Category Archives: All About Max

All About Max

Quick update

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Scottsdale Vet We took Max down to the vet on Friday afternoon. Dr Llewellyn had told us to watch him closely once we stopped the steroids, to see if Max had any difficulty. He has not improved since we stopped the steroids, I’d have to say that.

He’s still a very playful guy. He’s found a road hockey ball that he gets a great kick out of throwing around. Maybe we should train him to throw it when the Canucks score! First few games he wouldn’t have got much exercise tho…

But, he doesn’t have full control of his left front paw, even though he can get around. We’ll give him another go at the steroids. Maybe we can advance him a bit more. We’ll have to keep him from running, so we’ll curtail our visits to the big parks.

At any rate, Max is doing well. Don’t worry about him. He’s mobile. He’s not very steady on his feet sometimes, but you should see me trying to walk these days! haha No really, he’s not as frisky as he was before all this happened, but he was a “senior dog” when we got him. We knew life would happen. 🙂 He’s warm and well fed and loved! And he seems ok with that.

All About Max

Sunday in the park

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Eye on MaxMax and I went down to the Watershed Park today. We walked for 15-20 minutes. He is really eager to run, but I’ve been trying to hold him back. Pam is concerned that he’s regressed a little since we’ve stopped the steroid treatments. So, tomorrow we’re going to take him back to Dr. Shawn for a checkup.

He gets around just fine. He is alert and wants to play as much as he always did. He does “stagger” slightly once in a while, but he rarely falls. He doesn’t seem to be in pain at all. So really, it’s just precautionary, no cause for alarm.

He has a funny little quirk, very much like Buck. When he wants to go out, he goes to the back door and puts his right paw on the single step, then lifts his left leg as if knocking on the door. When we see it, we go over and open the door. He quickly charges out, UNLESS it’s raining, then he knocks you over turning around to get back inside! It is amazing how long he can hold it when it’s raining!

All About Max

Max has a long walk

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Max n M When I got ready to go for a run on Saturday, who should come sit beside me? haha Max seems to eager to come for a run! We did take Max to the Watershed on Saturday, but not for a run! We had lots of comments about how people liked to see Max trucking about, so we did another short movie.

This one is on one of the lower trails. When the movie starts, we’re already about 4 or 5 minutes into the park, after descending a rather steep trail. We have him on a retractable lead, and just let him go at his own pace. Which ever trail he picked, we let him, except the ones I knew were too steep!

As you can see, Max is moving really well. He’s curious about things, and handled meeting other dogs really well. He had had a really long outing,  walked over 45 minutes! So he has stamina too. He even did some slow speed running today too – we just couldn’t hold him back!

We are having a really nice fall. The almanacs say we’re due for a mild winter. Not exactly what the Olympic organizers hoped for I imagine.

Anyway, got your popcorn ready? Enjoy the movie!

All About Max

Update Sept 19th Max

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Well this morning Dr. Shawn from the Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital called to see how Max was doing. It is so great to get this kind of caring and follow up. Max has made steady gains under this Vet’s care. Today we got the order to stop the predisone, so that is great news. We are to watch for any signs that he has worsening of his symptoms, so we will do that.  Max still has some weakness,  but he’s improving.  I want to say a word about the Vet’s. I know I keep gushing about how good they are,  but I believe in  saying when something is wrong and why,  and I certainly believe in saying when something is so very right. To that end:

I feel impelled to just say how totally impressed we are with Shawn and with the entire staff at the Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital. We could not have asked for more friendliness, helpfulness, empathy or support.

It’s been an amazing ride with our Maxie, but we felt good knowing we were the homecare part of the team, and that Shawn was in control of the situation and monitoring max’s progress daily. Night and Day from the other Vets, where we got ” well he’ll either make it or  he won’t”  WHAT?  That’s what you are going to say to someone coming in with the trauma of what happened…we felt like that vet was cold and heartless. NOT so at the Scottsdale. We saw thorough professionalism. We saw caring.

We were outside the door when they did Max’s blood work and catheterization weeping because we could see them calming him and the site of him in the arms of the vet assistant, she was stroking his face and talking to him and had him in her arms.. THAT was the care we were looking for. We knew from the first assessment Shawn did with Max that we had found our new vet. Thank you Shawn and Thank you too to all of the other staff who have called us for frequent  updates about Max, monitoring him, whether it be Shawn, a different Vet (I think they have 5 vets at that hospital) or any of the office staff or vet assistants.

KUDO’s to all of the staff, we certainly appreciate all of your help.

…Pam…

All About Max

Re-blooming Roses

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Vancouver, from Grouse Mtn It’s been a weird year, weather-wise. Summer was late arriving, but we’re hoping that we’ll have a nice Indian Summer (is it still ok to say that??)

The picture of the roses I took this morning. All three rose bushes out front are re-blooming. But this one is kind of cool, since it has so many colors. It’s also very fragrant! Not sure when smell-inet is coming!

Our roses in second bloomMax is very spry today. He actually walked down the steps from upstairs, something he has not even attempted before today. He usually waits at the top of the stairs, one paw in the air, until I carry him downstairs. Not today though – he charged right down the stairs.

He’s definitely getting better! And the more we read about this, the more we’re thinking he’s in the clear. It seems that re-occurences are very rare. So if he can keep going on as he is, by Christmas he’ll have forgotten what happened!

I even think we might be able to run again! (Not that I can at the moment lol – my stupid knee is causing me some problems. It usually “clicks back” in a day or two, but I’ve been limping for nearly a week.)

Hope you are all doing as well as Max!

All About Max

Monday, so it must be the Watershed

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Max and I went for a nice long walk in the watershed today. I started him on the nice flat section, and he was really eager to go. Yesterday, he got tired quite quickly, after about 50 meters.

Max recovering nicelyBut not today! I hardly touched his harness, because he simply didn’t need my help. He even ran a bit on his own, without me running, or urging him. He just wanted to go! He’d look at every path, as if wondering if we should be turning. I let him go where ever he wanted, and he wanted to go for quite a while.

He didn’t seem tired when we finished our walk, but he’s come home and slept since. lol

Anyway – it’s all good. Nice weather, nice walk, nice day.

Added this comment on Wednesday…
(UMMMM – It’s actually TUESDAY! Nice try…)

All About Max

After the Watershed

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Max in the watershed We took Max for a stroll in the Watershed Park. He perked up as we approached the park, which I kind of figured he would. We have a harness for strapping him into the car, and it worked like a charm to help support him. I just kept some tension on the harness and let him walk at his own pace.

As soon as we opened the door, he was up and eager to get out and go! We took him as far as he felt like. When he felt like turning around, I let him. It’s wasn’t a huge walk, but hey, he got out and saw that he could do it. So that’s all positive.

Pam took a movie, and I’ve stuck it on the end of this message. You can see that awkward foot, but we’re going to keep at it. I’m hopeful he’ll keep coming along.