A few days ago, Artie started showing signs of weakness, dizziness, and knuckling. It started off very faint at first (we thought he had gotten into something- a mushroom or creek water perhaps), but symptoms progressed rapidly. By the time we got him to the vet, he couldn't stand on his front legs! It was like he was paralyzed. After an exam, the vet gave us a pretty grim sounding report. It was definitely neurological, she said.
Doug and I were heartbroken. Our last pup, Hamish, died two years ago of a mystery neurological disorder that looked very similar to what Artie was experiencing. We started fearing the worst and going into that headspace of steeling our nerves.
Upon the vet's recommendation, we took Artie straight from there to the UF Small Animal Hospital nearby. They wheeled out a gurney, situated Artie on it, and whisked him out of sight beyond double doors. Doug and I sat in the lobby, quiet under fluorescent lights. Had the dreaded moment for our little furry family member arrived this soon? We waited a long time. Everyone was really nice. When we finally got called in to hear the vet's report, I felt like my anxiety was at an all-time high...
It turns out that the neurologists were almost certain that Artie has "acute non compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion" or ANNPE. Basically, through some sort of activity, the fluid between two of his vertebrae shot out at high velocity, caused swelling around his spinal cord, and is blocking messages between his front legs and his brain. As the vet was telling us this, I blurted out, "So he'll be okay?" When she responded that he most likely would completely recover, I started crying. Happy tears, of course. It was overwhelming relief and the absolute emotional rollercoaster we had been on all day. An hour ago, we had been preparing ourselves for maybe a day or two left with the little guy...
Artie is currently recuperating. It's an arduous process, for him and for us. The poor dog is still essentially paralyzed and we have to help him go to the bathroom outside (63 pounds has never felt so heavy!) and make him drink water and eat food. He doesn't seem too interested in either so we are giving him water with a syringe (like a bottle) and giving him small doses of high-calorie foods, like peanut butter. We have to give him anti-inflammatory medicine every 12 hours and anxiety medications to keep him on bed rest. He is acting quite depressed. A few times today and yesterday, we thought we might have to take him back to the animal hospital. But he seems to be hanging in there. I am anxiously waiting for him to start moving his front arms a little bit, but it hasn't happened just yet...
This is all part of having a sanctuary though. We have to be ready to let go when things happen. Of course, we will fight as hard as we can, but sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. I hope this isn't one of them.
Comments