1. Quality of life: Dogs like a comfy bed, food and a roof overhead, and they love to just spend time with their owners, maybe some toys and treats.. Anything else is a bonus. Maybe you can arrange for a petsitter/dogwalker to come by when you can no longer take her to work with you. If there's a vet's office close by, see if a tech would be interested, if she still requires having her bladder emptied manually. You can still go on walks, get a pet stroller for her. My oldest has trouble keeping up sometimes, and absolutely loves to ride along and look at the sights and have the breeze in his face. Occassionally I stop and set him down for a close up sniff of the grass, when he's done he wants right back in the stroller!

2. Making her happy: Dogs are happiest when their owners are happy. This has not changed her, she is still the same dog she used to be (sucking on the pillow case, licking your eyelid and the thing she does with her tongue). The only thing that has changed is how she gets around, and how you see her. You have got to look at this as temporary. If a person breaks an arm or leg, they are still the same person they were before...

3. I am a retired vet tech (20 years). I will let you in on a little secret: Vets will never tell your dog will walk again. Because if they don't, they would probably be sued. So please do not take their negativity to heart. They are only protecting themselves. If you are pinching your dog's toes, and she withdraws her foot, then she is feeling that sensation.

4. The tail wag: This is monumental! This is the one sign that the connection between the head (brain) and the tail is in working order. Nerves do regenerate, sometimes it can take months. The little signs you've seen are signs that she is healing, and I truly believe that she will regain her ability to walk. I have seen close to one hundred dogs have back surgery, and for the life of me I can't remember one that didn't make a complete recovery. One did reinjure himself, and the surgery had to be repeated, but he still made a complete recovery.

5. You, as doggy parents, have to get it together, for her sake. Set small goals for yourselves. Make it through the next two days, and plan a small celebration! Then, do a week... and so on. This is truly only temporary, and in 4-6 months, you'll look back and wonder why you were so upset in the beginning. The hard part is over (getting through the surgery). Now, just sit down, make out a schedule, and follow it. Do it on paper, and check off tasks as they are done. Anything you find difficult, will get easier as time passes. She's not used to having her bladder expressed, when she accepts it she will relax and it will be very easy to do. Keep a diary and record the times she does things she used to do, or regains abilities. Give each other breaks on the weekends, share the duties in caring for her, but allow each other some time off.

6. Maybe consider getting her an ex-pen. Size is adjustable... I've seen some pups learn when they mess on a pad, they pull themselves over to a clean area.

7. From what I've read, she is really recovering phenomenally! The tub swims are great, and the jets will stimulate her circulation, making healing quicker.

Teamwork and patience.... You folks are really doing a great job with this little one... sending prayers for continued healing....

That post made me feel SO good. Thank you so much for it.

On the advice of WinstonMom I got in touch with another vet clinic in the city for another opinion on her recovery. They basically told me that there is tremendous help acupuncture can do immediately following surgery to help stimulate the spinal cord to rebuild and make connections. As she put it, "Let the spinal cord know that there are still nerves and muscles back there that it needs to continue communicating with"

On the other hand, the acupuncturist at the hospital said we COULD try another acupuncturist while she's away on holidays for two weeks, but it wouldn't really do much good this soon after surgery anyway. She is the same one who made the comment earlier about dogs "with no deep pain sensation at this point after surgery" making it seem hopeless. Something in her voice just made me feel like she had lost hope.

I booked an appointment with the other vet for acupuncture tomorrow. I will not give up hope.

Lindsey,
Let me know how it goes tomorrow at the Acadia Clinic. It will be good for you to get another opinion on her prognosis and treatment. Also at a smaller clinic, they will be more personal and be able to take better care of you as well. Also very important. All in all, it never hurts to get a second opinion.

Oh how very sad !!! The poor baby..i hope u find out whats wrong and she gets well very soon...

Sorry i missed some of this thread.. I'm going back to read what i missed...

Please get in contact with PT i posted as she is amazing and she may shed some light as well and maybe even know someone in your area she has worked with - just a thought the more info the better to get her on track

what about preemie diapers where you cut a hole in the area for tail to go through or is this not good for dogs with this condition? Just throwing it out there as i know someone mentioned doggie diapers but i know some to keep cost down do the preemie diapers and cut the hole for tail

Also dogs recovering from acl and LP surgery use baby pack and play as they have rollers so you can roll them from room to room so they can always be with you and also some have used the strollers this way she can be in the same room as you at all times. Many get the pack n plays at baby resale shops or garage sales real cheap - maybe even try ebay

I know at tuesdaymorning.com you can get the stroller for about 69.99 so check it out - this way you can take her out with you as well

Just trying to help in anyway i can think to give you some ideas

I have not dealt with this but when dd hurt her leg i looked into everything I could as it is a long recovery as well if she had had to have the surgery so these were all pointers others gave me

I hope it helps and hope you and your bf are doing better now. It is like when parents deal with the death of a child or a sick child many times it definitely tests the relationship for sure but just think of it as that it will strengthen your relationship in getting her better and you need to be a team to do so but until you get a routine down it will be a little rough

I'm so sorry you all are going through this difficult time, your story is heart breaking and I will pray for all of you. You are doing an amazing job caring for Layla, please don't put your self down. Try to be positive for her, she can sense everything your feeling. Not knowing causes so much fear and anxiety so just take one day at a time. Your doing such a great job and Layla has landed in such capable hands with you and scott. I will pray for a quick recovery and you hang in there. Big Hugs to you all.

I figure anything that's been around for over 2000 years can't be bad, unless it's food. Definitely a second opinion wouldn't hurt.

But I truly feel she has made tremendous progress, it's the little things that count too, many times they are overlooked. :D

i agree puppy steps :) Just take one day at a time and that is great that you can take her to work with you :)

Thank you for all of your concern. I will try to call the PT when I find a free minute. Do you know if I might be able to get ahold of her on a weekend?

We got a crate for Layla last night and I love it because we can take her wherever we are without having to pick her up and carry her, while trying to keep her back stable.

We were told we could take her for short 5 minute walks with us holding up her back legs or in a sling, but I think we're going to stop that. This morning my boyfriend let her walk from the hallway to the bathroom (about 4 people steps) and just when she got to me she pulled faster than he was supporting her and she fell on her side and I was so scared. No more walking for her unless it's in the bathtub.

She's had one improvement so far today... Solid poop! It's not so mushy anymore. I think it's good that she's back on her kibble because the baby food she got in the hospital really made her gassy and have very soft a very smelly stools! Her anal glands haven't had to be manually expressed but I was worried about it yesterday when the car filled up with her fishy bum smell on the way home :( I think her solid poops will help with that problem too.

Oh yeah, and we called the hospital vet yesterday about how dark Layla's urine has been all weekend, and that it had a really strong odor and we were concerned. They said don't worry, it could be a bunch of things. It could just be the medicine. Welllllll last night we stopped by our small town vet so she could say hello to Layla and it was well past her closing time but I mentioned the urine thing and she immediately did a urinalysis and Layla had a slight bladder infection :( So we have meds for that now too. My poor little girl.

You are getting some great advice here, so glad there are people who can do so. I'm also very glad you're getting a second opinion. I just don't think you can get everything Layla needs from someone who acts like it's hopeless.

I hope her bladder infection clears up soon, I'm sure it will now she's on antibiotics. And hurray for solid poop! :)

Still thinking and praying for her every day. It sounds like she is making some progress. Healing never goes as fast as we would like, so patience is the key (I should talk, I really don't have much myself).

awe poor baby - sometimes they get uti after surgeries i have read so it is good the vet caught it as that can be painful too if it gets out of hand. Girl you are learning alot i tell ya life is a learning experience and we learn so much from these guys especially when we get one that gets sick :(

I will try to call from work and ask if she does consults, cost and if weekends are available and i will check with my friend who went to her for her dog recovering from LP surgery

Thank you SO much!

We just got back from Layla's acupuncture appointment, and boy does she love acupuncture! She is never calm in vet clinics, but as soon as the needles were in, she was hooked up to the battery for e-stim, and the vet left the room, she laid right out, put her head down, and relaxed for 20 minutes. This vet was very impressed with her reflexes and said it's a really good sign to see that her nerves can feel something and her muscles are reacting. The only thing we need now is for her spine to realize it! She stimulated her left leg and her lower back this time, and next time will do some abdomen and bladder. We are going back on Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Thank you for the continued prayers!

I am so happy for you guys! She, again, sounds like she's improving in leaps and bounds! I forgot to mention yesterday that it's also a very good sign that she can hold her bladder. And, as for the poop, YEAH! And do want to warn you not to push too hard for things to happen too fast. The spinal cord still needs time to heal and regenerate, and that just takes time. Hugs to all...:D and more prayers!