Worried about Layla

[Lizzie07]

We're adding our prayers. All my experiences with having to visit vet schools (Univ of FL and Auburn) for help for my dogs have been super. You've put Layla in good hands, I'm sure.

[WinstonMom]

This might be the dumbest thing I've ever come up with but I am tick-phobic. I live in the same area as the OP and tick season has started early for us this year. Is there any way this could be tick paralysis, that starts with the hind legs and then moves forward, there is a loss of motor control without loss of sensation. Just a thought.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by WinstonMom

This might be the dumbest thing I've ever come up with but I am tick-phobic. I live in the same area as the OP and tick season has started early for us this year. Is there any way this could be tick paralysis, that starts with the hind legs and then moves forward, there is a loss of motor control without loss of sensation. Just a thought.

that sounds like a very strong possibility and hopefully the vet did a blood work up to rule this out They should have done that before the nsaids as well

[RowdysMom]

Lindsay I'm so sorry. I just wanted to let you know that my moms doxy became paralyzed in his back legs, had surgery and has been walking for several years since. The recovery was long and he had to use a wheeled cart for awhile but he did regain the ability to walk. He's 14 years old now. Please hold on to hope.

[linz06]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of your prayers. I know they have helped.

I tried to update earlier on my bf's cell but it just wouldn't go through. I didn't want to leave the city until I knew she was out of surgery and doing well.

Well, when we first got her in, they ran some tests and came back to tell us she did not show deep pain in her feet when they tried. She didn't show any signs that she knew anything was happening in her legs. That's when they figured her chance to walk again has gone from 80% to 50%. They went through some possibilities and it was really hard to hear and my boyfriend and I were both bawling. They said surgery may not work depending on the prognosis but I said we're going ahead with surgery. We have to try.

We waited the LONGEST HOURS EVER for a phone call. I thought we could just stay at my grandma's house and it turns out she wasn't home! So we sat in her back yard for hours because we had nowhere else to go in the city. Then we went to pick up my boyfriend's car from his work (he went in this morning until I got the call to take Layla to the hospital), and while there we finally got the call from the hospital vet... they had found ONE spot with a lot of compression and they knew exactly where to go in. There would be some solids pressing on the spinal cord that they would do their best to remove. They were prepping the operating room and she would go into surgery within half an hour. That was fantastic news, the best we could have hoped for. I called our vet at home with an update and she was so happy and said she and her tech had literally JUST finished praying for Layla and the surgeons, and it was fantastic news and she was so relieved that there was only one spot in question. Oh, and she was also surprised that Layla showed no deep pain, because she definitely did when we dropped her off this morning. More great news... it would have only been a few hours that she had lost feeling.

Not long after driving back to my grandma's, she finally came home! So I went upstairs for some much needed sleep. After about an hour the phone rang and it was the surgeon, letting me know the surgery lasted a little longer than expected because when they went in they found more stuff to remove on the next vertebrae up as well. But she came through surgery well and her spinal cord was sitting nicely where it should be. She was in ICU getting ready to wake up. They would keep her on pain meds for the night and begin assessment tomorrow. All they care about for now is that she's not worse than she was this morning. And they would be ecstatic if she could regain feeling in her legs in the next few days, but it all depends on how well her nerves will rebuild.

At this point, I don't care if she walks again. I don't care if she's on a cart. My biggest worry is that she will be able to potty on her own. If she can do that, we can deal with whatever mobility issues she may have. Today has been such a rollercoaster and I am just feeling nauseous from all the emotions that have been running through me.

Please keep the prayers coming, they are definitely working. Everything so far has worked out for the best but she is not out of the woods yet. She will be there still for weeks of rehabilitation and I am praying so hard that she will make it out of this okay. She is only 4 years old and has the rest of her life ahead of her.

[linz06]

Originally Posted by WinstonMom

This might be the dumbest thing I've ever come up with but I am tick-phobic. I live in the same area as the OP and tick season has started early for us this year. Is there any way this could be tick paralysis, that starts with the hind legs and then moves forward, there is a loss of motor control without loss of sensation. Just a thought.

We were worried about that too but we checked her over very well. And now we know it was just pressure on her spinal cord.

[linz06]

Originally Posted by WinstonMom

I am pretty sure they have a neurologist on staff at the Western College, if not they will have an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spinal surgery. I wish I had seen this post earlier, as I know from experience that they will expect payment for half the estimate before they treat. There are several companies in Canada that will finance the costs, I hope they give her this info when she gets there.

I am probably the luckiest person in the world, but this couldn't have happened at a better time. As I mentioned before, we just bought a house, and that means we just sold our condo. The profit I made from the condo was JUST released into my bank account TODAY. There were other things we were planning to pay off with the profit, but saving Layla is way more important to me. If this had happened any other week, I wouldn't have had the funds to get through it.

[dwerten]

we will keep praying and we will help you no matter the outcome

here is a cart if that helps her after her surgery

DEE DEE :: Bwheelchair1jpg.jpg picture by dwerten - Photobucket

DEE DEE :: Bwheelchairjpg.jpg picture by dwerten - Photobucket

DEE DEE :: Bonnie-lassrolstoel2jpg.jpg picture by dwerten - Photobucket

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by linz06

I am probably the luckiest person in the world, but this couldn't have happened at a better time. As I mentioned before, we just bought a house, and that means we just sold our condo. The profit I made from the condo was JUST released into my bank account TODAY. There were other things we were planning to pay off with the profit, but saving Layla is way more important to me. If this had happened any other week, I wouldn't have had the funds to get through it.

wow this was a true blessing and timing was perfect then so happy you were able to get her help

[linz06]

Originally Posted by dwerten

we will keep praying and we will help you no matter the outcome

here is a cart if that helps her after her surgery

DEE DEE :: Bwheelchair1jpg.jpg picture by dwerten - Photobucket

DEE DEE :: Bwheelchairjpg.jpg picture by dwerten - Photobucket

DEE DEE :: Bonnie-lassrolstoel2jpg.jpg picture by dwerten - Photobucket

Thank you! I think she would do okay in a cart. We will just have to carry her up and down the stairs, which we probably will for a long time now anyway.

The surgeon also let us know there is a acupuncturist at the hospital and she would definitely recommend that as part of her rehabilitation, as it can help get the muscles and nerves communicating with each other. I think we should try everything we can!

[Karrie]

Awe - you must be overwhelmed right now. I'm glad it went better than expected and I will keep you and Layla in my thoughts as she recovers.

[dwerten]

good idea - please talk with Kathy she just went through this similar situation and will have some pointers for you to help

[ladyjane]

Oh, I am SO relieved to see the surgery is done and she is ok!! Please hold out hope that she will walk again!

As I mentioned previously, my Maxwell had surgery for two herniated discs. When he went in he was unable to use any of his limbs.

He had some complications with CT following the surgery and could not be extubated. The next day they did a trach on him and I was heartbroken. I begged to see him in the ICU and they finally relented. This was on day two after the surgery.

Well....I went in and put my hand in to touch him. He sniffed my fingers and to my total amazement, he stood up!!! I will have that moment etched in my brain forever. He was a tough little guy and within a few days they were finally able to take the trach out. I had two more wonderful years with my beloved Maxwell!! We did rehab on him at home. He needed to learn how to walk again and it was just amazing to watch his recovery. He was much older than your little Layla. I am going to pray lots tonight that she will walk again!!

[WinstonMom]

Originally Posted by linz06

I am probably the luckiest person in the world, but this couldn't have happened at a better time. As I mentioned before, we just bought a house, and that means we just sold our condo. The profit I made from the condo was JUST released into my bank account TODAY. There were other things we were planning to pay off with the profit, but saving Layla is way more important to me. If this had happened any other week, I wouldn't have had the funds to get through it.

Lindsay,
I am glad to hear the surgery went well. I live in Saskatoon, so if you need anything or someone to talk to send me a PM and I'll do what I can to help.

[jenn1381]

So glad they found the cause and the surgery is done... prayers still going up for a speedy recovery. Layla is very lucky to have humans who love her so much!