We took yesterday off from the Loop. Rex was getting really weak in his neck area and seemed to be in pain each time I administered the Loop. I keep going back to what we do with HBOT and they like to give 1 session 5 days in a row and then rest for a couple of days before going into the next round of HBOT treatments. So, I decided to give Rex a couple of days off.
Below you can see Rex with the loop, breathing very deliberately... This is not how he normally breaths and a sign of pain (that and paler gums) As soon as the Loop went off he went back to breathing normally.
Buster was experiencing something similar too, and was panting a lot, stiff, didn't want to get out of bed. At first with Buster I thought it might be weather related.. but when he started to walk, he seemed to be walking ok and aside from being stiff and painful he wasn't limping as much. He also was getting caught in corners and that made me wonder if maybe this is a neurological thing vs. the issues we've been having. (I did reach out to the neurologist and will schedule a check up just to be sure.) I gave Buster a day off as well and he actually seems to be better today, aside from the heat panting.
Today...
Buster seems to be doing much better. He's been out for a few walks.. no signs of limping, no getting stuck in corners so far.. He's hot.. but that happens when it's over 100 outside and the AC is doing all it can!
Rex seems to be doing better as well. He needed a break from the treatments. He's had one so far today on his shoulder but wasn't shaking in pain like he was the other day... His whole body seems to be a bit stronger, his front legs seem to be more stable. Last night he was moving them a little bit .. The last 2 nights I've also been seeing him struggle and strain to try and move his body. It took me a little while to remember how important it is to let him do this on his own.. As much as I want to jump in and help, what has been going on is Rex trying to remember how to control his muscles again... It can be really frustrating for dogs.. Max went through this too when he came out of his Coma and was trying to do things during physical therapy, and after.. His mind would tell him to sit up, but he couldn't quite remember how to make his body do it.. but as he got closer, I could see his body tremble as it was trying to make it work the right way.
The other thing that I had to remember that helps, is moving his arms and legs in the motion that he wants to move them.. so his muscle memory kicks in.. The more he can repeat these movements, the faster his muscles will remember them.
Rex is also having issues drinking out of his bowl. Since his neck has been so weak, he has only been able to hold his head up for a couple of minutes to drink before it ends up collapsing in the side of his water bowl.. and he starts to cough (choke) because it's pushing on his esophagus / trachea... I tried a smaller bowl and that wasn't as effective.. So I pulled out Max's old water / feeding syringe... Then thought.. what about a squirt bottle? Now that was a BRILLIANT idea if I do say so myself!!! It's been so hot out, it actually turned into a fun game for both Max and Rex to catch water from the squirt bottle and drink it.. The cat even got in on it.. until I missed.
Rex moves his arm in this one.
On another positive note... Rex's fur is growing on his head. This patch was shaved Oct 2015.. it's now July 2016
Photo from a week ago
Below you can see Rex with the loop, breathing very deliberately... This is not how he normally breaths and a sign of pain (that and paler gums) As soon as the Loop went off he went back to breathing normally.
Buster was experiencing something similar too, and was panting a lot, stiff, didn't want to get out of bed. At first with Buster I thought it might be weather related.. but when he started to walk, he seemed to be walking ok and aside from being stiff and painful he wasn't limping as much. He also was getting caught in corners and that made me wonder if maybe this is a neurological thing vs. the issues we've been having. (I did reach out to the neurologist and will schedule a check up just to be sure.) I gave Buster a day off as well and he actually seems to be better today, aside from the heat panting.
Today...
Buster seems to be doing much better. He's been out for a few walks.. no signs of limping, no getting stuck in corners so far.. He's hot.. but that happens when it's over 100 outside and the AC is doing all it can!
Rex seems to be doing better as well. He needed a break from the treatments. He's had one so far today on his shoulder but wasn't shaking in pain like he was the other day... His whole body seems to be a bit stronger, his front legs seem to be more stable. Last night he was moving them a little bit .. The last 2 nights I've also been seeing him struggle and strain to try and move his body. It took me a little while to remember how important it is to let him do this on his own.. As much as I want to jump in and help, what has been going on is Rex trying to remember how to control his muscles again... It can be really frustrating for dogs.. Max went through this too when he came out of his Coma and was trying to do things during physical therapy, and after.. His mind would tell him to sit up, but he couldn't quite remember how to make his body do it.. but as he got closer, I could see his body tremble as it was trying to make it work the right way.
The other thing that I had to remember that helps, is moving his arms and legs in the motion that he wants to move them.. so his muscle memory kicks in.. The more he can repeat these movements, the faster his muscles will remember them.
Rex is also having issues drinking out of his bowl. Since his neck has been so weak, he has only been able to hold his head up for a couple of minutes to drink before it ends up collapsing in the side of his water bowl.. and he starts to cough (choke) because it's pushing on his esophagus / trachea... I tried a smaller bowl and that wasn't as effective.. So I pulled out Max's old water / feeding syringe... Then thought.. what about a squirt bottle? Now that was a BRILLIANT idea if I do say so myself!!! It's been so hot out, it actually turned into a fun game for both Max and Rex to catch water from the squirt bottle and drink it.. The cat even got in on it.. until I missed.
Rex moves his arm in this one.
On another positive note... Rex's fur is growing on his head. This patch was shaved Oct 2015.. it's now July 2016
Photo from a week ago
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| Taken 7/3/2016 |
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| Taken 7/9/2016 |
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