Charlie’s Back Injury

We had a real scare since last time a blog entry was posted. In 2/09, Charlie suffered a back injury. I had kept him from back problems for more than nine years. I can only speculate as to why he had the flare up; I think it had something to do with my four year old Son. The vet I took him to says it can “just happen.” So, maybe there was a reason for it or maybe it just happened. I don’t know for sure.

One evening Charlie surprised me cause he started to whimper a bit when I handled him. He adopted a stiff posture where the rear part of his back stuck up like a hump. This was about sixty percent of the way back his spine. I immediately knew I had a problem on my hands.

For a few days, I tried containing him to a smaller space. He continued to be stiff and in pain. He also was not eating well. He did however improve minimally after awhile. After about a day and half, I let him have more room but his original symptoms quickly returned. He could stand up on his own but could not walk well due to pain. He could pee and poop.

Regrettably, money played a role here. I’m unemployed and money is tight. Had things been better in this regard I would have taken him to a vet sooner. I had hoped my conservative approach would work but it did not.

Of course, I did end up taking him to the vet. She said it was a bulging disc which is what I figured. Ironically, while in the vet office, he seemed to liven up quite a bit and was walking around much better than he had here at home. Weird huh?

Well, I knew what was coming. She gave me the typical pain and steroid medication. I kept him contained for two weeks and gave him his medicine exactly as prescribed. He slowly came out of it and I’m very happy to say he is normal now. Charlie has recovered Thank God!

This episode took place the first half of February and otherwise he has been fine. He does continue to have keratocunjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) but I’m treating this twice daily and he is maintaining well.

He always wants to be on my lap when I’m on the computer and always sits with me on the couch. What a joy! If I lay on the couch he lays on top of me and soon goes to sleep. He has a blanket here by the computer and often naps upon it while I’m on the computer. Sometimes he will start to snore and it is surprisingly loud. It is very endearing though! I’m sure my fellow “doxie people” know what I mean!

Well that is it for now. Please visit this site frequently. I hope you like the site and have fun here. Please feel free to contact me anytime you wish.







Other blog entries:


March 2010

September 2009

September 2008

May 2008