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.

 

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I hope your mom recovers well. I am sure you are under a lot of stress.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you Bonnie for taking time from your own stress and worries to send a pray to JD. Wishing the very best for your mom, I hope she will be fine.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Karen, you certainly are not whining and we all know that.  Heck, I must be whining too.  I feel like sometimes things just get so overwhelming and it is hard to see through the clouds so I need to vent to people who REALLY understand.  The everyday person can't even pretend to understand what our Doodles mean to us and to what ends we will go to for them.  Here is where we get the support and the uplift that is needed when we are down and at a loss for "what's next".  I am so glad you explained JD's IBD in more detail.  It is good for all of us to hear because you just never know when we might need to draw on your knowledge or see something that may be happening to our own Doodle.  Thank you for doing such a good job explaining it all to us. Fingers crossed that there is some way the MRI can be done without the stress and lack of food for any length of time.  You would think that people in medicine would know how to make concessions to the normal way a procedure is done so the patient (JD) can have the least amount of down time and stress.  I would sit in the parking lot with him until they are ready for the procedure rather than leave him in a crate.  Big hug and kiss the nose please!   

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You got it, kid. :-)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Karen you aren't whining.  You are sharing your feelings and thoughts about a very stressful situation with those that love you and Jackdoodle.  Even though I can't totally understand as neither of my boys is going through what Jackdoodle is.  I've suffered all my life from IBS - not nearly as severe as what JD has.  Sadly - I passed this on to my daughter.  It has caused some real issues at times (stress is when it really kicks in) and some embarrassment as well.  My heart goes out to you and JD and we will pray for healing. 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Let's all hope they take him right in for the MRI and he hardly misses a meal. Best case scenario?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

From your mouth to God's ear...

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

My heart really goes out to you and Nancy --JD and Gracie.  You're dealing with some very tough issues and I know it's heartbreaking.  I heart you both for the love you have for your doodles. But that's all good news that JD's bloodwork is good and they can continue his meds through the MRI! I just wish for your sake, you could get it done.

I just got confirmation today that Finney (my awesome 2 year old doodle boy) has hip dysplasia and I'm still trying to get my head around it.  How did THIS happen??  I thought I was so careful with him as a pup.  And, his parents both had great hips.  But sadly I've learned through my research that HD can skip a generation or two. Then there's that controversial early neutering (which I had no say in).  It was already done when I fell in love with him.  The flare-ups started when Finn was a little over a year old and always after a strenuous play date. It was heartbreaking to see him running and jumping with such joy and then hours later struggle to get up.  Every time I took him in to the vet, they'd do a physical exam and pronounce his hips as tight and fine. We suspected Addison's, Lyme, etc. and had him tested. All negative.  After the third time, I went to an orthopedic specialist and he kindly walked me through the X-rays as I cried.  For now Finn's on prescription strength Dasuquin - a glucosomin chondroitin supplement and Omega 3's and 6's.  The combination has been like miracle. Surgery does not appear to be an option...but I'm in contact with the PennHip Center.  For now, everyday that he can run through the meadow sucking up the sun and oxygen and stay sound is a good day for both of us. He did great on the beach last week -- just a little stiff but no pain medication -- but I had to nix the paddle board adventure :) The hard part is, we don't know what tomorrow or the day after will bring.  So we're doing all we can and I'm trying not to jump to the worst case scenario --cause it's easy to go there and that is just way too painful.  People like you and Nancy have given me a sense of strength in dealing with this unexpected turn of events.  Thank you.  We'll keep praying for JD and Gracie and all the doodles in need -- please pray for Finn too.      

  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am so sorry to hear about Finn. I am sure you did nothing to cause his HD. I hope he has many years of doing well despite it.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks F. From your lips to God's ears :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You got it, Cheryl. I am so sorry to hear this. Yes, it's all too easy to go to the worst case secnario thoughts. When I start to do that, I just look at JD, and he brings me back to the here and now, which is where dogs live all the time. They are so much smarter than people.

Hugs to you and Finn. Hang in there. Here and now is all we can ever be sure of, anyway.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

So true Karen.  Thanks.  Sorry to bring this up here but I was sitting here with this OFA report like maybe if I looked at it long enough the words would change :)  And I just couldn't handle posting a discussion.  We're going to get ourselves organized and learn everything we can to do the best we can to keep him healthy.  Dealing with an immune disease sounds like it is crazy.  But as medicine progresses, there's always hope.

Hugs right back at ya!