Sudden episode of hind end weakness

[SadKen]

My dear old GSD has just had a bit of a wobble, hind end dropping as if he needed to poo, then finally sat down. Got up quite easily, but hind end definitely dropped. Episode lasted maybe 1 minute. Had a lie down for a minute and he seems to have been fine since, albeit I have seen a couple of little signals of weakness but no further collapse. Didn’t seem to be in any pain but he is on metacam and tramadol for his arthritis.

He hates the vet and it stresses him mightily - plus he won’t be having any investigation work done, so I haven’t rushed him down there.

I’m hoping it’s something simple like he has aggravated it yesterday playing tug with his brother, shaking his toy furiously at the tv when dogs appear on it, and jumping while waiting for his dinner. he loves all of these things, but I’m thinking box rest with no exercise other than garden to toilet for at least a week, then very limited walks if he seems ok. We have also removed all tug toys. He will be very sad about that.

I’m so worried about him as he’s the happiest little chap and I hate the idea of him not being here any more. We will of course be monitoring him closely and be ready if a decision needs to be made.

I can’t help thinking we are nearing the end. I’m supposed to be away with work this week leaving OH in charge. I’m not sure whether I should cancel or if I’m being a bit over dramatic. Thoughts welcome.

 

[fankino04]

No advise to give just wanted to send a virtual hug and my sympathies that you are in this position with him, it's awful when they get old and we worry that every little thing is going to be the end, I hope it's just a mild strain and some rest will resolve it, he's lucky to have such a caring and strong owner who knows there will probably be a time when they will have to make that horrible unselfish call x

 

[SadKen]

Thank you for the kind words I’ve already panicked several times over him, he had a really bad tummy bug a while back, then his arthritis got worse and I think he had nerve pain (he reversed at speed and worried the hell out of me, I thought that was neurological) etc etc! He is tender in his back today, which he did have before a couple of years ago from the swimming pool (lost his mind racing round like an idiot), he didn’t have any neurological issues back then and nothing showed in his X-rays but as husband says, he’s older now and doesn’t have compensating muscle tone in his back legs. I’ve got a bit of bandwidth on the tramadol so I’ve given him a little more to keep him comfy, and hopefully he will improve. I’ve written him off so many times now, poor old sausage! It’s both wonderful and stressful having an old dog!

 

[misst]

I hope he is feeling better today. My sons dog had back problems from the age of about 10. She was a parsons JR so lighter weight than your dog. She had a couple of steroid injections into her back as her discs had dried out (seen on scan) from madness as a youngster. She did really well with these as she had problems tolerating any kind of oral analgesia. She lived until 14 staying active until she had a stroke but her back injections allowed her to stay active to the end. Edited to say what a handsome boy he is x

 

[splashgirl45]

I understand how you feel , I hated it when my collie was older , I worried all of the time and kept thinking about her quality of life .. she had slowed down and I kept her walks to a slow 20 mins or less if she seemed tired , on the day I lost her she had been for her 20 min stroll in the morning and all seemed as usual but she lost the use of her back legs in the afternoon so she made the decision less difficult for me although I had intended to wait till the next day to see if a good nights sleep would help but by 9pm I knew she wasn’t happy.. I think you will know when it’s time but I really feel for you and hope he carries on for a good while…

 

[SadKen]

Thank you all very much. He has been fine since, no further signs of a wobble. I am not so naive that I think we have got away with it entirely as I can’t imagine it happened for no reason, and I’d imagine it will happen again, but we might get a little while longer with some luck! My OH is in charge and he is still on box rest at home and quite happy, as far as we can tell! The tail is still going anyway. He’s a funny boy, wags when you look at him or talk to him, always bursting with joy, so happy to see, well, anyone! He wags at strangers and pops his ears in soft low non threatening mode because he wants to be friends with everyone. He’s extremely special, and has been a partner (in the police sense) rather than a subordinate which is making his advancing years quite tough. I feel sick thinking about letting him go. Our previous dog had a traumatic end from bloat, and I did find it intensely distressing which does add to the worry for this chap. I am torn between watching him for any sign of impending departure or distress, and reminding myself to enjoy him while we have him as there is nothing I can do to stop time. In brief moments I have thought that I wouldn’t get another dog as it’s too stressful, so it must be quite a worry as rational me would never entertain not having another one!

In case other people experience this, I looked it up online and apparently it’s called anticipatory grief. There is quite a lot of info online about how to try and manage it. I will be trying some of the suggestions I’ve found and hoping he doesn’t wreck my coping strategies with another wobble for a bit, daft old boy! I guess it’s all part of the experience but it’s not one I’m particularly enjoying, if I’m honest!

 

[splashgirl45]

We can only do our best for them and take each day as a bonus when they are older, try and enjoy each day and not think ahead too much..

 

[Above the snowline]

Sadly the only way to avoid grief is to live alone with no animals. I knew someone who did and they were miserable all the time! Sending a virtual hug.

 

[Moobli]

He’s a gorgeous boy . How old is he SK? The oldies are so precious aren’t they. It’s hard not to worry about every little thing but definitely try to concentrate on enjoying time with him rather than worrying about the future. Easier said than done I know.

 

[SadKen]

He’s 11.5 now Moobli. I know a lot of people are lucky with GSD and our first one lived til 13.5, but our second barely made it to 10. I was hoping for longer with this lad as he has had a hugely active life but he has aged quite quickly in the last year. Equally he has been awake and doing something for pretty much his entire existence so hasn’t wasted a moment! I think anything you get after 10 is a bonus so no right to feel unlucky, and he is generally so happy. So I can’t complain even though I do! My youngest is now 4 and spends most of his time asleep. Maybe he will live forever as a result