Providing Care and Comfort for Senior Paralyzed German Shepherd Dog with Degenerative Myelopathy

In this video, you'll see the meaning of "It's a Dog's Life"! It shows various ways of how you can provide care and comfort to your senior/paralyzed pet, giving them the best quality of life possible. This video is just a small part of Tika's story...
We were blessed to have Tika in our life for 14.5 years. She had Degenerative Myelopathy (spinal disease resulting in full paralysis of her hind legs) for 2.5 years and used a wheelchair for much of her final 2 years.
**Be sure to see Tika's heartwarming and inspirational two-part story that documents our experience with providing care and comfort for a senior paralyzed dog and addresses pet bereavement and how to move forward with love and grief, without ever having to say goodbye to your beloved.
Degenerative Myelopathy is a heartwrenching disease, as it slowly takes away certain functions (mobility and continence), making life quite a challenge (but still enjoyable with the right aids). In this video, you'll see that despite her old age and disability, Tika was "able" to enjoy a life full of love, attention, inclusion and interaction.
I hope that Tika’s story will help others with senior or mobility-challenged pets, and may result not only in an improvement of their pet’s quality of life but also in an extension of their pet's life.
I documented our experience together in a special HEARTWARMING TWO-PART STORY:
1. Comfort and Care for our Senior and Paralyzed German Shepherd Dog - Tika's Story -Part 1
Visit: www.tawnabrown.com/degenerati...
Part 1 shares a story of compassion, dedication, commitment and unconditional love. It provides suggestions on how to provide care and comfort for a senior/disabled pet.
2. Pet Bereavement - Moving Forward with Love and Grief - Tika’s Story - Part 2
Visit: www.tawnabrown.com/pet-bereav...
Part 2 is an inspirational story of pet bereavement. You will learn how to move forward with love and grief without having to say good-bye to your beloved companion. It covers our final weeks together, preparations for the big departure and an overview of the grief journey.
***If Tika's story touches you in anyway, I'd love to hear from you in the comments at the end of the blog post (see above links). If you liked this video (or any of Tika's videos), please leave a comment, click on the "like" button, and/or subscribe to my channel.
***PLEASE HELP SHARE TIKA'S STORY: Please share this story with anyone who you think would care, simply by sharing the link on a Facebook post or sending it in an email. This would mean so much to Tika and I! This will be part of her legacy
INSTAGRAM: @TIKATRIBUTE
FACEBOOK: #tikatribute

[@Michael-wk4ps]

Thank you!

[@luccamartin8197]

Tika is so beautiful and looks like a happy dog ❤ We lost our 12 1/2 year old Shepherd Lucca to right sided heart failure last year. She'd just started to have trouble using her hind legs and we were going to get a doggie wheelchair for her. That's wonderful that Tika was able to use a wheelchair for mobility ❤ Looks like you've given her lots of love and care during her life ❤

[@coldinyk]

Thank you. Tika gave so much to me during her physical life, and continues to do so even now, in spirit and love! There is no finality to the spirit, and I truly believe that Lucca remains with you, just as Tika is with me. I've never felt her absence! Not sure if you've seen her story, here is Part 2 (I haven't wrote on my blog since then!!!) www.tawnabrown.com/pet-bereavement-grief/. Our Angels will be with us forever and always.

[@kathee5258]

Awww ❤❤

[@R3lyc]

We just put our beagle Mika down because she developed a condition that rapidly paralyzed her front legs and was spreading to her back legs. I know how hard it is to see them decline due to such a terrible condition. It’s especially hard when she was so smart and vocal with us. She didn’t see gates, doors and locks as barriers, she saw them as obstacles to get around. She was a happy little dog right to the end. It isn’t until the end that we see that they gave us so much, and ask for so little in return.

[@coldinyk]

Know your Mika loves you so much for all you’ve done for her, and she remains at your side and in your heart everywhere you go. The relationship, bond and love never end. It doesn’t have to. ❤️🙏🐾

[@elizabethkida]

My 14 year old GSD Rex das diagnosis of degenerating myelopathy, IVDD and hip dysplasia. He can still make several steps but has incontinence and has to be carried on the stairs. We love him and we will do everything humanly possible to make his last days with us bearable for him. We are trying steroids, supplements, acupuncture, laser therapy. Unfortunately all vets we contacted refused to prescribe our dog opioids which could help him immensely to move because the pain caused by IVDD and hip dysplasia makes him whining. Thank you for your story

[@coldinyk]

Sorry for the late response; I haven't seen the comments to my youtube account for a long time and have some catching up to do. I hope you have been able to find some comfort for Rex and that he is still able to enjoy life. You are doing all that you can for him and he loves you for this. Sharing Tika's full story in case you haven't seen it; there may be some helpful information in there for you (part 2 is more emotional but still very helpful). www.tawnabrown.com/degenerative-myelopathy-senior-dog/

[@DonovanCampbelloldCrow]

Tika is a beautiful girl! With a wonderful hooman mom🐾❤️🐾

[@coldinyk]

Thank you. She has two very devoted parents that would give the world to her!

[@coldinyk]

PS- My Tika crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 28, 2021. I will be writing part 2 of her story on my blog in the near future.

[@awshnap]

My 7 yr old German Shepherd has just become paralyzed and I’m broken over it

[@coldinyk]

Sorry for the late response... I've got a lot of catching up to do (my youtube account isn't connected to my main gmail account, so I don't get the notifications). It is a heart-wrenching disease, but there are all kinds of things you can do to assist your dog. I hope you've been able to find assistance/support for you and your GSD. Here is Tika's story, in case you haven't seen it: www.tawnabrown.com/degenerative-myelopathy-senior-dog/.

[@kristin.shepherd]

Hi there! How old is she? My German Shepherd is experiencing the same thing, and I would like to get her into a wheelchair. Where did you get hers, and how did you have it fitted? I love your love for your baby!❤

[@coldinyk]

I'm so sorry I am just seeing this now. This account is not connected to my regular gmail account, and I have so much catching up on comments. I hope you have found some help and answers to your questions. I don't know if you've seen Tika's 2-part story which has all kinds of helpful information: www.tawnabrown.com/degenerative-myelopathy-senior-dog/ It is a very difficult disease to endure, but there are all kinds of things you can do to assist your dog with this challenge, and to give them a more comfortable life. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn through this experience, it gave me many life lessons. Tika is an amazing teacher! (I talk of her in present tense, as her spirit remains with me forever and always...). Best wishes to you and yours.

[@kristin.shepherd]

@@coldinyk Thank you so much for replying with such great info even after so long! Harlieyn Love went to stake out our Heavenly home January 6th. Thank you again and prayers for longevity and strength to you and Tika. ❤️