<p>“In my haze of falling asleep last night, I came up with the idea of sending pooch a handmade get well card. I have officially gone to the other side!”</p>
<p>Teri, it is ok to send a card to your granddoggie. :)</p>
<p>Just now had a chance to really catch up with D2 since Friday night. Pooch came home on Sunday afternoon, and they’re adjusting to her needs. When I called they had just gotten back from taking her for her first sling walk. The people at the animal hospital told them she was doing well enough that they could start on that today. They said she was just starting to get the hang of it after five minutes or so, that she can move her front legs and the rest of her body will follow. They also have some PT exercises they do with her three times/day. The first night home, they each took turns sleeping on the floor next to her crate because she was whining so much. They have to ‘express’ her bladder, which D said is not fun, but it has to be done. She’s eating and drinking well, and is on steroids and some pain meds. D said her incision is almost 5" long, which I don’t quite understand. If it’s just a ruptured disc, why do they open up such a big area? The staples will come out in two weeks. </p>
<p>D also said as of last night and today, she has started seeing more movement in pooch’s tail when she expresses her bladder… not a lot, but it had been none up until last night. So we think that’s a good sign. The hard part is they won’t know for several weeks how much function she will get back, but it’s obvious already that it will be some. The whole thing just still breaks my heart. I asked D what was the hardest part about having her home, and she said not seeing her tail wag all the time like it used to, having to express her bladder, and the incision. I think D has had to grow up a lot in the last four days!</p>
<p>My fiance and I did save the date pictures this weekend and of course our fur baby had to be involved. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, she was terrified of the sign we kept putting in front of her. It made for some pretty adorable pictures though (she wasn’t cooperative). </p>
<p>Teri, thanks for the progress report! I think it took about a couple of weeks until we knew our dog had regained some function in his hind legs. His recovery took about a couple of months - the vet was amazed that at almost 10 years old, our dog was in such great shape. </p>
<p>“They have to ‘express’ her bladder, which D said is not fun, but it has to be done”</p>
<p>^^my sister the vet said, “Count your blessings - it is much easier to catheterize a male dog than a female”! They have to do this bladder expression regularly so there would not be any complications.</p>
<p>(I miss my dog. We had to put him to sleep when his IVDD came back. He was almost 13, so chances of him doing better after a surgery were nil. He crossed the rainbow bridge on Haloween 2011… best dog ever).</p>
<p>Wanted to update everyone on D’s pooch. It’s now been 3 1/2 weeks since her surgery. I wasn’t hearing a lot in the beginning, because I think it was pretty intense for them when they brought her home.</p>
<p>Talked to her today, and as of a couple of days ago, she started to show deliberate wagging of the tale, and then the following day started attempting to stand up on her own inside her special box they have her in - she can stand for a little bit. Also, she told me that pooch actually peed on their bed today, which was a good thing since they’ve been expressing her bladder for three weeks now. The peeing indicates she is slowly getting some sensation back in her bladder! When they took her to get her sutures removed last Wednesday, the people at the vet hospital told them they were taking excellent care of her. So I’m much more hopeful now.</p>
<p>I want to thank everyone who contributed to my learning curve of IVDD, and for all the links to websites that facilitated this training. And I hope I never have to call upon this information again!</p>
<p>Teri, I’m so glad to hear the encouraging news! Kudos to the doggie parents for taking good care of her. </p>
<p>It is going to be a long night. Our oldest golden celebrated his 15th birthday. His back legs have been weak but today…he wouldn’t eat. He really didn’t and couldn’t walk. I called my children…they came over. I am hoping that we find a flu…and not what killed another of our goldens. But this very old man, whom we adopted when he was 7 months old…has been much loved. </p>
<p>He hasn’t eaten all day. Tonight I gave him coffee cake, which he did eat. </p>
<p>Awww, bevhills… I hope he is just having a senior moment. I can totally related to the long night… been there, done that.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Bev, sending good thoughts for your golden boy. <em>hugs</em></p>
<p>Is he doing any better, bevhills?</p>
<p>It is wonderful that you have had him until 15. Hugs to you and your family, including the golden kids.</p>
<p>Thank you! All of you for the kind thoughts. My Buddy (yes, the ElleBUD) is at the vet…now. Late last night our whole family got together. My new dil took over the kitchen. Buddy did eat the coffee cake. He and our other golden did make it upstairs to sleep in their beds. </p>
<p>Will he come home? I don’t know. </p>
<p>Sending my thoughts to you bev! My goldens didn’t live past 12, so that is great you have had the chance to have him for so long. </p>
<p>((( Ellebud )))</p>
<p>Ellebud, hugs!.. </p>
<p>My baby dog is at his second vet of the day. MRI and a blood panel…no word yet.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. We who are fortunate enough to have our animal children…even though we “know” that they will leave us at some point…it doesn’t get easier. We all know one thing: we have done our best to give them the life they deserve.</p>
<p>…my Boo did eat coffee cake last night. And if he is willing…steak for this evening. Hand fed (of course) if necessary</p>
<p>We have our answer: intestinal cancer very advanced. We will decide what to do tomorrow. At the moment he is comfortable. BTW, because of his age he saw the vet every three months. Blood panels…how this was missed I will never know.</p>
<p>More hugs. Cancer can be very aggressive and fast-spreading. :(</p>
<p>Oh, my heart is aching for your Buddy and your family. I’m sure you will do everything to make sure he remains nothing but comfortable.</p>