Need Good Thoughts for my Furbaby

[spokewench]

I'm sending all my good thoughts your way. It is so hard when our little ones get sick. Hugs

[Tri Girl]

glad she made it through the night. Will be praying her recovery gets better and better.

[Brandi]

Warm healing wishes. It sounds like she has had a good life. Not all are so lucky to be loved and cared for.

[smilingcat]

I wish Heidi a speedy recovery from whatever ails her. So hard when they can't really tell you why they are hurting. Your vet sounds super!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

The not so great news, my vet is pretty sure she has a back injury.

The great news, he thinks she has the ability to live many more happy years. He said rule of thumb is 6 weeks and we will know if she can hobble around or will need a doggie wheel chair. We pick her up tonight, need to to keep her very immobile for about two weeks and see if she can regain some ability to walk. He thinks she will always be a little crippled but how much is not clear yet. But our baby is going to be with us longer!!

[Tri Girl]

That's GREAT news!!!! Glad to hear you'll get to bring her home tonight!! How are you supposed to keep her immobile (crate?). Awww... a doggie wheelchair (like a little scooter?). Glad she's coming home- for all of you!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

Yep, crate unless we have her sitting in our laps. Luckily she is only 7 pounds so sitting in our laps is where she wants to be. Only problem is she doesn't quite know she is pottying. So she is getting diapers. But we don't euthanize grandma when she needs depends and a walker so we're giving Heidi a shot. We'll just have to see how happy she adapts. My friend had a doxie live 7 years with a back injury. Wasn't keen on her cart so she just scooted. They make little sacks to protect them and booties. Knowing Heidi she may just want to scoot too.

The doggie wheelchairs attach by harness to their back legs, then they just have wheels back there. So her front legs work to pull around the back legs. I even found one she could have her own paint job. I told DH she is so getting a little flag to hotrod around if she has to have a cart!

[Tri Girl]

the mental image of that is soooo cute!!! And being tiny will surely make it easier! What a sweet baby!

[indysteel]

Amanda,

I'm so sorry to read about Heidi's issues, but I'm hopeful you guys will work through them. She's a lucky little dog to have humans so willing to help her. I hope the next few weeks bring positive news and lots of healing.

[KathiCville]

YAYYY! Go, Heidi!!!!.....Does the doc have any idea how the injury happened? Did she fall? Maybe she just really wrenched something out'o'whack, the way we middle-aged folks tend to do..........At any rate---great news!----Now, if you can just convince your seven pounds of cute fur to keep still for the next couple of weeks, she might well surprise everybody and be up dancin' around in no time!

[Eden]

There's a lady around here that I've seen for years regularly walking a little doxie that has a cart. He seems like a perfectly happy little dog. Best wishes to your little one.

[PamNY]

Oh dear, certainly a challenge but it brought tears to me eyes to read your post.

I've seen and heard of many dogs who adjust to a cart or some such. Best of luck to all of you.

[Aggie_Ama]

We have no idea how she injured herself. The vet said sometimes it takes nothing, like you hear of people throwing out their backs tying shoe laces. Keeping her calm is a challenge for sure! She actually is showing signs she knows when she needs to potty, which is an improvement. Still she can't stand to do so which annoys her. She has been crate trained, so that part isn't a bother to her at all.

It is really cool that the vet who owns the practice has a cocker spaniel with partial paralysis. Himself and the other vet we often see were both on her case. The vets are extremely supportive of us for not wanting the back surgery (even the owner who is married to a vet didn't do it to his dog) but wanting her to live with her handicap. They have given us a lot of advice, suggestions and encouragement. We love our vets!

[Koronin]

Hoping she is able to fully recover.

[Aggie_Ama]

In light of so much awful news out right now I thought something happy was needed.

After a week since we brought her home Heidi is standing and walking! Her back right leg trembles and has very limited movement but after one week she has improved amazing amounts. She is still having issues potty, mainly she can't squat so she ends up peeing on herself. But we bought her doggie wipes and she stayed with my parents this week who gave her a bath today. She has really gotten active the past day they said and is becoming a bit of a chore to keep calm. Overall she seems further along than expected but we still don't expect a full recovery. I think she may not need a doggie wheelchair though!