Worried about Layla

[linz06]

Thank you! I am really hoping so. I just talked with our town vet and she seemed a little disappointed that there is no deep pain sensation yet, but she did say it's still early so you never know. But I know I heard disappointment in her voice and that worries me.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

It will be good for you to see her....and also good for her. I was discouraged from visiting because my Maxwell was in ICU; but I insisted and told them he needed to know I was still around and that IF he was going to improve I believed I would be a part of it. They finally relented and he immediately started to do better after two days of my visits! They don't understand how they end up in these places...they cannot be told...so, I truly believe having their humans visit is good for their recovery!

I am so sure you will be relieved to see her! Just prepare yourself for what you will see...I am not sure how she is...but my Maxwell had a trach and was seriously bruised and swollen from his surgery. His was in his cervical spine so they went in through the front of his neck. Not sure where they did Layla's surgery, but I am thinking it may have been lower down the spine. I was stunned when I first saw him...but, as I said before, he immediately stood up when he smelled my hand. It was good for him to know I was there!

i agree when dex was in hospital after plasma transfusion and had tubes coming out of his neck etc i was a bit freaked out but every day i went to see him and held him and kissed on him so he knew i was there and i took the staff KRISPY KREME DONUTS lolll and put a flyer on it SAVE DEXTER with his pic - they all cracked up but they all knew who he was and took care of my baby lolll The hardest part was leaving and seeing him panting as i knew he was scared Does she have a favorite bed or toy as i also took that in for him to have with him so it had a familiar scent for him to feel comfort

oh and this coming from a girl scared to death of hospitals going in the icu so God has a real sense of humor giving me sick dogs lollll

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dwerten

i agree when dex was in hospital after plasma transfusion and had tubes coming out of his neck etc i was a bit freaked out but every day i went to see him and held him and kissed on him so he knew i was there and i took the staff KRISPY KREME DONUTS lolll and put a flyer on it SAVE DEXTER with his pic - they all cracked up but they all knew who he was and took care of my baby lolll The hardest part was leaving and seeing him panting as i knew he was scared Does she have a favorite bed or toy as i also took that in for him to have with him so it had a familiar scent for him to feel comfort

oh and this coming from a girl scared to death of hospitals going in the icu so God has a real sense of humor giving me sick dogs lollll

Oh YES...do take a little stuffed toy for her...something from home that has familiar scents. Excellent idea!

[linz06]

We were going to ask tonight if we're allowed to bring something from home. Maybe we could bring her bed, or even a t-shirt I sleep in so she feels like I'm with her.

Speaking of familiar scents, last night we were laying in bed trying to sleep and Scott said "I can smell Layla on the blanket, it's like she's here" and I said "Maybe she's sending us her scent so we will feel better and know she's okay"

I can't wait until I can see her tonight. I promised her yesterday that if she comes out of this, I will let her chew on a bully stick for a little while EVERY DAY. Just please come home. That's gotta give her some determination.

[linz06]

Just a side note... Layla hates having baths. On Sunday night we were going to give her a bath but we got pretty busy. I planned to give her a bath Monday night instead and I would just brush her hair out Sunday night, but she seemed so pitiful that I didn't even try. Then of course, Monday was the vet, and yesterday was surgery. This morning I was thinking to myself, "That has to be the best excuse to get out of bathtime ever"

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by linz06

We were going to ask tonight if we're allowed to bring something from home. Maybe we could bring her bed, or even a t-shirt I sleep in so she feels like I'm with her.

Speaking of familiar scents, last night we were laying in bed trying to sleep and Scott said "I can smell Layla on the blanket, it's like she's here" and I said "Maybe she's sending us her scent so we will feel better and know she's okay"

I can't wait until I can see her tonight. I promised her yesterday that if she comes out of this, I will let her chew on a bully stick for a little while EVERY DAY. Just please come home. That's gotta give her some determination.

awe your guy sounds so sweet I am sure she will be ok just hang in there

[scentlady]

wow linz
I am sitting here reading all this and bawling like a baby!!! I can't even begin to understand what you've gone through! not to mention what Layla has gone through.
At least you're a dog owner who acted quickly. Who knows what her outcome would have been.
We have a dog ( not yorkie) in our play group about a 12 lb dog who had something happen to her spine and sometimes she walks with her back legs like she's marching, other times especially if she chases something the back legs get dragged behind.
Her mom has spent alot of time in rehab with her and the dog although handicapped is living a good life.
My prayers are that your princess makes a full and complete recovery and I can't wait to hear the miracles you'll be posting in the days ahead.
God Bless you

prayers from our house to yours

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by linz06

Just a side note... Layla hates having baths. On Sunday night we were going to give her a bath but we got pretty busy. I planned to give her a bath Monday night instead and I would just brush her hair out Sunday night, but she seemed so pitiful that I didn't even try. Then of course, Monday was the vet, and yesterday was surgery. This morning I was thinking to myself, "That has to be the best excuse to get out of bathtime ever"

lol they will do just about anything to get out of a bath loll

[roseslevi]

Very happy to hear that Layla is on the road to recovery. We will continue to send prayers......

[linz06]

Thank you all again.

We are so lucky that the vet is so amazing. We met her for the first time Monday night. It was after hours, but without hesitation she agreed to drive back to the clinic to see Layla. I had also called Layla's regular vet from the city and they said they were all booked up for the night, but they could take her for the night and see her in the morning Who knows how much worse she would be?

I am so glad our new vet acted so quickly. We even got her out of bed to come back and do x-rays. And without any hesitation yesterday morning, she said we should get her into surgery immediately, and made those arrangements for us.

Last night as soon as we walked in, she stopped her conversation with another person and came right out to give us hugs and encourage us and tell us she has a lot of confidence in Layla. And she has told us she absolutely believes in the power of prayer and she has been praying for us all through everything.

[JERSEY BOY]

Bless your little baby. We're sending lots of prayers for all of you

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by linz06

Thank you all again.

We are so lucky that the vet is so amazing. We met her for the first time Monday night. It was after hours, but without hesitation she agreed to drive back to the clinic to see Layla. I had also called Layla's regular vet from the city and they said they were all booked up for the night, but they could take her for the night and see her in the morning Who knows how much worse she would be?

I am so glad our new vet acted so quickly. We even got her out of bed to come back and do x-rays. And without any hesitation yesterday morning, she said we should get her into surgery immediately, and made those arrangements for us.

Last night as soon as we walked in, she stopped her conversation with another person and came right out to give us hugs and encourage us and tell us she has a lot of confidence in Layla. And she has told us she absolutely believes in the power of prayer and she has been praying for us all through everything.

wow what an AWESOME VET you are so lucky - it is nice to know she is in good hands

[scentlady]

what a blessing to have a vet that believes in the power of prayer and to have a vet that is so dedicated to animals.
Wish there were more like her!

[linz06]

We went to see Layla tonight and she was so doped up that it seemed that she didn't even know or care we were there. She was shaking when I put her in my lap, but it didn't take long for her to relax, put her head in the inside of my elbow, and fall asleep just like she used to.

We had a lot of questions for her doctor, but she was in surgery and wouldn't be out anytime soon. So we thought we would just sit there with our sleeping Layla for the 2 hours we could be there. I massaged her back legs and her tail. Scott played with her back toes. All of a sudden he said DID YOU SEE THAT? He pressed on them a little more and her thigh twitched. He did it again, it twitched again. He said the first time he could swear she pulled her foot away slightly. Then we kept trying and trying and NOTHING. She was still laying on me with her eyes almost closed the whole time. We thought we just imagined it.

Not long after, we weren't touching her at all except my hand was resting on the back of her neck as we watched tv. And something in her back half, something that was resting on my right leg, moved or twitched. She was sleeping, but there was definite movement of SOMETHING. And we weren't poking or prodding anything. It gave us a little hope, and Scott played with her toes some more. Her tail started moving up and down as he pressed between the pads. We were so excited!

Just then, her doctor called Scott thinking she had missed us, but he said we were still there so she came out to the waiting room. We said look at this, and made her tail move again. She said "Interesting..." but then let us know that it is probably just a reaction, and that her brain may not have any indication that anything is going on

She showed us her myelogram (sp) photos and explained what happened exactly. It seems more like she was predisposed to something happening. If this were to be a sudden trauma, it would have had to be a big trauma, like something falling on her. It may have just been going on over time and she jumped funny or fell funny and pushed it over the limit.

I asked about the deep pain thing, since she had only lost it for a few hours at the most, if her chances might be better than losing it for a day or so. She said no. Basically as soon as it gets to that stage, no matter how long or short a period they lose feeling, it's still just a 50% chance of recovery.

I also found out that she will not get her function to go to the bathroom on her own unless she regains the ability to walk. Going to the bathroom would come after that. So basically, if she ends up being in a cart, I will have to do that for her. I would hope she could still be a happy dog in that situation.

I know it's only a day after the surgery but I feel like there are SO MANY negatives it's really hard for me to feel so hopeful when every time I have a hope, there's something that says "No, that wasn't what you thought it was"

[ladyjane]

I am so sorry ... I cannot even imagine how frightening and overwhelming all of this is for you.

The only advice I can give you is to take it a day at a time. You really don't know what tomorrow will bring..no one does for sure.

As for will she be happy if she is not able to regain use of her hind legs....I believe she will be. I have seen many pups end up in wheelchairs and be happy go lucky pupsters! But...you are not there yet. Until they tell you that there is no hope, I would keep praying and hoping. She has been through a lot and is under the influence of a lot of medications. My Maxwell had a 50% chance of breathing without a trach after his ordeal and he did pull through....so there is always hope. Hold on to that for now and try not to think past where you have to go.

Lots of prayers are being said for Layla and for you!