Jake's hydrotherapy - Page 3

zaclucy · #21 05-08-2008, 07:32 PM

Just spend as much time as you can with him, you will always cherish it. Sounds like your both having fun, and that's what its all about.

Janet x

jakesmummy · #22 06-08-2008, 03:32 PM

Thank you for your kind words
Petnanny Jake has got Cdrm and the hydrotherapy is wonderful for him he has a swim one week then the next 2 weeks he is in the jacuzzi as we find the jacuzzi seams to work better for him , after the swim he seems more wobbly for the rest of the week but it gives him a good workout , the people are wonderful at hydrotherapy and Jake loves going , i know Jake wont be here for xmas but im lucky i still have him and i know its the hydrotherapy why i have

Petnanny · #23 06-08-2008, 04:54 PM

I am so sorry to hear this. My first GSD Ben started with this at the age of 10. Our vet suggested we try him on Evening primrose oil, which we did, but lost him a year later to bloat at age 11.

At least you are offering the best possible treatment, and it sounds as though he is still really enjoying the time he has left.

I am sure our prayers are with you.

jakesmummy · #24 15-08-2008, 11:08 AM

Jake has got worse

he went to hydrotherapy on tue which always makes him feel better , then wed night i took him for a little walk he fell twice , yesterday i spent the day in the garden with him i was gardening while he laid watching me he played with his ball he was sat up while i was throwing it and he was catching it im sure he thought it was like when he used to run and catch it as he had a happy look on his face as we was playing

he was walking about a bit as i moved round the garden weeding he followed me to lay by my side he fell a few times so i rang the vet and took him up there the vet gave him an injection ( cant think what its called at the moment )
The vets was full and the look on some peoples faces when jake fell in the waiting room an old couple gave me a filthy look i turned round to them and said he is not in pain , when he came out of the surgery he was walking and the vet said loudly so everyone could hear that he wasnt in pain its just his condition and then made a big fuss of him .
getting into the car must look funny as i have to open the door take jake about 6 metres away then jake has to be in a straight line and we aim for the car lol .
Ive been and woke him up to give him his phenobarb this morning (Jake is epilectic ) and he seems a little better he tripped once or twice but he is ok ive rang the hydrotherapy and got an exta appointment tomorrow for him , i think we are nearing the end i can feel it

im not letting him get to the stage where he cant get up and ive always said no wheels .
He is having trouble with his boots he dosn't like wearing them but his feet are bleeding does anyone have any ideas on what i could do to help his feet feel better

kita · #25 15-08-2008, 11:44 AM

Hi, sorry to hear about Jake.

I had a GSD with CDRM so I know what you are going through.

I know you said that you did not want wheels, and I totally respect that decision - but I would like to say that I was against the carts too - until I put my girl in one. She had a further 18 happy months with us because of the cart. She used to go over the fields in it, down on the beach - in fact all of our normal walks with my other dog. I took a video of her in it and sent it to people to show them what a dog can do in a cart and lots of people put their dogs in one after seeing the video. I have known many people who were initially against carts change their mind and put their dogs in them.

Dogs don't think like us and just get on with life. They adapt very well to the carts. Because your dog has been swimming he will still have the muscles to be able to cope well in a cart.

This is a video from you tube of a GSD running around in a cart with other dogs.

YouTube - Sarah 3

As I say I totally respect your decision if you decide not to go for a cart - I just wanted to give you another option (and maybe a good few more months with your boy).

There is lots of info. on GSD's with CDRM here:

Degenerative Myelopathy One List Web Roster

and a more technical article here:

Degenerative Myelopathy of German Shepherds

I hope your boy is with you for a while yet - I know how heartbreaking this condition is.

Sue

LOVEGSD · #26 15-08-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakesmummy

Jake has got worse

he went to hydrotherapy on tue which always makes him feel better , then wed night i took him for a little walk he fell twice , yesterday i spent the day in the garden with him i was gardening while he laid watching me he played with his ball he was sat up while i was throwing it and he was catching it im sure he thought it was like when he used to run and catch it as he had a happy look on his face as we was playing

he was walking about a bit as i moved round the garden weeding he followed me to lay by my side he fell a few times so i rang the vet and took him up there the vet gave him an injection ( cant think what its called at the moment )
The vets was full and the look on some peoples faces when jake fell in the waiting room an old couple gave me a filthy look i turned round to them and said he is not in pain , when he came out of the surgery he was walking and the vet said loudly so everyone could hear that he wasnt in pain its just his condition and then made a big fuss of him .
getting into the car must look funny as i have to open the door take jake about 6 metres away then jake has to be in a straight line and we aim for the car lol .
Ive been and woke him up to give him his phenobarb this morning (Jake is epilectic ) and he seems a little better he tripped once or twice but he is ok ive rang the hydrotherapy and got an exta appointment tomorrow for him , i think we are nearing the end i can feel it

im not letting him get to the stage where he cant get up and ive always said no wheels .
He is having trouble with his boots he dosn't like wearing them but his feet are bleeding does anyone have any ideas on what i could do to help his feet feel better

I am so sorry to hear that Jake's got worse

and that there was such an insensitive couple in the waiting room - glad you're vet made sure they heard he isn't in pain!!

I'm sorry but I don't know what to suggest with regards to his paws...someone on here may though I'm sure.

I will keep everything crossed that now is not his time and that you get more time with Jake.....you are both in my thoughts *hug*

xxx

LOVEGSD · #27 15-08-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kita

Hi, sorry to hear about Jake.

I had a GSD with CDRM so I know what you are going through.

I know you said that you did not want wheels, and I totally respect that decision - but I would like to say that I was against the carts too - until I put my girl in one. She had a further 18 happy months with us because of the cart. She used to go over the fields in it, down on the beach - in fact all of our normal walks with my other dog. I took a video of her in it and sent it to people to show them what a dog can do in a cart and lots of people put their dogs in one after seeing the video. I have known many people who were initially against carts change their mind and put their dogs in them.

Dogs don't think like us and just get on with life. They adapt very well to the carts. Because your dog has been swimming he will still have the muscles to be able to cope well in a cart.

This is a video from you tube of a GSD running around in a cart with other dogs.

YouTube - Sarah 3

As I say I totally respect your decision if you decide not to go for a cart - I just wanted to give you another option (and maybe a good few more months with your boy).

There is lots of info. on GSD's with CDRM here:

Degenerative Myelopathy One List Web Roster

and a more technical article here:

Degenerative Myelopathy of German Shepherds

I hope your boy is with you for a while yet - I know how heartbreaking this condition is.

Sue

Hi Sue

Thanks for posting that video clip, it really made me smile seeing her bomb around. There's a GSD at our local park, which also has his own set of wheels, and he seems to take it all in his stride too but I guess this is not a choice everyone feels comfortable with, which I totally respect.

Thanks for sharing this

Lynn
x

jakesmummy · #28 15-08-2008, 04:14 PM

The vidio made me smile too thank you for posting it , the wheels are brilliant and if jake wasnt jake i would get him some , Jake is epilectic and part brain dead from his epilepsy, he has done well to get to this age with all the fits he has had ( 13 yrs 5 months ) i said about no wheels because with him having epilepsy if he has a seizure in the wheels its going to be awful , i wish i could put him in wheels so i could have more time with him but that would be for my benefit as i dont think jake would cope very well so i think i will let him enjoy the time we have together while he still has use of his legs its a horrible decision to make i just want him to live forever and not have this horrible cdrm ,

LOVEGSD · #29 15-08-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakesmummy

The vidio made me smile too thank you for posting it , the wheels are brilliant and if jake wasnt jake i would get him some , Jake is epilectic and part brain dead from his epilepsy, he has done well to get to this age with all the fits he has had ( 13 yrs 5 months ) i said about no wheels because with him having epilepsy if he has a seizure in the wheels its going to be awful , i wish i could put him in wheels so i could have more time with him but that would be for my benefit as i dont think jake would cope very well so i think i will let him enjoy the time we have together while he still has use of his legs its a horrible decision to make i just want him to live forever and not have this horrible cdrm ,

I wish they could all live forever, and my heart goes out to you having to ultimately make such a difficult decision. I think it's testament to you that after all his fits he's 13yrs 5months - wow!! Enjoy your time together

jakesmummy · #30 16-08-2008, 08:32 PM

Jake went to his extra session today the man said its the worse he has seen him and take it day by day not weeks like i thought and he has a lot of experience with cdrm dogs so it was a bit of a shock , he loves jake he says he is special and he dosnt want me to hang on too long then regret it , its so hard to know what to do as this evening Jake was outside i was in the kitchen and because i went out of veiw he started to bark i went out and as soon as he heard the door open he ran to his kennel knowing he was being naughty barking hehe bless him he makes me laugh when he does that he peeps out of his kennel with his gorgeous eyes saying it wasn't me . he ran like there was nothing wrong with him this is what makes it so hard