19 May 2010

{18may2010: thank you!}

We got an award from our fun lab friends Mack and Mia!

Here are the rules:
Rule 1. Thank the person who gave it to you.
BIG thank you to Mack and Mia, the some of our funniest friends, and home of the infamous MACK ATTACK!

Rule 2. Share 7 things about yourself.
1.  Darwin has the same toys from when she was a tiny puppy... those stuffies she doesn't try to destuff, but anything new doesn't stand a chance, especially if it has plastic eyeballs.
2.  Darwin doesn't like her tail or butt being touched
3.  Darwin still has a gimpy butt*
4.  Darwin will not sit on the ground if we're out at a public place (bar, restaurant, etc)... she'll stand the whole time
5.  Darwin gets scared of anything she's not familiar with, even a plastic bag on the ground
6.  Darwin is a pro at walking up her ramp to get into the car
7.  Darwin has "gorgeous hips" (this according to her vet who reviewed her xrays)
 
Rule 3. Pass the award along to 7 bloggers who you think are fantastic.
1.  Ollie the tiny Yorkie puppy
2.  Ammy and the rest of the Army of Four (Ammy tells the best jokes)
3.  Miss M and Mr B the two pitties in the city
4.  Remi whom we'll hopefully see again soon
5.  Nala, Remi's sister whom we'll hopefully see again soon too!
6.  Murphy and his kitty sister Fergie
7.  Remington and his kitty brother Oz
 
Rule 4. Contact Blog award winners.


Thank you again to Mack and Mia!

*More news on Darwin's gimpy butt (it's technically not her butt, but I like calling her that).
We have an appointment with the neurologist next week Monday and I've been doing a lot of google researching on what it could possibly be.  I've found this page with information about Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs, and a few other pages on Cauda Equina Syndrome and Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Disease but the last two seem to be problems of the Lumbar spine and Darwin's xrays showed compression in her Thorasic spine. 
She had an accident on the couch (again) this weekend, and I'm wondering if it is related to this back issue where she's becoming incontinent due to the compression in her spine.  She's still taking 1 Prednisone pill every day, and tomorrow goes down to 1 pill every other day.  I don't think her peeing incident has to do with the Prednisone (though her roid rage and dandruff may) as she doesn't even seem to know she had an accident til she stands up.

Ugh.  I just wish she was healthy or even that we knew what was wrong specifically and how to fix it.  

6 comments:

  1. Here's wishing you the best news tomorrow! I hope everything turns out well!

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  2. wowza!! Thanks for the award!

    Mom and I have our fingers & paws crossed that you finally get an answer from the Neurologist. Mom says the pred 'might' be causing her incontinance...it definitely makes doggies drink more.

    wags, wiggles & good luck slobbers
    Murphydog

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  3. Oh, I really feel for both you guys and Darwin!! Poor thing. Life really isn't fair sometimes, is it? Especially with such conscientious, responsible owners like yourselves...it's just terrible that she is suffering so many problems from so young. I couldn't believe it when I read in your comment that she isn't even 2yrs old yet! Considering how short they live anyway and how soon you would have had to start dealing with problems anyway due to ageing (like we are with Honey now) - you really want her to be healthy during this prime time in her life so you can enjoy doing things with her now.

    By the way, do you know her family history? Is there any history of developmental/structural conditions in her lines? (parents? grandparents? siblings?) - just that it might help to give you some answers or at least areas to look into more carefully. I seem to remember you're quite friendly with her breeders? (sorry, I can't remember the details of how you got Darwin - although I seem to remember seeing pictures of you bottle-feeding her...so did she not have a "normal" litter start with a breeder?)

    I have to say, the incontinence does sound worrying - this was one of the key symptons that our new vet was checking with Honey - he even poked sharp scissors all around her anus to check her muscle tone & reflexes there! And asked us lots of questions about urinary incontinence, etc...it's not a good neurological sign. But I hope in your case, it is just a side-effect of the medication (although drinking more shouldn't make you incontinent - that is dependent on the spincters and muscle tones around the bladder, etc, and the nerve control in that area).

    Anyway, good luck with the appointment on Mon and keep us posted!

    Hsin-Yi

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  4. Khongrats on the award!

    Paws khrossed fur answers in the khoming days!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  5. Congratulations on your cool award! And oh, you are so sweet to share it with us! Thank you!
    We sure hope you get answers as to what's hurting you, Darwin! I have some disc problems, so I know how much back problems can hurt!
    Mom said that when great brother Booter was on Pred. He used to have marathon peeing sessions -- so maybe that is what is causing the incontinence? I hope so - then it will just go away! Or maybe it's unrelated? Make sure your vet knows, OK?
    Tons of smiles and love,
    Ammy

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  6. Thanks for the award. You are too kind. I hope all goes well and you are feeling really good in no time!

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