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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Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.

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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.