<p>Hoping for good news when you get there… maybe a big hug from you is what will do the trick.
I will be sending lots of healing vibes your way my family to yours!</p>
<p>I shared your story with my DH and son and they send their prayers your way as well. </p>
<p>Best to you!</p>
<p>Ah Patch, Get Well Soon! </p>
<p>And Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girl – may all her wishes come true!</p>
<p>our thoughts and prayers to berurah and Patch. Tasha the dachshund sends a special woof.</p>
<p>Sending prayers and good wishes your way.</p>
<p>Gee, berurah, this is going to be a very tough decision for you. Wish the news was better, but am sure you will do what’s best for him.
For him to still be around and active at age 13 shows you must have been doing something right all these years! I’ll be thinking of you–</p>
<p>Not meaning to be repetitious, but just wanted to send out another positive thought, hope and prayer for your guy to pull through.</p>
<p>^^bullwinkle, you can <em>never</em> be too repetitious in this situation. We appreciate any and all thoughts for Patch from each and every one of you.</p>
<p>Thank you ALL so very, very much! love, ~berurah</p>
<p>oooh, berurah. I just saw this thread! I am sooo sorry to hear of poor patch’s injuries and challenging recovery. FWIW, my father in law’s dog had a spinal cord injury and wore doggie wheels for years. Here are a few examples: <a href=“http://www.doggon.com/home.html[/url]”>http://www.doggon.com/home.html</a>
<a href=“http://www.eddieswheels.com/[/url]”>http://www.eddieswheels.com/</a>
He wasn’t always continent because of his spinal injury (he tended to poo when he was excited) but he had a great quality of life for many years, and he was a real attention-getter when they went out for walks!</p>
<p>jym626 – that is very touching.</p>
<p>Thanks mstee. It was always heartwarming to see him running/rolling in when we came to visit! (Brings a smile to my face as I think about it. You couldn’t help but laugh). They tiled the family room so he could get around easily and they could easily clean up after him. He was a great dog and worth the effort. Happy, with a heart of gold.</p>
<p>Still pulling for Patch.</p>
<p>Mstee-
I am amazed ant the number of sites that provide dog carts <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=294284&goto=newpost[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=294284&goto=newpost</a></p>
<p>dog wheelchairs <a href=“http://www.wheelchairsfordogs.com/[/url]”>http://www.wheelchairsfordogs.com/</a> etc.
How wonderful that all of these resources are available for our family members, eh?</p>
<p>jym~</p>
<p>It’s funny…my kids had just mentioned seeing this type of thing on a television program. If things don’t start improving and SOON, I’m going to start researching these. Do you know how your FIL handled the incontinence? This has been a problem for us as he is <em>SO</em> big and hard for me to carry by myself. Any info. would be appreciated! Thank you SO much!</p>
<p>~b.</p>
<p>A year ago, I saw two eldery men walking a VERY old dog. One was holding the front leash, the other was holding a kind of harness they had made- padded on the stomach area, holding up the dog’s back end. The dog was so happy, not quite walking but having that feeling of being out, smelling, and get some brain stimulation…it was sooooo adorable and heartwarming…</p>
<p>berurah-
This was a small dog, so the incontinence was easy to clean up. I think the problem itself is dependent in part on where the injury is to the spinal cord.
When our late dog had severe health problems, we had him wear a belly band <a href=“Dog Breeds - Dog-Breeds.net - A Directory for Dog Breeds Big and Small”>Dog Breeds - Dog-Breeds.net - A Directory for Dog Breeds Big and Small; or a doggie diaper <a href=“http://www.petdiapers.com/[/url]”>http://www.petdiapers.com/</a> <a href=“http://www.petdiapers.com/diaper/[/url]”>http://www.petdiapers.com/diaper/</a> There are a number of products out there for dogs with problems in this area. Hang in there!</p>
<p>berurah - I’m so sorry to hear Patch is still struggling. We are definitely sending our prayers your way (that includes the bossy little Chihuahua and the two old Siamese cats that live here too.)</p>
<p>Just so you know… As I mentioned, our dog was in a similar accident years ago (also dragged under a car and had severe lower limb injuries and internal injuries). It was weeks before we knew she was going to be okay. She ended up healing without surgery, but lost all range of motion in one of her hips and back legs. However, she somehow compensated and managed to get around fine ‘hopping’ along like half dog/half bunny. She lived for years after the accident. Don’t give up hope, it just may take some time.</p>
<p>I think the success of surgeries, carts, supportive harnesses depends on the dog.
Years ago, my Mom couldn’t bear to put down her 13-yr-old rottweiler when he developed a spinal problem. The surgery was somewhat successful, but he needed us to hoist him onto his feet so he could get moving, and needed assistance with a towel underneath his belly while walking. He lived a few months like that, but gradually deteriorated. He was also incontinent during this time, and I can still remember her cleaning him up almost every time we visited. She still feels that she gave him a few more good months, but I would have to disagree, in that he just didn’t seem very happy. I think he was a poor candidate from the start – a very large, dog (100+ lbs.), in great health for his age, but still, 13 was old for his breed. If he had been a zippy little jack russell or similar, the results might have been quite different.</p>
<p>I think you probably know your dog’s spirit and personality well enough to make the call. It would be wonderful if he was able to regain use of his legs on his own. Has the vet ruled this out?</p>
<p>Good luck to you, your family and Patch!</p>
<p>Beruah,
Our rescue beagle/border collie, Kira, sends Patch one of her special beef jerky treats and a big kiss! Kira’s staff (AKA the rest of us here) also send hope and healing thoughts your way…</p>
<p>CountingDown</p>
<p>Berurah
Coco and Rosie send their very best licks.
They do make doggie diapers just an fyi.</p>
<p>xoxoxo andi</p>