So...I sort of need to let loose of some anxiety. My dog, Cowboy - my dog of dogs - has not been doing so well. Last fall, his back problems got so bad he could barely walk - he has spinal cord damage from a combination of arthritus and vertebral abnormalities. Surgery is not an option and he is eleven years old. I found a great physical therapist and we started physio last November and the results were amazing. He went from a dog I thought I was going to lose to a happy walker. Our goal was to increase his mobility, proprioception (knowing where his back feet are) and build up some muscle. Then, maybe we pushed to hard because he crashed - he started losing coordination again and his left leg was collapsing and he was losing his ability to walk. We decided the NSAID's were no longer working so put him on a round of pred and tramydol, which really helped but then halfway during the step down, he again did very badly and was in a great deal of pain. Tues we increased the pred, increased Tramydol and added something for nerve pain (neurontin). He's seems to be a little better now, not in pain but his left leg is very bad. In fact I wonder if it's something unrelated to his back like a ligament? He sees the physio tonight again, and I will ask her.

I am worried we might not get him through this but maybe I need to give the pred more time to work than just 3 days - but it's hard not to be negative because I am not sure where this will lead. I really hoped and still hope that we can have a few good years left of assisted mobility as in leash walking for example - and he was pretty happy when he could do that. I don't think he is ready to let go, and I know I am not

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Any hydrotherapy?

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“Quod scripsi, scripsi"

"Sometimes, the source of the beautiful dawning light that drives back the darkness, is your house burning"

I wish you both the best. I have no advice, I just give my empathy. I know our pets are a big part of our family. Prayers and good wishes for your Cowboy.

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"A rising tide has lifted all yachts." Warren Buffett

Obama is not a dark skinned, anti-war socialist who gives away free health care; you're thinking of Jesus.

Crossing my fingers

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He does get hydrotherapy - but that is on hold until we stabilize him. The appointment went well - Shari felt he was doing better, particularly with the pain management - she saw a huge difference between Tues and Friday. He is not walking well - he is crossing and putting his feet wrong, but she thought maybe keeping him on the pred a bit longer might help with that. She also said there is a lot we can do for him, so I am researching for information on disabled pets as well. At the moment she is doing laser therapy and the effect is incredible - I can't believe the difference it makes in the stiffness and tension. His attitude is awesome and happy now that pain is under control - would that we all could be like that! I'll be taking him back again on Friday, I'm hoping we'll get a little more neurological function back in his hind feet...

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Hang in there. You're a great owner.

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"Barack Obama Is A Radical, We Should Not Be Afraid To Say That". Andrew Breitbart

I'm sorry to hear about the doggie I have zero advice to offer since I've not had a doggie with issues like that before. But keep us updated and I'll cross fingers and toes for him!

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To tax the larger incomes at a higher percentage than the smaller, is to lay a tax on industry and economy; to impose a penalty on people for having worked harder and saved more than their neighbors. ~ John Stuart Mill

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Thanks

It is my first time with these sorts of issues too. This morning - he was doing a bit better, and this was before his meds. I walked him down the drive way a short ways so he could relieve himself and he placed his back feet better than he had yesterday - keeping them wide

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DISCLAIMER: Extreme amounts of sarcasm can possibly result in inflammatory situations. Not responsible for keyboard violence, spittle on the monitor, irrational responses mistaken for momentary brilliance, one-sided rages against hypocrisy or individual members or unintended consequences such as poor personal hygiene and bad spelling. Please fasten your seatbelts and put your trays in an upright position.

I hope things are going better. This certainly must be a very trying time.