(no subject)

[leighblack]

I did leave work early today and went to hang out with Riley. I'm sure he was very confused about why I was holding him so tightly. But he's definitely much better than my mom made it sound. He can walk, just very slowly and with a much worse limp than he already had. His knee is never really going to heal, so it's really a matter of controlling his pain while he gets used to the change. The vet has him on morphine right now with some ideas about what to do in the future. He's such a trooper. He still doesn't whine about it at all, even when you're touching his legs.

Unfortunately, they were able to finally confirm that he does have Cushing's Disease. It's a liver disease that Scotties can get and the treatments for it are pretty aggressive. Weekly vet visits and blood work and meds. We all know Riley would hate it tremendously, so we've decided not to get it treated. He'll be okay for now, but his liver will get worse. But right now, it's just about making him comfortable.

My dad made him a ramp down the steps so he can still get outside without having to use the stairs. Ry is slowly getting used to using it. The bed is going to be a problem because he can't use the steps my dad built for him a while back. Ry got scared during the thunderstorm last night and my dad woke up (kind of a miracle in itself) to Riley whining to get on the bed with him because he couldn't get up there himself.

Also, he's lost almost ten pounds this summer. The vet isn't too concerned about it, but it doesn't sound good. He definitely hasn't been eating as much as he normally does.

Anyhow, enough about that. I don't like thinking about my baby being in pain.

Only three people are going to understand this icon, but they're going to think it's HI-larious.

Comments

[seimaisin.livejournal.com]

Poor Riley. :( I'm glad he's a little better than you thought he was, but still. Hard stuff.

Your icon gives me a strange pain.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's hard. Especially since he's still so healthy otherwise. I can just tell that inside he knows he should still be running around. =/

You can admit that you like the icon. It's okay.

[lafemmezilla.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear Riley is hanging in there okay for now.

Re: ur icon. I reject your reality and substitute my own.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I just feel so bad for him. =(

Dude, it was just classic how we all kind of realized the comparison at the same time. Good times.

[missvn.livejournal.com]

Hugs. It's especially hard with a Scottie... always the protectors... to see them in pain.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Thanks. He's taking the whole thing in stride. Of course, I would expect nothing less from him. It's so hard to tell when something is wrong with him because he just doesn't complain about it at all.

[pimpstresslana.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Riley's doing better than you thought. You might want to try giving him glucosamine to maybe help heal. My friend's dog, a little Jack Russell, had a really bad knee injury and fracture with his hind leg that required surgery. Glucosamine really helped to speed his healing process.

Here's hoping both you and Riley are well. **HUGS**

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that might help if he'd fractured something. But since he tore a tendon, it's never really going to heal. It's a matter of getting his pain meds right so that he can get around okay and not making his Cushing's Disease any worse.

Thanks. =)

[dazeebean.livejournal.com]

Aww:*( poor Riley....he's such a little trooper...and I'm going to go along with what everyone else has said and say it again: At least it isn't as worse as it turned out to be, but its still hard damn it!--

..and uh, I know I don't watch the show, but I knew who it was when I saw it at the fair, don't ask me how, but yeah....funny, I don't have any clue, but I like your "Team Franken" icon, its made of win!

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Yeah. But he's okay for now, at least. One day at a time.

[taleya.livejournal.com]

Guh. It's stupid and trite and far overused by weepy twats, but *hugs*

I know how you feel. Onion's getting old and slowing down and it *hurts* to watch. (Rats on average live around 2-3 years, and she was 4 months old when we got her 26 months ago) Yeah yeah, everything ends, life included, but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Yeah, I think that's the worst part for me. I know that mentally he's still as sharp as ever, so he knows exactly what's going on. He really wishes he could still run around and play but just can't do it. And I feel terrible because I just want him to be happy and not in pain. He's had a wonderful life but knowing that doesn't really make it any easier.

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

Wanna help your doggie? Raw feeding! http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html

Also, there is a yahoo group called "Raw Chat", where many people have dealt with pets who have (or had) Cushings. The raw diet is not a cure-all, but it's been very effective in turning around some serious health problems. Please check into it. It's really quite easy to rawfeed, and price-wise very similar to a high-grade kibble. However, like a fresh veggie versus a processed and packaged and preservative-laden veggie, it's much healthier than kibble.

I am so sorry your baby is sick. :(