Max Update 7-22-2012

Today is Sunday July 22, 2012.  Max has had quite a weekend!

He went on a roadtrip and spent the weekend away with his mom, for the last 2 days he's been able to consistently drink water when it's been fed to him by a feeding syringe.

 (For those who are reading this blog because you have a pet in a similar situation - don't try this unless your pet is already swallowing on their own when they have a high level of naturally produced saliva in their mouth, also only give very small amounts and make sure to aim the syringe away from the back of the throat towards the front of them mouth, by inserting in the side of the mouth angled towards the front teeth. You Absolutely positively do not want to do this int he other direction because you may end up drowning your patient.)

This afternoon I was also able to give Max some very watered down food by mouth as well and he swallowed it down.  He's already getting very watered down food because it has to go through his feeding tube, but I watered it down even further.I only gave him 1.5ml to start with ... we'll keep practicing. 

He has also been pretty consistent about being able to push his rear end up in the air on his own if he has something to push against. He still has his left rear leg signifantly stronger than the right but the right one can push up now and hold it's own.. The left one can now hold his body up... I am realizing I may have been pre-mature to buy the small bean bag chair and put him on that.. but he's definitely ready for it now and we tried again this afternoon.. It's still too big for him to get his front legs on the ground but he was able to lay over the top of it and with his back legs he was able to push up and actually stand up and he was trying to move forward... If anyone has seen Faith The Dog who walks on her hind 2 legs... Max is reminding me a lot of her.. His stomach is very strong and he moves his stomach like Faith does when she walks. I actually had the opportunity to meet Ms. Faith the dog a number of years ago in Chicago at an HHBacker Tradeshow!   She's quite a super dog! And definitely an inspiration!

Anyway... so in addition to leaning on the beanbag chair and pushing his legs and being able to stand there longer than I could sit behind him ... Max is now working on holding that head up... He has such a big smart brain that his head is still pretty heavy, but he was working on it!!!

Sorry I don't have any new photos.. He is so much more active it's hard to get photos and videos while I'm holding him up but I'll try and see what I can do.. 

Anyway - all progress and good news and Max is still working super hard!