Nothing too exciting with the babies happened this week. My belly seemed to pop out a little more this week and last weekend I think I felt some movement. I know its way early to feel anything, but last weekend when I was trying to fall back to sleep I felt something really strange right where the babies are. It almost felt like one of the babies flipped. I waited for it to happen again, but I got nothing! The next night the same thing happened but the feeling wasn't quite as intense. I haven't felt anything since.
I have been pretty distracted this week and haven't had a lot of time to think about the twins. My poor baby Daisy has given me plenty to worry about! On Sunday night Billy and I were getting ready to take the dogs over to his parents for Sunday dinner (something we do every Sunday). When I picked Daisy up she yelped. We noticed she was rock hard around her mid section so we just figured she ate too much or maybe hadn't pooped much lately because of the snow. We decided to leave the dogs here because we didn't want to Daisy to have an accident at Grandma's house. When we came home I found Daisy to be in more pain. I could barely touch her without hurting her. Billy and I did a little research and everything we read about her symptoms were all emergency situations. We thought we better take her in because we were worried we would wake up and she would be dead. Well our trip to the emergency vet led us to believe she was just really constipated. They saw a little calcification in her back, but we were convinced that nothing was wrong with her back because she wasn't acting like it hurt when they pressed on it. They gave her two enemas and they were unsuccessful. They told us she needed to walk around and she would eventually go. Well we got home from the vet at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday night and Billy started shoveling snow out of the yard so Daisy had more room to walk around. Monday morning rolled around and still nothing. Daisy was in a lot more pain, so I stayed home from work. I talked to the vet and ended up getting some pain medication. I also gave her some milk of magnesia. Finally Monday evening she went to the bathroom. She still wasn't feeling the greatest, a little better but still in pain. After spending the day with her I started to think it might be her back. She started backing up to turn around. I had an appointment on Tuesday afternoon so I figured she would be fine until then.
When I came home from work on Tuesday. Daisy had not moved from where I left her in bed. I picked her up to take her outside before we left for the vet and found that she couldn't walk. Her back end kept falling over and she couldn't even stand up! I was so scared! I think I drove a little too fast on the way to the vet. The first thing the vet asked was if Billy and I would pay for back surgery that would cost $2,500-$3,000. I kind of choked up and said no. He said she probably had bulging discs in her back that were pushing on her spinal cord. Her reflexes in her back legs were barely there. The vet gave a cortisone shot and a narcotic to help with the pain. I got in the car and started crying. My poor little Daisy was not doing so well. I kept thinking we were going to have to put her down. I tried to call Billy to tell him about the visit and couldn't even talk I was so upset. When he got home I told him what was going on. I don't know if my sweet husband was so worried about me or he just loves his little Daisy that much, but he looked into financing the surgery and told me we could do it if I wanted. I told him we just couldn't do it, especially with the twins on the way. Daisy could not get comfortable all night. She wouldn't lay down and she had her neck stretched out with her nose up in the air.
Sweet Little Daisy Doodle
Wednesday, Daisy had another check up. I made Billy take her since I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it if it was bad. I was crying all morning because I didn't think my baby was going to make it. I always tell Billy that Daisy is going to live until she is 20 and I think its because I can't imagine not having her around. Nothing really changed at her appointment, but Billy was able to ask the questions that I could not the day before. It is just a waiting game. We have to wait for the medicine to work and see how she responds. The paralysis may be temporary or it may be permanent. Wednesday night was awful! Billy and I did not get a consecutive hour of sleep. Daisy would not relax. She just sat in her bed and shook and peed and peed and peed. We tried 3 different dog beds. I even took her to sleep on the couch to see if that would work, but nothing! I really think God was preparing us for some rough nights with the twins.
Thursday was not much better. We decided that her pain medication was not strong enough, so Thursday we doubled her dose. Before bed she still wouldn't relax. I pretty much made her lay down in her bed and started massaging her. She was so tense and she had little knots in her legs from standing on them for so long. She FINALLY relaxed and fell asleep and did not move until morning. I think she was afraid to lay down because she didn't think she could get up.
Today was another check up. Daisy seemed to be feeling a little better after getting some rest. The vet said her reflexes were pretty much the same, but I am pretty sure she had a bigger reflex in her left leg and when he got done checking her she had a little tail wag!! That was so exciting! I asked for some muscle relaxers to help her relax so she can heal. She is not eating very well. I have been literally spoon feeding her people food to get her to eat. Today her dinner consisted of peanut butter, a half of an egg and some chicken jerky dog treats. She does not like taking her pills so today I took a chunk of peanut butter, stuck all 3 pills in it and stuck it to the roof of her mouth so was force to swallow them. It worked perfectly. I don't even think she knew they were in there. I am hoping my sweet Daisy starts feeling better soon and I hope she is able to walk again. I have looked into little wheel chairs for her in case the paralysis is permanent, but she feels better.
I don't think they can really diagnose her without getting an MRI, but I am 99% sure she has Intervertebral Disk Disease. It is a back disease that effects little dogs. It causes early degeneration of the back and usually effects dogs between the ages of 3-6. Most dogs get better, but they will always have relapses.
And here is my little Pepper. I have to give her a little attention too!
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