Mike scared me so bad last night... I thought he was going to leave me. He came out from behind the couch and was limping with his right leg just totally hanging loose and his head cocked and down. I immediately got on the floor with him to see what was going one. You could tell he was in pain. He laid down on his side for me and let me pet him and love on him, and I was hoping when he got up, he'd be better. He wasn't. He was hurting really bad and acting so strange and panting like he was in horrible pain. I gave him a Tramadol and prayed. Before the pill even had a chance to work... he laid down again... unable to even sit up for any length of time.

Even though he was in pain and you could tell something else wasn't right, he seemed content to just lay on his side and let me pet him. After awhile, his respiration slowed down a bit... almost back to normal I think... but he didn't want to move. It was then I realized that my boy was totally unresponsive to me. I asked him if he wanted to go "out", for a "ride".. anything I could do to get him to react. Nothing. I then realized his eyes were totally glassed over... almost opaque. I couldn't see the color in them, and when I tried to get his attention, I saw they were moving slowly from side to side.

I totally freaked out. I called Dr. Blaha (this was about 8:00 last night) and got her voice mail and left a frantic message for her. The episode lasted about 45 minutes.. and my God, was I relieved when he finally responded to me and was able to sit up again. I left another message for Dr. Blaha and told her he was much better, and I'd talk to her tomorrow (today).

In the midst of all this, Gidget at first wanted to play and wanted my attention. She wouldn't take no for an answer so I had no choice but to put her in her room. After Mike was more alert, I let her out and was in the process of letting her outside, and here came my little trooper... trying to follow me... limping and weak like a soldier from war. He didn't want to leave my side. My heart just broke for him. He seemed like he wanted to go outside too but had a difficult time getting to the door. I wanted to pick him up and carry him there, but he hates being held, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I would hurt him more by doing it. So, Gidge and I just stood there waiting for him to inch his way to us. He did manage to go outside and potty and seemed proud that he conquered that at least.

About fifteen minutes later, Dr. Blaha called. She had just gotten home. I told her I thought he may have had a stroke. She could tell how scared I was and was so wonderful in trying to calm me down. When I told her what happened, she said that dogs don't get strokes like people do. They do get them, but not with the symptoms I gave her.

First she said it could be Vestibular, but she said that would not have gone away so fast... it could last days. Then she said she believed he had a Petit Mal seizure. When I told her about his history of seizures seven or eight years ago and that he had been on phenobarbital for around five years, she told me to stop giving him the Tramadol. She told me to read the side effects on the Tramadol... when I did... it said, "Seizures (convulsions) have occurred in some people taking tramadol. You may be more likely to have a seizure while taking tramadol if you have a history of seizures or head injury." NO MORE TRAMADOL. She said the opiate in the Tramadol can cause seizures if he's prone to them. He hasn't had a seizure in years, and even when the other vet took him off the phenobarbital cold turkey in October... he didn't go through any type of withdrawl. And this wasn't like the ones he got before he was diagnosed. This one literally looked like death.

She's going to give me something else for him for pain when I go there to work on Friday (or sooner if we need it), but in the meantime she told me to give him 1/2 Rimadyl and see how that works.

By the time we went to bed, Mike was able to walk on his leg with no problem. I could tell he still wasn't feeling well, but at least he was able to focus and walk. Within 1/2 hour of going to bed, he got up and tried walking to move from one spot to another... again... he fell when his leg was like mush. I got him to lay on a comforter next to my bed and had him lay on his side (which seemed to be the most comfortable position for him) and spent the rest of the night with my hand on him and petting him until I fell asleep.

Oh my God... I was so scared. Seeing him like that made me realize... (as if I don't know already)... he IS going to leave me... maybe not today.. but someday in the not too distant future. And it's tearing me apart.

I have to offer SPECIAL GRATITUDE to my wonderful, dear friend Deb... She and I were chatting on line when all of this started to happen. My last entry to her was NOOOO... SOMETHIN'G WRONG WITH MIKE. When she didn't hear back from me in a couple minutes, she was on the phone with me... calling to see how my baby was and what was going on. I cried to her, and she let me cry and made me feel as though she were right there holding my hand and giving me a hug when this was all happening. She offers her love and friendship more than I've seen in so many people I have known in my life (the same as so many of my beautiful IMOM friends do). I am so grateful she was there for me last night. After it was over we talked again, and she was wonderful in helping me relax a bit and releasing the fear that was so horrifying earlier. THANK YOU MY DEAR FRIEND... YOU DEFINE THE MEANING OF A TRUE FRIEND.

This morning, he seems fine (Thank You Jesus). He did everything he should do and is walking with no problem. I took him and Gidget for a short ride this morning... I did it not only to continue trying to get Gidge use to riding, but because, as he was so bad last night, I felt horrible that he should have had one last ride in the car before he leaves me (even though we have been going for rides.. I just felt he needed one more). Prayerfully, we'll still have a lot of time for more rides.

Thank you everyone who cares enough to check on my boy... I just love him so much, and it helps to know I have all of you supporting us and holding us up in prayer. God Bless You All.

Love & Blessings