Revel continues to progress, but there have been ups and downs. It will be three weeks tomorrow since this disease came on and I have to keep reminding myself that this time last week was the first time he had accompanied the other dogs on their walk.
I've noticed he seems more disorientated than before, if he's facing the wrong direction then I often see him look round trying to decide where we have gone and there have been a couple of times I've had to run after him when he has headed off in the wrong direction. It seems that now I have to be quite visible and moving for him to see me so I don't know if it has affected his eyesight at all.
He's managing better but it is a gradual improvement. A couple of days ago I brought out his nosework game (like the Nina Ottason ones) and he got right into that. Balance was still a bit of an issue as he was on three legs quite often while pushing the pieces of the game around with the other foot but he did OK. It's when his head is down that the tilt is most apparent. Now he keeps on wanting to play and trying to jump up to where the game is kept.
Today he fell down on his walk which was sad to see.
There is a bit of a shallow gully (literally about 3") running alongside the field at the beginning of the walk. I only looked away for a couple of seconds then I looked back and he was on his side and struggling to get up - like a 'cast' horse in a stall. I think he was just unable to get purchase because he was in the groove but I didn't like to see him down. He fell over yesterday too but that was more of a trip on a rut. Speed wise he keeps up quite well but I am walking a lot slower for him. He doesn't seem to want to sniff too much either.
One thing I did find was that once he was walking properly, the harness was more of a hindrance. He has never worn one but I had him on it to begin with so I could sort of help him keep his balance but once he was feeling better he wasn't keen on the lead being attached to his back and kept taking 'root'. So back on the collar which he has worn for 15 years.
A highlight today though was when I came back in from work and the dogs were in the garden. Epic and Yogi came running as usual to the gate and behind them came Revel - also running! So happy to see this because he hadn't run at all since he started this condition.
In a way, this condition is like a stroke - it comes on so suddenly and the recovery period is slow and gradual but there is at least a better prognosis for a full recovery.
It should be nice weather over the weekend so I will try and take another video.
You are such a great mom. I have never been blessed to have any of my shelties live to 15!