Playing Catch Up - A Gibson Update

"Have you missed me? I've missed you all!"

 

My apologies for not being around much in Blogville...it's been a little crazy with rehabbing Gibson from his fall, sudden bouts of his vomiting and overheating, and my meeting the deadline for my next book on Canine Epilepsy. I do miss you guys, and plan to get around and visit your blogs as soon as I can! 

Update on my boy Gibson...

Gib getting comfy for his laser session!

With Gibson being an Epi-Husky (canine epileptic), he is on meds and supplements and we like to say he is "managed." But as any Epi-parent can attest to, it is an emotional roller coaster ride of the unknown. Gibson does go through the occasional setback from the side effects of those meds and supplements that he is on, such as a weak hind and bouts of vomiting and ataxia. Then, this past Christmas Eve, he slipped on a snow-covered patch of ice while playing with is little sister Bandit in the freshly falling snow, and he went down crying and was lame from his injury. He wound up hurting his already weak hind end and blew out his second CCL (last December he blew out his right one). Since we (his vet and I) decided the best route for Gib was the Conservative Care Mangement/Treatment as opposed to surgery, he was put on strict bed rest, anti-inflams, was once again fitted for an A-Trac Stability leg brace that he wore 24/7 for five weeks (until he chewed it off!), and a sling harness to take the weight off his hind legs so he can be walked to go to the bathroom. He is still in the sling harness as he needs assistance walking, and I have started in-home K-LaserUSA therapy with my vet's office and Gibbie just loves the girls coming to visit him! Since starting back on the treatments, I have notice a difference; he is starting to have a bit more strength in his hind end and can push himself up better without assistance.

Here's Gib with Jessica for a treatment:

And here he is with  June:

Oh, how my flirty boy loves his vet tech girls!


The good news is that he is now able to stand up for a few minutes on his own! Wooo! He still needs to be walked with a sling harness and has a limp from from the weakened hind end and healing CCL, but baby steps in the right direction!

 

From what I have learned, it is a very slow recovery process to strengthen his hind end and to heal the CCL via Conservative Care Management/Treatment (which I have done before with him for his CCL on the right side last year), but each baby step each day is a step in the right direction toward healing! The other day, we even managed to start "walking," which consists of my supporting his hind end in a sling harness and walking our backyard for a full minute. Woo! Baby steps...

Then he experienced a bout of vomiting, which he does periodically as a result of all meds and supplements he is on for his Canine Epilepsy. So he went on a bland diet for a few days, and he's back on track once again.

Mother Nature, however, then threw us a real curve ball

Harley kept a close eye on Gib.

the other day. The temps took a sudden jump from the 30s to the low 80s overnight! As many of you know, Gibson is an Epi-dog (canine epileptic) and this sudden spike in heat took a bit of a toll on him...he was panting, drooling, and quite out of it. I spent two days and nights keeping a close eye on him round the clock as he stayed on his cooler water bed. I kept him cool with fresh cool water, chipped ice, cool compresses to the paw pads and cool water wipe downs on his ears, forehead, and belly, and ran the oscillating fans (since it was too early here for A/C units yet). Yesterday, the weather dropped back down almost 50 degrees! Much to his (and my) relief. He is feeling much better! Hopefully, Mother Nature will remember to gradually go from winter temps to spring temps, and no more sudden spikes. I share this so in case any one else has a dog who has epilepsy or who experiences seizures, just be in tune with the weather as overheating can be a seizure trigger for some dogs.
 

 "Woo...where's my vet girls? I'm ready for my next 

laser treatment!"

"Wooo...I LOVE my laser treatments! (And when the vet girls visit me!)"

Both Gibson and I would also like to take a moment to send out a huge "thank woo" to everyone for their well wishes, prayers, power of the paw, positive energies, kind comments on our FiveSibes Facebook page, Twitter, and Emails, as well as your notes and messages of support and encouragement for Gibson. He certainly feels all your love! You have touched our hearts deeply. Thank you!

Until next time...we hope everyone stays healthy and happy and that my boy continues to #LiveGibStrong!