Ralph, his FCE, his treatment, an update

I haven't written in this blog for a long long while. I've been writing, moving, working, even blogging, but just not here. My spirit to write in the Happiness Notebook left me during the summer. Maybe it will return.

One thing that has been happening with increasing regularity is commentary on my post about my dog Ralph (pronounced Rafe with a long A) and his FCE.

Dog owners (parents?) have shared their stories on how one moment their pets were playing and lively and the next they're paralyzed. The dogs can no longer move the back half of their bodies. The dogs are scared and confused. And in the early stages of this condition, when little is known, you begin to wonder if you will lose your loved one.

It is a harrowing time, especially because your dog is so innocent and undeserving of such a physical calamity.

Since that post back in early March, Ralph has regained full use of his right rear leg and his tail. His left rear leg still has some problems. It is probably 60% or so. He has trouble with it when he needs to take stairs. He struggles with hardwood floors, too as he tries to remain stable when pivoting. It is clearly a little stiff after he's been lounging, too.

The first two weeks after the FCE were the toughest for both him and us. He couldn't walk, so I carried him outside for his potty breaks. His bladder required massaging to start his urine flow. He couldn't squat properly for elimination either, so he had to be held properly without hurting his ribs or legs. He was miserable and we weren't much better. He dreaded potty breaks.

But what he dreaded more, but soon learned to accept, was physical therapy. Six times a day we worked his legs for ten to fifteen minutes, moving them through full ranges of motion, forward, backward, up and down. He would lay on his bed and look off in the distance. Normally, he would love this sort of attention. However, during PT he wasn't too happy.

About 10 days after the FCE occurred, he stood up. He couldn't walk, but he stood up. I made little rubber booties for his rear paws (which rubbed them raw, so I had to line them with something soft. This gave him traction on the hardwoods and confidence to move.

By day 15 he could move gingerly around the house. He couldn't take the stairs very well and he didn't have good bowel control yet. Scheduled potty breaks were the norm.

I should mention his eating habits. He's a dry food eater. But to make it easier on him, we mixed his food with a little hot water to stimulate his nose (and ours, too, unfortunately). His first attempts at standing were so he could eat and drink with doggy dignity. (I swear he seemed embarrassed by the whole thing after a week or so.)

By the third week he could limp along fairly well. His right leg showed incredible improvement. His left paw still knuckled under occasionally. We limited PT to his left leg at that point.

At a month he stopped knuckling his left paw. He could go to the bathroom on his own. We waited another month before we started playing catch with him. We don't overdo that anymore. He would play until he collapses if we allowed it.

Today, he is happy. He prefers staying on the carpet. He loves to go outside and play in the yard and he goes bananas for going for walks. Except for a limp, which lessens as he warms up, life is back to pretty normal.

For those of you who are in the early stages, stick with it. Your dog will be ok, but it will take plenty of attention and care on your part. Give him or her love. Be willing to carry them, for large dogs they make handled harness assists.

Be patient. They're confused and unhappy with this, too. Be vigilant in your PT. If you like alternative medicine, consider that for your animal. In most cases, the effects of the FCE are not permanent.

You and your dog can make it through this. We did. Ralph did. He's as happy as ever.

Please post your thoughts, trials, and triumphs with your FCE situation. Thank you for sharing.