Dog Spasms or Muscle Spasms - Need Help, Please

OK, I'm writing again. What else can one do when there is a blizzard underway outside, the local TV station, which provides network access, is "out", and one of the owned dogs is having his fit. I don't know what else to call it. Let me carry on and describe it. Maybe someone has an idea.

Tripp, who is between 9 and 12, started gnawing at his "privates" a few months ago. It was ignored and written off as "...we just won't take him in public...". Well, it's gotten worse. We tried allergy medicine - nope. We tried Atopica - nope. He's had urine and blood work done: normal. And, yet, the spasms are occurring closer together.

It's not epilepsy. The vet says it's mild muscle spasms. They are lasting 3-4 hours now. He whines and/or barks for the duration. Eventually his hips start gyrating if we let him go. If we put a hand on him or use the vacuum cleaner, actually vacuum his back, front, sides, he's fine. The deeper into the spasm the more desperate the barks and he begins to pant relentlessly.

We give him calming medicine as soon as we hear the bark that signals a spasm session is on its way.

This is heartbreaking. We want to figure out what it is but no one seems to have a clue. I've watched YOUTUBE videos of seizures and this seems different. He knows what is going on and is very actively involved in it. It gets a bit odd, watching him "in the act" of having this. We know he is miserable. He barks incessantly as if he is trying to tell us something.

We are at a loss. It's getting worse. What was once every few weeks and for a short time has quickly become every couple of days (3 since 12/13) and lasting anywhere from 2-4 hours.

Help.

My best friend and I have to do most of our communicating on the telephone rather than in person because we are hundreds of miles apart. Our conversations are always interesting and we both end up laughing till we ache about stuff that we find hilarious in our own strange ways. When she relays stories to me about incidents in her life she uses a prelude to the "punch line", "wait for it..."

Makes me think about all the pets in all the shelters who have to hear that in a not-so-funny way. There they are, day in day out, the lucky ones that is, hopeful that the footsteps they hear bring a person or people who will take one look and fall in love. They yearn to leave the cold surroundings, no matter how many workers or volunteers try to cheer up shelters, they remain cold, as in lonely. They want to snuggle up with someone and give out that extra large sigh of relief that comes when they know they are home. To them, "wait for it" is not good news. It means another day is crossed off; it may mean they run out of opportunities soon. We want to believe their water dishes are "half full" and that it means someone is filling out the forms to complete the adoption! 

How grand that would be! And, with that, what good fortune we have had to be able to help transport rescued pets to no-kill facilities again this year. Although 2012 closes out soon we all give that deep sigh of relief that comes when WE know so many lives are saved. For being able to do this we are thankful.

This past weekend I arrived at our pick up point early enough to go inside and grab something to eat. Lucky for me I found a single banana and that was exactly what I wanted. Not that I wouldn't have plucked one from the bunch but this was easy in a - grab & go - way. OK, it was a sign for me - GET SOMETHING HEALTHY. I took it straight to the self check-out (something creepy about calling it that now that I write it). Rang up my banana for a whole 20 cents, put in my quarter, got my nickel back and wait for it....

GOT A GIFT RECEIPT. 

This week the sweetest reference to an older dog was given to me, oh, on someone else's Facebook posting. It's calling the dog "sugar-faced"! How darling is that? I have three sugar-faced pups myself and just love looking at how wisdom shows up in expressions. Now I see them as having been caught dipping into the sugar bag of life - loving every minute of it. As I sat with them this morning for our early morning pet-a-thon session once again I was reminded of how in the moment they all are, no matter what their age or experience. Dogs love us every moment they have us and we have them. What a joy it is to know that and to feel that.

How do I know? If you have a dog you're not asking that question. If you don't then it is simply this: Look into their faces and see the emotions. Watch how they huddle in to cuddle. They read us better than we read them. It doesn't take long for a dog to figure out a person. 

Saturday's transport was wild in that we had a big boy who had to stay in his crate because he was stressed. It took four of us to balance 130 lbs plus the crate and lift it into the car! He was relieved he didn't have to get in and out and up and down. He knew he could trust us. His face revealed it instantly. He, like all the others, figured out what we this group of humans does is good.

Thanks to all transporters and groups/individuals, coordinators, drivers, shelters, fosters and adopters. Personal thanks to Quincy K9 Connection for the dedication and success they have!

Make some critter's life better; be a pet parent, but do it before Christmas or after, not during the hectic rush! Why wait?