Toby can be doing so well one day, and then super weak and clumsy the next. I don't understand it. As I pointed out, the vet gave him a long-term steroid shot a few days ago along with a vit. B shot. Man, the next day, and especially two days later- he seemed darned near healed! It was amazing how well he was doing! In fact, once again we thought..'YEP! He's going to be FINE'!!
and then yesterday he once again began showing signs of weakness, it started yesterday afternoon. Today, the same thing, even losing balance when he was trying to go poo. I am beginning to feel the same mental exhaustion my husband is feeling....losing hope when I don't want to. It wouldn't be BAD if he was just going to BE this way and we could let him live as is. But BECAUSE he is still showing this 'weakness' in his hind legs we are being told to keep him calm, contained and basically, depressed!! The vet still isn't sure that surgery is the route we want to take since it hasn't any promises and not the highest of success rates. Then he'd still be contained (even if it worked) for most of the summer! Toby's depression is very hard on us...and it is catching. Nothing makes a person feel more hopeless and HELPLESS then trying to deal with a depressed animal that you can do nothing about.
My husband wonders if all this lying around is making him weaker in itself. I mean, if WE were to lie around all day long it would make US weak and sore!! IF we were to break the 'rule' of limited activity and take him for short walks down the street and around the corner for instance, would that be so bad? Of course, there are the fears- what if a loose dog is out? would Toby get hurt trying to be sociable? (he never DID learn to HEEL) we can't pick him up so that wouldn't be an option either. And so...do we chance it? What are our options for a depressed dog? Prozac? Do they make such a thing?? well at any rate...we are still at odds as to what to make of all of this and time is wearing on us and TOBY and our emotional roller coaster ride with this injury is really taking a toll.
I wish I had more answers.....
PS- just talked to my husband and we have decided to take him for a little walk after he gets home from work. Two of us together ought to be able to protect him. Wish us luck....the little guy needs this...it's always been his favorite thing to do (not counting playing with the grandkids!!)
UPDATE at 8:20 PM...
I'm not sure that that was a good idea after all. We took him- he was so HAPPY at first he was even hard to control. right away he jumped the curb. We never THOUGHT of a curb as being step...but it is and we allowed him to go over it and before we could do a thing, he came down it as well. He continued on...seemingly unaffected by the curb. so I don't THINK it hurt him...but it wasn't long at all and Dan realized that Toby wasn't really using his hind feet- his front legs were propelling him forward and he was kind of dragging his hind feet to some extent. He was weak in a flash, and hasn't done too well since we got home. I'll update.......
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