Perry Family Turns To Texas A&M Veterinary Rehabilitation To Support Beloved Dog’s Quality Of Life

Having gone from a hoarding scenario in Tijuana to the guv’s estate in Austin, Scout Perry has actually seen the lows and highs of life.

Most just recently, in spite of being confronted with a frustrating medical diagnosis, the 11-year-old combined breed dog has actually combated valiantly and discovered both solace and relationship at the Texas A&M University Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH).

In April 2022, Scout was identified with degenerative myelopathy (DM), which is similar to Lou Gehrig’s Disease in individuals. This unusual condition has no treatment however can be treated with physical rehab.

DM advances in time and impacted dogs generally just endure about 6 months after medical diagnosis. However, with the endless assistance of among the most identifiable households in Texas, Scout continues to operate on Texas A&M’s undersea treadmill, hang around with his family, and like life almost a year and a half after his medical diagnosis.

Humble Beginnings

Scout has actually belonged to the Perry family for more than a years. He was embraced by Sydney Perry, child of previous Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and her hubby in 2013.

“My husband was in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego,” Sydney said. “On Saturdays, a group called Baja Dog Rescue brought puppies up from Tijuana to Petco, and we were just going to go look. We walked up and there was the cutest dog you’ve ever seen with an ‘adopt me’ vest on.”

After falling for Scout at very first sight, the couple discovered that his life had actually already consisted of terrific challenge.

“Scout had been severely abused. They found him tied up in an abandoned hotel where somebody was hoarding 200 dogs,” she said. “He was 5 months old and had been returned twice because he would urinate when scared and bark at strangers. My husband was the only person he didn’t bark at.”

Within hours of being embraced, Scout was bonded with his brand-new relative and declined to leave their sides. He coped with them in San Diego till the couple returned home to Texas, where Scout was accepted into Rick and Anita Perry’s “dog pack” at the guv’s estate.

As the years passed, Scout stuck with Rick and Anita as they vacated the guv’s estate and into a brand-new home in Austin in 2015 while continuing to see Sydney and her hubby frequently. As Scout aged, his owners started to discover signs of what seemed arthritis.

“He started dragging one back foot; we just thought he was old and had arthritis or a pinched nerve in his back,” Sydney said.

But when the tests returned and Scout received his medical diagnosis, the family was shocked to discover that Scout’s condition was much even worse than they had actually prepared for.

Making The Diagnosis

The Perrys have actually been SATH customers for several years, so Texas A&M’s Neurology Service was their instant option for Scout’s veterinary care when they learnt he would require customized treatments.

Scout’s condition was identified by very first judgment out other reasons for his signs, such as disc degeneration or cancer and after that by carrying out a blood test that searches for the hereditary anomaly that triggers DM.

“Degenerative myelopathy is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the spinal cord of dogs,” said Dr. Joseph Mankin, a veterinary neurosurgeon and medical associate teacher at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

“It is a slowly progressive disease that starts as a weakness in their back legs but progresses to where they cannot use their back legs at all,” he said. “The disease will eventually affect their front legs as well.”

Although getting this medical diagnosis was heartbreaking for the Perrys, they understood that Scout would receive the very best possible treatment at the SATH.

“Scout’s the most loyal dog. He would do anything for us, so we want to do whatever it takes to keep him happy and free of pain for as long as possible,” Sydney said. “Even though he’s been through so much, he’s just a good boy.”

Finding Relief

“The only thing clinically proven to extend longevity when dogs are diagnosed with DM is rehab — strengthening muscles and keeping them moving,” said Sherri Jerzyk, a veterinary specialist in the Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Service. “Originally, Scout was still mobile but having some difficulty walking. He just needed a little bit of assistance.”

Scout started a rehab routine that concentrated on increasing his strength and control of his body, in addition to acupuncture for discomfort management and laser treatment to handle injuries triggered by dragging his feet.

Scout’s family was likewise charged with doing workouts at home, supplying a cart that enables him to run outside, and discovering brand-new methods to hang around together and keep him psychologically promoted.

As time went on, Scout’s weak point advanced and by February 2023, he might no longer stand or walk on his own. He transitioned from doing both land and water workouts to just utilizing the undersea treadmill, which offers both strength training and heart conditioning.

“Scout is a very independent, active dog, and the underwater treadmill gives him a place where he can run without help,” Jerzyk said. “The water holds his weight up and supports his back end, and he flat out runs. He’s as fast as the agility dogs that come to use the underwater treadmill.”

Scout’s twice-a-week undersea treadmill consultations likewise help preserve his heart function, which tends to reduce as dogs end up being less active, leaving them feeling tired and depressed.

“He’s still able to do something that he really loves to do, which definitely improves his quality of life,” Jerzyk said. “The pressure exerted by the water also helps disperse inflammation out of his tissues and muscles, and that makes him feel better as well.”

Focusing On What’s Important

More than 14 months after his medical diagnosis, Scout continues to be a happy dog and eagerly anticipates his rehabilitation consultations at Texas A&M.

“When Scout first came, he wasn’t a giant fan of rehab,” Jerzyk said. “But quickly he settled into the water and now he actually drags us to the undersea treadmill and climbs up directly in.

“I love his big personality. He really commands a room when he walks in,” she said. “He’s the second dog we have right now that is past their expected lifespan from when they were diagnosed. I guarantee this dog is going to surprise us all, and part of it is because of that big personality.”

Scout might not be moving as rapidly or separately as he utilized to, however his rehab at the SATH has actually offered him and his family much more months of quality time together.

“Our goal with rehab is not about curing the disease — it’s about helping this dog spend as much quality time with his family as he can,” Jerzyk said. “He’s still very mentally alert. You can’t judge him by his function right now; you have to judge him by his quality of life, and he definitely has that.”

For the Perry family, every extra day with Scout is a present.

“He’s still Scout and he’s happy — that’s the most important thing for us,” Sydney said. “We’re so grateful to Dr. (Daniel) Eckman, Sherri, and Heidi (Gaddis, SATH administrative associate) for giving us this extra time with him. We have had so much more time because of what they’ve done for him here.”