9-22-08 Tristan goes to the Vet

His ramp is complete and he has taken to it quite well. He still however has not improved at all in his front leg. Today we took Tris to see if adequan shots might be of some benefit to him. We found a new growth on the back of his rear leg that looked rather suspicious, it will have to be removed before too long. If the adequan does not provide him with adequate relief from the stiffness and pain in his foreleg at the time when he is under for the tumor removal we will implant the remaining stem cell injection. He was such a good boy at the Dr. today ( could be that she had cookies ...hahaha) but I do believe he really knows that they are trying to help him.

Tristan gets a Ramp!!! 9-10-08

The workman were rained out but at least were able to finish the ramp part. Tristan took to it right away. I am hoping that it will help in the long run now that he will no longer have that shock to his forelegs from going up and down the steps.

Going down is easier than coming up but he will get the hang of it before long I am sure. He thinks he needs to jump on to the ramp and has stumbled a little a few times, we just need to take it very slow and it will become natural for him.

9-10-08 Always a Happy Boy

His front leg is worse but as you can see he is still one happy boy!

9-07-08 Update

Not much new, Tris is holding his own. He is not doing the steps nearly as well as before so we have someone building him a ramp out of the house shortly to make it easier on him and me. I hope this will help him to improve some as his front leg is still giving him lots of trouble.

8-12-08 Back to Square One

I haven`t been posting much because there hasn`t really been much good to talk about. The 2 videos below were taken this morning on Tris`s first out, again his leash was removed for the picture, we still do everything on-leash. At this point the only improvement I can see or I should say the only way that I can tell he feels better is by the fact that he is still from time to time lifting his leg to potty. I don`t think at all that Tris`s lack of progress should discourage anyone else from trying this treatment, in fact we may go back and try again with the remaining shot in his front leg. I have seen to many remarkable recoveries to think it couldn`t help others more. Perhaps if it had been available back before he became so bad it could have helped more. Unlike some of the other candidates who had only one or two bad joints, Tristan has nearly every joint in his body effected. I do feel at this point that his front leg is even a little worse than it was before we started, possibly because we were more active at first when he was feeling better. We don`t go for walks any more but I do take him just to the other side of the gate to sit in the grass and watch "his" yard, this way he still feels like he is getting out. His spirit is amazing, he always has a smile a kiss and a wag for his Mom no matter what his body feels like.

7-31-08 6 weeks

We are officially at the end of our 6 week re-coup period. Tristan is happy and is doing well, he has not quite made the progress that I had hoped for but I will accept anything that means he feels even a little better. The limp he had in his front leg has been back for a couple weeks off and on, more on than off. I have stopped taking him for his short walks even though he looks to go, I am afraid it is not in his best interest to over-due it. He still appears to be happier and stronger. I do most everything on- leash, even in the house so that he does not go to fast and hurt himself. The video below was taken off leash so you could see how he moves without me taking weight off with his harness.

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY!!!! 7-22-08

The Big Day is here !!! Tristan was 13 years young today. He spent his day doing all his favorite things. He wasn`t having a great day with his foreleg today so we couldn`t go for a walk but he got extra cuddles this afternoon as he sat in the "big bed" (which is code for my bed ha..ha.ha..) with me and his heating pad. He likes that almost as much as going for a walk. This evening he had a burger on the grill( no bun, he`s saving his carbs ..) followed by presents and his favorite of all, banana ice cream from Marble Slab....after all, you are only 13 once!!!! and he can go back to his diet tomorrow.

First there were presents!!!

Then came the ice cream!!!