Update March 2016

Its been almost 3 years since my last posting. Lucas is now 12 years old!!!!!!  My baby boy is getting so old.  I’m happy to say tho, Lukie has been doing very well these past 3 years. He did have one incident with his back last year around 4th of July.  Thankfully, Lukie did tell us right away that his back was hurting.  Hearing that yelping sound coming from him is so heart breaking.  I immediately put him on methocarbamol (muscle relaxer), tramadol (pain), and rimadyl (anti-inflammatory).  AND the part he hates….6 weeks in a crate!  But after those 6 weeks and slowly adding in therapy and exercising; he was back to his old self.  He loves being back in his old home where he grew up.  He has made a new doggie friend that lives next door.  They both check on each other each time they are outside.  He has his daily routines; naps alot, eats alot, plays alot. Has “family time” in the evenings which just include everyone watching the news, while he plays and barks at us.  He loved playing in the snow this winter, but still hates the rain.  He loves going “bye bye,”  he doesnt really care where we go as long as he gets to go too.  Sometimes we just like to go sunday driving. We go for his yearly check up next month and we hope to get a good bill of health. 

Sometimes his “friends” come and help him eat

 

Pure Love

Note how white his teeth are.  🙂  Every night, teeffers get brushed!

Neighbor dog.  Thats actually the closes they have ever been.  Picture doesn’t show it, but She adores lukie.

Car rides are the best!!  New things, new adventures!

My sweet Lukie.

More car ride.  So…hard…to…keep…eyes…open….

Lukie checking on his friend…everytime we are outside!!!  He’ll run over here to see if his friend is outside too.

Calling for his friend to come out!

Yes! More car ride!

Christmas 2015…he was so happy!

Christmas 2015!  His smile is so big.  😀

This is what happens on 99% of all car rides.

LOL SNOW DAYS ARE AWESOME!!

May 2013

Another update:  Lucas is doing good.  He’s laying on his bed chewing on his yellow bone right now.   I was just thinking its been awhile since his last back surgery.   December 6, 2010.  906 days…2 years, 5 months, and 24 days!!   That is the longest we have gone without a surgery!   I am hoping everything that we are doing will prevent him from ever having a back injury again.   There’s a few things that I’d like to share that we have been doing different from this last surgery that I think have been the key to hopefully no more back injuries.  I listed 3 of the main things below.

1.)  We don’t let him exercise; by this I mean we do not go for walks or runs.  When outside, its in and out; I never let him walk too far or long. If he wants to go for a walk; I carry him.   He gets all the exercise he wants inside the house.  He has a 550 sq ft area that he is allowed to do all the moving around he wants.  That’s enough.

2.) Cosequin Maximum Strength (DS)–  I always see these commercials with Jack Hanna.  So I went to the website, did my research and decided why not…lets give this a try.  O-M-G! Why did I not know about this sooner!?!?!   This stuff is GREAT!!  I could tell a HUGE difference in Lucas after just 1 week!!  I started him with 1/2 tablet and now only give him 1/4 tablet about every day or every other day.

3.)  Salmon Oil–I did my research on this also.  I have the GNC Salmon oil capsules (500 mg) that I just cut the end and put on his wet food.   He looves fish so he gobbles it down.   Salmon oil has loads of benefits for dogs:  prevent kidney disease, arthritis, allergies, improve immune system, dogs skin and coat, improves liver function and prevents liver disease, decreases cancer cells and strengthen bones!  I can tell a big difference after giving him salmon oil too….his hair is so soft.   He used to have flaky skin and very dull coat.   I can also tell he doesn’t sneeze or have coughing attacks as much as he used to.   I only give him salmon oil once or twice a week.

Easter 2013

 

Happy 9th Birthday!!

Ahhh!  Stop time!  My little boy is getting too old.  😦  He turned 9 years old today.  I just can’t believe he has been in my life for that long.  I can’t imagine my life without him!!  I am so glad we picked each other 9 years ago.   We were meant to be together!

August 2012 Update

Lucas has been doing much better since my last two postings.   After his incident in March, I started working from home on Friday’s.  Being able to be home with him 3 days seems to really be helping him.    He is much happier.  His appetite is back–eats all the time now,  no more coming home to vomit,  plays with this toys and drinks plenty of water during the day.   I just hope we don’t have any more incidents from his back.

Hurt again

We took Lucas back to the Hospital.  (March 23).   When I came home from work Thursday night, he had torn a box that I would keep his toys in.   We figured this was how he got ‘hurt’.    Every time I would pick him up he would scream.   Ugh…that scream is heartbreaking.   I feel his pain in my heart like someone is stabbing me.   The doctor put him on “conservative treatment” and gave him Tramadol, methocarbamol and metacam again.

Never again…

Back to crate livin.

Sorry Mom

Feb 2012 Update

Alot has happened since my last post.  We have moved back to Bloomington with my parents.  Bye Bye Indy.  I now have a 9 to 5 job where as before when I was in college, I would only have to leave him 3 hours every 2 days.  Its been a big adjustment for Lukie.  At first he wouldn’t eat very much or really do much of anything.  His separation anxiety has returned–chewing on walls, carpet, not eating or drinking the whole day, and coming home to vomit everyday!  Every day seems to be getting better though.  Eventually he will get in a routine and hopefully things will get better…

2011 Update

Few pictures over the past 6 months…Lucas has been doing well!   I still been keeping him in a gated area inside the small apartment.  He does great in it.  Its his own little ‘room’.   He is full of energy and acts like he is still a puppy.   By looking at him you would never know he has all these back problems.  Its really and truly amazing.  He is our little miracle.

New Winter Coat!  Early Birthday gift.

Oct 23–Happy 8th Birthday Lucas.   So tired and worn out from his new toy!

Living the gated life!

New haircut

He is too perfect.

Livin the gated life isn’t all that bad.

May-Another ruptured disc?

Few days ago (May 24), lucas was showing signs of another ruptured disc.  Each time I picked him up he’d scream.  😦   I called his surgeon and he said to bring him in asap.  Once there, they couldnt figure out where the pain was actually coming from.  Since he was still able to walk and in stage 1, they put him on “conservative treatment”.  We got Tramadol, methocarbamol and metacam.  He has been responding well to the medicine and the “gate rest”.  He’s been active…in a good way meaning he’s looking around, wanting to play with all his toys, starting to beg for food again.  The surgeon wants to see him again this Wednesday.  I figured he will be on ‘gate rest’ for the rest of the summer.   My biggest fear is whats going to happen once the pain pills are gone…?  Hopefully his pain wont return.

Taken May 20.  Just 2 days later he wasnt able to turn his neck around like this.

Taken May 26, second day on “conservative treatment”-began playing with his toys

May 26.  Lukie covered himself up.

May 27.  He stand pretty good still.  Still not as ‘hungry’ as he should be.

May 29.  HUNGRY!!  Hes begging for food again!  yay!

“Mom…I’m hungry.  i’ll die if i dont get any right this second!”  🙂

Sleeping on his back!  lol  I been sleeping with him at nights, and some nights ill wake up with him laying like this and snoring so loud!  Gotta love lukie.

Easter 2011

Easter bunny came!!

Part 1:

Part 2: