Sunday 13 July 2014

Spike: The Real Life Weeble...


Its official, Spike is a real life Weeble. ….

He wobbles but he never falls over he just bounces back with a smile and makes the most of life.
A couple of weeks ago we feared for Spike’s future as his condition worsened and we made the decision to give him regular pain medication.  He responded well to the experimental doses, proving that he needs our help to keep him happy.  While this makes me sad as I consider the implications of long term drug use on such a young dog, we made a vow to give this boy a happy forever after and we will remain true to that promise.
C'mon Krofti, I have found a really cool path..
We have continued to allow him to run when he wants to, which to be honest is most days!  Not long distances, just enough to keep him happy and make him feel like a husky.
In the past 6 months all attention has been on his elbows.  The lameness and severe stiffening upon rising has been very noticeable in his forelegs and the inability to bend them normally quite obvious.  We have been so aware of his elbow dysplasia that we almost forgot about the fact that he also has hip dysplasia.

This week while walking with him, he suddenly refused to weight bear on his left hind.  Clearly in pain he tried to carry that leg for the duration of the walk.  I started panicking as I suddenly remember the x-rays of his hips, taken long before we knew of his elbow problem.  If he was suddenly down to only having one leg that worked then the future for Spike was bleak.  The “Spike Smile” would not be around for much longer.
As I watched him struggle with his hind leg, I remembered the day I first realised he had a problem with his front legs.  I remember the precise place where it happened and the fear I felt then.

A very relaxed Spike having acupuncture
But Spike is like no other that I have ever known.  As I panicked he just did what he does best, just gets on with making the most out of life.

One thing I should mention is that Spike has the best vet ever looking after him, a vet that I have the utmost respect for and trust implicitly.  She trusts us to make the best ethical decisions for him while helping us understand his physical condition and helping him in every medical way possible.  She also performs acupuncture on him and his best friend Krofti.  Although Spike tries to pull out the little needles, I know he always feels better after a session, as does Krofti (our 14 year old Siberian Husky).  Clearly it is helping them both and I am very grateful.  It has taken me a lifetime to find a vet that I feel this way about and I have met many in my lifetime of sharing my life with animals from hamsters and huskies to horses and hedgehogs!

After the hip scare I did not allow Spike to run for a couple of days and he started looking depressed.  He had an acupuncture session and full physical check without any negative repercussions.
So I decided to let him run again with Kroi.  When Kroi and Spike run together you can guarantee that it will be fast and furious……

And it was. 
Waiting patiently for the next run...
Kroi set the pace and Spike happily followed.  I huffed and puffed and tried to keep up, which is not very easy when your training partners are keen to run sub4 minute mile pace and you are worried about personal injury!  Following my recent injury I have lost my confidence and pain is currently restricting my ability.  Clearly Spike is not concerned about either of those points!!

So while Spike is a Weeble that wobbled but did not fall, I am a defective Weeble that is temporarily on the floor….

(Photos thanks to Ian J Berry)