Laryngeal Paralysis/Collapsed Trachea Anyone?

[bigears]

Hi friends. A little bit more nice news...Mugsy's acupuncture neurologist noted that Mugsy's gait looked a bit more "even". Matt was the one who took Mugs, so I don't have the full, professional opinion, but I'll take any good news I can get. It really helps that the ice has melted and the ground is easier to walk on, too. His left paw is going on tippy-toes more frequently and I am hoping that he can regain enough shoulder strength to get himself high enough off the ground to have the paw pad hit the ground correctly. We have swim on Wednesday, and chiropractor on Friday. I'm pretty sure that at this point, I can give any soccer mom a run for her money! Our boy keeps us so busy!!! Although, I just can't say it enough...I'm so glad he's still with us! He is so very special! lovicon

Also, a big round of applause for my Shadow Super Swimming Guy--swam all by himself without a lead and had a great time!appicon I am going to try to getter better pool pictures this week.

Taryn,
What program is Layla using for bikini season? Is it working for her? Tell her I am interested in the results. Maybe eating dog food will be the key to getting back into the "Daisy Dukes" this year!!! :D

A wonderful week to all!

Allison

 

[Layla's Mom]

Well alright Mugsy!! And of course let's not forget about "Scuba" Shadow!!! Could there be a synchronized swimming duo in the near future??!!

Your soccer mom comment was very appropriate--I was thinking the same thing about your schedule with your "boys"!:D

As for Layla's regimen...you might be on to something...she's fit and trim eating her all-natural, organic kibble, while I'm sitting here eating my frozen, microwaved, preservative-laden "gourmet" Weight Watchers dinner!!:rolleyes:

Such great news again about Mugsy! Looking forward to hearing more positive updates!!

Taryn and Layla

 

[bigears]

Finally got a swim picture in the gallery!

Well, it's not the greatest, but I finally got a shot of Mugsy doing his "pool thing" into my gallery. The lighting is so low in the pool building that I need a flash in order to get anything. The flash reflects into the dogs' eyes, and I get photos that look like something out of Star Wars (Remember the Jawas?). This is an overhead shot, so it worked.
All in all, things are good. Mugsy has been quite adventurous as of late. He took a tremendous walk across my neighbor's yard to see his girlfriend, Jasmine. His rabies titer came back as "protected", so he doesn't need a vaccination. We are cutting acupuncture down to every other week, as the doctor feels Mugsy has plateaued. Chiropractic and swim are going great, and I have just started Mugs on a homeopathic remedy for his condition. His left paw looks better and better. I can also say that I have not cried about his condition since Christmas. I really think aqua therapy has been good for all of us. Just to see him moving freely in the pool...it's great. He also loves the social aspect. I just wish Shadow was as polite when at the pool.
I hope everyone is well... and warm.
Licks and wiggles,
Allison

 

[boxers4life2001]

Allison,

Mugsy looks like he is having fun in the pool. I bet he feels so "free" while he is in the water.

It is awesome that he decided to stroll across the yard to visit his sweetie I can't remember, are all four of his legs affected by this? I was looking in your gallery and Mugs is a very handsome boy, I love the one with him by the fire. Your right, looking at him sitting there no one would ever guess the very hard road you all have been down. I am so happy he is staying strong and determined, that's half the battle right?!?!?

Give that big'ol boy a ((hug from us.)) I think about you and Mugsy everyday, he still remains in my prayers!!!!

~Carrie~

 

[Cindy Creel]

Mugsey looks so great in his pictures. I am glad to hear that he is doing good. You and Mugsey are always in my prayers.

Cindy

 

[bigears]

Such a stubborn boy! Too much homeopathic confidence remedy?

Isn't it always the way that as soon as you say something is going great, it changes? :rolleyes: Matt and I tried going to swim first thing in the morning yesterday, rather than at 11 o'clock. What a mistake that was!!! See, later in the morning, most of the dogs at the pool are there to play, not for therapy. There are labs and toys flying all over the place! It gets a little hectic for us, being that Mugsy needs help on the ramp and swims on a lead. We figured that the boys wake us early anyway, we'd try an 8:30 swim session with another therapy dog.
Neither boy took kindly to being made to exercise before breakfast. Mugsy slipped his head out of his life vest trying to balk away from the ramp one time, and another time he dunked himself under! I freaked. We got to the end of the ramp, and when I tried to make Mugsy round the corner, he stopped kicking his back legs and used a front leg to push off the wall, thus popping his head under the water. When he was on the ramp facing the pool exit, he was kicking like a fiend, and once he was allowed to stop swimming, everything was back to kisses and silliness. Shadow, on the other hand, swam well, got home, and threw up after breakfast. Needless to say, we have a noon appointment for next Sunday. Live and learn, right?
The chiropractor said that Mugsy's muscle tone in his back feels better/stronger, so we were very happy to hear that. Hopefully swim will go better on Wednesday. We are changing Mr. Mule's program so we don't have any more dunking episodes. Mugsy will stay on the ramp and swim in place for timed increments rather than around the pool. He may think he's so very clever, but Mommy is winning this war!

Carrie,
Thankfully Mugsy's back legs are fine at this time. We have been trying hard to keep them strong. It is possible that they too could become affected down the road, but we're going to remain hopeful that the small improvements we are seeing are signs of healing, and that this nastiness won't go any further. We are very thankful for his tremendous spirit--even if it causes him to be bullheaded once in a while!

Thanks for thinking of us,
Allison, Mugsy and Shadow

 

[bigears]

we're still here

Hi all. This is just a "shout out" to Mugsy's special friends to say, we're still hanging in there and doing ok. I spoke with a neurologist at Cornell, just to see if I could spark his interest in Mugsy's case, but he didn't seem very sparked. He said that diagnostically, the nerve biopsy was the best thing to do and that he is familiar with our specialists, and agrees with all they've told us. Hey, if nothing else, I got to pick a great brain for free. Now how often does that happen?
Otherwise, Mugsy is pooped today. The combination of bad weather and a trip to the chiropractor sacked him out, but dinner went down and stayed down, so I'm good with that. We are going away overnight tomorrow--first time away since Mugsy fell ill. I am already feeling anxious. My dad is coming to stay with the boys at our house, which is ideal, but you all know I'm a typical boxer mom :rolleyes: .
Hope all is well with you folks and your furbabies.

Allison

 

[BrazilBoxer]

I have been gone from BW almost completely for a couple months, and I was wondering how mugsy was doing. I'm so glad to hear that he is ok! I think it's great to hear that you are getting a mini-vacation! Keep the good news coming!

Mariah

 

[KELLY W]

I have been wondering too. I'm so glad he is still doing well and getting better all the time! Lots of huggs and slobbers and thanks for keeping us updated!

 

[bigears]

A quick update for Mugsy's friends

Hello all! It seems the weather has broken and Mugsy, thank goodness, is doing all of his warm-weather things: laying in the sun, going under the deck after having enough sun, grazing. He's even gone up and down the deck stairs on his own (doesn't thrill me, but he is a man on a mission) without wiping out. He's been doing really well at swim and seems to be enjoying it again, though he has made it clear that he prefers to swim clockwise around the pool. He seems to stand a bit taller, but his right foot still knuckles under and drags (Thank God for Vetwrap!).
Today was the first time, in a long time, that I cried a little. I was dusting the photos on my desk at work, and one photo in particular--baby Mugsy tearing across the yard--made me sad, and long to see him run again. Although words cannot express how grateful I am to still have him with me, I would love to see him able to run and play again. Despite that, everything else is pretty darn good, considering. It seems we will have the wonderful opportunity to make this summer better than the last one!
I hope you are all well and getting some nice weather.

Allison