Why Can't I Walk Very Far Anymore?

Roxanne at Galveston Beach

I have had a VERY interesting summer.  Last year I hiked seven miles with Mom and Dad.  By Christmas, I could hardly walk a mile.  By springtime, I could hardly walk a football field (100 yards).

We went to the beach.  It is one of my favorite places in the whole world.  But I was so weak that the waves knocked me over.  Mom and Dad were plenty worried.  My vet was worried, too.  He tested me for all kinds of diseases.  He couldn't find anything wrong with me.

My world kept getting smaller and smaller.  Nothing seemed to be fun any more.  I was sad.

Mom, Dad, and my vet decided that we needed more help.  They decided that I needed to go to to Texas A&M University.

Texas A&M has one of the world's best veterinary colleges.  They work with other veterinarians all over the world.  We hoped that they would be able to tell me why I can't walk very far anymore.

The vets at Texas A&M were wonderful.  They petted me and were very kind.  They took good care of me.  They wanted to see how I walk.  They wanted to check my nerves.  They wanted to check my blood and my bones.

Unfortunately, they had to shave a lot of my fur in the process.  They shaved rings above two of my feet to check my nerves.  They shaved the top of my head to check my spine.  They shaved my belly to check my insides.  I look really funny now!!!  (Mom told me that the hair will all grow back.)

After all the tests, the doctors said that I am very healthy... except that I have a nerve problem.  It is called peripheral neuropathy.  Those are very big words.  They mean that the nerves in my back legs are weak.  The doctors don't know why I have it, and there is no cure... BUT the doctors said that I can get stronger.  They said that the best way to make me stronger is to take me swimming.  I was very happy.  I'm a water dog... swimming is what I love to do best!

There is a place in our town that has underwater treadmills for dogs.  The treatments were VERY expensive.  Mom and Dad decided that rather than spend money on treatments that we would go on vacation instead.  They planned to go to as many lakes as they could find so that I could swim.  It sounded like a great idea to me!

We are back from our trip now.  I can walk almost two miles... not every day, but I am so much happier than I was before our trip.

How did we do it?  In the next several posts, I'll tell you how I got stronger.  Maybe it will help your dog get stronger, too!