I was actually in bed and realized if I did not post this I would have hell to pay. From the other day:
So, Walter had his evaluation for the clinical trial I’d mentioned. He was not a good candidate, since he has issues in basically all of his joints and this trial only treats one. The good news is that he’s an excellent candidate for the stem cell trial, which will treat multiple joints. The even better news is that even if he winds up in the placebo group, at the end of the trial he’ll get the same treatment as the control group. I can also keep him on the Rimadyl, so yay.
Before the trial starts he’ll get a full work up; blood, x-rays of his hips, elbows and knees, etc. Today they diagnosed him with a moderate case of laryngeal paralysis. It’s not a super huge thing, but it was another reason he was not a good candidate for the injections trial, as that required anesthesia and laryngeal paralysis complicates matters. It also explains the excessive panting and his lack of barking. It won’t be an issue this winter, but next summer he’ll have to be kept cool and quiet so he doesn’t overheat. They also kind of want to poke the tumors and biopsy them. The vet in charge examined him and afterward looked him in the eyes and said, “Is there anything normal about you?” Walter wagged his tail.
He had stress shedding, and an increasingly pungent odor about him that I also attribute to stress (like a wet dog rolled around in popcorn). It’s a good thing I have an appointment with the groomer on Saturday, as I’m pretty sure my dinner guests on Sunday won’t find his particular fragrance an enhancement to their appetite.
And from today:
Took Walter to the groomer and he got a bath to get rid of the aforementioned order. His coat, despite some bare patches, actually looks really thick and glossy where it’s fullest, so I have hopes it will fill in nicely.
I’m scheduling him with a canine massage therapist. She specializes in sporting and agility dogs, but also works with a lot of geriatric dogs, so I think she’ll be a really good fit for Walter.
He’s making it up the stairs every night now, and sacks out on one of his orthopedic beds next to mine. I’ve caught Julian sleeping next to him, but I’m never fast enough with my phone to get a picture.In short, he’s doing good. He’s on track for the stem cell trial, is getting bloodwork done this weekend to make sure the Rimadyl isn’t fucking him up, and will probably get a full body massage twice a month.
I don’t get a full body massage twice a month, the lucky bastard.