Athena Pupdate March 11

Athena 2017

Degenerative Myelopathy- Athena's Progression from the beginning

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. 

Her favorite spot, on her "Throne"

Early to Mid Stage:
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.  

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.    

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.

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. 

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*

Pupdate through week 3 and more

Welcome back.    It's been a crazy-busy week.  I have much to tell you regarding the pups--especially Volos-- so shall we get to it.

VOLOS
I will preface by saying we haven't gotten the biopsy results back yet. They told us 5-7 days.
Monday was his surgery.  He went with Rich and was dropped off. Rich stated he really did not want Rich to leave him. Was putting up a fight.  It's nice to know he's relying on us..

Never smiles for the camera

His surgery went well.  He had both lumps removed. The one was just a fatty cyst and the other was the smaller mass that we're worried about.  It was sent for biopsy and now it's just waiting.

He has staples in his sides and besides the obviousness of them, they are all that shows he had surgery. The night we brought him home, he was stoned from the anesthesia...and very high strung. The next morning he was back to normal. 

He has adapted to our schedule quite nicely.  He's also much more comfortable in the house. He's ventured into every room on his own at this point. He won't stay in there, but he does enter them on his own. 

He still sleeps between his crate and his room.  It depends on how he's feeling at that time.   He is much more comfortable coming in and demanding affection.   Peryn still "scares" (not even sure if that is the right word) him ...he's leery around Peryn. Peryn is very high strung and can be a lot for someone as timid as Volos.  

Snow lover

We've finally come up with a solution to getting him to go to the bathroom in the yard.  It took careful monitoring, but he now is let outside with the others --off leash.  The first few times we tried this, we were right there with him.   Now he goes out to the front, rolls around in the snow and then does his business.   He'll come right back inside when he's done.   

When he's on leash, he expects a walk to the park a few doors down.   He REFUSES to go on leash. The tie out still freaks him out and when I put it on him, he will not leave my legs.  We can't keep taking him to the park each and every time he needed to go--so I worked on going off leash.  


He's really blooming.  I have to admit I'm a little impatient as he won't stay in any of the rooms long to hang out with us and I so badly want to lay with him and cuddle. He's not there yet.  I have to keep reminding myself 3 weeks of love cannot overcome 5 years of hell.

He still flinches if you surprise him (he runs off) or move too quickly.  However he is gaining confidence each and every day.

Highlights of the week-- we picked up some toys and played with them briefly.  He LOVES car rides. ANYTIME the garage door opens, he's out there by the car hoping to go somewhere.  He loves the PorkChomp rolls and will pick one up whenever abandoned.  He now eats from the community bowl and has no problems letting us know when it's empty.We still have yet to hear him bark or make any real sounds except a burp (which he freely does).   Another thing we'll wait patiently for.

Ahhhhhh

We do know he's happy with us. He gets so excited to see us in the morning or when we come home.  He loves when we're outside with him.   He loves getting hugs and rubs from us.

Hoping he begins to ease up around the others. Peryn desperately wants to play with him and has tried to engage him. Volos is not there yet. 

Volos does have a destructive tail. I have a small bookshelf in my living room with knick knacks on them. His tail --which he wags enthusiastically --knocked down a few of my crystal trinkets and broke them.   Nothing I was extremely sentimental about and I have since rearranged the shelves to put the fragile things lower out of tail range. 

Even though he isn't supposed to--and we didn't realize he would--we have seen him run.  Turns out this dog LOVES snow.  He gets super excited and loves to roll in it and then runs to us when he's done.   He's a big goof ball and even though he's supposed to be taking it easy---it's hard to reign it in when he shows so much enthusiasm.  

I am very happy to share his progress when it's so positive.    Keep your paws and fingers crossed as we'll hopefully be hearing his results in the next 2 days.

ATHENA

At Playcare

It seems no matter what we do, she keeps getting skinnier and bonier.  I have taken to bringing her food and water --directly to her-- 3x/day.   She is more desperate to follow me from room to room than before.
We're trying hard to remember when we leave a room to bring her with us.   She'll let us know otherwise.

There was not much downstairs time this week as in the past.  Well for her at least. Peryn still heads down there on his own.   

She did go to play care all day last Saturday and on Friday. She loves it and does so well.  Saturday we thought she'd be dead to the world, but she wasn't.   We don't take her outside in the cart with all the snow.     I want to buy her ski's for the cart, but with her health--I'm afraid to buy them and then fate stepping in so she'll never use them.

I did buy and should be receiving a drag bag for her. This is a specially designed "bag" that dogs like her can use to drag themselves through the house.  She still can use her legs--

Lada loving on big Sis

with help--but for those times when she can't get help or the legs aren't cooperating, she'll be able to slide around the house without friction burns. 

Speaking of getting help.  The disease is now at the point where she needs help 85% of the time to get up on her feet. The message of straightening out her legs is not getting to them.  We have to pull her feet apart and then place them and her hips in the proper position in order for her to walk. Walking for her isn't like normal walking either.  Most of the time it's dragging her knuckled feet. 
Sometimes if she's lying just right, she can get herself up and move to the room I'm in.   A majority of that time she falls and needs help getting up.   We're going to try and let her use her legs as long as they work to get her around.   No point in helping the disease along any. 

She sleeps most of the time when she's not doing anything.  If the pups aren't playing--she'll sleep. If they are--she's laying there barking as they play.
We look at how frail she is and keep thinking--can't be much longer. Then she spends a day at playcare and we're thrown by just how much energy she still has.   This disease SUCKS.

Resting at home on the new bed

The 3 at Playcare

Cattle dogs are ...normal. Getting a bit jealous that our attention is no longer solely on them.   However, they're adapting and for the most part have been really patient and giving Volos room to become accustomed to his new life.  

Peryn still spends time in the basement alone playing or whatever else he's doing.

Lada won't leave Mommy for long as Mommy is now loving on another dog that ISN'T her.

Same ole same ole.





Training
Still haven't begun any training commands (other than Volos Come) with him. He's still too jumpy and if we become forceful, he retreats to his safe area.   We try to sneak stuff in like when he's about to sit down "Sit" and good boy--but it's really difficult when you have an injured soul like his.   We're patient though.     

I will tell you this, I wasn't a big supporter of getting a BMD when Rich first told me he wanted one.  However, Volos has made me a fan of the breed. Turns out they're big teddy bears as the norm.  I do adore him and he's really been a lot easier than I would have thought.       

Thanks for checking in and update you later!

I could get used to this

EVERY TIME he goes out

Enjoying the scenery

Snow Dog Angels

Pupdate: Athena & Volos

Probably going to be a long one here.  First Athena updates and later VOLOS..

2018 Athena-healthy & thriving

Athena: 
Sigh.  She's shrinking away bit by bit.  It is so heartbreaking.   I was looking at pictures of her from last year and compared to today --she was a chubster. 

We're kind of on "alert".  We're trying to determine if it's just been coincidence or bad timing...but she's had a few issues with her front paws.  As in, we've seen them "roll" or bend under on different occasions.    Her use of her hind legs is diminishing more and more.   Some days she can maneuver on them around the house and other days she just drags them .   It makes me sad.

Climbing into her bed

It could be nothing which we are hoping.   This scares us as if it is something, it could mean the disease has started to progress to the front legs.   Time is running short then because we've agreed when she loses full functionality of the front legs it is time. 

This dog lives for playing with other dogs and her pack.   If she cannot do that, she has no quality of life.  To keep Athena in your hearts and send pawsitive vibes this way that we just had a couple of bad days.

Healthy weight.

Sharing a handful of pictures so you can see the difference These first four photos of her are from 2018 when the only thing we would notice is she would be when she tired out and she would begin to limp.  That would happen near the 2nd half/end of 2018.

Sunning herself

Look how beautiful she is here.   She and Duchess loved to sun themselves in the nicer weather.   Look how healthy she is here. 

Athena now:

These photos are all from the past month and a half.  The one you can see the "position" that she finds herself in often. She is stuck and unable to move out of it.

She gets stuck in this position and can't get out of it

Top view of er in her cart

Here she is so small.  She's very fragile.  I can't believe it's my same girl.     

Don't feel too sorry for her.  Except for arthritis pain, she doesn't feel much with this disease. 

Look at how tiny she is

Nothing stops her. If she wants to be somewhere and she CAN do it, she will be right there.   She's VERY determined.   She is a maniac in her cart and you better not get in the way.   

Top view of her on her bed

She's still very affectionate and will come demanding attention.    She may be limited to some things, but the rest is just a new way of life.    She loves her cart and gets super excited when she is being put in it--especially if she knows it's to play with Lada & Peryn.

VOLOS
I'm blogging somewhat regularly, but I feel that I still get so behind because so much has been happening with this dude.

Hanging out in his crate

 Wow, I just realized I haven't blogged since Saturday, so yes there is so much to tell you.    

Sunday he really began to explore the house.  He still would return to Rich's office or as I am calling it now-Volos' room.
Sunday though, he really was gaining confidence in exploring.  However, if Rich is at his PC and has the TV on, Volos was in his crate... lying there.

Oooh that feels good

Monday- the monsters...err I mean Peryn & Lada went to play care, so I was hoping he would really branch out and come hang with me.   Nope.  While I worked from my office at home, he only occasionally made an appearance.
I decided to try something different.   I moved his crate from the office into the living room. 
So Monday afternoon, he came out to be with me and get his loving on. 

 Then he sat down in front of me while I loved him.   Then he finally laid down and allowed me to keep on loving on him.   I then slid down to the floor and continued.   He ended up being with me for over an hour and just chill.   It was fabulous.  He even got into his crate to chill out while we watched tv.        

Finally relaxing

In the morning on Tuesday, he was already out greeting me when I got up to let the Cattle Dogs out at 4am.   I love that he gets more and more comfortable .

Fighting for attention

He was home with the pack today while we went to work.  We still locked his crate to give him some feeling of safety.   When I got home he was soo happy to see me. Once I let him out and got everyone situated-we walked down to the park.  He rolled on his back again and just enjoyed being able to walk around outside.  

Munching on the chomp he stole

The biggest surprise was later on after we got home.   I give my dogs Pork Chomps baked pork rolls in lieu of rawhides.   Rawhides are nasty and unhealthy, this is a great alternative for your dogs.     I've been giving them to my guys for years and they love them.   In fact, the game they play is you snooze you lose.   I put out enough for each dog, but it doesn't matter.  If you were working on one and walk away, it will be stolen.      Well, one was out that Lada had been working on and she walked away.   Volos was comfortable enough to steal it!   SO awesome.    He went to town on that puppy and stayed right there in the living room while he did. 

Wednesday-   I worked from home and Rich was home as well.   We had an appointment in the later afternoon and so it was us, Athena, & Volos.   We got the kids home and decided to test the situation.   We didn't lock his crate, so he was able to leave it at any point in time.  I don't know if it was because our appointment screwed up the schedule or he just can't handle being alone, but we came home to a mess Volos made.   That was the first time since day 0 that he had gone in the house.  Pretty decent.  
He got spooked due to the carpet cleaner being ran after we came home.    Chose to go back into Rich's office for the rest of the evening and to sleep.

Thursday-- Rich was home and I had to go into the office. It was a decent day and Rich decided to take the ACD's & Volos to one of the parks not too far from us.  It has rocks vs grass so when it rains there isn't mud.  

He told me Volos did great. Walked around by himself going up to people for some loving and went up to the other dogs to check them out.   He seemed to have a great time.  

The ACD's keps themselves busy with their herding ball so this visit was a win win for everyone.   

Daddy, that feels nice

After coming home and having dinner, I got to chill out on the couch with Lada & Volos.   Lada is very possessive of me.  Like all Cattle Dogs, I've been deemed HER person. She has a conniption if any of the other dogs try to get attention. She was very intolerant of Duchess getting any and she goes into a meltdown if Peryn even looks at me.
With Volos, she's been pretty chill. It's more of a cutting off each other between the 2 to see who gets the closest spot to Mommy.   So that evening I had Lada on one side and Volos on the other.  I think they're bonding over their affection for Mommy. 

Rich has been walking the 2 guys together for a short jaunt around the clock to get them to warm up to each other.   Peryn looks like he tries to initiate play when Volos starts getting ramped up at the park. 

Yeah.... Righ there!!

    To Be Continued.

 Friday......   
I worked from home and Rich was off again.  After I completed work, we decided to take Athena and Volos back to the park.  It was a nice sunny day and the 2 of them could use some outdoors time.

The park had a handful of dogs when we arrived and Athena barked up a storm to announce her arrival. This was the first visit back there since she got her cart.   She was beyond excited.  Took off like a rocket when we got in. She was eating up attention.   People seem to adore handicapped dogs--- and she milks that for all it's worth.

Volos walked around on his own, sniffed some butts, sniffed around and started to loosen up a bit.  He started to "run" and try to play with the other dogs.  THEN..... THEN... he got up on his hind legs and put his front paws on me.   He then did it again AND then turned his head into me.   HE GAVE ME A HUG!!!!!       DAY IS MADE!!

sleepy

Today the other 3 went to play care and we left him in his cage for a bit to run errands.   He was out and about in the house while we were home. Spent some time in his room, spent some time in the crate, came up to me in the kitchen for some pets.      He's definitely getting more comfortable here. 
We've even had him come into the bedroom.   My ultimate goal is to get him to sleep in there with the rest of us.   I just need to be patient.

We've tried to start with some training commands-- but he's still too sensitive right now.  If we raise our voice, make sudden movements, or startle him in any way he takes off for his room.  I threw a treat and it landed on the ground next to him. He heard it and took off...   

love how his pawa are crossed

Another issue we're having is getting him to go to the bathroom.    We have a tie out for the front that we used for Duchess.  We have attempted to put it on him...it freaks him out. The white cord following him scares him.  
Rich will take him out on the leash and walk him around the house. He will go pee, but not #2.   I take him out on a leash and he tries to get me to go to the park.  I've tried to stop doing that in the mornings because I don't want him to think that's the only time he can go #2.   

At the park (any) he'll go, just not in our yard.
He loves to lean back into our legs when we're out there and he's "done".   I was hoping going out with Peryn & Lada would get him to go, but no... it's not like that. 

Hanging wif Momma

He really is a sweet guy.   I wish I could start working on training and getting him to do things the way they should be, but since he's so sensitive we're not pushing too much. 

Peryn's tried to engage him in play. While he has not reciprocated, he has not run off.  SO progress!!

Monday's the surgery....  keep sending your pawsitive vibes our way.