He couldn’t walk…

…last night and collapsed about 3 feet from the crate in the bedroom that he was heading for.  It was like all his legs gave out…  This morning he made it outside and wobbled back to a crate he likes in the living room….  I wanted him to go out before I left and he couldn’t make it on his own…  I’m off to school now… it’s 8am and I’m worried about leaving him alone although he’ll probably sleep the whole time.

 
The strangest thing happened during the night.  Joshua (my parrot) was in a panic and thrashing in his cage. This hasn’t happened in a very long time so when he didn’t stop, I got up, went to him, talked for a bit and went back to bed.  The thrashing started again and again I went to him.  The 3rd time (now I’m pretty cranky) I found a really dark blanket to cover his cage and that put an end to it.  Olivia and Kobie were nowhere around.  They have access to the basement and outside so I assumed that’s where they were.   It seemed really bizarre.  

 

Comment – Read the post Marilyn and Ari for an update to this.

Rugs are everywhere now…

….except on the back porch.  When he comes inside which snow on his feet his legs go out from under him so tomorrow I think a trip to the thrift show might be on the agenda. 

I have noticed some other things recently about him.  One is how he gags.  And then it’s like if I were to eat something that I didn’t like so based on his facial expression, apparently he has a bad taste in his mouth.  He is not as tolerant of the other dogs as he was.  He also snapped at Kobie who was trying to get him to play and that is SO rare… she is his best buddy and that just doesn’t happen.  Oh…..and good news…  I slept until 5am last night… only once did he have to go out… that’s what limiting his water intake does. :)  Tonight he was standing right in front of the place where his water usually is looking at it like…where did it go?  It was about 5 feet away…hhmm…  I think I’ll add these things to the list tomorrow. 

So Ari always like to retrieve items… not a formal retrieve but in play of course OR because I said so! Here is a variety of some of what he did!

   

About the same...

Well…  there are other things I’m noticing and remembering from before.  He no longer gets up on the couch which says to me his legs are weaker.  That will be #7 on the list.  He’s really sticking close by me and when he’s sleeping he really shakes.  I hesitate to say it’s a seizure because it could be dreaming. 

He’s such a sweet guy…  These photos of Ari and Brita were taken a year ago.  December 23, 2008…  What fun they had! 
  

1. He wobbles when he gets up and walks and he paces instead of trotting.
2. His tail curls under his butt when he sits.  This happened before when he did not have the use of his rear end.
3. He seems always cold – his feet especially.  I put a coat on him even when inside.  One day he came inside with ice crystals on his feet.  This was before the big snow and deep freeze.   And his feet are as usual enlarged.
4. He is afraid of noises (mouse trap).  He will hang out be me or if I get up he will hide in the bathroom.  
5. He gets disorientated.  He will go out through the basement and then either I have to come and get him or he waits in basement and when I call him, he comes up.  It’s like he can’t figure out that going around the corner will bring him to the stairs.
6. He drinks lots of water and will urinate in the house – not in front of me but overnight if he’s not sleeping in the room with me.  Otherwise he gets me up in the middle of the night to go out which he never did before.
7. He no longer gets up on the couch which says to me his legs are weaker.  When you look at the them the skeleton look is returning from lack of use. 

The Rugs are Back Out...

....  the rugs that keep Ari from slipping on the floor when he walks through the house.  When Teddy was having problems walking last year, I had a series of non-slip rugs for him to walk on.  Then this year I got them out for Ari when he was having problems.  Last month I took them up.... he didn't need them.

Now they're coming back.  Right along with rear end wobbling and small seizures.

Not a happy day....  :-(

Holding on..

It's been a week and he's no better or no worse. I have chosen to stay close to home (meaning no overnight excursions to dog events) so I can see Ari through this. I am reminded on occasion that all is not well. Just a bit ago I missed him in the house and went to look for him. As I suspected, he had gone outside through the dog door, and as often happens, he didn't remember that he can also get in that way. So, I found him huddled against the house under an overhang outside the patio door that he knows he can get it.... when it's open. Not so bad but it was really raining and he was soaked. All is NOT well.....

Well, I guess it had to happen....

......sooner or later. For over a month, the old Ari was back, running and playing outside. It was wonderful to watch him after having seen him struggle to get up for months.

In the last few days I've watched Ari, ever so slightly, go downhill. He limped a little, had a harder time getting up and today he yelped as he didn't make a jump over a bag of cans and his leg got twisted. He was, however, running after a chipmunk in the yard so the reality is it could have happened to the healthiest of dogs. He did play outside all day and had a great time but tonight he was limping and his body was just a tad twisted. :-(

Night Rituals

Last night he was barking! He's barked before so why is that good? He was outside, at night by himself and barking at something, who knows what, along the fence line which he hasn't done in months. And when I let him and the girls (Olivia and Kobie) out before bed, they raced to the door making loud whiny (hard to explain but fun noises) to go out which, again, is something they haven't done in months!!

Walking in the Yard!

Another walk in the yard with Brita running circles around us!!

He's feeling BETTER!

Ari is still doing well... keeping my fingers and toes crossed. Today we were outside so I took a short clip and then when I was sitting in the living room and his food was soaking in the kitchen he picked up a tug and started tossing it around! That's the first I've seen that kind of behavior....says to me he's feeling better!

Not the greatest video but I am so happy that he is moving like he is and that's what I wanted to show.

More good days!

Still good today!

He asked to come up on the couch to sit next to me and was able to get up on his own! I don't know when was the last time he did that!! :):)

Every healthy day is a good day!

I was walking last evening with the dogs and took these shots of Ari.

There was a time not so long ago that he didn’t have the strength to walk to the back field and but this day it was no problem!

...one day at a time...

Three days since my last post and Ari is still holding his own and doing well. Some limping but nothing that a person would look at and say is unusual for an older GSD... I'll keep my fingers crossed that his continues...

Better and Better!

I'm amazed at how well he is getting around. He and Kobie found something pretty exciting in the weeds and then he came trotting down the trail. He appears better than he has been in a long time!

Progress!

Ari had a good weekend. He gets around and goes in and out. I took 2 video clips of him walking since I usually take them when he is bad, I thought it was about time I took some when he gets around. This is also a great example of how he tries to "keep the girls in line"! As you can see in the second video... they really don't care.. lol

He apparently does stairs also. Normally, I close a door so he can't go outside by going downstairs, through the basement and up to the garage and out. Last night I forgot to close it but remembered sometime in the middle of the night so I got up and did it. Apparently, he was already out because when I opened it in the morning, there he was at the top of the stairs sleeping on the wood floor....so much for the comfy mattresses I have available for him!! :):)

Not so good... maybe a seizure...

Yesterday and today he got up and down on his own and was in and out. He has trouble sitting because he can’t move his tail out of the way so most of the time when he stops it is to lie down. He has gotten a little whiney – not in a “I’m hurting” sort of way but rather in a “I want something” way. The negative event was that when I came home and went toward the back room where he sleeps there was the overpowering smell of urine. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled it so strong BUT I couldn’t locate it except by smell (yuck) because it was clear… the comforter was wet but not yellow and same with the cream colored rug. He’s drinking lots of water, so much so that I made note of it.

……..just some findings… I don’t think he drinks enough water for this…

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/canine-diabetes-insipidus-symptoms-and-treatment.html

<<< Central diabetes insipidus can also be caused due to a tumor in the brain >>>

<<< The most common symptom of canine diabetes insipidus is frequent urination with discharge of dilute and clear urine and excessive drinking of water. Sometimes, dehydration may occur due to excessive urination and inability to conserve water. Disorientation and seizures have also been observed in dogs with diabetes insipidus>>>

Emailed Marilyn and told her what happened… Here is her response….

Ari said there was a trembling/tremoring and then he urinated, I feel like he left his body during the seizure - it was not uncomfortable for him, although he has a far away expression and inability to make his body do what his brain tells it to do... (so yes, a seizure). He felt relief at the evacuation of urine, but some unpleasant discomfort after the fact (as in, he got the pee on himself). He is still not it terrible pain, mostly tightness/achiness in muscles and joints. He is still enjoying laying and watching things and being close to you and his girls. He loves you very much.

Oh so sad........

Today he was really wobbly and was outside when I got home. At one point I watched him try to throw up and not be able to. Whenever he came inside he went back to the darker bedroom. Twice he whined like he wanted something so when I went to him and said “show me” he wobbled to his water bowl so I put water in the room. There is something different today and I can’t put my finger on it.

Chart of Ups and Downs.

Walking on his own today. Needed help getting up when he was not on carpet but otherwise getting around. I started a graph of his ups and downs.

Graph of Ari's Ups and Downs

He needed my help... :(

Friday was not good – both legs wobbly and needed help in and out. Saturday he needed help out in the morning but as the day went on he got better and by evening he was walking with a wobble but nevertheless walking. Today he was walking but I found some poop in the living room on the rug and I know it was his.

It's really sad....

The last few days have been so-so but today when I went to work he had the frightened look and didn’t want to go out. I can’t figure out whether he understands what I’m asking or is just frightened. I left the door open and when I got home after work he was outside. When I went out to get him immediately I noticed that his good leg was wobbly and he could barely walk into the house.

I took this video that shows the extent of his limping. Since I'm adding this on August 16th, I can add that he got better, then worse and then better again and the last few days he has been going in and out on his own... wobbly - yes - but nothing like you see in this video.....