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.

 

 

[BG and Gavin]

Just checking in and sending good mojo today. (And Karen do not thank me! lol)

[Leslie and Halas]

Seriously, I will be in town Monday if you need help with anything.  I have a seminar in Rosemont on Tuesday and Wednesday, but I'm coming up Sunday night.  So I'll just be pretending to "work remotely" on Monday, which means I'll do about an hour's worth of work, and then I can help you with anything or just go to lunch.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I choose lunch. Preferably with sangria. :-)

[Leslie and Halas]

Cool.  I'll e-mail, and we'll set something up.

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

haha

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Karen,

I'm not sure that I can add anything of significance to this discussion, so, instead, I'd just like to say that my thoughts are with you and I wish only the best to you and Jackdoodle.  Laurie

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD's internist called with the results of his bloodwork. Everything is within normal ranges except for his alkaline phosphatase, a liver enzyme, which is elevated because of the steroids, but we already knew that, and it has actually gone down a tiny bit (340 from 343 in June, which is good). She can't help with the MRI scheduling issue, but she did say that they can give him famotidine intravenously for the stomach acid.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Yay for normalish blood work. Now I am praying with all my might for a normal MRI result!!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Great news about the bloodwork! And that they have a way to control the stomach acid for the day. Feeling any better about it? How is the flare?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bath yesterday seems to have helped temporarily. But I'm not feeling any better about the MRI. I can't bear to put him through this.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I guess that is all good news except the scheduling of the MRI.  Are they backed up and not able to do it in the next few days or weeks?  So will JD be able to handle the famotidine?  

Gracie has a new skin bacteria that has cropped up and that is what is affecting her feet and heels.  The Vet took a scraping and it has been sent off to be cultured.  He said that in the microscope he saw "Rods" and that is not good because it indicates a bad bacteria that is resistant to a lot of the antibiotics.  That is why the culture so we can match an antibiotic to help stop it.  Meanwhile, I have antibiotic shampoo to wash her feet in and when she goes outside she has to wear her shoes!  He is rethinking the Prednisone and now leaning toward the other drug that is used instead of Prednisone. One that they give cancer patients.  He is worried because Prednisone is suppose to work for dogs with skin problems but with Gracie who has none, it is causing them!

Needless to say, my huge birthday is in another week and the kids are all trying to send me on a trip along with my camera...no way am I leaving my baby girl Gracie.  Both DH and I are not ever going anywhere together until she is better and when we do, she goes with us!  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Nancie, I think of your Gracie all the time.  I don't blame you...I wouldn't leave her for a minute either.  There will be other years for trips.  I'll keep praying for your girl.