Health question - not really urgent?

[Tilt]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place. It's a health question about Ajax, but it's not urgent (or at least I don't think it is.) Feel free to move this if it should be elsewhere

A while ago I had to clean up after AJ (who got sick all over the patio, and I'm not real sure which end it came out of.) I had to get him to move, before I could clean (he was laying next to the...mess.) It took me a bit of convincing to get him up, and once he got up his leg seemed to be without feeling. He kept putting it down and bending the toes back real funny-like, as though he couldn't feel quite where his foot was or anything, so he was just guessing where to put it down. He didn't seem to have any feeling, though he could move it. Or, he could move his leg, but not his foot. It seemed really useless.

Now personally, I've had the same thing happen when I made my leg fall asleep. It reminded me of that, but what with his recent health probs I'm not so sure now. He won't get up, he's just kind of laying there. (He was improving but today alone seems worse. Sigh.) He's not listening to me (or he can't hear me) so I can't really get him to get up and move around.

Is this something to worry about or did he just lay on his leg funny, causing it to fall asleep?

[Jade]

If he won't get up, I would be concerned and probably call the vet. Are his gums nice and pink? How's his breathing? Is he using his abdomen more than normal to breathe?

[Tilt]

He seems really worn out today. He won't get up mostly (I think) because he can't hear me. When I gently tug on his collar or give him a visual cue, he gets up and no slower than usual (he has a touch of arthritis.)

His gums haven't been as pink as they could be since he got sick, but they are pink. He's still on meds and still being nursed back to health. Had been improving, as I said before, but seems to be feeling worse today.

His breathing seems alright. Usually he pants a lot...he always has. Or at least during summer. He's breathing fine through his nose (no panting) and his breathing doesn't seem to be labored. I don't *think* he's using his abdomen more than normal.

[Jade]

Is he still favoring the foot?

[Tilt]

I'll need to go ask him to get him and see how he behaves on it. Hang on, BRB...

[Tilt]

Didn't notice me when I called his name, so I went down to him. The first thing I noticed was that he was breathing pretty deeply. He was not panting, but breathing deeply. I gently tugged on his collar and he closed his mouth and began breathing through his nose. Seems kinda labored now. He refused to get up, and I don't want to force him. He's just laying out there looking lethargic and ignoring me.

I'm thinking that his time is near.

[Tilt]

I'm gonna go check on him again and see if I can't get him to stand up, so I can see how he treats his leg... Or at least get him to expose his leg to me so I can give ita feel and looksee.

[Tilt]

Regrettably, I found him dead instead. I guess that's why he wouldn't get up. This thread can be closed....

[ckane]

Awe I'm so sorry.

[Millimi]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so hard when the time comes for a loved one. We're all here for you.

[Chinchilla_Girl]

I'm so sorry Roz...I think you were right, it was his time to go. He went peacefully and is out of pain. Big

[Tilt]

Thank you Ckane, Millimi and Mandie.

[dappledoxie]

I'm so sorry Roz!

[Tilt]

You guys are all so great...

Special thanks to Jade for trying to help me out last night.