My lovely Fred!

I can't remember if I've mentioned it or not, my head is still in a whirl!
About 3 weeks ago I noticed Fred was unsteady on his back legs, a couple of days later I had him in the vets....lots of things were said, arthritis... CDRM...nothing really confirmed, just wait and see but it's likely to be CDRM at its early stage!
We were back a week later to see a different vet...she did a couple of physical tests and said the same, it was likely to be CDRM! She suggested swimming, little and often exercise and said wait and see, but if he gets progressively worse in the next couple of months be sure to bring him back in!
A few days later we were back again....I needed to know more of what I was dealing with, I booked in with a vet recommended by friends of mine, he was very honest and sugar coated nothing! He did a few tests on Fred that the other vets didn't do that can more or less sort of determine CDRM and Fred failed them!
He said ....it's of the most highest probability that Fred has CDRM! He has very little muscle on his back end and he's standing awkwardly!
He said drugs won't work, swimming might work, it definitely won't do any harm...so he wrote me a referral form for the hydrotherapist anyway!
I asked how quickly could the disease progress.... His words were...

"who knows, he could only last until Christmas or he could last three years, we just don't know...but I'm sorry, it will certainly end in tears"

So...that's where we are now.... I watch Fred like a hawk every single minute of the day that I'm with him! Some times I think he's getting worse already and then he looks the picture of health and you wouldn't know anything was wrong!

I take him for a walk on his own how, just a few trots around the field and then home, he would like to stay for longer and I would love to let him but the other day he managed little over Half an hour and his legs buckled!!

He started his hydrotherapy yesterday... I'm hoping and praying that delays things a bit alongside the supplements that I'm pumping into him

Fingers crossed I have caught it at its earliest stage and we can delay the process

Sending him big hugs          

Did you get the Yumove advanced?

He's got seraquin

Oh Shelley i am so so sorry to read this     i can't even start to imagine how gutted you must feel     I know Fred is your baby     

   the hydrotherepy helps and builds his muscle tone up    so you have many more years with your beautiful lad        

Gutted is an understatement Bren ...I feel guilty, let down sad, angry ....everything you can imagine!!

He was a tiny little dot from the day I got him, I remember a couple of gsd savvy people advising me to take him and get my money back, they said he was the runt and was sickly looking ... The vets even used to call him Oliver
One thing that sticks in my mind is me saying over again when he was younger 'I don't think he will live a long life' I always knew that he had a weak back end, he's had little muscle tone and the occasional claw scraping for years now!

But he is my baby and I love him regardless, I did from the day I got him!

im really sad to hear this Shelley. You know how much I love Fred hes like one of my own      

I am forever hoping and praying for a miracle Jude or even a misdiagnosis from the vets

Today he is lulling me into a false sense of security, he's looking fab and really happy

 it is a misdiagnosis   

Aww its so sad and upsetting Shelley, I know you have mentioned many times about his back end but that was always 'perhaps in the future' when the 'future' creeps up its frightening.

You are giving him the best you can and he knows it,    

BrenA wrote:

 it is a misdiagnosis    

I hope and pray it is Bren ...yesterday he was looking amazing.... He's still tired after his walk at the mo, so we will see how he is today later

Sandra wrote:

Aww its so sad and upsetting Shelley, I know you have mentioned many times about his back end but that was always 'perhaps in the future' when the 'future' creeps up its frightening.

You are giving him the best you can and he knows it,    

It's scary how quickly the future creeps up and becomes the present sange

Fred had his second hydrotherapy today

He's getting better and swam on his own without being dragged today lol!!!!

   Awww poor Fred Im sure once he gets used to it he will start to enjoy it especially if it helps him      

Nothing seems to stop him barking at the back gate like he's demented though, every time the neighbours go out

He's very annoying!!!!

Aww hun Im so sorry you must be beside youself     Glad hes improving with the hydro bless him

Youre doing the best you can for him hun hes in great hands    

Bella collided with him today on the field and he went flying, he couldn't even keep his balance when I think he's doing ever so well it's little things like that that bring me back to reality

    

Aww hun    

Seems to be okay today

Glad to hear that      

We were late for hydro today so the session was a bit rushed.... Fred wasn't happy, he tried to bite the poor girl, luckily I grabbed hold of him quickly....
He was absolutely shattered when we got he and quite wobbly on his feet not nice to see at all, he was having trouble trying to turn round hopefully after a good nights sleep he will be better tomorrow

When he's looking and moving healthily it lulls me into a false sense of security and I almost think that maybe the diagnosis is wrong.... Then a day like today proves me wrong

Im really gutted for you Shelley :( Hopefully he was just having an off day today

Thanks Bren

He's having a few rough days I think...he's quite wobbly, I don't think the heat had been helping too ....

Anyone heard from Shelley    I was wondering how Fred is    

I know Fred has been going to hydrotherapy and that Shelley has been on holiday. I will give her a nudge on FB! xx

My gorgeous boy is doing okay bless him, he confuses and frustrates me so much .... We went on holiday and he did so well, I gave him a cheeky dose of metacam halfway through the hols to perk him up and he had so much fun ...he seemed to be doing really well, but then last week he's had an off week, he's been quite grumpy and he went to bite tia twice...I jumped the length of the lounge and grabbed him...he was so shocked and so sorry for what he had done he was kissing everyone

Then the next day we went out for a walk, came back and as usual he wouldn't give his ball back, normally I would leave him to it, but he had it for hours this day so I went to get it off him, and he would not budge, he was growling snarling, I don't know what happened but he let go and went to bite my face....he grazed my eye with his tooth but only because I managed to block him!!!... I held him to calm him down, but he went again so I had to pin him down until he calmed down, I know people will think I'm cruel but I had to do it, my fella had to grab bella and put her in the house as she was trying to protect me
We've had to go back to basics with him, he's not allowed his ball anymore, I've stopped all running offlead, he's constantly onlead how and he's not allowed any little off the plate treats and he has to work for everything despite him being Ill, he has to know his place! I think we may have been letting him get away with far too much!! But then I can't help but think he has something else and not CDRM as surely he wouldn't feel anything so would continue as normal!? But then surely three vets can't be wrong!!... I look at him while he's sleeping and I could cry as he looks so peaceful and I'd love to know what's running through his mind, is he happy or in pain...it's so frustrating and hard and I feel so cruel not letting him offlead as when he's running about he looks alive and young
I love this boy so much and I'm sure he's pissed off with all the kisses I keep giving him but I can't help it