Linz...I am playing catch-up here and I am happy to see Layla is doing so well and that she even stood up. The picture of her in bed is priceless!!! Sorry to hear about the rug burn but accidents do happen all the time. your avatar picture is great! What a lucky pup to have you and Scott!! :animal-pa

Hey, Lindsey! How's our girl, Layla, doing this week? Is she looking forward to a nice weekend?:)

I took a week off work and forgot about updating here!

Layla is doing so well :) Her tummy rug burns have healed up nicely. Last weekend she spent time with my parents while Scott and I went to a friend's wedding. When we got back she was sooooo excited! Her butt was planted on the floor in the living room and she was turning circles around it LOL!

We took her out in the yard and she explored everywhere. I took some video on my cell phone that I will post when I get some time :) My parents' dog (minature american eskimo) wasn't sure what to make of the cart, but he saw her moving again and wanted to play. He didn't realize she doesn't run and jump and duck and roll anymore, and he accidently ran into her and tipped her and her cart right over :( So he got yelled at, Layla got scared, and luckily I was right there to turn her right side up! But she was fine and continued to explore, and Sage was very careful after that, not going anywhere near her!

Layla and I had girl time all week with Scott at work :D I painted the house, she barked, ate, slept, and pooped. Sometimes we'd both take breaks and cuddle on the couch watching tv shows we never get to watch anymore! Yesterday I took her outside to pee, and then I let her explore a little without her cart. She walked about 5 feet sniffing the ground, pulled her head up to sniff the air, and slowly her back feet came under her, stretched out, and she was standing again! She held it for about 5 seconds when she turned her head backwards, saw she was standing, and fell down again! I wish I would have had a camera but I just stood there quietly watching.

Everything is going great then! I'm sure you were quietly watching. I would have been, too. It sounds like Layla has a fuller life than some people I know and I'm so glad she has lots of different experiences. Take care and I'll be thinking of you all!:D

I am just so happy to hear all the good news about Layla and her progress....it does indeed sound like she has a very full life!!! :animal-pa

I LOVE the Layla updates and am so happy she is doing so great :) I believe in her and know she will continue to progress beyond expectations- she is lucky to have such great parents :)

I love reading that Layla had a breakthrough! How wonderful!!! :) Keep us updated please. .. I don't respond everyday but I read this thread all the time and my prayers are always with Layla, you & Scott, rooting you all on! :)

On Monday after we picked Layla up from rehab, we took her to Petsmart in her cart. She is terrified of the wood floors at home, and the floors at Petsmart are quite slippery too, but she was so excited to get around anyway! So that was really good for her. She started out slipping and sliding and losing grip with her front legs, but by the time we left she was getting quite a bit better and hardly slipping at all. The staff just loved her and so did the other dogs. It's great because she lives for attention :D She got a couple of new toys and a new food and water bowl on a stand because it's hard on her little neck to reach down too far when she's in a sitting position. They're pink hearts that say "Princess" in the bottom! :D

When we got home, excited about the walking at Petsmart, we put little treats on the floor starting about a foot from the edge of her blanket. She ventured out a little but not too much. We'll keep trying to get her used to it though! We know she can do it!

It sounds like she had so much fun!! Good idea on trying to get her to walk across your wood floors!! :animal-pa

i don't know how i've missed this thread over the past few months but i did. I just read through the whole thing and i'm so happy to read how she's progressing. I think sometimes the vets sound pessimistic because they don't want to get your hopes up too much. This way, when something great does happen, it will be that much more special and wonderful!

I love that she's using her cart well and getting around. It can be tough to get used to but she is taking right to it.

As a tech i did have the opportunity to work with many dogs who needed back and neck surgery. Two of my fellow techs (at two different hospitals) actually had dogs that needed spinal surgeries. One was a 11 year old cocker spaniel and the other was a 2 year old mini dachshund. BOTH had hind limb paralysis and no deep pain sensation at first but with lots of PT and sling walking i'm happy to report they are now walking on their own. With the mini dauchshund, since he wasn't neutered (medical reasons), when he would drag his back legs around his testicles would rub on the ground. They were getting really red and irritated so what we did was place a hand towel on the ground then place him with his back legs on it and front legs off. Then we'd tie the ends of the towel up around his waist and knot it on his back, like an upside down waist superman cape. this way he could drag around all he wanted and not get ball burn. :D

Same here.. I have no idea how I missed this thread... but I have spent a long time sitting here reading every post. Wow, what an inspirational story! I cannot imagine what it was like for you and I am so happy that she has you as her Mommy. You both are truly blessed to have one another. I would love to see more pictures/videos! :)

Thanks for the support everyone! I really wish I could give you all hugs because you've all been the main reason I've been able to get through this!

Thanks for that idea! There are a few things we can buy (or make ourselves with patterns) online but even the cape-like things have straps that go up the front and around like a harness or suspenders. Layla wouildn't stay in it for long. But since she can't feel her back, I'm sure she would be okay with something just tied around there! We've also found that she seems to have shrunk a little lengthwise because of the arch now in her back, so her shirts will now cover her inner thigh and tummy area when she drags. That seems to help too if she's wearing a shirt on carpeted areas! I should actually try that on our wood floors at home too, it might be easier for her to slide with some fabric under her!

Just checking in for my Layla fix. :D I love the new avitar!! She's really stylin wtih those new wheels.

Sending lots more lovins to the little princess.

Hugs,
Bonny