Both our pups have had
pretty bad runs ins with injuries lately. Boss (rough collie) has had numerous
skin problems in recent years and has lost a lot of mobility in both his hind
limbs. His treatment for that? Acupuncture. We’ve been taking him for his
weekly sessions at Mount Pleasant
every Saturday so far.
Mikey, our Jack Russell,
has a history of back problems which is fairly common enough for his breed. His
problems are rather cyclical in nature and they come every half a year or so.
The vets usually prescribe shots and heaps of rest for him. Our acupuncturist
thinks that acupuncture might be a way out for him too. (yes, I meant the ‘Our’;
Dr Oh gives me pretty good advice for my ankle too.)
So they've been in and out of the vet's with
increasing regularity and hence last week's sequence of events didn't
really come as a surprise but it has been the saddest I've seen (or
felt for) of the 2 of them for a long time.
Mikey's brush with the docs came toward the end
of last week. He pulled up suddenly when we were playing 'chase the
squeaky ball'. He stopped whatever he was doing and started shaking
(in pain). ouch. I didn't think too much of this then - and that abit
of rest might probably just to the trick. His pains continued
throughout the night and into the next day. That was when he was warded
in for a pinched nerve. My sisters brought him in and they hid as they
watched the doctors insert the drips into him. Poor pup, he caught them
peering and started whining. He must have been so sad and afraid. I
visited him today and he is much better now though. He wasn't sad to
see me leave and he was barking throughout - irritating the medical
staff there immensely. That's a good sign. Mikey's alright when he's a
pest and he's obedient only when ill.With luck, he might even be out tomorrow.
Boss on the other hand had a torrid day. He was
due in for a biopsy today. My sister brought him in and he was warded
(or caged) right below Mikey. I didn't even know the meaning (or
impact) of the word biopsy until he was literally carried back that
evening. He was cut open at 2 places (near right front leg) and the
lumps removed for tests. What this means for him sadly is that with the
stitches in his fore limbs and weak hind limbs - is that he can't stand
nor move without much pain. He was on the ground, wrapped up and
tearing. I feel for him really. Boss is such a sweet old dog. He
doesn't deserve this.
My sister said something to me that made alot of
sense. The doctor had advised her that Mikey will probably have to
change his lifestyle. He shouldn't be jumping or climbing that much
anymore - he's getting old. He's about 56 in human years and Boss about
77.
Both our pups are getting old and I had better start treating them as such.
Pic 1: Boss resting on the ground with his bandages. I've never seen him this miserable before.
Pic 2: Mikey caged, you can make out the faint drips on both his legs. He's barking
Pic 3: Mikey at acupuncture. His body language says it all.
