Poor Rocco

[Horsefeathers!]

Rocco began physical therapy today. Lemme just go ahead and tell ya... Doc (vet) put the "physical" in physical therapy. Apparently, from reviewing Rocco's medical records and checking him out, there is hope that he may eventually be able to regain some use of his back legs. I'm sure he'll never move normally, but if he can ever get his back feet up under him and be able to move them independently instead of dragging them along, I'll be happy. This is my interpretation of what's going on... apparently, there is some pressure on Rocco's spine from a hemorrage(?) and that pressure needs to be relieved, but surgery is out due to the risk of bleeding (he has von Willebrand's). Anyway, however it goes, there seems to be some hope that he may be able to improve enough to move on his own. Wouldn't that be cool?? The thing is I feel sooooooo sorry for Rocco when I watch him being worked. He is worked three times a day, twice by the vet and a tech at the clinic and once at home by me and hubby. Doc believes in WORKING. Poor Rocco looked miserable today as they were working those legs and forcing him to stand. I can imagine. It made me cringe, but if it might help, we have to try. The good news is that he has plenty of feeling left in his feet and legs and will resist when you push against them. That's a good thing. Doc says that basically Rocco doesn't know where his feet are and doesn't realize they are upside down and backward. We are trying to build some muscle (his rear looks so weak and pitiful) and then Doc says it's a matter of forcing him to use them. In a few weeks, he may try taping one back leg up at a time to force him to use the other. Right now, he relies solely on his front end to pull him along. I can't even imagine if he could eventually be able to walk on his own! All we can do is work the heck out of him and try. In just one day, it seemed to p*ss him off enough to resist and push away with his BACK legs. That means he CAN do it (hope, hope, hope).

In other Rocco related news, he seems to be coming out his depression a bit. At first, he seemed so depressed as if he really missed his former family (I'm sure he does). He was sweet, but it was like he was just waiting until the visit was over to go home. He's beginning to open up a lot more and is playing and (holy balls!) "guarding" the house. He's very territorial in that he'll certainly let you know if he thinks something is up. He has the most powerful bark of any dog I've ever known. He's the ONLY dog I've ever seen be able to bark and blow a lightbulb... several times. We finally gave up and don't even use that lamp, anymore :o . He's also very chatty. He loves to "talk" and will talk to his toys, us, the other dogs, say ugly words to the cats... :lol: He is also a tennis ball freak. He LOVES his tennis balls and frisbees.

So that's the latest Rocco news. I should be able to upload pictures Friday night, so hopefully I'll be able to share those (I hope).

[Guest Anonymous]

Good luck to you and Rocco. :) He sounds like such a cutie - talking to his toys!? :roll: :lol:

[courtnek]

I SAY AGAIN YOU ARE AN ANGEL!!! :angel: :angel: :angel:

You WERE destined to have, and heal, Rocco. If it can be done now, it could have been done then as well. They may have loved him, but they couldnt attend to his needs.

He is PROTECTING you HF!! He has already changed allegiances. And the fact that he is PO'd about the leg work only means that he can FEEL things there. WOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!! He may never be perfect, but i can practically guarantee YOU and hubby will always be the #1 people on his list!!!

:angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:

[gooeydog]

This may sound silly, but you might try some poking around at Dachshund message boards. I know of many of them that have or have had hind limb paralysis from spinal problems (more often ruptured or slipped disks though), and they've worked through it to gain back some coordination and use. I'm not sure how his problem compares to theirs, but the symptoms sound similar, so it can't hurt to check and see if you find anything that might be useful. Also, from what I've heard/read, hydrotheraphy can work wonders for dogs with partial paralysis, as well as for building muscle tone and helping the rest of the body to stay in shape to compensate for the hind weakness. I don't know whether you've already considered it or if it would even fit in with his therapy, but worht looking into.

[StarFox]

Ok this is going to sound sooo dumb..but have you considered "alternative" treatments like accupuncture? Zebras trainer swears on it...says it's the best thing since sliced bread. :lol:

[mouseatthebusstop]

Poor Rocco but he sounds like he has charater