The other hind leg follows.
Noodle has taken a step.
Then another.
On the third, one rear paw begins sliding outward.
He stops.
His belly lowers to the pad.
Three steps.
That is enough.
Movement After Severe Matting Can Look Unfamiliar
Noodle's body may need time to adjust to moving without the restrictive coat.
But his continuing weakness means the shelter cannot attribute everything to that adjustment.
The muscles still have to work.
The joints still need to move comfortably.
The nervous system still needs to place the feet accurately.
Each part deserves attention.
His Gait Can Reveal More as He Gets Stronger
When Noodle can walk farther, caregivers can observe patterns that were impossible to evaluate while he could barely stand.
Does one leg consistently perform worse?
Does he scuff his paws?
Does he cross his hind legs?
Does he appear painful when turning?
Does weakness worsen rapidly with activity?
Those details can help distinguish simple deconditioning from other orthopedic or neurologic problems.
One Morning, Noodle Stands Without Immediately Shaking
He pushes himself upward.
His hips rise.
His back legs remain slightly wide.
But they do not slide.
Five seconds pass.
Then ten.
Noodle looks around the kennel.
He takes two steps toward his water.
Stops.
Takes another.
The trembling begins only after he has been upright for a while.
His endurance is changing.
The Skin Changes Too
The red areas do not disappear overnight.
But some begin looking less inflamed.
The exposed skin becomes easier to keep clean.
Noodle seems less bothered by certain areas.
He settles into his bedding with fewer adjustments.
Hair regrowth is not yet the important part.
Comfort is.
His Body Starts Filling Out Slowly
The sharpest contours become less dramatic.
His energy lasts longer.
His shoulders look stronger.
The muscles over his hindquarters still have a long way to go, but Noodle begins using them more.
Instead of pulling almost entirely with his front half, he pushes from behind.
Getting Up Becomes Less of an Event
At first, everyone notices when Noodle attempts to stand because every attempt looks uncertain.
Front paws planted.
Chest up.
Rear legs trembling.
Paws sliding.
Belly down.
Later, he rises before anyone has time to study the process.
One moment he is lying down.
The next he is standing.
That ordinary transition may be one of his biggest milestones.
Then Noodle Walks Across the Kennel
Not quickly.
Not perfectly.