Al's big Update 2010 #5 - Tasha
When I read last year's Tasha update, I can't even believe she's still here.
My poor old girl is fading fast. Based on things the vet has said, and things I've observed and read about, I'm pretty sure she's got degenerative myelopathy. The description couldn't sound more like what I've been seeing in Tasha for months now:
Degenerative myelopathy initially affects the back legs and causes muscle weakness and loss, and lack of coordination. These cause a staggering effect that may appear to be arthritis. The dog may drag one or both rear paws when it walks. This dragging can cause the nails of one foot to be worn down. The condition may lead to extensive paralysis of the back legs. As the disease progresses, the animal may display symptoms such as incontinence and has considerable difficulties with both balance and walking. If allowed to progress, the animal will show front limb involvement and extensive muscle atrophy. Eventually cranial nerve or respiratory muscle involvement necessitates euthanasia. Progression of the disease is generally slow but highly variable. The animal could be crippled within a few months, or may survive up to three years.
Her back legs barely work anymore. I've been feeding her canned puppy food for several months to try to keep her from losing too much weight and muscle tone, and giving her glucosamine and a prescription anti-inflammatory medication, but now I really think it's this progressive nerve thing rather than a strength or muscular issue. It's been months since she's been able to jump up on furniture or into the car, and she's been having trouble with the stairs for a year now. This November was the first time I ever heard her whimper because she was struggling to stand up. She's had bad days like that, but they are usually followed by a few good weeks. She's getting a lot worse now though. She's fallen down the stairs several times, so I don't even let her try anymore. I carry her. She can still make the trip up sometimes, but I usually don't wait or make her try. I just carry her up. It's hard because the condition itself supposedly isn't painful. She gets very frustrated when she struggles to stand up, but she just lays around most of the time and sleeps a lot, which has been true for years, so I have had a hard time coming to the conclusion that she would be better off dead. She still has a healthy appetite and seems fine when she isn't struggling to stand.
I'm sure I am very close to having to make the decision now though. The last few days have been the worst yet. More often than not now she isn't able to stand up. If I help her to her feet, she can walk, but she is really starting to walk funny now, bowlegged and unable to walk in a very straight line. I don't want her to suffer, but she still seems like she is fighting and not giving up, so I help her and I carry her and I endure her using the whole apartment as her bathroom because I am not convinced she is ready to go.
I keep changing my mind about what the benchmark should be. I used to say that when she couldn't stand up anymore, it was time. Now she often can't, so I find myself thinking that when she can't walk, it's time. I hate to say it, but I kind of wish she would give me a clear sign that she is ready to go, like if she would stop eating like some animals do, or stop even trying to get up, but she still seems determined to stick to her routine as much as possible.
All I know is that the day is coming sooner than I like to think. She is almost 14 and 1/2, which is a pretty good run, and I think I've given her a good life, but it is hard to think about being without her.
Here's a shot I just took a few days ago:
My poor old girl is fading fast. Based on things the vet has said, and things I've observed and read about, I'm pretty sure she's got degenerative myelopathy. The description couldn't sound more like what I've been seeing in Tasha for months now:
Degenerative myelopathy initially affects the back legs and causes muscle weakness and loss, and lack of coordination. These cause a staggering effect that may appear to be arthritis. The dog may drag one or both rear paws when it walks. This dragging can cause the nails of one foot to be worn down. The condition may lead to extensive paralysis of the back legs. As the disease progresses, the animal may display symptoms such as incontinence and has considerable difficulties with both balance and walking. If allowed to progress, the animal will show front limb involvement and extensive muscle atrophy. Eventually cranial nerve or respiratory muscle involvement necessitates euthanasia. Progression of the disease is generally slow but highly variable. The animal could be crippled within a few months, or may survive up to three years.
Her back legs barely work anymore. I've been feeding her canned puppy food for several months to try to keep her from losing too much weight and muscle tone, and giving her glucosamine and a prescription anti-inflammatory medication, but now I really think it's this progressive nerve thing rather than a strength or muscular issue. It's been months since she's been able to jump up on furniture or into the car, and she's been having trouble with the stairs for a year now. This November was the first time I ever heard her whimper because she was struggling to stand up. She's had bad days like that, but they are usually followed by a few good weeks. She's getting a lot worse now though. She's fallen down the stairs several times, so I don't even let her try anymore. I carry her. She can still make the trip up sometimes, but I usually don't wait or make her try. I just carry her up. It's hard because the condition itself supposedly isn't painful. She gets very frustrated when she struggles to stand up, but she just lays around most of the time and sleeps a lot, which has been true for years, so I have had a hard time coming to the conclusion that she would be better off dead. She still has a healthy appetite and seems fine when she isn't struggling to stand.
I'm sure I am very close to having to make the decision now though. The last few days have been the worst yet. More often than not now she isn't able to stand up. If I help her to her feet, she can walk, but she is really starting to walk funny now, bowlegged and unable to walk in a very straight line. I don't want her to suffer, but she still seems like she is fighting and not giving up, so I help her and I carry her and I endure her using the whole apartment as her bathroom because I am not convinced she is ready to go.
I keep changing my mind about what the benchmark should be. I used to say that when she couldn't stand up anymore, it was time. Now she often can't, so I find myself thinking that when she can't walk, it's time. I hate to say it, but I kind of wish she would give me a clear sign that she is ready to go, like if she would stop eating like some animals do, or stop even trying to get up, but she still seems determined to stick to her routine as much as possible.
All I know is that the day is coming sooner than I like to think. She is almost 14 and 1/2, which is a pretty good run, and I think I've given her a good life, but it is hard to think about being without her.
Here's a shot I just took a few days ago: