Hambone's spondylosis is still progressing. He is still on Rimadyl, but still low dose so far. I may have to switch or up meds, his blood work is coming up November 24 for that and thyroid.

He is such a good boy! He waits patiently in the living room with his wrists crossed while I fix his THK (or his game hen).
His recall is very good, he obeys beautifully. His need to attack other dogs is mostly replaced by looking to me to take care of the 'meeting', either by switching sides if the dog looks like a greeter or a trouble maker, or just by telling him good boy as we walk by a well behaved dog. His leash walk is loose and comfortable, and he obeys quickly and thoroughly.
I am very pleased with him. Leerburg training has made a big difference in this old man's life and he is much happier for it.

He and Lucy get along very well. He does try to feed her...every now and then he leaves a little food left in his bowl, looks at her, walks away, and its her invitation to finish what he left.

He is such a good boy, and my heart. I do love Lucy, my problem child, but Hambone (PupPup) is always in my mind and attached to my hip. He goes with me when I go to town, he and I take walks alone together, he sleeps with me in bed, and he lies under the table on his rug next to my chair.

I don't know how much longer I am going to have my guy. I would love for it to be another ten years, but I am realistic. He is now having problems pooping...I think the nerves are being compressed in his spine, so I have begun to add metamucil clear to his diet of THK. (Too much pumpkin will make him itch and chew himself.) His spine is fusing and is now very prominent on his back. His facial muscles are starting to atrophy and he is very tired on his walks. Hardly any running, but every day, he wakes up ready to tackle everything coming his way.

He is my best boy.

BTW, if any one have any suggestions or new studies on spondylosis PM me.
I would like to keep him mobile and happy for a few more years.

I saw something about "rubeola virus immunomodulator." Is this something you already know about, or is inapplicable? If not, I'll track it down.

He and you have blessed each other's lives. I know that you will know when it's time to let him go.

Al Curbow, may see this & post something later today...his dog, Muppett (his avitar), had this as well. I think that he was on Derramax for a year or 2 when it really got bad. He eventually lost control of his hind quarters. Muppett was a very special boy & is sorely missed by those of us that knew him well.

I think Muppet was just a nickname...that dog's name was Marek. I know, because I almost bought that dog. ;-) He was 6 when I almost bought him (right before Al got him) and he had some radiographic evidence of it then. Will was very upfront about the spondylosis.

At any rate, Jo, it's hard to watch a friend go through that, and harder still when you feel like as his "Mom" there should be something you can do to ease his pain and there just isn't. I have no other helpful advice...just that I'm sorry Hambone is having a rough time.

Are you still doing the phy-cox with him?

And if I remember correctly you had stopped tramadol to save it for later when the pain got worse?

I am sorry he isn't feeling well, it is so very hard to watch them age and hurt. That is also so very sweet that he loves lucy, I know you were initially concerned about his reactions to her.

That's right Jennie, is was Marek I was talking about. I do remember that Al had mentioned that you were looking at him. He was such a good boy. We all had alot of fun training times when he was still able to 'work'. He was a very cool dude of a dog, & is missed.

 Quote: Anne Jones

... I do remember that Al had mentioned that you were looking at him. He was such a good boy. We all had alot of fun training times when he was still able to 'work'. He was a very cool dude of a dog, & is missed.

I loved Muppet just from pics and posts -- that's how cool of a dog he was.

Not to derail Hambone's thread...but there was kind of a funny story about how I ended up not getting Marek. Will was giving him a bath the night before I was supposed to fly down and pick him up, and he discovered that he was missing a few things toward the hind end; he hadn't been told that the dog had been neutered, and w/all that fur you certainly wouldn't ever notice it just looking at him! I had so little time to make a decision based on the new info that I decided to pass on him rather than take the chance that he'd need to be rehomed-again. Caleb at that age was absolutely AWFUL with neutered males and while separating is no big deal, I wasn't looking for a fight either. It's one thing to have dogs not get along; it's another to have one itching for a fight at every possible opportunity. Part of what attracted me to Marek was his temperament and tolerance for other animals. Not to mention the dog was gorgeous!

Things happen for a reason sometimes and it sure seems like Marek aka Muppet, ended up right where he needed to be. As Hambone did!!!

Ok, back on topic...

Yes, Jen I heard about that little 'discovery'. He was NOT a big cat fan, though, as I recall.

Now back to Jo's pal, Hambone....I had thought that Al might chime in on this thread (about Hambone)...but maybe he hasn't gotten to his computer yet today.

No, I remember that he was not a fan of cats....it was Widget I was worried about. My cats are kept separated during the day.

I guess Al is incommunicado today.

There has to be someone else who has dealt with spondylosis.