Sad day for Rocky

[ippon20]

Well, bad news today...turns out that last night after playing a game of fetch in the backyard, my 10 year old Chessie's back decide to rupture a couple discs. He's not showing any pain, but he is limited in moving his rear legs. Unfortunately, he's too old for any surgery so we're keeping our fingers crossed that he responds well to his steroids and pain killers. I feel so bad for my pup, his little brother's know somethings wrong and have been giving him his space. Poor guy want's nothing more that to please my wife and I and I'm so scared that I may have to make a difficult decision sooner rather than later. The wife is torn up but not as much as me seeing as how I was the one throwing the ball with him and saw him tweak a bit. He's so loyal...He still brought the ball back dragging his legs behind him. We love him to bits. This drinks for your Rocky, hang in there and get stronger my "big nugget"!

[Art 1]

That's too bad, one of my beagles has hip surgery a few weeks ago. Winter Park Vet on Lee Rd is a very good dog doctor.

[ippon20]

yeah I've heard good things of them, we take ours to Lake Underhill Animal Hospital. They have been great so far with everything. Unfortunately, right now our only option is to hope the meds work. I've been carrying him outside to do his business and he just pee'd sitting down which is a good sign seeing as how he still has control of his bodily functions. Maybe he is really better off than I think, I'm just torn up about it because I hate seeing him helpless like this.

[East Bay Rider]

Good luck. I had to make a tough decision last year regarding my Bassett (kidney failure). With all the love dogs give it's a damn shame they dont last long enough.
Best wishes for the successful treatment of your pup.

[AIKO]

Sorry man, I am a dog guy through and through. I have a 13 year old mutt and a 5 year old English yellow lab. The time is coming for my mutt. Have you read/seen Marley and Me? A great story about a family and their dog.

[dubyatf]

If there's was ever a dog without 'quit' - it's a Chessie! Good luck with him. He's beautiful!

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by ippon20

yeah I've heard good things of them, we take ours to Lake Underhill Animal Hospital. They have been great so far with everything. Unfortunately, right now our only option is to hope the meds work. I've been carrying him outside to do his business and he just pee'd sitting down which is a good sign seeing as how he still has control of his bodily functions. Maybe he is really better off than I think, I'm just torn up about it because I hate seeing him helpless like this.

I was doing the same, after a week of that and her in pain we took her in. $1500 later she is much better and more importantly no pain. She is 8 yrs old. No more dogs when these two are gone.

[Latrodectus]

I really hope for you and your dogs that the medication will help. Tilly, the boxer in my avatar in on medications since almost one year and did not need surgery so far! I hope the same for your loyal ROCKY!!!

[Mike B]

I really wish your dog the best. It tears me up to see a pet (especially a dog) in pain. I still beleive that a dog is the most loyal pet/friend one can have

[diablojota]

I'm so sorry to hear about your pup. I really hope that it is not as bad as it sounds and the dog heals nicely. I wish you all the best with that.

[JimSnyder]

I hope the best for Rocky and you. Chessies are amazing dogs. That is a great pic

[Mosco]

I am very sorry to hear about your pup - pets are a part of a family and it hurts to see them in pain...

[Lion]

Dan, sorry to hear about your friend and companion. Hope he feels better real soon!!!

[waltk1026]

I hope your big guy responds to the steroids and pain killers. I know what you are going through, I went through it a few times. We are down to 3 young ones but I don't look forward to their old age. Good luck.

[ippon20]

Day 3: Rocky still walking funny, hasn't lost his urge to move when he's gone outside to pee. Never seen a dog pee while sitting down (pretty weird looking). He ate this morning and is drinking water so I don't see him losing any will. I am hoping that right now he's just sore and since we all know typically 2-3 days after any pull, tear, etc. are the worst...he will start his recovery in the next day or 2. Wednesday is his next vet appt. so hopefully we get some good news. I can tell you one thing for sure, my arms are getting pretty buff carrying a 90 lbs. dog around these last few days!

[Art 1]

Thanks for the update, keep up the good work.

[jdc]

hoping for the best outcome, keep the faith

[Lamone]

Originally Posted by Lion

Dan, sorry to hear about your friend and companion. Hope he feels better real soon!!!

x2

[Latrodectus]

Thanks for telling us how it goes...you carry his 90 lbs...it is good for him and for you. I hear some great hope in your words...and I hope for your dog and you and your family too!

[ippon20]

Originally Posted by Latrodectus

Thanks for telling us how it goes...you carry his 90 lbs...it is good for him and for you. I hear some great hope in your words...and I hope for your dog and you and your family too!

Yeah, I tell the wife that my back is gonna be the next to go.

[lobo58]

Heartbreaking story. If hopes and wishes rise like prayers, I hope mine find you.

[Taffi Abernathy]

What a majestic looking animal he is. I hope everything turns out well with Rocky. Please update after his vet appointment on Wednesday. (As a fellow dog lover and owner, I understand what you must be going through.) Good luck!

[ippon20]

Originally Posted by Taffi Abernathy

What a majestic looking animal he is. I hope everything turns out well with Rocky. Please update after his vet appointment on Wednesday. (As a fellow dog lover and owner, I understand what you must be going through.) Good luck!

Well, the visit today wasn't too positive. He's losing weight and his mastic muscles and quadraceps are showing atrophy. There is nothing we can do but try to reduce his inflammation right now with meds. Surgery is out (due to age and also the fact it would take several surgery's to fix his spine). Also, vet notices his left hip is out of whack from Hip Dysplasia. We are giving him a month or so of rehab and the vet is going to use him as a case study for this new nuero stimulator he is purchasing to see if it will help. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him, but it seems right now he's up against a lot of setbacks. On a side note, I am feeling the full impact of marriage right now. I'd like to consider myself a very tough cookie with these types of experiences, but holding my wife in the parking lot when she broke down was truly a heart wrenching experience for me. 2009 has not turned out to be a good year for me so far. With my dad being diagnosed with cancer and now this, I'm about 2 seconds away from just forgetting it ever happened and pretend it's May of 2010. Oh well, such is life.

[diablojota]

Originally Posted by ippon20

Well, the visit today wasn't too positive. He's losing weight and his mastic muscles and quadraceps are showing atrophy. There is nothing we can do but try to reduce his inflammation right now with meds. Surgery is out (due to age and also the fact it would take several surgery's to fix his spine). Also, vet notices his left hip is out of whack from Hip Dysplasia. We are giving him a month or so of rehab and the vet is going to use him as a case study for this new nuero stimulator he is purchasing to see if it will help. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him, but it seems right now he's up against a lot of setbacks. On a side note, I am feeling the full impact of marriage right now. I'd like to consider myself a very tough cookie with these types of experiences, but holding my wife in the parking lot when she broke down was truly a heart wrenching experience for me. 2009 has not turned out to be a good year for me so far. With my dad being diagnosed with cancer and now this, I'm about 2 seconds away from just forgetting it ever happened and pretend it's May of 2010. Oh well, such is life.

So sorry to hear about this. It has to most certainly be a rough and difficult time for you right now. If only it was so easy as to just hit the fastforward button. And it is always hard to see someone you love and care for break down. It takes a deep and emotional toll on you.

[B Square]

Dan I'm so sorry. You know I'm praying for Rocky and you. Daisy had her ACL surgery yesterday. She and I laid on the floor together all night. She cried like a baby but seems in less pain today. Good luck my friend and keep us posted.
Boyd

[Brunotheboxer]

I hope that Rocky gets well. Good Luck.

[Art 1]

Sorry to hear, with time things will improve.

[Taffi Abernathy]

Dan,

While this isn't wonderful news, your dog isn't without hope. The combination of the neuro-stimulator in conjunction with rehab may be effective. I also understand contending with the stress of having a parent who has cancer as my mother has chronic leukemia (she also had a frightening bout with cancer 15 years ago). I have no doubt you are a tough cookie and also want to remain supportive to your wife, but the issues you are facing would challenge anyone. Please continue to post updates; you have my very best wishes. Faith

[pz93c]

Smoke and prayers from Texas, brother.

Ladybird, our new adoption, has 2 days left on Heartworm treatment. We lost the last one to Distemper and the one before that to Parvo. The other two jumped the fence and run off.

We just can't win.

Just love your dog. After this treatment for the last month, I have to believe that as long as the dog knows they are not alone, that the pack loves them, gives them strength to heal.

Brian

[onkyo]

Wishing the best for your dog (and you).....

I hope the new treatment works!