Good thoughts for Austin (Outdoorschik)

Good vibes, thoughts & prayers for Austin.  If he could talk, what stories he could tell, huh?  If you can, please give him some skritches from me. 

Absolutely -- it could also be parasites -- many, many things.  Good thots and prayers for sure!

Sending Austin some good thoughts from me and Buddy and the Houligans.  Feel better boy!

Sending good vibes  Austin, we want you to have a very long happy retirement!

Thanks everyone ... I'll keep you posted as soon as I know more. I'd really like him to have some time to enjoy these last months/years. He's an awesome dog. He'll either live out his days in our house or in an adoptive home if we get an interested family that's a perfect fit ... which sometimes happens to our retired sled dogs.  He doesn't owe anyone anything ... we owe him.

Praying for Austin and sending all my good vibes your way.  Feel better, Austin.

Good news, sort of, it's not imha :) ... it is however his neck, a pinched/disc/nerve that's causing the imbalance, weakness in his hind end. He's going to be on some heavy duty painkillers and antinflammatories... the pale gums was likely not eatting and drinking, due to pain. I asked about chiropractic, but they are advising that I wait on that until these have a chance to kick in. On the other hand, the chiropractor wanted to get him in as soon as possible, sigh. My vet said that once they'd had a dog similar to ours who went right away to this woman and it did make it worse which is why we've decided to wait. It's the alternative world and the traditional world colliding I suppose. I don't want to make it worse though so I'm going with the vet ... 

He must have done this, jumping up/off of his house ... so it's inside for Austin, an orthopedic dog bed, painkillers, antinflammatories, and stew :)

Thank doG it's not IMHA but a pinched nerve?  Owie!  Poor guy.  I can't even imagine the pain.I hope he feels better soon.  He so deserves a nice, cushy bed & a warm place to hang.

Try to keep Austin on bed rest, other than very brief potty walks (on leash if necessary).  Once he starts eating, reducing the painkillers is a good idea - if he feels a little pain, he won't be inclined to overdo it once he feels better.  My cocker (now at the Bridge) had problems with pinched nerves in his back when he was older, but with prednisone and rest, he was able to recover nicely.  Good luck with Austin.  

luv3dogs ... thanks for the suggestions. I'm wondering about crating him ... he's not housetrained and I think once he's feeling better he's liable to jump around the house/couches.  I worry though that the crate will make him be stuck in a crunched position that will be painful.  We'll see what he does when I get home. I do have an ex-pen of sorts that I've used for puppies that I could set up, it is a wire pen thing. We can see how he does in that, though as a big dog, he could easily push it over if he wanted. I've also got a kitten inside to worry about :)... don't know that he's ever seen a small animal he didn't want to consume. There's a neat, massaging, heated, orthopedic dog bed at Ocean State Job Lot that I might get him :) Also, we've got one of those magnet filled mattresses for people that is "for the dogs" at this point and that's supposed to help pain related things as well.

They gave him a shot of dex and have sent home tramadol and rimadyl. I think if his pain is less on monday I'll call for either the chiropractic or accupuncture.

Sending good vibes to Austin for a full recovery.  Mum will take good care of ya.

Johnny & Tessy

I'm so glad it's not IMHA.  Hope he responds well to the meds and future chiro if needed.  He's lucky to be in your kennel and so cared for and loved.  Take it easy, Austin, you earned it bud. 

PS, Austin, don't eat the kitty that sleeps in the dog bowls. lol

Healing vibes for Austin, I hope he gets better soon.

 So glad it's not IMHA! Hope he feels better soon. How could he not, being cared for so well? :)