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

[Jaysmumagain]

Lili has indeed come a long way in 9 days, it must be so difficult seeing her nor scamper for the slipper etc, but the wagging tail has to be a good sign, and you mention her standing.

Has the vet suggested to support her to stand etc, it might be much too soon but might be worth asking them.

Years back we inherited Nana old corgi, she was attacked by another dog and couldn't weight bare on front leg,  after Nana passed she lived with Mum in law and she phoned us when dog was injured and hubby and I brought her home to us and Jay our cocker, understand this is so totally different, but they told me I must turn her every four hours and massage all her paws especially the injured leg and several days later encourage her to stand by hold towel under her belly.  I used to lift her in garden and support her and she start after a few weeks to pee when standing and supported.  I used to dress the wound daily and it never seemed to look better, but the vet saw her weekly and wowed at how well the wound was healing - but I couldn't see it myself and was convinced it was infected etc.

I do understand that Lili needs to keep still - but have they suggested massage.

You must look at how she has come on in last week to quantify her improvements, perhaps your Mum can see this more than you.  It is so difficult when we are around them 24/7 to see this.

Look after your self.

As always sending hugs to you both.

[MIN]

Gemma has been know to do covert pees. She will be asleep on your knee and you get that warm soggy  feeling. There is no medical  reason causing it. Just something that happens

[Patp]

I have just been looking at these homemade supports which could be a temporary solution?
http://www.handicappedpets.com/lanies-homemade-dog-wheelchair

[LiliPickles]

Day 11 post op/Day 4 home.

Hey all,

Sorry for not updating for a couple of days, I've been feeling really disheartened about Lili's recovery. I don't think I realized how hard it would be when there's no veterinary nurses saying "she's done X today" or "she did Y earlier" and pointing out every little change in her abilities, so I'm finding myself just waiting for something to change and it feels like a change never comes...So the words "this how life is now, forever..." kept swimming in my head and knocking my confidence in her recovery and my abilities to help heal her....

But tonight, I actually saw her lift her left hind leg and scratch herself behind the ear!

She hasn't done that since she's been home, at least not that I'm aware of. I saw her try to do it yesterday but either she lacked the strength or the coordination to do it, but tonight she did it. I got so excited by it I burst into tears and she stopped and starred at me like "what the hell is wrong with you, woman?" haha! I really hope that's a good sign of progress...

Her right leg is struggling and not coming on as well as her left, which worries me. She's got some good reflexes there (I think, but I'm no expert) but when I stretch it out and push back to test stability it gives very easily, where as the right seems to hold well.

Took her to the vets today to get her stitches out. The nurses said she seems to be doing well. They saw her walking across the car park and agree that she's trying to get her legs going and her tail swishes away every second she's in the sling, but sadly not when she's lying down.

I've booked her in for her first hydro session tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed it all goes well. I'm going to try to get her in for laser therapy and acupuncture too, anything that might help her get back on all four paws. I can see how desperate she is to get back into her old ways and it hurts my heart that she can't do it. As soon as I open the pen door she rushes out as fast as her two (and a bit) legs can carry her and we have to hold her back to stop her racing all over the house.

She's so good with her physical therapy, but I'm not sure if I'm doing it with her enough. I spend about an hour and a half to two hours a day with her doing massage and passive movements with her. I feel like I could be doing more, but at the same time I'm worried that too much might not be a good thing either.

Erm...what else....Oh yeah, I actually managed to express her bladder yesterday, but unfortunately we've still had a few accidents. She won't go in any of her favourite spots, and I'm starting to think it's partly because she just wants to do everything BUT pee, and also because she's such an independent dog, and she's not really used to someone hovering over her while she goes. Plus the grim wet weather probably isn't helping either.

We have the back door open most of the time so she and our GSD tend to take themselves out to the toilet whenever they need, and she relies on him to ask if the door is shut (they would go outside together and pee in tandem, it's quite funny!) so I think her usual habits are hampering her in the toilet department. I want to try taking her out with our GSD but I'm scared to death something might happen to hurt her so I'm going to wait until she's (hopefully) a bit stronger and keep everything crossed that the toilet situation resolves itself once she's more mobile and can have her privacy again haha!

On a personal level, I'm still exhausted and drained of everything. Dreading the electricity/water bill coming in with all the extra laundry haha! Tonight is really the first night that I've left as if I could relax enough to watch a TV show or something just to zone-out for a little while. Hoping I don't live to regret it...

Here's a snap of her behind bars haha!


Huge thanks to everyone who has left messages of encouragement, support and advice.  I can't tell you how much it helps to know that people care and understand. Thank you for having faith in me and Lili, I really hope once hydro gets started I'll be able to share more positive progress with you all.

[ejp]

Looking good Lili  I think she actually looks better in herself.  And a scratch behind the ear is amazing progress, you try scratching behind your ear with your foot  Now you know I think that you are both making good progress, and you need to stop giving yourself a hard time!  What is the occasional pee puddle between friends...  if she had a gyppy tummy and left a mess you wouldn't worry so much, so just look it as all part of the healing process.  If the vets were worried, they would tell you.  Be kind to yourself 

[bizzylizzy]

Looking good Lili  I think she actually looks better in herself.  And a scratch behind the ear is amazing progress, you try scratching behind your ear with your foot  Now you know I think that you are both making good progress, and you need to stop giving yourself a hard time!  What is the occasional pee puddle between friends...  if she had a gyppy tummy and left a mess you wouldn't worry so much, so just look it as all part of the healing process.  If the vets were worried, they would tell you.  Be kind to yourself 

Exactly! 

[MIN]

it is encouraging news.
 As for acupuncture . do not know the effects on dogs but if it has the same effect on them as it did on me then give it a whirl if the opportunity arises. Convinced that if I had not had it I would today be in a wheelchair (chronic pain due to muscle spasms)
But it is  early days still and she is doing really well. Keep posting, we really are routing for you both

[AlanT]

Years back there was a TV series from the RSPCA vet hospital. The chief vet was an advocate of acupuncture on dogs.

I remember seeing a big Lab, with a back problem, that was struggling to move. With regular acupuncture we was running about.

Convinced me.

[Jaysmumagain]

Thinking of you both, this post does seem a little more positive, it seems like the vet has good  follow up therapies, need to keep positive that all this will help.  Look at where Lili is now - it truly is looking better.

Keep strong and know we are all thinking of you.

[lillyann]

Oh poor you I cannot imagine how awful this is..... please stay strong she needs you ....you are all she has xxx


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[Markr64]

I have been away for a few days and I am so happy to see the improvements you have posted. It will take time and only do what you can both take, I have a spinal injury myself and I am told to work out what I can do and then do slightly less so not to put things under strain. Little and often is the way.

All the best for the both of you and she does look a happier girl at home.

[LiliPickles]

Day twelve post op/day five home - Lili had her first hydro session this morning - all reports are that she's doing really well and I'm so pleased. Walking into the clinic she was trying her hardest to get her legs going, which was great to see, she's certainly not short of energy haha!

The vet who operated on her was watching from one of the treatment rooms as she came in and he was nodding approvingly at how she was trying to walk and twirling around all crazy with excitement haha! I'm hoping the sixty percent chance he gave her has increased now.

She had laser therapy to start with (to warm her up) and then about a ten minute session (in two parts) in the tank on the underwater treadmill. Poor little soul seemed a bit bewildered by it all but she did so well. The therapist was really pleased with how she did, and as she was getting dried off she continued to keep trying to get up standing on her own and almost doing it a couple of times. So I'm really happy with how things are going so far. She's made so much progress in just twelve days, I'm feeling really hopeful that she's well on the way to getting this thing licked. She's back in for another session on Tuesday and hopefully looking at going twice a week.

The only downside was that the tissue of her scar is sticking to itself, and causing a bit of a lump, so I have to start massaging it directly to make sure it separates properly but other than that it's a thumbs up all round.

I asked about doing acupuncture with her but the therapist said she didn't think it was necessary right now because Lili is doing so well. But if she hits a plateau at some point they'll try it, but so far there's no need for it. Which I think is really good news, and also gives us an avenue to go down if her progress slows at any point. The therapist said it doesn't seem to be IVDD, which is good news too.

I also manage to express her bladder myself earlier and so she's comfortable in her pen having just had her pain med and some light physio. Overall, I'm feeling a lot more "lifted" today. I just hope her progress continues to build in the way it has these last couple of days. I'm so proud of what a little trooper she is and how she's trying so hard to beat this thing.

Here's her little post-hydro "I'm doing so good!" face haha!

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@ejp - Hahaha! That's a good point, I don't think I could do it with all the will in the world! Thank you so much. I am trying to look at it that way, and the therapist today seemed to think that once she's more mobile the toileting will come right too. I don't mind wet bedding changes and extra laundry as long as she keeps moving in the right direction. I'll be paid back tenfold for them when she's recovered.

@MIN - It's good to know you have positive experiences with acupuncture, a know a few people who swear it helped change their lives. It's nice to know we've got somewhere to go if Lili's progress slows down, hoping we won't need to try it but whatever it takes!

@AlanT - Really? That's awesome. I hope that if we need to try it for Lili that she has such good results.

@Jaysmumagain - Thank you so much. It means the world to know you're thinking of us. I'm trying my best to keep focused on the little goals and progressions. I expect there will be more down-days in the future but it makes good-days so much sweeter.

@Lillyann - I am trying As long as I can do all this stuff to help her, I will keep doing it.

@Markr64 - It's so good to know you can see the improvements in her. And that sounds like a good motto to me, overdoing it can so easily hamper progress, especially with spinal related things. Thank you so much.

[ejp]

Just look at that wee face  she looks so pleased with herself, and so she should be. That is a really good update, so pleased for you both. Xx

[lillyann]

Oh .... my ....aren't animals so amazing I have seen it on The Supervet with Noel just look at her joyful face if that face cannot give you strength nothing will xx


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[Jaysmumagain]

She has such a happy face, so in her mind things might have changed in her little life - but she is home and when she looks at you to take her photo you see one happy and loving doggie face.

You are such a brave little girl.

As always hugs to you both.