MAX update - there's hope !

[NiiteMajick]

Well, Max has been down for two weeks now. Saturday night, we came home and put him on the floor, so that we could change his bedding, and naturally he went scooting off on his own before we could catch him.. The good part of that was that he was pushing up a little with his back legs, which he had not been doing at all. I ran for the phone to call my sister (we adopted him from her daughter, and they are concerned too) and as I dialed, he STOOD UP !!! His toes were still turned, but he was all the way up for a few seconds all on his own !!! We are keeping him in his bed, naturally, but that few minutes was enough to tell us not to give up on him, and that there IS hope for recovery, so we're very excited !!!!!! We've also seen a lot of tail wagging, which he had not been able to do either !!! Yay Maxie !!!!

[quavec]

Great news! Keep us updated! :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[dutchman]

More rays on their way. PRogress can be slow but the trick is to not give up on them. OF course as things begin to click back into place for him the more he is going to protest crate rest but as a good dachsie parent you have to pull the tough love attitude.

[NiiteMajick]

Oh, yeah !! He hates being crated, but we're hangin in there with it. He was only out so that we could clean up after him, as he messes his bed due to the lack of control this injury causes. The only other time he's out is if he's laying next to my feet, which the doc says is ok once in a while, as long as he's resting, and it does keep him from getting too stressed. The rest of the time, I listen to him complain about being penned up... if only he understood that it's good for him.. oh well, kids never believe that the parents know best ! LOL


Keep thinking good thoughts for us !!!

[yolanda]

Good to read he is showing improvement.

Remember that it is OK to hold him and when you do genlty massage his back legs, feet and especailly his toes. You want to keep his toes very "limber". Using the palm of your hands place his feet correctly and gently push against him to get him to try and push back. This will not hurt him and will help his feet.

[NiiteMajick]

Thanks Yolanda ! Yes, we're doing all of that too. We just went through this with Abby a couple of months ago, so a lot of it is the same. The only major difference is that we were able to do the surgery for her, and could not do it for Max. Other than that, we're essentially caring for him the same way we did when Abby came home from the hospital. Great advice though, in case anyone reading hasn't travelled this road !

Thanks for all the good thoughts !!!

[Joyce]

I am so happy for you. I know how bad this can be. Sending lots of get well wishes for our pal.
Joyce

[LUVMYGUNNER]

You might want to add a doggie vitamin and ester c to his diet, also glucosamine chontroitine is good for downed dogs. Ask your vet about it though. Crate rest is very important. Check out "Dodgerslist". It is for dogs with IVDD.

[alfina]

So happy for Max!!

[TessieMom]

Fantastic news!

[Chapo's Mom]

:rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):rayz: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):pray: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):pray: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#):pray: (http://www.dachsie.org/vbb/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)for Maxie the wonder-wiener dog!

[Heide]

It sounds as tho he is coming along very well.
Just stay a tough mom and keep him in his crate.
:hugs1: :hugs1: to you all.

[lotsadox]

That's great news! As Tom said the progress can be slow. Just keep up the crate rest and if your vet thinks it's a good idea some water therapy might help. Water therapy really helped both of mine that were down. It helps strengthen the muscles and gets the movement back in their back legs without putting any stress on their backs. I did a lot of therapy with Amanda. It took weeks before she walked, but that was 7 years or so ago and she still up and around at age (almost) 16.

[SirOliversMom]

That's wonderful! So happy to hear he's improving. More healing :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: coming your way. One day at a time... :hugs1:

[Mark]

Any hope is better than none . . .

DBB Healing RAYZ abound for that very reason. :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[NiiteMajick]

So last night, he stood again, in his bed. Mostly just the one leg supporting him, but he was up, and holding it. I have a call in to the doc to give him the update. He's still confined, but he wanted out so badly that he stood up to give me the sad eyes. It didn't get him out of his bed, but it did get him much love and praise from happy mommy me !!!


Life is good today !!!

[MARTHA]

It is so good to hear about Max's progress. Here's some :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: that it will continue

[NiiteMajick]

HE WALKS !!!! I let him out of his bed so that I could clean it up, and he WALKED out on his own legs !!!! Ok.. ok.. so he looked a bit like a drunken sailor, but still.... he was walking !!! Just a few more days of meds left, and we're done with that too, and doc says he can start doing a small amount of free time out of his bed, to get those muscles working a little..... I'm sooooooo happy !!!!!!! This has been an awesome day !!!!!!!!

[Heide]

what wonderful news.
SO glad to hear that he is doing so good. :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[lotsadox]

I'm so glad to hear this. It was such a wonderful day for me when Amanda walked the first time after her back surgery. Life is good!

[Irminsul]

Lots more :rayz: :rayz: for continued improvement!!

[Chapo's Mom]

AWESOME!!!:cheer: Walking in no time!!!

[MARTHA]

Great news - keep it up Max!

[TessieMom]

Fa :cheer: ntastic!