⚠️ Content/Trigger Warning: Discussion of pet illness, aging dog, and veterinary uncertainty.
Please read gently if you’re sensitive to topics involving pets or animal health.
I wish I could say this week’s update came with happier news, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. Over the weekend, we had quite a health scare with Bear- our grumpy old man dog, our fence guardian, the squirrel chaser, and Luna’s favorite (and only) older doggy brother.
Saturday started out like any other rainy day. Bear has never liked the rain or thunderstorms; they always make his arthritis act up. So, when he seemed slower, more sluggish, and stumbled a bit, we didn’t think too much of it. We gave him one of his doggy CBD chews and let him rest for the day, paired with lots of extra love from his humans.
But late that night, after he went outside through the dog door, my little brother- the Yard Yeti himself- found Bear sitting out in the rain. And if you know our little Bear, you know how much he hates water. We got him inside, warmed him up, but it quickly became clear that something was very wrong. His back legs didn’t seem to want to work- or maybe he was just in too much pain to use them.
We called an emergency vet, who raised the concern of a possible stroke. Our regular vet tried to calm our fears, but when we got him in for an exam yesterday, it was still pretty terrifying. They think it could be a slipped disc or possibly a tumor. With his age, it’s hard to know for sure.
Since Bear was stressed and worked up, the vet decided to send us home with medications- painkillers, muscle relaxers, and a steroid- to see how he responds before making any next steps. For now, we’re watching and hoping.
The good news is that his appetite is still holding strong, even with the Prednisone and Gabapentin. (Personally, when I’m on Prednisone, I’d rather die than eat, so I’m counting that as a small miracle.)
Right now, we’re just focused on keeping our old man comfortable and happy, taking things one day at a time. If you don’t hear much from me over the next few days, just know it’s because we’re doing our best to get Bear back on his paws.
Please keep our sweet, stubborn boy in your thoughts. 💛🐾
-Sky, The Crippled Cryptid
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