Pins & Needles

I'm so behind.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

There, I think I caught up.


We have entered a new phase of our lives with Seka - Pre-Seen. This is the period before a dog becomes a true senior citizen. The time where they start to get ornery. Where they start testing you by refusing to do things every now and then that have always been routine. When they must have their way no matter what has to happen. I've been through this period with my mother five years ago. I'm sure hoping Seka will be easier.

While Seka can still get around pretty well, she has started to show signs of neurological weirdness (that is a medical term). Like not being able to climb the stairs after having been outside for 15 minutes sniffing every new leaf in the yard. Or, getting the creepy crawly skin when you barely touch her. Or when she wakes herself up out of a deep sleep because she has to chew a spot on her back that has nothing to do with being itchy. It was time to consult someone other than Dr. Hottie and his team.

Of course I contacted my greyhound Yoda and she suggested an awesome place in Atlanta - two hours from me - that has everything I could possibly imagine in the way of chiropractic, acupuncture and rehab offerings. So in an effort to save money, I talked to Dr. Hottie about doing a referral and getting all the bloodwork and x-rays done locally. After all, country x-rays are cheaper than city x-rays.

Dr. Hottie let me in on a secret - there was a new vet in town who specialized in chiro and acupuncture and she was going to start seeing patients at his office weekly. We were first on the list, I believe.

We've been seeing Dr. Miller every two weeks since early December and I can honestly say we have seen improvement in a number of ways. Seka is moving better in general. The shaking in her back legs is considerably reduced. The creepy crawly skin thing - gone completely. The crazy chewing, over. We're on a two week schedule for now to manage her arthritis and we plan to add water rehab to help strengthen her back legs this summer.

I would never have been able to take the time out of work and afford a bi-monthly trip to the ATL for her treatments. I'm so thankful Dr. Miller came into our lives at just the right time. She has really been a huge help to keeping Seka sound as we enter this new phase of our lives.

Oh, and forgot to say Dr. Miller is super cool, childless-by-choice and is starting agility with her 16 month old cocker spaniel, Frida. Maybe I can convert her to a greyhound person eventually!