Rusty's not good

**Pawsitive Thinking** · 07-29-2008, 10:00 AM

Bless him - I will be thinking of you

**Taz_Zoee** · 07-29-2008, 10:28 AM

I am hoping Rusty will be all fixed up at the vets and home with you soon.

**Logan** · 07-29-2008, 12:15 PM

I will keep Rusty in my prayers. I hope the vet can find the problem so that he can help him be more comfortable. Keep us posted.

**I_luv_rusty** · 07-29-2008, 04:56 PM

So Rusty is doing better now. They took x-rays, and he has a disk that is popping out on his side. The doctors gave him some sterioid shot that will reduce the swelling (not sure what it is), and some pain killers till that comes into effect. He might come home tommorow, or maybe the next day. My mom went to go visit him, and he was acting more like himself. He got up *he was inside a cage*, and was wagging his tail hitting the metal bars making a big booming sound and all the vets were laughing.

They said that the worst thing that could happen would be in a few years once he is older (14,15,16) and starts to not be able to stand anymore he'd have to have an operation. Which wouldn't be a guarantee it'd work since he'd be older.

They said the disk will heal, after 6 weeks or so. But he has to rest at home and not be able to take walks. He also can't be running around in the backyard chasing animals. Then when he does go out, he has to be on a harness so the collar isn't around his neck pulling away as he goes too far. Then once he starts to heal more, he can go on small walks.

They said they're not sure what caused it, but it would have happened sooner or later because they were bolgging out. They said it could be anything from chasing squirrels in the backyard to rolling over in his sleep, so we couldn't have avoided it.

Hopefully when he comes home, he'll know his limits. And not go on the bed, since it could hurt him when he trys making the jump off. I mean usually he would care if we would trying putting him on a boogie board, let alone picking it up and carrying it outside. I think he knew, we were trying to help him and he was in so much discomfort (the doctors said it wasn't pain, more like discomfort from the disk) that he just let us do whatever. Also my mom said when at the vets when he was trying to go up the ramp with the sling he was willing to try and walk up it but he just knew he couldn't make it up.

Ah, and this is horrible timing too since today is my dad's birthday, and he had to worry about Rusty all day.

**Taz_Zoee** · 07-29-2008, 05:13 PM

I am very glad to hear it is something that is fixable (if at least for a few years). I bet you can't wait to get him home. Good luck with the task of not letting him run. That would prove to be very difficult for me.