During the past two weeks I’ve had some of my highest highs and lowest lows in over a decade. Since April, Jeter has been struggling with severe hip dysplasia topped with arthritis in his spine. At the end of April, he couldn’t walk for two days, but he recovered and was running around again in no time. In June, same situation. He was down for three days but eventually got back up again. Right now, he’s been down since July 13.
After taking Jeter to his regular vet on July 15, the vet prescribed Jeter some more medication and basically told us that when I’m tired of helping him around and when he’s tired of being helped, I can come back to put him down. She offered no suggestions on how I might help in other ways. So, I turned to Facebook groups. I found that laser therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and hydrotherapy can be very beneficial to dogs with bad hips. I called a bunch of places on July 18 and found a friendly vet in Coldwater, Ohio who got us in that day. We did four laser treatments, and surely, day-by-day, Jeter got a little better.
On the first day, he looked so sad that a man at the vet thought he was being put down right there. He couldn’t use or even move his legs or tail. He had no use of his bladder. The vet gave him 10 percent chance of ever walking again. I ordered Jeter a wheelchair and a sling to help him move better, and then we continued the treatments through Thursday. We also did at-home physical therapy. Each day, he looked happier. Eventually, his tail began to wag, and he began to pedal his feet when I took him outside.
Then, on Friday and Saturday, he moved by himself. It wasn’t perfect, but he used his legs to propel him forward. Most of the time though, we opted to use the sling to help and made him rest.
On Sunday, he had his best day yet… but something happened, and that evening he was crying in pain again. All night Sunday, July 24 into Monday July 25, Jeter cried. I’m not sure it was all pain because he stopped when I pet him, and he stopped when I left home (I can see him on my camera). He demands attention, which is stressful for me because I cannot pet and sleep. I got two hours of sleep Sunday night before driving into work an hour and a half early just to get it over with.
The last time he peed was around 6 p.m. on Sunday. The last time he pooped was around 11 a.m. Sunday. I took him out Sunday night and he was struggling to move at all. It’s clear his front shoulders hurt and when he can’t stand on his own even a little, he holds his urine—this is one of my most major concerns because the last thing we need is a UTI on top of everything else.
We were making such great progress and now I feel like we’re back to square one. He was so happy at the end of last week and this weekend. His tail was going, his ears were up, he got treats, and he was his bouncy self. But now we’ve had a setback.
Jeter is 10-years-old and both of his hips are really bad. The vet said he is not a good candidate for total hip replacement. The only thing I can do is physical therapy and pain management. On Wednesday, July 27, we have an appointment at the NIVES Canine Rehab in Fort Wayne to see how/if they can help. I have no idea what I should be doing or if I’m doing the right thing.
The entire situation is a rollercoaster of emotions. Do I keep pushing him? Do I let him go? I truly believe that if we build his strength, he can walk properly again. He eats and drinks fine, which also tells me he isn’t giving up, but I’m at a loss for what to do.
Thankfully my job allowed me to work from home the first week, and this week I’m only in-office twice, but I still feel bad for leaving him. I feel like I should be taking him to more laser therapy treatments to help with his pain or just spending time with him so he’s not alone.
Trying to decide what the best course of action is for someone who cannot communicate their wants/needs/happiness/misery/pain/or comfort is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever been tasked with. I wish there was an easy answer.
I feel very lost. I feel extra let down after having several good days in a row. I feel bad for Jeter, and I wish he could tell me what he wants. I keep wondering how people go through this several times throughout their lives and keep doing it again and again.
Caesar was my first dog—Jeter my second. I suppose the only good in this situation is that Caesar is still doing well. I don’t know what I would do if they were both sick right now. I just don’t know what to do right now at all.