louie had a stroke

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i need to type something about what happen about 20 hours ago. i need to do something. i'm dan, the humanoid part and louie is a 14 or 15 year old bassett hound mixed with maybe half a dozen other breeds.

louie was a bait dog used by dog fighters. he was brought to our small animal shelter by two young ladies who had 'acquired' him. he was a real mess. we worked with him for a month or so and finally he was ready for our adoption area. he had gained about 20 lbs, had his wounds taken care of, had been freed of parasites and had learned to trust that no one was automatically going to hurt him.

he stayed 3 months in the adoption area. no one asked about him. maybe too many scars, maybe not trusting everyone, or ? we thought louie was 4 or 5 years old and so did our visiting veterinarians.

3 months is a long time in an open admission shelter....so his time was considered over. on his last day, i could not let this happen. his death would be too much for me so i took louie home with me.

it was hard for the first couple of years. i had been seriously injured and could barely take care of myself when he first came home with me . being the dork that i am, 6 months after his adoption i was in a car crash and broke my neck.

louie was very patient with me and became my constant companion. we went everywhere together. i finally knew what love meant.

it's now 10 years later and louie is very old. i cherish every day with him. his doctors both love louie and would see him frequently, so he lacked for nothing.

20 hours ago he drops to the floor without warning. he urinates on himself. he tries to get up but cannot. his eyes are not focused. i am sure he has had a stroke of some sort and overcome my panic and call his 'first' vet. i am unable to speak, for various reasons, but she knows who it is and clears a block of time for louie. i carry him to the car and rush to her surgery. we are there most of the day with, as you might expect, inconclusive results. the only defining test for stroke are ct or mri, but he is in no condition for either. all other parameters are nominal for him. it's 99% certain a 'brain attack', only thing that 'fits'.

he is slowly improving and can stand and walk. ok, stumble. it is as if he has just woken from anesthesia. he will not eat but will drink small amounts of water. nothing to do but wait. he may continue to recover or he may not. to know love is to eventually know pain. louie has cat sisters and they are responding by being very nervous. they do not bother him. they know.

i am in a daze but cannot give up and go crazy. i must do everything possible to help him. he would do it for me.

thanks for listening.

I know how you feel I just went through hell with my 16 year old cat a few months ago but it was her liver that was the problem. I rescued her too, when she was a kitten. I hope Louie recovers from this ok.

I'm glad your dog is improving. Mine had a stroke last October, but he passed away before we could even get him in the car to go to the animal hospital. I ended up in the psych ward by the end of the month.

I have faith that your long tailed friend will make it through, okay.

thanks for your thoughts everyone. louie is on his couch at this very moment, and sleeping soundly. i must resist the urge to hug him constantly, he needs the zzzzzzz's.

How's Louie getting on?

hi close to PERFECT....louie has improved in small increments. i crush the food he should eat and mix it with can dog food or human food so that is a relief. it's an easy way to get him to take his new medication. louie walks like he's drunk and his coordination is off on stairs, but that's are what dad's are for, to help their kids.

his eyes are clear and alert and i'm certain he knows who i am. his tail stands high when he's on the move.

we have been going to his favorite dog park every other day so he can see all his dog friends. i think he is happiest there, laying in the grass and watching all the young dogs play. yesterday he howled for the first time since he collapsed. it was a great sound.

his docs are holding off on a ct scan while he improves. they are somewhat pleased with his progress but cannot rule out a brain tumor as the cause. that would be too weird. we now are both old and gimpy. if he has a tumor, then that would be three for three.

quality of life.....louie is not ready to let go, i am positive of that. his docs feel he wants to live and though he will not recover 100%, he should be able to continue improvement....unless....there's always that unless. i won't let louie suffer with little hope of getting better. i love him too much to do that to him. i would rip out my heart and give it to him if it would help. he's about my only link to being alive.

thanks for checking on him.

Hang in there for both. It does sound like he wishes to live and you are taking perfect care for his needs. God bless you for all that you are and all that you do. I will be thinking of you both with love.

That's good news Hopefully he'll recover close to 100% slowly but surely.