Labrynthitis - Page 2

Well, the vet said he was 95% sure it was labrynthitis, but thought there was a 5% chance it could be due to some sort of CNS problem.  Not something I want to think about, but when I see him stagger and fall over, and see how his muscles go rigid (extensor rigidity) when you go to pick him up, I start to wonder.

The extensor rigidity doesn't concern me--it's typical involuntary panic response to the disturbance of the dog's balance and the unexpected fall. I do the same thing when I have a bout of vestibular impairment secondary to an ear infection ever since I ruptured an eardrum while flying--reflexive over-compensation and anticipation of falling.

That's good to know, Hexe. My nursing courses taught me extensor rigidity was a symptom of a brain injury, so it's had me REALLY worried!

Whew!

Happy New Year, and Happy 13th Birthday, Ranger Aragorn!

(I don't know his actual birthdate, so we do the racehorse thing...)

He celebrated by going down the stairs to the front entrance all on his own! 

He's such an independent cuss...when I try to grab his collar to help him with the stairs, he backs away from me!  So, finally, this morning, I decided, "Okay, do it yourself! If you can't it's not very far to fall, and I'm here to keep you from sliding off the landing, and falling down the basement stairs!" (They are a lot longer and steeper than the 4 stairs to the front entrance he has to go down to get to the dog yard.)

And he DID it!

Very happy to see his continuing recovery, and know I am going to get to spend at least a few more months with my canine senior citizen!

Very happy to hear he was able to do it himself, but just in case, here's a trick I found useful not only to keep the dog's dignity intact, but also have better control over the speed of the dog's descent-- clip a web tracking lead or lunge line to the dog's collar, run the length of the line down the dog's topline to the hips, and the loop the remainder of the line under the dog's belly and grasp both the topline section and the handgrip end of the line in your hand. That let's the dog lead you, yet allows you to keep his balance stablilized and moderate how fast he's traveling...and he is more likely to think he's helping you instead.  

Thanksfor the suggestion, Hexe. May give it a try. Problem is he backs away from me, as he's now expecting to be picked up, and he sooo doesn't want that to happen.

Going up is easier than coming down. I just have to stand behind him now to give his arthritic (and semi-paralysed) rear a boost. Going down, I hold his collar to control his descent, in case his rear end get out of control. The main danger is him crashing on the landing, and possibly falling down the basement stairs, which are at a right angle to the stairs from the house to the front entrance/reception area.

"Yeah, it's been the best Christmas I've had in a LONG time!"

Glad to hear that your "oldtimer" is doing better, but I really believe that Kellie and her family were sent to you.
Just enjoy this "special" time.

Susie, I firmly believe that, too!