footpad, posts by tag: backache - LiveJournal (original) (raw)

Mischa status: wonky but stable/comfortable	[Jul. 7th, 2013\|08:04 pm]Footpad
[Tags\|backache, illness, mischa, vet] [Current Mood	relieved]Mischa has shown gradual continual improvement over the past twenty-four hours. We're wary of that, since he did the same on Thursday before a terrible relapse on Friday, but we're being as careful with him as we know how.Previously he was walking very stiffly, like an old old dog, taking only short strides with his right hind leg. Today he's visibly more pliable and his gait is much more even. This morning he even broke into a trot on his first walk, and scratched the ground with his hind legs after peeing. We're not letting him do that any more, since his relapse on Friday was clearly triggered by the excitement of being fed, and the online veterinary consensus for online backache seems to be to restrict the dog to very gentle activity.He's still much slower than usual, preferring to walk slowly rather than to travel at his usual brisk trot, but he looks happy when we're out walking, and all the usual gastric and hydraulic functions are clearly working just fine. He even wagged his tail just now when I went out to cuddle him on the lawn. He's been off the Novalgin (metamizole) since yesterday, since we don't want him sedated unless definitely necessary, and he seems tolerably happy and comfortable on the remaining NSAIDs.Tomorrow: CT scan and second veterinary opinion (no particular disrespect to our normal vet, but she does also carry homoeopathic treatments).Who knows—perhaps the clinic will give me the CT scan data on a USB stick so I can post it for general delectation. wag
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Mischa status: wonky but stable/comfortable

[Jul. 7th, 2013|08:04 pm]Footpad

[Tags**|backache, illness, mischa, vet] [Current Mood**

relieved]Mischa has shown gradual continual improvement over the past twenty-four hours. We're wary of that, since he did the same on Thursday before a terrible relapse on Friday, but we're being as careful with him as we know how.Previously he was walking very stiffly, like an old old dog, taking only short strides with his right hind leg. Today he's visibly more pliable and his gait is much more even. This morning he even broke into a trot on his first walk, and scratched the ground with his hind legs after peeing. We're not letting him do that any more, since his relapse on Friday was clearly triggered by the excitement of being fed, and the online veterinary consensus for online backache seems to be to restrict the dog to very gentle activity.He's still much slower than usual, preferring to walk slowly rather than to travel at his usual brisk trot, but he looks happy when we're out walking, and all the usual gastric and hydraulic functions are clearly working just fine. He even wagged his tail just now when I went out to cuddle him on the lawn. He's been off the Novalgin (metamizole) since yesterday, since we don't want him sedated unless definitely necessary, and he seems tolerably happy and comfortable on the remaining NSAIDs.Tomorrow: CT scan and second veterinary opinion (no particular disrespect to our normal vet, but she does also carry homoeopathic treatments).Who knows—perhaps the clinic will give me the CT scan data on a USB stick so I can post it for general delectation. *wag*

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Dog pain	[Jul. 6th, 2013\|01:39 pm]Footpad
[Tags\|backache, dear mischa, helplessness, mischa, pain, vet] [Current Mood	grieved]Dear Mischa,You know that I love you. And now you're in pain, and it's awful for us to behold.On Wednesday afternoon while I was at work in Zürich, I got a call from an audibly distressed akeela, saying that you were in trouble, lying on the floor yelping and unable to rise, and Aki was taking you to the animal hospital in Aachen. My colleagues—my wonderful colleagues—told me that I should get back to Germany to be with you, but before I could get on the train Aki came back with more news: the crisis had passed, the vet had declared that you were not suffering from any life-threatening acute illness, and I could stay at work until the end of the week.But then twice last night, and then again this morning, you've suddenly given outbursts of piteous, agonised yelps and cries. I've never heard you make such a heartbreaking sound. And there's nothing we can do to help you.I believe I know what you're feeling: the signs are identical, in every respect, to the crippling back pain I suffered for some days earlier in the year. I feel I recognise your slowness and geriatric stiffness of gait, your depression and reluctance to move, and those awful, unpredictable, racking outbursts of pain.We've got you on a mixture of drugs. Metamizole for the acute pain, anti-inflammatories to try to keep the symptoms down, vitamin supplements just in case. Very gentle walks and a minimum of vigorous movement. And tomorrow we should be able to get you to that hospital for—ah, hahah—a CAT scan.I love you. I wish there were some way to make that pain go away. I'd take it upon myself if I could. But there's nothing we can offer you but painkillers and gentleness, and of course love.May they be enough.Love,me.
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Dog pain

[Jul. 6th, 2013|01:39 pm]Footpad

[Tags**|backache, dear mischa, helplessness, mischa, pain, vet] [Current Mood**

grieved]Dear Mischa,You know that I love you. And now you're in pain, and it's awful for us to behold.On Wednesday afternoon while I was at work in Zürich, I got a call from an audibly distressed

akeela, saying that you were in trouble, lying on the floor yelping and unable to rise, and Aki was taking you to the animal hospital in Aachen. My colleagues—my wonderful colleagues—told me that I should get back to Germany to be with you, but before I could get on the train Aki came back with more news: the crisis had passed, the vet had declared that you were not suffering from any life-threatening acute illness, and I could stay at work until the end of the week.But then twice last night, and then again this morning, you've suddenly given outbursts of piteous, agonised yelps and cries. I've never heard you make such a heartbreaking sound. And there's nothing we can do to help you.I believe I know what you're feeling: the signs are identical, in every respect, to the crippling back pain I suffered for some days earlier in the year. I feel I recognise your slowness and geriatric stiffness of gait, your depression and reluctance to move, and those awful, unpredictable, racking outbursts of pain.We've got you on a mixture of drugs. Metamizole for the acute pain, anti-inflammatories to try to keep the symptoms down, vitamin supplements just in case. Very gentle walks and a minimum of vigorous movement. And tomorrow we should be able to get you to that hospital for—ah, hahah—a CAT scan.I love you. I wish there were some way to make that pain go away. I'd take it upon myself if I could. But there's nothing we can offer you but painkillers and gentleness, and of course love.May they be enough.Love,me.

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