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| Athena 2017 |
Witnessing the progression of this disease has been a chore. I guess we're blessed that we initially thought it was related to her puppy mill background and living in a small cage most of her earlier life.
EARLY STAGES: Too minute to tell.... A little clumsiness. Trouble taking the stairs...
This was 2017. When she began the limping, we just made her rest or take a break. When the occasional knuckling began-- we made her rest and skip play care'. All thoughts were how her life sucked before and how it's affecting her now. No indication it could be anything other.
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| Her favorite spot, on her "Throne" |
Regular scraping of the feet/nails. Coordination off-back legs wobbly-shaky back legs, Knuckling almost all the time. Loss of muscle mass. Back legs begin to cross. Difficulty getting up
In Late October /Early November in 2018 when day care mentioned she was seen limping, we didn't think anything of it. Until the next day when her walking was no longer normal.
Took her to the vet and he did some x-rays. He found severe arthritis in 70% of her spine & joints. We expected that and began giving her medications for that reason.
She'd have good and bad days. Some days the little "roach" as I called her could take off and be faster than me. Other days she needed assistance.
Over the next five months we'd struggle with getting her up and down as it seemed to get worse. Purchased a harness to help up assist in getting her up and down.
She would struggle to get up, truggle to walk, or sometimes she would walk dragging her paws, knuckling under. Other days she would walk weird, but she could move fast. Blink and you would miss her. IF she was pulling her legs, forget it. She was gone.
We began having to assist her up and down the stairs during this time frame. Her legs were constantly crossing when we would stand her on her feet. Walking they would begin to cross.
Mid Stage- Urinary or Fecal Incontinence or both, Weakness. More muscle mass loss. Weight loss. Jerkiness of movements. Very noticeable loss of coordination. Tail hanging limp. Unable to move out of certain positions. Muscle atrophy
Early 2019-June 2019
We begin to find nuggets. During her sleep she would "lay eggs". She more often than not needed assistance to walk. Struggles to hold herself up when going to the rest room. During this time we also moved from a colonial to a ranch. She is able to move throughout the house easier, still not normal, but she isn't barking because she was left behind on a floor.
During this time we also get her a cart. Things are looking up! She has a new way of life. The more comfortable she is with the cart, the speedier she becomes. At first when using the cart, she can use her legs as well.
So as she moves around, she is using her legs--getting them exercised.
Then the knuckling begins and stays. She is no longer able to use her legs while in the cart as she is tearing up her paws. We begin putting her legs up in boots/harness.
She is happier. Without her legs slowing her down, she is Speed Racer.
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| THE POSITION |
She begins attending play care again.
We also begin allowing her to play downstairs with her siblings in the basement. When the weather turns colder and wetter, we are unable to play in the backyard. Downstairs is her favorite place. She gets excited and pulls herself to the stairs when she hears the cattle dogs playing.
It is also during this stage that she often ends up "In the Position". This is a position that she will at first occasionally end up in and as time goes by OFTEN ends up. Her legs lock on her and end up straight out. This position also invites an easier time for those chocolate eggs to make their way out should she either be left too long in this position or she becomes excitable when in it. This position REQUIRES our assistance to get her out.
Sept-January
Slowly over time we begin to notice she's losing muscle mass/fat all over. She's frail looking and you can feel her bones.
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| Attending Play care |
She also begins to weaken when going outside. More often than not requires assistance getting up from the position she fell in. Still only has Fecal Incontinence.
She's so bony, we take her to the vet for a review. It's all disease related--she's still fine. Still mentally alert and playful.
Seems depressed on the days the siblings are gone. Sleeps all day.
Advanced-late Stage Urinary and Fecal Incontinence, hindlimp paraplegia, complete immobility, inability to rise. Sudden Collapse. Unable to support themselves in any way. Front end weakness begins (shoulders/legs). Can no longer squat when urinating and defacating. Cannot stand long without support.
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| Holding her leg out |
February - Current.
It started while she was in the cart. I noticed she was holding herself weird. A few times there were the possibility of some stumbles while in the cart. When she's in her cart and moving, she's happy and a little spazz. Don't get in her way.
However when she's not moving, she holds herself weird. It looks like she's tired and trying to rest on one leg/take the weight off the one.
The past few weeks she no longer can hold herself up when she goes to the rest room. She needs assistance all the time now. With the cart, she's fine for the most part, but out that's another matter.
We often find her stuck somewhere when we come home from being out. She attempts to get up and falls down. She can't get out of that position so she will stay there. Oftentimes she's defecated and now squished or smeared it into the floor. She's had more baths than she ever had before.
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| Her awkward stance |
The past two nights-she wet the bed. She has NEVER done this before. She's always had a strong bladder, so this is concerning.
Through all this though, she's still alert and responsive. That is the worst about all of this.
We're carefully watching the front leg /shoulder situation. We've discussed her and the stages of this disease. We do not want to enter the crisis stage when the disease begins to affect her breathing. We do not want her to suffer.
We've decided once she can no longer move herself around in her cart, when her front legs don't work anymore that THAT is the finish line.
She lives to get attention from humans and dogs alike. SHE LOVES to play with her pack. She loves to meet up with other dogs. Once that joy is taken from her, there is no more quality of life. I even wanted to discuss getting wheels for the front of the cart, but Rich said no. We agreed and when she can no longer do it on her own, we'll say Goodbye.
At this rate, we're estimating only a few months more. We'll just keep watching those front legs and shoulders and keep hoping she is enjoying her life.
The stage we will NOT allow her to be in: Crisis — Immediate veterinary assistance needed regardless of the disease
- Difficulty breathing
- Prolonged seizures
- Uncontrollable vomiting/diarrhea
- Sudden collapse
- Profuse bleeding — internal or external
- Crying/whining from pain*
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