This all happended so suddenly, no warning Roger was fine the night before but in the morning he could not walk and was in severe pain, his neck was being held at an angle and he had no feeling from behind his shoulders. He is rushed to the vets and is given an anti-inflamatory and antibiotic injection. he looks awful and his neck is arched and he is moaning in pain. Came home with antibiotic and anti-inflamatory pills - started him on NUX VOM 6x two tabs every two hours.
Saturday 19th
He seems a bit easier and does not look as if he is in as much pain. Continuing with NUX VOM and have added ARNICA 6x two tabs every two hours, his neck is not so arched. He cannot pee so Joe is massaging his stomach to try and help him and it is working. He cannot move his bowels but lucky enough his stools are quite soft and are finding their own way out. He is confined to a cage and given complete rest.
Sunday 20th.
Continuing with NUX VOM 6x and ARNICA 6x every four hours, along with antibiotics and anti-inflamatory pills. He is managing to pass stools which are normal, but he is leaking urine.
Monday 21st.
Notice he is holding up his left hind leg, we hope this means he is getting some feeling back, continuing with the same dosage of pills. We have started to gently massage his back legs and gently move them about. He is still managing to pass stools but is still leaking urine, I have covered him in vaseline to prevent urine burns.
Tuesday 22nd.
What little improvement we thought he had is no longer there. Back to square one. Now using Sudacream on his belly and private parts to prevent rash. Been told by Ruth tonight to try accupuncture. Will phone tomorrow. Still on same medication.
Wednesday 23rd.
A local accupuncturist has agreed to come to the house and treat Roger. Had his first session at 11.15 am. She is a lovely chinese doctor, she says his back muscles are very tense and she had some trouble getting the needles in. After his treatment we ran a warm bath just enough water to hold him in a standing position, we then dried him with a hair drier. Still on same medication. He is managing to pee and clean himself.
Thursday 24th.
Ruth phoned said to start gentle exercise and told us what to do. He has had his second accupuncture. His back muscles are not so tense and he gave some reaction to the needles going into his back toes. Another warm bath as before. Now for the exercises. Joe holds him by the shoulders with his back to me and I stretch him upwards to try and release some pressure. Now we apply and ice pack to try and retract the muscles in his back. We lie him on his side and work one leg at a time as though he was walking, turn onto his other side and work that back leg. Now we rotate his tail, more ice packs then a warm hairdrier. We notice his back legs are twitching and I think it is from the ice packs. He still has no movement in his back legs though, we repeat these exercises four times a day. Have reduced the anti-inflamtory pills to half a tablet and continue with NUX VOM & ARNICA.
Friday 25th.
Continue with ice packs, baths & exercise, notice his back legs are twitching after his exercises. Have started him on ESTER C 500 mgs., twice a day, along with NUX VOM & ARNICA. More accupuncture, he gave some reaction to the needles in his back paws, hopefully some improvement.
Saturday 26th.
Have cut the NUX VOM & ARNICA down to one tab twice dailly 6x strength, have also cut anti-inflamatory pills to quarter a tablet once a day., continuing with ESTER C 500 mgs., twice a day. Still warm baths, ice packs and exercise. His accupuncture went well today and he responded to the needles going into his paws, HE MOVED HIS BACK LEG.
Sunday 27th.
Same medication and routine. Accupuncture went well, HE MOVED BOTH BACK LEGS.
Monday 28th.
Same as before. HE MOVED HIS TAIL ON HIS OWN during his morning exercise. Responded very well to accupuncture and could only get one needle in his back paws, on stimulating the needle he moved his legs quite a bit, but he is still not strong enough to stand. Have increased his exercises and we are now moving his hocks and his toes and feet. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO LET THE JOINTS STIFFEN UP.
Tuesday 29th.
Same as before. His left leg is weaker than his right one but with his accupuncture today both legs responded well and he moved his paws. There is no tremor in his left leg which is a good sign. Increased his exercises.
Wednesday 30th.
No change.
Thursday 31st.
HE HAS WAGGED HIS TAIL TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, same treatments.
Friday 1st February.
Still able to wag his tail. Started new exercises. Made him stand, so he can try and support his own weight, lift him up from behins and drop him onto his back legs, we are doing this 50 times at one session along with the other exercises mentioned before. Four sessions a day.
Saturday 2nd.
Same procedure. Its my birthday tomorrow, wouldn't it be great if he walked for me.
Sunday 3rd.
It hasn't happended, same procedure.
Monday 4th.
We are stopping the accupuncture today, so he can have a rest. No change.
Tuesday 5th.
No change.
Wednesday 6th.
He is trying to move his right hind leg but not all the time. Phone Nora, she suggests strapping his back legs, will try this tomorrow.
Thursday 7th.
Tried strapping his back legs to make them stiff so he could maybe support his own weight and stand. He refused to move and just lay about. He chewed the wrappings off.
Tuesday 4th March
Haven't written in his diary for a month now as he has remained much the same. We are still continuing with all the same procedures. Starting to have accupuncture again today.