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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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)
