Bailey update

Yes, I'm updating my blog about the dog. Poor Bailey has been in a lot of pain. After looking a wee better on Saturday, she had a setback on Sunday morning. Paul was at his desk working on his computer and she was sleeping in her favorite spot under the desk. I was at my computer in another room when suddenly, I heard this horrific screaming from Bailey, almost as if Paul was stepping on her or something. I run in there to find her sitting on the floor, crooked, stiff as a board, yelping her head off. I calmed her down, but she still wasn't moving. I took her out to the dining room and set her on the floor, where she proceeded to empty her bladder (through no fault of her own, I'm sure). Her back legs didn't seem to be working right. I called Lisa, the vet (I have good connections!). I told her what happened and from the sounds of it, Bailey was startled out of her sleep and probably just locked up from a sudden jerking movement. Soon after, I did get her to show interest in a treat. She walked to the kitchen like she was drunk--staggering this way and that. It was so sad. There wasn't much that Lisa could do, so we decided to just wait and see how things went during the day.

We went to Paul's sister's to celebrate their dad's birthday. I kept her in her cage most of the time, which upset her--she spent a lot of time barking and carrying on. I let her out when the kids were busy and not running around. She seemed ok, though a little stiff. We let her do what she does best--clean the kitchen floor. ☺ That's her favorite thing to do there.

Anyway, last night, she was once again stiff and sore. This morning wasn't any better--in fact, much worse. I called the vet clinic and Lisa said she'd put her on a muscle relaxer, so I picked that up and started her on it this afternoon. It makes her very drowsy, so she's sleeping in her cage (I had to put her there because she keeps wanting to follow me around, despite her condition).

The poor dog is miserable. Unfortunately, there's not much beyond x-rays that Lisa can do at the clinic, so we may have to go see a specialist elsewhere. You'd think I'd be used to this sort of thing, having had Pinky and Maggie in the past, but Bailey's been different. She's lasted the longest of all the dogs, and she's completely stolen our hearts, which are now broken every time she cries out in pain. I just don't know what to do, but we'll do whatever we can to help her, of course. Still, it's so hard to see. I'm so thankful for my job at the clinic! Not just because of the fantastic discount I get on everything, but because I have a doctor I can call on her day off to ask about my pathetic dog. Lisa's wonderful, without a doubt!

More as it becomes available...