All these pictures and I guess it's time to learn a little bit about this girl. She is 12 year old purebred Weimaraner living in Atlanta. Bella is this amazing dog, not just because she is mine but because she will never accept defeat. 5 years ago her back legs went down. There was no warning, no signs. It was a Saturday fall morning when we got up to let her out and realized that she had no strength in her hind legs. She was completely lame. Scott and I made her comfortable after practically carrying her outside to use the bathroom. She was so afraid and confused. We gently carried her back in to the house and made her comfortable, while we cleared our morning and called the vet, Dr. Forehand to tell him we needed to bring her in immediately.
When we arrived, the waiting room was full as it always was but they were able to get us in quickly as Dr. Forehand began examing her legs. There was nothing he could see that was physically wrong with her so he ordered x-rays and some other tests and said that we would need to leave her there for observation.
We had no idea what would happen and Bella was so afraid. She always likes to be close and for all the trips to vet she is really a very good natured patient.
We left her there not knowing where this was going to lead us. We were more afraid of leaving her there than I think she was of staying. She has always loved the attention of nurses and vet techs. There were several times that I remember leaving her at the vet's office, only to return and find she smelled of someone else's perfume. She was and still is very irresitable.
That afternoon did not bring any answers. Dr. Forehand suggest trying steroids to see if it would help. I don't remember all the details. It was so long ago and though I don't remember every detail I remember how excited she was to see me and Scott. She came to us as quickly as she could. Still very weak. Her hind legs could not support her weight and she walked with her back curved and legs bent under her weight. I remember Dr. Forehand telling us it might be better if we didn't come visit for the next few days since it got her so excited and that made it a very long week. We call to check in but could not wait until we were able to pick her up and bring her home.
We drove to the vets office one week later and Bella was about eighty percent back up. She still had a curve in her back and her legs were still very weak but her appetite was good and she was very glad to see us.
Jumping ahead, about a six weeks later we were back to where we started and at a lost. Dr. Forehand had never seen anything like this. The dramatic debilitating nature of her legs and she had no stamina but there was nothing showing up on the test. We were at a cross roads to either drive her to UGA and see what there analysis would be or we could try a holistic approach. We were very unfamilar with holistic medicine but the thought of leaving her in Athens and having possible surgery that would be expensive but not definite, we decided to take our chances with the holistic approach.
Without going in to too many details the acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments worked! We eventually did a little aqua rehab but Bella is doing great. She is able to walk and run a little. She even does a little dance before rides in the car. She doesn't have the stamina she used to but you can really tell there are a lot of days that she just feels great. Scott and I have started cooking for her too and I can't begin to tell you the difference a home cooked meal has made for her. It's hard to believe that it's been over five years since this started but we are so greatful to have her in our lives. I know I should be posting more, there is so much that we have learned from this experience and so much that we are still learning about caring for her, our little geriatric girl. Somehow you figure it out and you make it work because she is a part of our little family.
