Battle Scars

Last week, I introduced you to Abigail Jane and asked you to keep her in your prayers. I will say that my vet (whom we love and trust with our animals' lives) does take the wait and see approach and while they do surgery - they refer out for major medical issues. I will also say that my vet said she hurt her neck, he just didn't know how - if resting didn't help then they would refer out. Well as you know, resting didn't help - we self-referred to a local doggy orthopedic and she meet him on Friday afternoon. My good friend - the Anonymous Miss D - meet us at the vet. It's a good thing she was there, she asked all the right questions that I was unable to even think of. Dr. Duke did the x-rays and bloodwork eliminating anything easy. He said the next step was an MRI. By Friday evening Abby was so weak that she couldn't stand on her own, she would often stumble - falling on her chest. She was, however, still pottying on her own which I took as a great sign. Saturday morning I took her to Seattle Veterinary Specialists who did another exam, determined that she hurt her neck somehow and that the next step was an MRI. They said I could bring her home and make an appointment as a referral to have her seen on Monday, but if I left her with them, they would manage her pain and she was be examined first thing in the morning by Dr. Sanders. Dr. Sanders called me Monday morning after doing the exam and again in the afternoon after her MRI. The MRI showed a severely herniated disc between C4-C5. He said it was a low risk operation and she would have a great chance at being a "proper" dog again. So, Tuesday Abby had surgery on her spine to remove the herniated disc which was putting so much pressure on her spinal cord, causing extreme pain and weakness. Last night, JB and I went to visit her. Because of our vacation - she will be boarded at the vet until we get home. So (again thanks to Miss D) I finished the felted bone (Sorry Henry,I'll make you another) - I let Lucy play with it for a minute. I also took a piece of fleece - we had Dudley sit on it for awhile and JB rubbed him all over with it. Hopefully this will bring her a little comfort. As for Abby herself - she's still a little whinny. Probably indicating she's still in quite a bit of pain. She is managing to move around a little bit by herself, although her legs are still really weak. The front more so than the back. She had gotten a bath shortly before we arrived and her toenails were cut during surgery. Poor girl - they are doing all the things she hates! She did managed to roll onto her side so she could get tummy rubs. We will know she's doing fine when she can roll over on her back for belly rubs - her all time favorite thing in the world. Her incision is huge! Poor baby and she's stitched up like Frankenstein. But she seems to be in a fairly good spirits. And I am impressed with the techs that have helped us with the visits each time we have gone. The guy last night (who's name I didn't catch) seemed to really like her. I went to get him because she drank a ton of water and started whinging again - usually indicating she needs to potty. As hard as she was to housebreak - she now hates to potty in the house and I can't imagine soiling yourself would be very comfortable. He came back with a shoulder harness so she can walk as much as possible on her own. Giving her shoulders support without putting any pressure on her neck and allowing the human to lift her front legs and shoulders off the ground. She was in heaven outside sniffing and took a long time to find the right place to potty. The Musical One is going to see her today and Miss L has agreed to visit her while we are on vacation. So - all in all - she is now the most expensive dog I know but she will be fine. Other than the intense stress and fear I felt of the unknown and the pain she was in - I wouldn't trade her for the world or do anything different. I need to give a public shout out to bloggless Miss D, Jessica (go read her blog and leave a comment please), Cami and Chan all of whom spent countless hours on the phone with me, reassuring me, checking on Abby and making sure everything was okay. As well as several of the members of Dogs on Thursday who sent emails, support, prayers and good wishes. It worked everyone. thank you.