OMG! she's A-DORABLE!!!!

Just checking in to see how Layla is doing. You're still in my thoughts and prayers! It's great that she is getting acupuncture. I have had that many times, and it has always done wonders for me, so I pray it also does for Layla. Hugs to you!

OH my gosh, she is just too cute! :) :)

Thanks everyone. She is adorable and she has had my heart since the second I saw her :love:

Last night she went upstairs with her daddy while I got ready for bed, and when I came up it looked like she had a big smile on her face. Scott had just finished giving her a good scratch all over, and then we did her exercises with her. She looked so happy.

This morning she worried me in the car because she was trying to get out of her crate, and she tried to turn around backwards and kind of scaled her upper body along the back of the crate, and ended up falling backwards on her back :( I couldn't do anything about it. Hopefully nothing happened :(:(:(

It's so cool that she gets to go to work with you. She's beautiful and looks content just to be next to you at work. Hope you both have a great day today xo

Thank you.

I have had a couple of people already tell me today that I need to start facing the facts and I'm just not living my life like I used to :mad: DUH! This has changed my whole life, and I have no right to end the life of another soul because it may inconvenience MY life! :mad: I am struggling still, of course, but we are still trying to adjust. We've only had her home for a week. I was never expecting something like this to happen.

I love her so much and she is in no pain. She is confused and frustrated, but she just needs some comfort. It's so hard on me when someone tells me to put her to sleep :mad: The support from everyone else is so great, and it only takes a couple of bad comments to make me spiral down. I need to believe in my baby because miracles do happen and Layla always gets what Layla wants. She wants to walk. She wants to run in the yard again.

Lindsey, there is no reason to put Layla to sleep if she is in no pain and still has quality of like. There are many dogs that are paralyzed in their rear legs and that is why companies make wheelchair devices for them to be able to walk again. Hopefully, Layla will walk on her own one day soon. Have faith....but be prepared. If she can't, she can still enjoy her life and you can enjoy your life and her. :animal-pa

Lindsey,

That picture of Layla is so precious. She looks comfortable to me. I hope YOUR back is better. I used to get a pinched nerve in my back when I was younger, but for some reason it just stopped happening. Hope you'll have that kind of luck, too! Sending hugs and kisses and prayers for Miss Layla.:)

Good post. I completely agree. :thumbup:
It angers me so that we are living in such a disposable society. Unless one has experienced the unconditional love of a pet they really just cannot understand. Theses little bundles of fur are as much members of our families than our 'skin' children are.
Be strong and ignore unsolicited advice.
Happy Mother's Day to you and your family!

Hi Just wanted to check in and see if any news on Layla and how Lindsey's back was feeling. I hope you Scott and Layla have a nice weekend.
Happy Mother's Day ( momma to layla that is) :)

Honestly, I don't have words to express just how highly I think of you from watching you and Layla go through this experience. I think you are a truly incredible human being.

I think you are someone who understands real, enduring love between herself and another being.

You're exactly the kind of person who I would hope to be, if something like this ever should happen in my life. I really admire you. :love:

Well said! :animal-pa

Layla is doing okay and my back is almost back to normal!

On Friday we picked her up and her vet let us know that while swimming that day, she could get her to do a few backwards kicks by tickling her back feet. It is still a reflex, but it is much better than she did on Wednesday. It's good to get a kicking motion started so that her spinal cord will start to recognize the action and tell her brain "When we're in water, kick your back legs" Basically she is having to relearn everything.

Last night she got a nice treat because my parents drove over 2 hours to visit us and bring some food (I needed some home cooking like nothing else!) and just for some support. It was so nice to see them. And oh boy did Layla get excited! Visitors! Not just any visitors, but probably the people who spoil her most! She was so excited, and even if she couldn't wag her tail, you could see it in her eyes! She got tons of attention.

Today we had her acupuncture appointment and it went as well as usual. She laid in my lap this time and was much more relaxed than when she's on the table. This time, the vet stimulated her other back leg with the electrical current, as well as around her surgery site.

After that, we went to the woman's house for Reiki. It was SO weird, we sat down and as soon as we got comfortable and she started, Layla laid right down on the leather couch and was completely relaxed. That is so weird for her in a strange place. Scott came back in the middle (he ran to get some cash that we forgot to stop for on our way!) and Layla got a little excited again, but she started acting strange, staring at Scott with a different look than usual, and jerking her head back to look at the woman's hands over her. She licked Scott's and my hands without a problem but would not lick the hands of the woman.

After about half an hour she told us that Layla had enough, and she got a lot of energy today. She said she could feel a lot of heat and tingling in her hands, so she knows there was some healing going on but she can't say for sure how well it will work, etc. She also told us that the energy will stay with Layla for the next 5-7 days as long as she keeps well-hydrated. It's very important that she has water with her. And OMG... She has drank at least 4 full bowls of water since. She usually will drink 1/3 to 1/2 bowl of water a day. 4 bowls is just insane.

When we got home, the woman had emailed us saying she should have told us while we were there but wanted to let us know that she also did some quantum touch and theta healing on Layla, so she had a very powerful session today. She thinks it might take a few sessions or maybe even 6 or more for her to start showing real improvements. She said that she really wants to help us to get Layla's legs back. I can't help but to totally believe it after how Layla was acting today. I know my dog and she does not act like that or DRINK like that!

And finally, I think we may have some improvement... I am 95% sure that Layla can control her poop. I will talk to the vet about it next week, but either it's a huge coincidence, or she means to not poop unless we happen to have her outside, or over her pad. She has pooped in her crate now twice, but she has tried to get away, and was crying beforehand. Today I asked her a few times if she had to poop after she was whining, and she knows the word poop. Her ears perked up and when we took her to her pad, she pooped. Tonight we didn't think she really had to because she went only 2 hours earlier. But she perked up when I said the word. We left her for at least another half hour and she cried the whole time. Finally, we took her to her pad, and she pooped! That brings us to a whopping FIVE poops today, but she is letting us know. We were told she'd be walking before regaining control of bladder or bowels. We still have to express her bladder, but I think she's getting the pooping thing back :) OR maybe she never lost it.

Thank you so much. I have always looked up to you from your knowledge of yorkies in your posts!

I really don't feel incredible. I feel like I'm just trying to get through this one day at a time. I probably couldn't have even gotten through the first day without YT support and Scott by my side. I was such a wreck. I cried at work every day last week! But it won't just go away and I have to face it, so I'm trying to do the best I can.

Oh, I totally agree with Ann. You are most definitely an incredible person and Layla is so lucky to have you and Scott.

I hope she gave you LOTS of yorkie kisses today! :)

Glad to hear she's doing well....

When people say things about face the facts, and PTS... just tell them something like:
Well, years ago, that was the reccommended treatment for her type of injury. But, currently, with the advances made in veterinary medicine, the reccommendation is that this type of injury can be repaired, and there is no longer any need to PTS pets that have a loving family who can care for them and see them through their illnesses. This is the path we have chosen, we are very well aware of the other options, thank you. And we would greatly appreciate you not commenting on the subject again, as we are quite capable of making our own decisions, and we are trying to remain positive at all times and to follow our vet's treatment plan, to give her the best care and best chance for recovery possible.

And if they say stuff in front of Layla, cover her ears with your hands, so she cannot hear it.

In her crate, try cutting a used, non slip bathroom or kitchen rug (laundered, some have a chemical odor). Maybe it will help calm her.

Sadly, so many people see dogs as possessions, and are so quick to get rid of them when things get tough or expensive. When our first dog was sick, I heard it all the time... why did you do surgery that cost 3 grand on a 9 yr old dog, are you nuts... Eventually, I got angry enough, and I screamed at work (through my tears) that I felt sorry for anyone who has never felt the kind of love it takes to spend that kind of money to keep an animal alive. Just because they have 4 legs instead of 2 doesn't mean that we have the right to end their lives if they can have a happy life. We eventually did have to make the choice to PTS as the cancer had spread, but not before spending another $1000 or so on medications and vet visits trying for just one more day.

Layla is SO lucky to have you. Truly lucky. So many would have thrown her to the curb long ago. So many do not know the kind of love that you know. The kind of connection that you feel. Anytime you're feeling down, all you need to do is remember that Layla is counting on you to keep it together. YOU are her lifeline. And as long as you are doing everything in your power to help her (and you ARE!), you are doing your job.

You are truly blessed to have one another. Layla WILL have a great life. This is only temporary, and with your help she will learn to thrive whether she gets use of her legs back or not. And we will be here, cheering you all on, no matter the outcome. We all know that no matter what, Layla will be ok!

:thumbup::thumbup:

Beautiful post! :)

Thank you so much for this post. Layla has been giving me kisses all evening, sitting on the couch between Scott and I. This will get easier on all of us.

You're welcome :) I don't post a lot, but know I am always thinking about you and reading up on how Layla is doing. She is right where she is meant to be.. with you. I honestly feel there will be improvements soon, I am looking forward to that post. I know it will come! Only temporary... this too shall pass.

Thank you!

Last night we had a little setback... She was laying down between us on the futon, being so good, and then she adjusted her position and in the blink of an eye she was on the floor :eek: She "jumped" to go get some water. It scared me so much. There was no thud, no hard hit on the floor, and Scott even called it graceful, but it is exactly what she's NOT allowed to do. We were told specifically don't let her on furniture if she's going to be able to fall off. She could hurt her back more. I was so mad at myself and it happened so quickly, I felt sick all night. Scott keeps reassuring me it was only about a foot and a half drop, and she did not twist her back and she landed on her tummy. But I am so worried still :( She didn't seem to be hurt, but then I don't know if she could feel it if she was. From now on, she's in her crate unless our hands are on her.

This morning Scott was doing her exercises and said she seems to be able to almost hold her own weight when he puts her in a standing position! He said it's more than she had yesterday. I'm hoping he's right!

Maybe the fall and instinct made her legs move for her and loosened her spine .... you know she might enjoying all this 'laying around'. Now she knows she has to get better because you'll catch on! :) :) (i'm kidding of course) but I'm glad to hear the progress of this morning!

Just checking on little Layla...:)

Just stopping by to see how Layla and you are all doing. Glad to hear she is okay from her little fall. Hope all is going well....keep the faith! :animal-pa

OMG Linz, I am sure that must have scared the bejeezus out of you!
I'm glad it didn't cause a relasp

If it did we'd have no way to know anyway :( She has no sensation so she wouldn't know if she's hurt.

I think of your beautiful little Layla everyday and pray for a miracle for her.:)

Thank you so much. We are still praying like crazy too. We are unable to get her to acupuncture this week because the vet is only in the same days we drop Layla off for the day for rehabilitation at the university.

Yesterday at work, I was in a meeting and took Layla with me to sit on my lap because these meetings tend to be pretty long and I didn't want her crying or trying to get out of her crate to find me if I left her at my desk. After about 45 minutes, her back legs started twitching enough to lift her butt up a little, and her tail started twitching like crazy too... not a wag, not an up-and-down motion, but kind of circular and all over the place. I was worried she was going to poop :rolleyes: so I put my hand over her butt to keep her tail still, but it was going hard enough that I couldn't hold it down. I am going to ask about that if we see her vet tomorrow or Friday. Maybe it's a good sign, but I'm prepared to hear the same old "It's just a reflex."

She also finished her bethanechol pills, which are used to keep muscle tone in her bladder. Basically she's not using her bladder, and we're just pushing on it to get it to release, so by the time she gets function back, if she gets function back, she could end up with just a big flabby piece of muscle that she can't control anyway. So I'm going to ask if she can have more of those pills.

I had a dream last night that Layla started walking with her back legs if she was walking slowly, but they would drag if she started running or walking fast. It was weird because no matter what, her butt still stayed level with the rest of her body lol. But I'm going to just take that dream as a good sign.

We have a glimmer of hope!

The vet today said she noticed more tone in Layla's left leg and her abdomen. She also seems to be able to hold her own weight for a split second, just as Scott and I thought we noticed in the past few days! This just confirms it, there is a tiny bit of progress. The vet said she's very happy with where Layla is at right now.

Please keep your prayers coming!

Wonderful news!:D I came to check on Layla before going to bed and I'm so glad I did. It makes me happy to see any progress and I think your dream is fascinating as well. I sometimes look at them as an omen. Keep on keepin' on, Miss Layla. We're all pulling for you and sending you lots of prayers for healing.:)