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]

You know, not too long ago, we had a lady who submitted a wonderful application to adopt a DRC dog, but she would not consider any dog over 40 lbs. I thought that was so silly, and basically told her so. "There's no difference between a 40 lb dog and a 60 lb dog, they take up just as much space, they need just as much exercise, blahblahblah" and she explained to me that she does her own grooming and wanted to be able to lift the dog. The thought that you might have to lift your dog just didn't occur to me. I hate to think that life is teaching me a lesson at JD's expense, but at any rate, lesson learned. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

ha ha, I see you addressed by sarcasm before even reading it - ha ha

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 Our larger dogs needing assistance as they aged is the major reason we chose Ned.  Then we got Clancy and just started the whole "will need help in the future" thing again......  I truly thought Clancy was smaller than he is - ain't love blind! :-}

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Back to Pete again..... my blind Lab/Mastiff who peaked at about 140 lbs.  He once got in the trash and had a seizure.  The one and only seizure that I knew of.  Of course, I was so alarmed  and alone and tried to rush the limp dog to the vet.   I used a rug and rolled and tugged the dog onto the rug.  I had to drag him outside onto the front porch by pulling on my rug/tarp  but once I was there, I knew there was no way to get him down the steps and up into a car. I truly was helpless in helping this poor dog.

Thankfully, he was fine after that for many years.  Still, I would get a big ol' huge dog in a minute.   I think now I would call 911 if I had to.  In my area I do think they would respond--but of course, charge me a $1,000

But what can we do...?  We love our dogs  no matter the size, color, shape

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That kind of thing, I did think about. The emergency situation, dog collapses, how will I get him to the vet?

I just didn't think about having to move them around on a regular basis for years. And I wouldn't trade JD for a hundred million dollars, or any other dog in the universe. But next time around, under 40 lbs, lol.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ya--maybe under 40lbs for me too  :)  I'm not used to small dogs though.  Sounds silly, but I always think I'll step on them.  I'm not real graceful.

Don't tell anyone, but my Roger calls me Grace, every time I trip. He calls me Grace a lot

[Christine & Camus]

 I feel the same about Camus, he is my million dollar baby.  And, next time under 60 lbs., maybe under 50 lbs. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have thought I would call the police if I had to get Calla into the car for a vet emergency and no one could help me.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Karen all of this discussion reminded me of the time my previous doodle (of sorts) Zach had a pinched nerve in his back. We had a small car and only a two door. Poor Zach could not get in this car without pain....he would wince and cry, and I know exactly how you are feeling, when we tried to pick him up to put him in and out of the car. At first we did not know what it was but had a very sweet Vet who thought perhaps he had a dislocated disc....after a week of back and forth to the Vet Zach just started being fine. This is when the Vet realized it was a pinched nerve.

I am praying that Jackdoodle has a pinched nerve and in a couple of days he will be fine. Maybe the acupuncture will be a way to go.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Lisa.

I'm not happy with this drug already, he's having very runny mucus-y stools and with the IBD, this is alarming.  I called the specialist only to find out that he's out of town until Thursday. I have a call in to the regular vet.

I am considering having the MRI done so I can know what we are dealing with; physical therapy and other non-pharmaceutical treatments sound much better to me right now. It very well could be a pinched nerve.

[Christine & Camus]

Going forward with an MRI sounds like a good idea, he is dealing with so much.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know, I just hate to put him through that, with the general anesthetic and all. I also have to talk to his IMS about his having to be off food and meds for many hours. :(