Decided to post this as a blog than a reply to my discussion.  Hope that's okay!

So, if you've missed it, Waffle has been sick.

 It started Monday where he was just not himself.  Tuesday, I posted a discussion wondering about what was wrong.  Wednesday, he went to the vet under "emergency" circumstances with a fever of 104.0 F, lethargy, and diarrhea.  They examined him and found a painful part of his spine.  They held him for observation from 10-4, and in that time they did two X-rays, a full neurology exam, full bloodwork, full body chemistry, and who knows what else.  The X-rays were to test for discospondylitis, which he does not have.  They came to the conclusion that he may have IVDD, or intervertebral disc disease.  They also found that he may have hip dysplasia in his left hip.  They concluded he had some sort of infection (most likely in his GI track) and prescribed an antibiotic, an antacid, and an anti-vomiting agent.  

They still haven't talked to me about the IVDD or hip dysplasia other than indicating that he probably has them, which prompted me to freak out and post the second discussion.  He was lethargic up until yesterday afternoon after another observation at the vet.  They gave my a pain killer for his back.  I decided not to give it to him unless his lethargy didn't go away, which it did.  He's on bed rest for the next 2-3 weeks, so every time he goes outside I get to carry him! Whoo.  He's already fed up with that new rule; he looks at me like, "Geeze, I can do this myself. Stoppit."  Every time he jumps on the couch to look out the window, everyone in the house sighs.  

I've tried rubbing his spine myself like the vets did to find his sore spot and I haven't been able to find it.  I did notice that he gets really itchy when I'm scratching around the same area where his back was sore.  My breeder talked to me about IVDD and hip dysplasia and really calmed me down.  Some of her dogs have had it, and as someone said, it's by no means a debilitating condition with how he has it now.  They also offered to get his hips tested.  If he does have mild IVDD, the bed rest should take care of it.  I just have to be more conscious of how he plays and jumps and stuff.  

He's mostly back to normal.  He has one more day of the antacid and anti-vomiting stuff, and 6 more days of antibiotic.  He's off the bland diet of boiled eggs, chicken, and cottage cheese that he had been on and is back to ignoring his regular food.  He ruined the board game we were playing by laying down in the middle of it and gets really excited when we say "Where's the kitty?" He's doing all of his tricks except "up", where he stands on his hind legs.  I love my doggy.  Thank you so much, everyone, for your prayers and good thoughts for us.  I think they really helped us. Waffle went from lethargic and sad Friday morning to normal Friday night.  You can't explain that!  My whole family called me and asked how he was doing, even. That's pretty good for a family that doesn't like dogs.  

I feel so relieved.  I just love my dog so much.