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.

 

 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Warning...cheese moment...in response to "JD has already lost most of what matters to him", I say:

The one thing that matters the most to him is YOU.  And you do everything for him and will not leave him ever.  So that is most important in my humble opinion. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well darn it, here I was looking for cheese and I ended up with Kleenex. Thanks, Ally.

 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Amen, Allyson you are so right!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Perfectly said, Allyson!  Jack hit the JACKPOT when he and Karen found each other and she's all he needs. He'll endure anything with her by his side...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

He's my hero.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I agree Allyson!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is perfect, Allyson!

[Shannon and Finn]

Agreed, tennis balls were cherished here, but he was okay with sticks or non-bouncy toys. We had to not throw them very far for a while, which was a bummer. Have you tried a flying squirrel? Sadly, they don't float so ours is at the bottom of a lake now, but it's easy to throw and pretty cool. Or stick with rolling tennis balls if it works and makes him happy. I remember someone was dog sitting for us and called in a panic because Fisher convinced him to play hardcore fetch and had a back spasm, we forgot to tell him because we thought he was better and it slipped our minds by that point. I guess it depends on what you think happened or makes it worse. For us it was rowdy fetching and quick turns but it could very well be different for JD

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Curently, we play "in your mouth", which involves JD standing in one place and me tossing the tennis ball (or soft balls indoors) into his...well, you get the idea, lol. Unfortunately, the ball often richochets off his enormous nose!

He has a big rope ball that he likes to chase when I roll it across the floor, too.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Trying playing "in the mouth" with a soft toy with lots of grab on place.  Tigger loves to do that.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep, that's one of our favorite games. I'm going to try substituting his stuffed moose for the ball, it's almost ball-shaped anyway, but has antlers to grab hold of.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Jackdoodle - first of all do not be embarrassed about needing a boost up - big ol Stuart who will leap for his ball has never been able to get into our SUV without us lifting his rear end - lol.  I did buy a ramp for Stuart but the ramp was so heavy that was worried that I'd get another herniated disc and it took up too much room in the Puppy Hauler.  I do so hope that you get better fast and tell your mom that the strap thing might be easier on her too!