Can barely see through tears to type - 5yr old Cocker in for emergency spinal op

[MIN]

@MIN - So true. I think this week finally caught up to me. They are the absolute worst. I've had them since I was about twelve and every day I wake up wondering if today-is-the-day because there's just no knowing and their timing is terrible. Luckily the pain was only a level two (on a scale of one to ten) so that was a relief. The "hangover" is actually worst than the migraine itself, but I'll take that over some of the awful ones I've had in the past.

Thank you. I've got everything crossed that she'll be back tomorrow and that we'll be walking well on the road to recovery with her.

they say you either grow into them or grow out. I regularly suffered from about 15 until about late fortys. Now they are very rare but still humdingers. 

[Millie-moo2]

Another one here who can't offer any advice but just want you to know I'm thinking of you and keeping everything crossed for a speedy recovery for your faithful friend. So sorry to hear she's going through this. Stay strong xx

[LiliPickles]

Day eight - and Lili is home!

We picked her up this afternoon and she's safely tucked into her play pen - making a lot of frustrated chirping noises haha! The nurse said she's doing better than they expected. She's trying to walk with one leg, but the other is sadly still struggling.

When we came through the door at the clinic today we saw her tail wagging a little bit and she was so excited to see us she peed on the floor, and the nurse said that's a good sign. They're expecting she might pee by herself when she's at home but if she doesn't and I can't express her by tomorrow afternoon I have to pop back and they will do it for me. I'm at the point where I don't care if she pees all over the floor, me, our other dog, my bed - just as long as she pees by herself haha! I'm going to try taking her out to one of her favourite spots before bed to see if that might help.

She's going in for her stitches out on Thursday morning and the surgeon will check her over and assess her progress then. I'm really nervous about having her home, I'm expecting something to go wrong any second but already it just feels so much nicer to have her here. Feels like a home again now. She's wolfed down a bowl of her regular food with her Metacam, and a carrot too for desert haha! She's even attempting to do her "bringing presents" thing she does by picking up a toy to show you whenever you walk by her pen. It's so sad that she can't do the little happy dance she usually does, but I'm hoping the instinct to show off to everyone will help push her towards a full recovery.

I feel more relaxed with her here, but at the same time a lot of my worries have shifted over. I'm concerned about her bladder still, and maintaining her progress at home but I'm hoping that nature will be on our side and get us both through this and back to four-on-the-floor soon.

Here she is....in prison haha!


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@MIN - Ouch! It sucks that we have to be cursed with those damn things. In 2014 I went through almost a whole year of having one every other day or so and it nearly ruined my life. Luckily they weren't "category ten" ones but I was still left with the exhaustion and residual head pain for a day or two after, only to then get another one straight away. It was horrible. Think I've had three this year so far, so I'm counting my blessing on that score too.

@Millie-moo2 - Thank you so much! Really means a lot to see such lovely words.

[ejp]

That looks like a really cosy and plush 'prison' and your little prisoner is looking pretty pleased to be there!  It must be so good to have her home, and you have good support from your vets, so try not to stress too much. Easy for me to say, I know I would be a total fruit cake    Hope you have a reasonably good night. X

[MIN]

welcome home Lili     

[LiliPickles]

Well....I went to get her out of the pen to go to her favourite pee spot (OMG! She's fast for a dog who can only use her front legs haha!) and noticed she looked wet around her back end. Looked into the pen and saw a small yellow patch on the vet bedding...picked it up to clean it and found she'd soaked through to the duvet underneath and then into the (thankfully waterproof) pad bed below that too...Lesson learned about lining with puppy pads and having spare bedding to hand....

But now I'm not sure if I should be worried that she's losing bladder control or something....

They've had to express her since day one, but with the accidental/excitement wee when we collected her, and now this, has me worried.
I guess either,
A. something is suddenly wrong with her bladder control now 
B. she's got the sensation to pee coming back but not the opportunity to, so she's just letting go when she can't hold it any more - because stupid me thought I'd have to express her...

Ugh! I don't know what to think now, and it feels like a horribly long wait until morning to ask one of the nurses.


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@ejp - Haha! I tried my best to make her jail time as cushy as possible. It is great to have her home, but also worrying too. So many things I'm unsure about. Trying to take it all in my stride, but it's all a learning curve I guess.

Thanks @MIN

[Patp]

I think B x think positively you might just have to take her for a wee more often especially now she will be eating and drinking better x

[bizzylizzy]

Welcome Home Lili!!! Glad to hear you're better enough to come home!!!
Sending lots of  and a big lick from Humphrey!

[Darwin]

Lovely to see her home
You'll soon find a routine that works for you both, but she'll soon learn to make a fuss so that you take her out to  the garden more often than she needs to go. 

Darwin didn't wee on his beding but always weed on the towel slings we used to support him. So we ended up having a bag of used ones outside and I would hopefully do one load iof dog washing a day (usually at 6am!). Also we leant to have a box of clean up supplies etc by his crate, coat and crocs ready by the back door etc

[ejp]

You will learn something new every day, it will take time to get into a routine. Don't get overly stressed about a 'wee' accident at this point, she may just need to go more often now. Her inner workings are a bit out of sync just now. Hallelujah for washing machines!!  😀

[Jaysmumagain]

Welcome home Lili - I bet you are so very happy to be at home and back in your own bed.

This time last week things were so bleak and now Lili is home

I think too it is a learning curve, while not ideal that Lili peed her pad - she did go, I would just take it one day at a time and just stay positive - yep every old towel or cut up old sheet that will come in handy over the next few days.

You will get into a routine and she will improve....little positive things to note each day

Just keep saying my girl is home and be strong for the both of you.

Lots of hugs to you both

[LiliPickles]

Day nine post op/first full day at home -

Really struggling to stay positive today....I'm so tired. Feel like I could sleep all day, and I think it's mainly because of the migraine I had on Sunday. Can't stop thinking that "this is our life now" and that things will never get better than they are.

It's making me so sad to see her frustrated. She's so desperate to do what she normally does - like follow us around, and steal things. As soon as I let her out of the pen she makes a bolt for the nearest pair of shoes or slippers to take one and do her little "parade" with it, only she can't do what she normally does and it's breaking my heart to see it.

She had another big pee accident around 2am (Tuesday morning) but nothing for the rest of the day. I couldn't express her myself and she wouldn't settle enough to concentrate on peeing when she was outside (she's so excited by everything!) so I had to take her back to the vet to be expressed this evening.

Feeling like a massive failure and like I'm not doing enough to help her recovery. I'm not sure she's drinking enough or if I'm letting her do too much or not enough. If we could just get the toileting situation in hand I think I'd feel better but I'm so scared that she may never make a full recovery, or anything close to one. I know it's early days but it all seems so impossible. I'm scared that I'm not doing enough for her, and what I am doing might be the wrong thing. Really feeling the weight of it all today.

On the plus side, I did see a couple of wags of her tail this afternoon and while sitting with her on the floor I've found if I place her paws properly she can stand by herself, she's not too strong and she look like she's about to topple any second but she's happy enough to do it and seems to be able to weight bear fairly well. Playing with her feet I also found she tends to push my hand away with one of her legs (her left I think). I really want to get her started on hydro and laser therapy to see if that'll help promote recovery but I'm so disheartened today. Seeing her struggle in her natural environment hurts so much and I feel hopeless.

Big thanks to everyone for the words of support and encouragement. Every bit of strength I can get helps right now. Sorry for the depressing update, I'm just so worried about her future and feel so impatient to get her body to match her spirit.

[Pop-Star]

Hang in there - you've achieved so much in just a few days.
It's no wonder you're tired, everything must be so physically and mentally draining.
One step and one day at a time, and in a week you will marvel at how far you have both come again.
Sending lots & lots of positive vibes for you and Lili.
Thinking of you both xx

[Pearly]

What brilliant progress Lilli is making 

I would suggest reading your post from the very beginning when you are feeling uncertain about how well she is doing, or indeed you! It will give you a benchmark and I think will remind you just how worried you were that Lilli wouldn't even be coming home.

As a fellow migraine sufferer, what you described about yesterday is exactly how I would be.  Stress doesn't help and for 48 hours after I am physically exhausted and if I'm honest I generally feel like everything is too much/overwhelming - even simple things like making a decision to keep a magazine!! (That would be yesterday  )

Bladder control - I've noticed that my two guys had far less bladder control after being spayed.  Although the procedure is very much in the same area, I think there was an element of bruising and internal swelling, which made it hard for them to last.  It will take some time for Lilli to gain control again - she may have little accidents, especially overnight when she's asleep/relaxing and especially as it's only a few days since a pretty intrusive operation and anaesthetic.  You may want to have a look at Jacobs Den who make blankets and beds for dogs that can't last through the night - not cheap but they are very good quality and do what they say they do. 

[bizzylizzy]

Good idea by Pop Star - you've both come an awful long way so far. Try to be kind to yourself, - if you recognize that all this is coming from overtiredness, then you can see that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Is there anyone who could come and sit with Lili for a bit while you cart yourself off to bed or even go for a walk outside, just to try and put a bit of distance between it all for an hour or so? Houswork and other non essentials ( ) can wait for a bit, spoil Lili and spoil yourself,  what do you enjoy doing? Even just sitting down with a book or glossy magazine or some music might just distract you for a little while. There's nothing more depressing and demotivating than tiredness, its a bit of a vicious circle really as worrying also seeps at your energy. I really do think that, although often said, that literally taking each day at a time is the best you can do for now - try not to keep pondering about next week, just get on with today and concentrate on every little bit of progress. It isn't easy, but you're doing really are doing great - just hang on in there, we're all behind you!!!