight and we appreciate the prayers, too. I really need to get better.

Most of my pills are in mashed sweet potatoes, and I get them before I get fed, so I usually just swallow them to get it over with so I can get my food. I get 4 or 5 with my breakfast, depending what day it is, 5 with my lunch, 2 with my dinner and 1 with my evening snack. Now I'm getting the new ones by themselves, 1 in the morning after breakfast and then 1 right before I go to bed. Mom gives me a piece of chicken after I take them so it's not so bad.

Doodle hugs and kisses to you and Daisy,

Luv, JD

 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Awww JD ... sorry to hear that you got hurt again today, buddy.  Hope tomorrow's a better day.  Mom says we're going to start having doodle prayers at night.  She says we've got you, 2 puppies, and me to pray for...ok, but we better include a short request that I get my "stuffed bunny" back. She took it. I know where she put it. I just can't reach it.  Geesh, she flipped out that I chewed a hole in its face.  She said stuffings NOT a food group!  DO you have a stuffed bunny?  I bet you do.  If you don't, I'll send you mine if God gives him back to me :) Feel better JD.

Hugs and wags,

Finnegan

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hey, Finn, I don't have a bunny, but I have a moose, a porcupine, a duck, and some squirrels. I don't chew on them, though. I just throw them around like balls, which are my favorite toys. I'm sorry your bunny got taken away, your mom probably didn't want you to swallow any of the stuffing and get hurt. I bet if you promise not to do that, you'll get it back. I hope so.

Thank you for the prayers, Finn. We hope you feel better, too. Hugs back atcha.

Luv, JD

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

jD I just want you to know that I am thinking about you and your mom and wish I could give you both a hug.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Ronna! Hugs back atcha!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Oh Jackdoodle, I so sympathize!  I have had a painful back and leg for eight years now.  Sometimes, I feel so crummy, othertimes, not so bad.  I have learned that life is still worth living thought.  Of course, being a dog, you already know that, so you are way ahead of me.    It took a whole year for me to get someone who could help me and another year to get well enough to do ordinary things.  Hopefully the pain pills you are going to take will help you much faster.  Don't worry about the ramp, you will always be a cool doodle.

 

Note to Karen: I have a telescoping ramp from Drs. Foster and Smith that has been helpful for two generations of dogs.