Comments for Scout's House http://scoutshouse.com Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:35:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Elizabeth http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-402 Elizabeth Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:35:44 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-402 I'm so happy to hear this ~ and bless his little heart for how well he's done so far too. Hearing how you let him experience the outdoors and sniffing out mice and moles is funny! The front legs took quite a while in comparison to the back legs with our girl. Is there any indication of movement from his shoulder area to elbow? Can he flip himself over or roll on his back without aid? I'm hoping that his appetite will increase more now, and so will some muscling. Looking back how our girl went through this the beginning took so long; we were desperate for any information, any inkling of improvement, any hope. Any small thing that happened - like a better day of breathing than the previous one was a major milestone. When it appeared that she was getting more movement in her hip area we were estatic. Even silly things that are normal activity were accomplishments, like seeing her for the first time in months reach up with a rear leg and scratch her ear. Keep posting Bob's progress. Kind Regards, Elizabeth I’m so happy to hear this ~ and bless his little heart for how well he’s done so far too. Hearing how you let him experience the outdoors and sniffing out mice and moles is funny! The front legs took quite a while in comparison to the back legs with our girl. Is there any indication of movement from his shoulder area to elbow? Can he flip himself over or roll on his back without aid? I’m hoping that his appetite will increase more now, and so will some muscling. Looking back how our girl went through this the beginning took so long; we were desperate for any information, any inkling of improvement, any hope. Any small thing that happened – like a better day of breathing than the previous one was a major milestone. When it appeared that she was getting more movement in her hip area we were estatic. Even silly things that are normal activity were accomplishments, like seeing her for the first time in months reach up with a rear leg and scratch her ear. Keep posting Bob’s progress. Kind Regards, Elizabeth

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Christa http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Christa Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:25:58 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-401 March 4th Week 10 Bob is progressing slowly but surely. After about the 5th day of movement in his hind legs I took him off the diuretic and the stomach medication that counteracted the effects of the diuretic. He has had no more trouble breathing. Every day his hind legs are getting stronger. Now when we have him in the sling he pushes along with his hind legs. I would say he has movement up to and including his knees. We bought a used stroller and take him on walks in that with the other dogs. When we go to the park there is an area where they like to hunt mice and moles which hide in the tufts of grass. Of course Bob wants to hunt also. He propels himself into the hole with his hind legs and pulls out the grass with his mouth. It is a very funny, but heartwarming sight. He is not having any trouble with his bowel movements anymore, because the motion of his hind legs helps him along. When he pees he is now even lifting his rear leg up :) He is regaining some muscle mass around his rear end also. Still no movement in his front legs though, but I am sure that will come in time. March 4th Week 10
Bob is progressing slowly but surely. After about the 5th day of movement in his hind legs I took him off the diuretic and the stomach medication that counteracted the effects of the diuretic. He has had no more trouble breathing. Every day his hind legs are getting stronger. Now when we have him in the sling he pushes along with his hind legs. I would say he has movement up to and including his knees. We bought a used stroller and take him on walks in that with the other dogs. When we go to the park there is an area where they like to hunt mice and moles which hide in the tufts of grass. Of course Bob wants to hunt also. He propels himself into the hole with his hind legs and pulls out the grass with his mouth. It is a very funny, but heartwarming sight. He is not having any trouble with his bowel movements anymore, because the motion of his hind legs helps him along. When he pees he is now even lifting his rear leg up :) He is regaining some muscle mass around his rear end also. Still no movement in his front legs though, but I am sure that will come in time.

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Christa http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Christa Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:27:21 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-400 Bob report Week 7 Bob has started to move his hind legs, but only the upper part! He can now sit upright without the aid of pillows and he rolls over quite easily!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Still no movement on the front legs, but it seems his back ones are getting stronger everyday. He has even been lifting his back leg up when he pees (1/4") I have taken him off the diuretic and therefore the stomach medicine as well. It's been 5 days and still know sign of water in the lungs. Bob is finally back on the long road to recovery. Christa Bob report Week 7

Bob has started to move his hind legs, but only the upper part! He can now sit upright without the aid of pillows and he rolls over quite easily!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Still no movement on the front legs, but it seems his back ones are getting stronger everyday. He has even been lifting his back leg up when he pees (1/4″) I have taken him off the diuretic and therefore the stomach medicine as well. It’s been 5 days and still know sign of water in the lungs. Bob is finally back on the long road to recovery.

Christa

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Tara Hemsworth http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-399 Tara Hemsworth Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:21:53 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-399 Hi Christa, I am still following Bobs progress even though Sam is no longer with us. You are fortunate that you work from home. I was not so lucky. I just wish there was more out there about this disease. Out of curiosity did Bob have a vacination before going down. I am convinced that it had something to do with the vacination. Sam lasted 9 weeks as you know. The wastage in the limbs I found was the worst. Sams skin under his legs started to brown those last few days. So I am guessing circulation was poor. He still had no movement at all in his legs after 9 weeks. Not even a twitch nothing at all. You need to go on Christa and get Bob walking again. If I had a crystal ball I too would have hung in there and forsaken everything but how long is too long. I admire you Christa keep going. I need a happy ending for someone at least. Tara Hi Christa, I am still following Bobs progress even though Sam is no longer with us. You are fortunate that you work from home. I was not so lucky. I just wish there was more out there about this disease. Out of curiosity did Bob have a vacination before going down. I am convinced that it had something to do with the vacination. Sam lasted 9 weeks as you know. The wastage in the limbs I found was the worst. Sams skin under his legs started to brown those last few days. So I am guessing circulation was poor. He still had no movement at all in his legs after 9 weeks. Not even a twitch nothing at all. You need to go on Christa and get Bob walking again. If I had a crystal ball I too would have hung in there and forsaken everything but how long is too long. I admire you Christa keep going. I need a happy ending for someone at least.
Tara

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Christa http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Christa Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:21:35 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-398 Update on Bob: Well, It's been 2 weeks since I last posted and I wanted to let you all know how Bob is doing. After I last posted, Bob started having very bad breathing problems. I thought for sure that his lungs were starting to become paralyzed. He was doing the same thing that Sam was doing. That is, it wasn't an ongoing thing and would happen more during the night. First, carrying him around a lot worked very well, then nothing worked. Of course we ended up having a very big snowstorm and we couldn't get out. I called the vet and described what was happening and he said he thought that because of the inactivity Bob had water in his lungs. He told me to put him on a 45 degree angle with his head down and every 5 breaths to squeeze his chest down slightly. He started coughing up fluid and it did work. Unfortunately it didn't work the next day when I tried it, nothing did. My husband braved the icy roads and went to the vet and picked up some Lasix, a diuretic. This did the trick and everything was fine again, until Bob stopped eating anything at all. He did drink and because of the Lasix, he had to pee a lot, especially at night. After 3 days I really started getting worried as he wouldn't even eat the chicken I cooked for him. I looked up the side effects of Lasix and one of them was upset stomach. Hoping that was what it was, I took him back to the vet. Bob was all skin and bones and they said that things were looking pretty bad. But I knew Bob was a fighter and they gave me some stuff for his stomach and told me to stop the Lasix and hope for the best. That I did, and he started eating again! Of course the fluid in the lungs came back and I had to give him the Lasix again. It is a vicious cycle but there is nothing I can do. I give him the diuretic as little as possible and the stomach pils every day. His breathing is ok and his eating is good as well. He is still more awake at night than daytime and so am I, but I am learning to cope as best I can. All I can say is that I am very lucky that I work from home and my workload is not that hard right now. We are taking Bob out for a walk along with our other dogs every day. He really loves this and looks around and sniffs things from his sling across my husband's chest. Today he even tried to stretch out of the sling to smell things. Still no movement in the legs but it has only been a month now. Please keep your fingers crossed for Bob. He might be old, but he is an amazing dog. Christa Update on Bob:

Well, It’s been 2 weeks since I last posted and I wanted to let you all know how Bob is doing. After I last posted, Bob started having very bad breathing problems. I thought for sure that his lungs were starting to become paralyzed. He was doing the same thing that Sam was doing. That is, it wasn’t an ongoing thing and would happen more during the night. First, carrying him around a lot worked very well, then nothing worked. Of course we ended up having a very big snowstorm and we couldn’t get out. I called the vet and described what was happening and he said he thought that because of the inactivity Bob had water in his lungs. He told me to put him on a 45 degree angle with his head down and every 5 breaths to squeeze his chest down slightly. He started coughing up fluid and it did work. Unfortunately it didn’t work the next day when I tried it, nothing did. My husband braved the icy roads and went to the vet and picked up some Lasix, a diuretic. This did the trick and everything was fine again, until Bob stopped eating anything at all. He did drink and because of the Lasix, he had to pee a lot, especially at night. After 3 days I really started getting worried as he wouldn’t even eat the chicken I cooked for him. I looked up the side effects of Lasix and one of them was upset stomach. Hoping that was what it was, I took him back to the vet. Bob was all skin and bones and they said that things were looking pretty bad. But I knew Bob was a fighter and they gave me some stuff for his stomach and told me to stop the Lasix and hope for the best. That I did, and he started eating again! Of course the fluid in the lungs came back and I had to give him the Lasix again. It is a vicious cycle but there is nothing I can do. I give him the diuretic as little as possible and the stomach pils every day. His breathing is ok and his eating is good as well. He is still more awake at night than daytime and so am I, but I am learning to cope as best I can. All I can say is that I am very lucky that I work from home and my workload is not that hard right now. We are taking Bob out for a walk along with our other dogs every day. He really loves this and looks around and sniffs things from his sling across my husband’s chest. Today he even tried to stretch out of the sling to smell things. Still no movement in the legs but it has only been a month now. Please keep your fingers crossed for Bob. He might be old, but he is an amazing dog.

Christa

]]> Comment on The Most Common Reasons Dogs Get Rehab Therapy at Scout’s House by My Battle with the Belgian Endive | SavageCabbage http://scoutshouse.com/2011/05/27/the-most-popular-reasons-dogs-get-rehab-therapy-at-scouts-house/comment-page-1/#comment-435 My Battle with the Belgian Endive | SavageCabbage Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:53:11 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=465#comment-435 [...] tear of the cruciate ligament is a common injury for dogs.  Scout’s House, a provider of rehabilitation therapy for special needs dogs in Menlo Park California,  blogged [...] [...] tear of the cruciate ligament is a common injury for dogs.  Scout’s House, a provider of rehabilitation therapy for special needs dogs in Menlo Park California,  blogged [...]

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Tara Hemsworth http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Tara Hemsworth Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:32:06 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-397 Hi Christa, I wish you all the best with Bob I hope your outcome is good. I have lost the battle with Sam. I do not have the resources to remain home any longer. My prayers and wishs go out to you and Bob. Please be successful Christa. Hi Christa, I wish you all the best with Bob I hope your outcome is good. I have lost the battle with Sam. I do not have the resources to remain home any longer. My prayers and wishs go out to you and Bob. Please be successful Christa.

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Christa http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Christa Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:54:15 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-396 I also wanted to mention what is happening with Bob and his breathing episodes. Just like Mindy, his bouts seem to be getting worse and there are more of them. They also started about 10 days into the onset, which was Jan 1st. I have been reading about acupressure points and am massaging the main lung one and the ones on his temple, which are to calm him down. The temple ones seem to be helping, as he gets very freaked out when the bouts happen. He tries breathing and whines and his eyes bulge out. It is very taxing to say the least. When this happens, what I've found that soothes him the most though, is what you would do with a colicy baby is I pick him up so that he is lying in my arms with his feet dangling below, cradling his back end and front end under his chest and walk around or walk. I only have to do this for a few minutes and his breathing becomes regular and I can lay him down and he goes back to sleep. Well, it's only been 17 days and I know we have a long way to go. But I feel now that I have found people who have been in similar circumstances really helps. I also feel that now that I am going with the rhythms of this illness and how to react to them is working very well also. The best to all who are following this. And never give up hope :) Christa I also wanted to mention what is happening with Bob and his breathing episodes. Just like Mindy, his bouts seem to be getting worse and there are more of them. They also started about 10 days into the onset, which was Jan 1st. I have been reading about acupressure points and am massaging the main lung one and the ones on his temple, which are to calm him down. The temple ones seem to be helping, as he gets very freaked out when the bouts happen. He tries breathing and whines and his eyes bulge out. It is very taxing to say the least. When this happens, what I’ve found that soothes him the most though, is what you would do with a colicy baby is I pick him up so that he is lying in my arms with his feet dangling below, cradling his back end and front end under his chest and walk around or walk. I only have to do this for a few minutes and his breathing becomes regular and I can lay him down and he goes back to sleep.

Well, it’s only been 17 days and I know we have a long way to go. But I feel now that I have found people who have been in similar circumstances really helps. I also feel that now that I am going with the rhythms of this illness and how to react to them is working very well also.

The best to all who are following this. And never give up hope :)

Christa

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Christa http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-395 Christa Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:45:43 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-395 Tara, please try not to give up now. You have come so far already. Is there anyone who could take care of Sam while you are at work, or even just look in on? Could you take him to work with you? All dogs are different and I think the ones who have this illness more severely could most likely take longer to mend. It sounds like Sam has been hit pretty badly. And to me it sure sounds like it is CHP, as Bob has exactly the same symptoms as Sam does. It seems like you and Sam have both put a lot of effort into his recovery and time wise it looks like you are almost there! Our thoughts are with you, Christa Tara, please try not to give up now. You have come so far already. Is there anyone who could take care of Sam while you are at work, or even just look in on? Could you take him to work with you? All dogs are different and I think the ones who have this illness more severely could most likely take longer to mend. It sounds like Sam has been hit pretty badly. And to me it sure sounds like it is CHP, as Bob has exactly the same symptoms as Sam does. It seems like you and Sam have both put a lot of effort into his recovery and time wise it looks like you are almost there!
Our thoughts are with you,

Christa

]]> Comment on Case Study: Rehabilitation of Coonhound Paralysis in Dogs by Elizabeth M. http://scoutshouse.com/2009/03/10/case-study-rehabilitation-of-coonhound-paralysis-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-394 Elizabeth M. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000 http://scoutshouse.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-394 Tara & Christa, I'll try and find a way of getting more info (notes, pics, video) to you directly. In regards to the leg movements, we had a period of time (4 to 6 weeks) where there was no movement at all. Any movement from then on was only from her rear quarters and originating from the hip with no movement from the lower part of her legs. Mindy would propell herself around at about week 8-10 by planting her muzzle down on the floor then "seal pupping" herself into another position or to her bowl adjacent to her bed. Her front legs started working from shoulders to elbows shortly after that. It was about this time when we held her in a stand on all 4's position, an inch off the floor that she showed some signs of moving her legs in a walk. It was maybe a couple steps at he beginning (without weight) but was a guage between no movement and coordination to limbs from brain for natural movement. The experience was almost like a rebirth of life itself, from moving like a newborn pup to squirming around and lightly pushing with limbs to finally lifting and making those first shakey steps....14 weeks later. As for breathing, looking back to my notes, it appears her sporadic breathing episodes, which happened from about the 10th day up to a month and a half later started out minimal, worsened by a month's end, and then happened only on occasion for 14 days after that. During these episodes, which happened at any time day or night, she would take very short small rapid breaths and whine, maintain eye contact (like "help me"), laying completely on her side. At the worst, they never lasted more than 10 minutes and happened about 8 times day/night. During the wee hours of the morning she'd be awake trying to catch her breath and I'd talk to her, try changing a position, and then she'd get through it and go back to sleep. I did not hold her at this time, just let her work herself through it. I have found a few inspirational stories on the web, like Goya the Bull Mastiff who came down with it twice, and a series of U-tube video of Tucker a Jack Russell with CHP (potty pads were used to cover him rather than a catheter). I would not lose hope, and given a situation where I would need to return to work I would most likely do so. There is not much that can be done, just time, and the break might be needed. I did go out to my activities from time-to-time, but I can tell you I made it home in record time to see her, and see small improvements that I hadn't recognized earlier. Crossing my fingers and sending positive paws your way! Cheers! Elizabeth Tara & Christa, I’ll try and find a way of getting more info (notes, pics, video) to you directly. In regards to the leg movements, we had a period of time (4 to 6 weeks) where there was no movement at all. Any movement from then on was only from her rear quarters and originating from the hip with no movement from the lower part of her legs. Mindy would propell herself around at about week 8-10 by planting her muzzle down on the floor then “seal pupping” herself into another position or to her bowl adjacent to her bed. Her front legs started working from shoulders to elbows shortly after that. It was about this time when we held her in a stand on all 4′s position, an inch off the floor that she showed some signs of moving her legs in a walk. It was maybe a couple steps at he beginning (without weight) but was a guage between no movement and coordination to limbs from brain for natural movement. The experience was almost like a rebirth of life itself, from moving like a newborn pup to squirming around and lightly pushing with limbs to finally lifting and making those first shakey steps….14 weeks later.
As for breathing, looking back to my notes, it appears her sporadic breathing episodes, which happened from about the 10th day up to a month and a half later started out minimal, worsened by a month’s end, and then happened only on occasion for 14 days after that. During these episodes, which happened at any time day or night, she would take very short small rapid breaths and whine, maintain eye contact (like “help me”), laying completely on her side. At the worst, they never lasted more than 10 minutes and happened about 8 times day/night. During the wee hours of the morning she’d be awake trying to catch her breath and I’d talk to her, try changing a position, and then she’d get through it and go back to sleep. I did not hold her at this time, just let her work herself through it.
I have found a few inspirational stories on the web, like Goya the Bull Mastiff who came down with it twice, and a series of U-tube video of Tucker a Jack Russell with CHP (potty pads were used to cover him rather than a catheter). I would not lose hope, and given a situation where I would need to return to work I would most likely do so. There is not much that can be done, just time, and the break might be needed. I did go out to my activities from time-to-time, but I can tell you I made it home in record time to see her, and see small improvements that I hadn’t recognized earlier. Crossing my fingers and sending positive paws your way! Cheers! Elizabeth

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