I have been more than little upset today. My alsatian, Padfoot, is not well. Actually, he has not been well for a while now but his illness is starting to take a firm hold and I feel so sorry for him.
The first sign that anything was wrong presented itself last year when Pad took to standing with his hind legs bent, sort of crouching, unlike his front legs which were straight, as they should be. I had noticed that other alsatians (or German shepherds if you prefer) tended to stand with their backs sloping down from head to tail and so had not been unduly concerned, putting it down to some sort of trademark of the breed, but when Pad began to find it increasingly difficult to stand up after he had been lying down I suspected things might not be as they should.
I took him to be checked over and after the vet carried out some basic motor reflex tests he diagnosed that Pad was suffering from "degenerative myelopathy". I was right about one thing - it IS a trademark of the breed, but not a good one. It basically means that the nerves to his back legs are wearing away. The result of this is that he is gradually losing the feeling and use of his back legs and eventually will not be able to get up. Bizarrely, alsatians' front legs are not affected by this condition.
The stages in the degeneration Pad and I have to look forward to are, firstly, when he is not able to get up unaided, secondly, when his walking becomes very laboured and, finally, when he is not be able to walk at all or even stand up.
It all seemed a bit distant when I heard the bad news and so, at the time, I shrugged my shoulders and carried on with the daily Hell which was my life. Then, today, I noticed Pad had begun to drag one of his back legs and frequently walked on paws clenched up like fists. Things have moved on much quicker than I had anticipated.
All is not lost, however. I remember that the vet told me last year that Pad would not be in any pain, he would just become an invalid, and there WAS something I could do to keep him artificially mobile in his dotage - I could have him fitted with a trolley affair strapped to his back legs (see below). Effectively, Pad would haul himself around on casters!!! The indignity of it all!!
This deeply humiliating contraption costs about £4,000 but I am hoping that, when the day comes, his insurance will cough up. If not, I will sell one of my livers. If that fails to raise enough cash then I will make one of the fucking things myself!!
Anyway, my soon-to-be ex-wife will be giving Pad lots of TLC over the coming few days as I am going down to London to see an old pal. My lack of blogs will not, therefore, indicate that I have finally caved in to the pressure of life and topped myself.
In the meantime, degenerative myelopathy can go to Grantham.
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2 comments:
Love the pup. remember that a man without wheels ain't a man and forget idea that pad's dignity will be affected. Me don't think it will. Build the cart yourself with love and send the preying bastards, who charge an exorbitant amount of money (Me had to throw the number into a currency coverter and was shocked!)for a trolly, to Grantham.
P.S. Kick 'em in the ass the entire way there!
I suppose I could always saw off Pad's front legs and then put him on a skateboard - a cheaper option.
Not sure about the "man ain't a man without wheels" philosophy. Prof Stephen Hawking's got more wheels than most and he's not exactly an international lovehorse!
Keep the faith SM. Thanks for writing.
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