King Silas Oct 11, 2022

It has been a while since I’ve updated everyone. So, I thought it was time to let my fans know what has been happening.

I’m now in my 8th week of therapy. Wow! It is such hard work. I have 4 more sessions in my 2nd 6-week rehab schedule. My legs fell like normal when I’m in the water tank. I move them just like the old-days. My therapist says I’m doing so well.

It is now time to let you know more about me and my life outside of therapy. There is a lot more to me than the guy that goes to therapy once a week. 

I cannot walk on my rear legs just yet, but I still work hard at being a regular guy. I am a happy guy and always excited to spend time with my fellow dogs-mates (there are 5 of them) and ‘my people’. I went to my new foster home a couple of weeks ago. My new foster parents are Mark and Leslie. I’ve adjusted quite quickly to my new house and yard. The new routines did not bother me at all. I’m a quick learner.

While inside I scoot around using my front legs. It is a lot of work, but I get it done. To go outside or to take a walk I need assistance. I sometimes use a quick-strap that lifts my rear legs, I sometimes use a full body harness and then sometimes I use a 2-wheeled cart for longer walks. And each day I get a massage and leg stretches to help my muscles.

I’m a normal basset in all other aspects. I love to lay in the sun. I love my favorite blue blanket. I play with toys and toss my chew bones up in the air.. I bark for food and treats. I take long naps with my brothers and sisters. And sometimes with help, I do my version of a zoomie while my foster parent holds my hind legs with one of my special straps.

You may wonder how I can be so happy and face so many challenges? Well, I’m sure many of you have faced difficult challenges in your lives. The best way forward is to keep working on my problems and to have good friends & family! 

Soon I will be looking for my forever home. If that might be you, please let the important GABR people know. Your people can talk to my people and more details can be shared by my foster parents.

Silas Update ~ August 20

  • Good morning. Thank you for being interested in my rehabilitation. I thought I would send a photo-diary update with my commentary.

    I was looking forward to therapy session #2. My legs feel a little stronger after my assistant, Kym, has been completing my physical therapy each day.

    I can now get my right leg under me and can apply a little bit of pressure. And my left leg is doing better too, but not as good as my right leg.

    But, I can pull both legs under my body now. And I even wiggle my bottom when I'm walking with 'my wheels'.

    So session 2 started with my arrival (of course). Ms. Kym is very good at getting my wheels hooked up so I can 'walk'.

  • Of course, we headed to the waiting room. I'm so glad we did not have to wait too long. I do like barking at the other dogs. Most of us are here for very serious doc-help. So I felt right at home with the other dogs. They came to get me very quickly and we headed to the water therapy room. I'm really hoping this helps me, but I'm not a fan of cool water, so it better be warm.
    I made it. I'm in the tank. It is about to fill with water so I float and my therapist can help me move my legs and strengthen the muscles.

    It was pretty amazing. She sat in the tank with me and spent about 30 minutes moving my muscles.

    But, unfortunately, my photographer forgot to take a picture with the tank full of water because he was watching the therapy (next time a few more pics).

  • Now after my therapy, I was wet of course (duh). So they helped me get dry again. Thank goodness!

    And then....they took me to acupuncture. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of this procedure.

    But, the doc said I did great and just maybe I had more feeling this time...I hope that 'maybe' is true.

    I finished my therapy and got a good report from the doc. She thinks I'm improving! I've got big hopes for session 3 and Kym will keep up my physical therapy until that next session.

    A guy needs a drink after all of that hard work. And boy did I drink lots of water. I had a tough morning.

  • Now...I'm headed home with Kym. My last workout for the day is getting up the ramp to my car-bed. Even that task takes a lot of work, but I made it.

    I'm betting that I will sleep on the way home.

    Thank you for reading my story and for all of your support! I'll be in touch soon with more updates.

Silas Update Sept 1, 2022