Two steps forward, one step back...

OK, so Cassi is still moving forward...she is improving every day.  We see more and more movement in her tail, like when Diane came home yesterday...it was wagging like crazy, up over her back where it belongs.  She is getting more muscle tone back in her upper thigh and when she does the head to tail shake, her legs "stiffen" out straight.  If they are tucked up underneath her ( I try to keep her legs in "normal" doggie positions...), it causes her to "stand" on her own. 


She is definitely waiting for me to take off the diaper before she defecates which is fantastic for me (as the diaper changer) and keeps her really clean!  She is urinating on her own, albeit less now that she is almost done with her meds (the steroid was making her drink a lot of water).  We are doing as much exercising as she can "stand"...literally.  She is standing for a long time now, but she is a bit weaker on her right side so she "lists" a bit to that side so I help her balance.  When she starts to droop a bit, I tickle her tummy and it makes her rise back up.  Eventually, she just is "done"...she lays down and says "no more, Dad".  Kind of like her eating...when she's done, she's done.  All in all, we are very happy with her progress. 

The one step back is...her parents.  Us. Diane and I.  We were so happy to see the progress that we got a bit overzealous and started allowing her more freedom around the house.  She would rest in her normal area of the house, but would follow her brother, Orion, to the doggie door or to bark at the front door.  As you can see, we have Pergo floors and the lack of traction on the front end is not good for the back end.  She moves faster when she hits the area rugs. 



But thanks to a note from our friend, Sandi, we started thinking this "freedom" might not be such a good thing.  Diane asked me to call PESCM and talk to Dr. Cheri.  I placed the call and got a call back from a nurse after she had consulted Dr. Cheri.  Irregardless of her progress, we were (and are) to keep Cassi confined to an area no bigger than 4' x 4'.   Makes sense.  She is improving with the exercise AND the rest.  We are still allowing her out in the office with us, but she is tethered now.  When she needs a change of scenery, we put her in the confined area of the bedroom.  Orion is so kind and stays in there with her willingly and without complaint.  Cassi has a tendency to whine a bit even if we are in her line of sight.  Ori is a calming effect.


We still have yet to use the wagon for "walkies", but I think we will get out today.  Cassi will be bundled up though...still suffering from the "reverse Mohawk" haircut...


Thanks for reading!