Good News!

I was super excited this morning because I had an appointment to see Dr. Barcus at Canine Sports Medicine. She wanted to do a follow-up visit with me because I complete my final laser therapy session last Tuesday. I've been feeling pretty good so I was confident that she would give me two paws up!

But first things first - the scale! I hate the scale almost as much as Mom does. She hasn't been on the home scale in years and only ever gets weighed at the doctor. I don't know why I had to get on the scale. What does that have to do with my angry disc? You can see that I was very reluctant to get weighed and I even fought it a little. The scale is not my friend.

Dad and the nice vet tech Michelle coaxed me up there and then - drum roll please! 16.4 pounds! I haven't lost (or gained) any weight. I'm perfect! And I'm outta there. No more scale for me!

I was even feeling good enough to walk to the examining room. I usually get carried but I told Dad that I could walk. I wanted everyone to see that I'm on the mend and that my legs are working.

My first stop in the examining room was the treat drawer. I felt like I deserved a treat for being a good boy on the scale and for walking to the room. "Um, down here people! I need a treat. It's been almost two hours since breakfast. I feel faint!" I didn't get a treat but I told the doctor that she better give me one after my examination or else. Nobody messes with Stubby!

The best thing about this facility is that there aren't any examination tables in the rooms. There's simply a padded mat on the floor and some chairs for the parents to sit on. Dr. Barcus and Mom sat on the mat and then I walked over to them to get examined. It's very comforting and I don't freak out because I hate those cold, metal tables at the other vet.

That contraption in the background is the laser therapy machine. Pretty cool looking, huh? Dr. Barcus put her hands on my hips and her thumbs on my angry disc. It didn't hurt even when she pressed down on my disc.

Dr. Barcus is very smart and she could tell lots about my hips and disc just by feeling them. I was a little squirmy but that's just because I was so excited. I've been cooped up in the house for so long, leaving only to come here. I wanted to walk around, check things out and smell everything but I had to stand still so the doctor could check out everything on me.

It may look painful but Dr. Barcus is very gentle. She knows that I'm old and very fragile so she only puts pressure on the spots that she needs to. I trust her and know that she has my best interest at heart.

Dr. Barcus also checked my elbows but Mom was too busy talking to take pictures while that was happening. Next time I'm going to hire a proper photographer to document my visit. Maybe Puglet's human could fly to Chicago.

When the doctor was finally down examining me I hit the road. I can only take so much and then I run (okay, walk) and hide. Under a chair is the perfect spot for me because no one can catch me. This is also my signal to Mom that I'm ready to go - like right now!

So what did the doctor say? Well, she said my angry disc is still angry but it's less angry than it was. The swelling has gone done around it but it's still angry and it will always be angry unless I have surgery. The Prednisone took care of the swelling and while I'm still on it until Sunday, she said that she's not going to refill my prescription because it's not good to be on it for a long time.

She also said that my hips and elbow were better. But of course there's a little bad news. My right elbow, which was my good elbow, is now worse than my left elbow. I guess all that laser therapy whipped my left elbow into such good shape that my right elbow got jealous. Go figure. She recommended continuing my treatments on my left elbow and adding my treatments to my right elbow. Dad bought me 6 more sessions and my first one is next Tuesday.

I didn't get the treat I wanted at the doctor's office so I walked over to the pantry as soon as I got home. I stood there and stood there and waited. And waited. HELLO! Hungry Stubby in the house! Mom told me that Dad would soon be making my eggs so I decided to catch up on my sleep while I waited.

Mom took me up to the beach house for my nap. She finally turned on the 'puter because I told her I had to update my bloggie. Every pug wants to know how I'm feeling, right? I really thought I would be able to do a post before my nap but that was not to be.

Like my good friend Tweedles always says, nitey nite my friends. Zzzzzzzz!