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.

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So I just got home from the IMS appt and called to schedule the MRI for the first one of the day, only to be told that they don't schedule them by time; you bring your dog in at 7 a.m., having not eaten or had any meds since 9 the night before, and they could sit there all day. You can talk to the doctor first, but the dog may still have to sit there all day, depending on what else comes in. No amount of explaining or reasoning on my part could persuade them.

The IMS does not want him to have surgery the same day unless whatever they see indicates that it's immediately necessary, like a disc has exploded and the material is all over the spinal canal or something, and if you leave it like that the dog could be paralyzed. (I'm not making sense, I'm sure, my head is swimming.) So it could be 4 in the afternoon that you would first learn this and find out that instead of coming home that day, your dog is having spine surgery and will be spending the night, and will be coming home the next day unable to stand or walk.

Now, of course, he's flaring, so if it gets as bad as it did last year, he is going to need his steroids ramped up, which the IMS says may interfere with what they see on the MRI, so we shouldn't do that beforehand. So this flare needs to not get really bad before next Friday, 8/31, which is when I scheduled the MRI. If it does, I just don't know what we will do. As it is, how will he get a weekly bath if he does have surgery?

So as if you hadn't all done enough already, I need some heavy duty prayers and mojo sent out that A: The flare stays manageable, and B: whatever they see on the MRI does not require surgery.

[Leslie and Halas]

Sending good mojo and prayers your way!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

This all sounds torturous Karen, I can't believe they make you wait that long. And my goodness the timing couldn't be worse. I feel so awful and wish so much that I could help in some way. I guess I just want to suggest that you focus on what you know to be true and not think in hypotheticals like if he needs surgery then all this other bad stuff will happen. Just focus on getting through to the next step. Sorry, I don't have much else I can say that will help. I'm praying for a light flare up, an easy couple of weeks, and quick MRI and positive news all around.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sorry to hear allthis. Biut if the steroids interfer then they must be helping by decreasing swelling so that might be good if you know what I mean. Anyway get your IMS to call the radiologist. They might be more apt to listern to her. Chin up, thinking of you.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The IMS is calling me Thursday with the results of the blood panel from today's visit. I'm hoping she will have some influence.

F, can they give him something IV to keep stomach acid from becoming a problem if he has to wait hours on an empty stomach without his meds?

[F, Calla & Luca]

There are such things but not sure if dogs get them etc.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Phenergan or Compazine? (sp)  Injection, suppository,  or IV might work. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Prayers and positive thoughts for "A" and prayers and positive thoughts for "B".  I hate the way the medical world makes you wait and wait. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

All our good thoughts and prayers coming JD's way. I know the waiting is agony and nothing but getting these tests done is going to help but take some deep breaths and stay strong.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Karen, I'm absolutely not going to focus on the "worst cases" for Jack.  I really believe the odds of him requiring that emergency surgery during the MRI and pretty slim.  It seem stha until a week from Friday what's important is keeping this flare up controlled (as much as possible).  Does your allergy specialist have any thoughts on possible things that you could do just for this week that might help?  I'm just wondering if even more frequent baths or paw washing every time he goes out...or whatever...might help.  I'm going to keep praying that the MRI shows something that can be controlled with PT or meds and that he will NOT require surgery.  It's going to be a long week but you and JD have lots of friends here for support. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I sure do, and you are all going to be doing some heavy lifting for the next week and a half, lol.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Thinking of you and JD and keeping you in our prayers!