Janet - so sorry to read this, and I'm sending Rocky and his family lots of prayers and thoughts. Extra good wishes that Rocky isn't feeling too much pain and that something can be done to make him feel better.
Are you stuck at home on your own for now? Is there anyone you can call to get some nice treats for Rocky? When I went through something like this with my last lab, "Beatrice" - I was able to buy salmon and even some ice cream for her. But my husband was at home so I could run out to the store. I remember making baked salmon filets for her. She *loved* that. Do you have anything extra-yummy like that around the house? Even if doggie isn't feeling so hot, a nice meal always makes a doggie happy. The other thing that helped was just sitting with her and talking to her. She'd thump her tail, even though she couldn't get up either. I talked about all kinds of silly things, yakking away about this or that. At one point, I got into a long conversation on the phone with my uncle, and I sat next to Bea, talking. She recognized my uncle's voice (I was on a cordless phone), and she just liked hearing me talking ...so I sat on her bed and had my conversation while petting her. She liked that a lot too.
About the ice cream - not sure if it's ok for dogs, but I knew it was 'the end' for Bea because she'd spent the day at Colorado State University's Animal Cancer clinic and they wanted me to leave her there...saying she wouldn't make it through the weekend (it was a Thursday or Friday). I took her back home, and we spent the weekend at home with Beatrice. I put in a call to my regular vet who agreed to come to the house to help her go to sleep on the Monday. That last weekend with Bea (the cancer clinic gave us some really good pain medicine for Bea) - we rented all kinds of dog movies, moved our mattress onto the living room floor from our bedroom and just hung out with her, giving her all kinds of extra love and attention. Like I said, there were salmon filets, small bowls of ice cream, talking, petting, napping. She enjoyed snuggling up with us and watching "Homeward Bound" movies and other silly dog movies. Not all dogs like tv or movies, but if your Rocky does - I bet he'd enjoy watching the antics of Chance, Shadow and Sassy (a cat).
In terms of moving him, to take him to the vet - you can slide a blanket under him and the two of you can carry him to the car. Alternatively, you can fashion a bit of a sling for him by rolling up a towel and placing it under his belly and helping him walk by lifting up his back legs a wee bit. I'll put in a picture of a harness/sling that's used to help support a dog who's having trouble walking
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You can fashion something similar with a giant bath towel. You won't have the 'handles' but it will help you help Rocky get to the car when it's time to go to his vet appt.
Meanwhile, I agree with what Isabel is suggesting - perhaps call the vet's office back and see if there's a chance the vet will come to the house, perhaps on his or her way home from work. My vet used to do that - would make house calls (only for serious stuff) on his way home from work. If you put in a call to the vet's office and ask - the vet himself or herself might call you at home and ask a few questions and then agree to stop by after the office closes.
Talking on the phone helps...so you don't feel totally alone with this while waiting for your husband to get back. Are there some people you can call, while sitting with Rocky?
Hang in there Janet - I know this is extremely difficult to deal with.
Sending over a batch of homemade meatloaf for Rocky - I used to make these for Bea too. It's just ground beef or turkey, mixed with grated carrots or other leftover vegetables (no onions, and no spices) and baked in a giant 9x13 casserole dish for a good hour and a half. Cut into squares, and then slices. Some slices go in the fridge and some go into the freezer. When my vet heard that, he said, "I want to move in here!".
Go sit with Rocky, pet him...give him yummy things, and get into a good, long conversation on the phone with a friend or family member to help you get through the hours between now and the time you can take him to the vet.
Also, I know it sounds silly, but you could even read to him. He'll love listening to you and having all of your attention even if you're just reading him something out of the newspaper. Bring your computer over to where he's lying down, sit nearby and read some YLF posts to him.
Big hugs.
I'll be thinking of you all day today.
eta: that's not Beatrice in the photo - I just looked up "dog harnesses and slings" so I could find a photo to give you the general idea of how you might help Rocky get to the car using a giant bath towel or blanket. Also, sorry this is so long to read...
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