[aweitzm1]

Hi All,

When it rains it pours. So after the good news with Thumper's annual visit on Monday evening. All was good until Wednesday morning. He seems a little out of it. He still ate and drank but he was not his normal self. I thought he might just be tired so gated him with the other pups and went to work.

When I got home he was not jumping and wagging his tail like usual to see me and let him out of the gate. I knew something was wrong but couldn't figure it out. I fed all the dogs and took them out to pee. He did fine but was lethargic. Would not use the stairs to go outside and to get on the bed would wait minutes to decide if he wanted to use them.

I looked over his body and couldn't find anything. I thought ok if he does not improve in a couple days I will take him back to the vet.

Well through out the evening he was restless, eyes very sad and seemed hunched over in parts. I pressed on his spine and it seems ok for the most part but he would his at me a couple times. At that point I knew he was in pain somewhere. (I really didn't know what I was looking for)

Got a vet appointment the next day and she diagnoses him with a back sprain and that it was inflamed based on my description of symptoms and physical exam and X-rays. She did mention if he does not improve or became limp that he may need to see a specialist to get a CT or MRI as the extra cannot show a muscle injury. (Praying that is not the case)

He is on Presdisone for about 3 weeks weening off every 5 days to a lower dose and pain meds as needed. I have to crate him 24/7 only allowing him out to pee and poop. I have to carry him to/from the apartment to the outside. (Though because of the extra thirst he is peeing in his crate. I take him out about every 3-5 hours but that is still not enough. However, I work and even with getting a dog walker I have no choice.

He is not happy. My question is how do I know when he is better? Vet mentioned the meds can make him seem like he is acting normal but its a false positive so keep him crated for 10-14 days. Than limited activity (i.e. walking around the block to pee and poop no longer walks, jumping or stairs for another few weeks)

She said I do not need to follow up if he seems normal but I can always come back and they can palpitate his spine to make sure it is not tense anymore. I just am nervous that I don't know when he is acting normal. I took him out of the crate to pee today and before I could get his harness on he scurried away trying for the stairs to lay on the bed.

He usually uses the stairs to go up and down my bed but sometimes he gets excited that he will jump from the stairs partially. When I see it I correct it but since he sleeps with me in bed he does it at times when I am sleeping. I don't want to have to crate him at night all the time because I enjoy his company and he also likes the comfort. He is not a small yorkie (15 pound's) so I never had an issue with him jumping. It didn't occur to me that he could hurt himself as the bed and couch are not that high.

My heart hurts that I can't fix this right away. I miss our snuggles and kisses. He is not happy with me as I keep having to put him back in the crate.

Any advice that people have gone through this would be helpful. I have a tentative appt to see the vet again on Sept. 4 for a re-check if necessary

PS I feel like training a puppy again as I keep getting up in the middle of the night to take him out to pee. My schedule for walks out front is 3 am; 5:30-6 am; 12 -1 pm; 6-7 pm; 9-10 pm; 11:30-12 am depending on what I have going on in my life that day. On the weekends I will add a 9 am walk as well.

I myself is so overwhelmed. I did ask if the meds with interact with his current ones and I was told it may show more of the symptoms but since I don't have to get his ACTH re-tested until January by than they should level out again.

Sorry for the long post just trying to get all my thoughts out.