Layla's vet said yesterday that everytime she thinks they're at the best level she'll get to, Layla surprises her and shows that she's still progressing. She had electro-acupuncture yesterday and she had more leg kicks and tail wags than ever. She kicked her back legs so hard she ended up kicking out two pins! She also continued moving her legs and tail for a little while after the pins were out and acupuncture was over. That has never happened before! I have asked them to give her small Vitamin B12 shots with acupuncture because I've heard it is supposed to stimulate nerve regeneration. At this point the vet doesn't think it will do much, but I'm going to keep hoping and believing :)

Here she is in her new wheels! We're going to have to pretty it up a little bit, since Scott didn't let us pay extra for a pink powdercoated cart :p:D But for now, Layla outshines the cart anyway!

I have had so many coworkers and even just random people comment in the past week about how happy Layla is and how happy she has been through all of this and it just brings tears to my eyes. She really is a little fighter and I am learning so much from her!

And I'm learning so much from the both of you! Thank you for sharing your journey with us....it has made a lasting impression.

I luv that pic of Layla! She looks very, very happy - and beautiful. :)

Thank you!

:woof:GO LAYLA!!!! I am so inspired from your story and always believe in beating the odds!!! I have true faith that Layla will recover from this. Don't listen to the vet when he says it won't matter at this point- you know your little girl and the fight she has in her. You are an amazing mommy and Scott is a great Daddy- Layla is so lucky to have such great parents. Keoki and I are cheering all of you on!!!!! It's so great to see Layla so happy!!!

Thank you so much!

I looked at her picture first and then read your post. I thought when I looked at her picture that she looked so happy and then I read your last paragraph and I'm not surprised at all that people comment on her happiness! It is so apparent. We all know what a happy yorkie looks like just as well as we know what an unhappy yorkie looks like. Go, Layla, go!:D Keep progressing!

Layla you are such an amazing little girl with the will to over come, can't wait to hear about your cart adventures!!:)

Layla really does look happy and her entire story and your perseverance on her behalf is nothing short of amazing and wonderful!

Thank you all so much! We hadn't seen a tail wag in weeks, but she wagged a few times last night :) This morning I took her in for rehab in her cart and she definitely made a few people stop in their tracks to look!

She is just tooo cute though! I just love her and her spirit! :)

Just a quick question. Have you tried water therapy not on a treadmill but a relaxing water therapy? My water therapist in NH does reiki when she does the water therapy. Babybear after three years was able to walk with her help. I did the accupuncture,physical therapy, massage therapy. But the water therapy worked the best. If you have a place near you please check into it. You might see a very big difference. Babybear broke his neck and was paralyzed for the three years but now walks and plays with his little sister. HE doesn't want like a normal dog but he sure does his Babybear walk.

We do a little bit at home, she walks around the bathtub and we massage her and also let the jets massage her, but I'm not sure if there's more to what you're describing. She also gets about 15-20 minutes of relaxing massage and stretching in rehab 3 times a week. We had been doing Reiki for awhile, but we are at the point where we're trying to cut back on some things because it's very expensive.

I completely know what you mean about expense with these little ones. I had BB in therapy and accupuncture for over three years along with two surgies. Please remember that went letting her in the tub or putting her in a pool the pool should be 90 degrees. This is because anything higher will cause damage to her muscles and anything much below will not be theraputic for the muscles. I did the therapy in the tub and it did not good but when I got Babybear to The Doggie Dome to see Melody he did nothing but get better and better. I do want to say is the docs told me after his second surgery he would never be able to walk. Well we surely proved them wrong. He did use a wheel chair as a matter of fact he had three wheechairs. The last one from Eddie's wheels did wonders for him but the water did the job. After water therapy he would be put in a sling and learn to walk that way. Where his therapist said that the chair might be holding him back. She was so right. But I think she has miracle water up there. I have seen more pups go in to her paralyzed and be walking with in weeks is just amazing to me and to thier vets. Where are you located? I might be able to find a place like where Babybear went I swear by it hon I really do. I wish you luck with your little one. Babybear is 4 years out from breaking his neck and he amazes me every day with new things.

Thank you! The rehab vet did tell us to make sure all pool water or anything she's in should be like "a warm bath"

There was a water rehab place here beside Layla's old vet, but I think it has since closed down. We live near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

I had worries about Layla in her wheelchair, because some dogs give up trying when it's so easy. But I've seen Layla's spirit and her vet agrees, she doesn't think she will ever give up trying whether she has wheels or not! Her back legs DO move slightly as she's walking in the cart. She has an Eddie's Wheels cart with stirrups, but when we're inside on smooth ground or in the grass, we don't use the stirrups so her legs are in a normal standing position.

I think I had asked you about this through PM not long after Layla went down, but does Babybear "spinal walk" or truly walk? With the loss of Layla's deep pain sensation, there is only a very very slim chance at this point that she will regain any feeling or brain control over the back end of her body. We're really hoping that she will reflexively walk again though!

I'll bet Layla did turn some heads when she walked in!:D Of course, she's so cute anyway, she was already a head-turner.:p

It's good to see Val and Babybear again!:)