So.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about rescuing my dog Junior, from the drain. As it turns out, his latest adventure may have something to do with it.

Yesterday, when mom and I came back from dinner, Junior, as usual, woke up from his nap to greet us. He got to his feet, his head listing to one side as though to listen, took a few drunken steps… and then he slowly toppled over. We rushed in but he’d got to his feet, and though he was still listing a bit, he seemed fine.

Several minutes later and with lots of affectionate pettings later, he seemed to have recovered. Mom took him for a walk so he could do his business and at that point he seemed fine, though understandably he didn’t really want to spend time on his feet much after he came back and spent most of the time sitting or lying on his belly. I moved his water bowl closer to him and we left it at that for the night.

The next morning, he was still listing to one side and seemed a bit groggy. Google said last night Junior might be having vestibular syndrome, which seemed to match up with most of his symptoms, and so I decided to take him to the vet.

That was an adventure this morning. I knew he was not feeling too well when I left the gate open to prep for having him in the car – he didn’t run out and just chose to watch me. So once I’d put the papers in the front seat, I took him out for a quick walk – he went around in circles, stopped by here and there to do his business, but he was also making stops every so often which was unusual for him.

After that, I put him in the car and we drove to the vet’s. This was the first time I became aware of “floating” sensations when driving over bumps and the like, because he would whine and move in a somewhat panicked manner. Me talking to him and patting him whenever possible helped calm him down, I think?

So we got to the vet and because of where I parked, it was kind of a long walk. During that walk, he’d take frequent breaks, I think, to readjust and reorient himself. It was a case of 5 steps, stop, bask in attention (because he IS cute even though he’s geriatric in doggo years) and when we got to the vet he just didn’t want to go in.

The helper got him muzzled and carried him in. We gave him a bit of water but he didn’t want to drink. Doc examined him, giving him some meds to help with his digestion, vitamins (cause of age) and then two anti-inflammatory shots. He was surprisingly docile except for that moment when the doc lifted up his tail and Junior kind of panicked (he doesn’t like that).

The doc said that the fall he had a few weeks ago might have impaired his inner ear. Rest and vitamins were what he suggested. Besides missing a tooth, Junior was also in pretty good health… for a senior. 😛

When we were done, I decided to walk him home instead of taking the car because he seemed traumatised by the car. Spoke a bit with the doc, said I’d be back to settle the bill, and then began walking him home.

Which turned out to be a bad decision. Let’s just say I had to pull him hard with the leash in some places because crossing the road was horrible and I felt bad. We made a bit more progress until at one point he decided to just stop moving. Pulling him with the leash was an effort because he simply wouldn’t budge.

In the end, I had to call mom for help (she was attending a church thing) and we loaded him into her car. Mom had no qualms picking him up and putting him in, but Junior struggled mightily because he had no sense of balance. By the time we got home, I think he was in tears.

When we took him out of the car and placed him back on the ground, he still refused to move or walk, so mom carried him into the house. When she placed him near the porch close to the gate, he literally kept going around in circles, so she carried him further in. By that time I think he was more comfortable at her manhandling him, so Junior didn’t struggle as much.

We gave him water and then went back to get my car. I paid the doctor, got further advice to either feed him wet food or moisten his dry food (he’s been taking pellets) and then came home to a doggo who wagged his tail at me while lying on the floor. I petted him some more, moved his water bowl closer to him and then went inside, stopping at the gate to observe him.

He finally began drinking more water, like deciding to douse his thirst.

Get well soon you rascal.