Worried about Layla

[WinstonMom]

Lindsey,

I am so sorry that things aren't going as well as you had hoped with your beloved Layla. Please don't give up hope yet, I know you heard negative things from the vet, but give her little body time to heal. I think you should be encouraged by the small movements that you did see, nerves can regenerate. I shall keep you, Scott and little Layla in my thoughts and my prayers. Miracles do happen.

[teacup0819]

I am sitting here reading your thread and praying for
Layla, you and your bf. You reacted very quickly to her symptons so hopefully her outcome will be good. Sometimes it takes a while after surgery for things to get better and she was only just operated on. My hopes and prayers for a full recovery are with Layla and you.

[linz06]

It's really tough for me to not think things through to the end. Yesterday before the surgery, all of this came to light about how she may not be able to urinate or defecate on her own and blah blah and if that was too much for us, we may have to think about putting her down in the next few months. And that is what really hurt me. I can NOT live without her and would do anything for her, but if she's very unhappy I can't be selfish. I just want some confirmation that she CAN be a happy dog still even if I have to help her release.

[WinstonMom]

Lindsey,

I know it must be hard not to look that far down the road. I think you have to slow down and take it one day at a time. I don't know the answer to your question, as I have no experience with this. I'm sure there are others here that can answer this better than I. I do know, however, that you will know in your heart if your little girl is happy. We are so tuned into our babies that we always know how they are feeling. I am praying for a TOTAL recovery.

[ladyjane]

Many times I have done what you are doing right now and everything ended up so totally different than what I had feared. We can all tell you to slow down and try to think only of the moment, but I understand how you are feeling.

I have never had a dog with a handicap like that, so I cannot share personal experience. I am sure someone else will be able to.

I just found the following website and the story about Cody touched my heart...perhaps it might help you right now.


http://http://handicappedpets.com/ww...paralysis.html

Oh...and they also have a forum...you might get some good information there!

[pancakepat]

Wasn't going to put my 2 cents in until the talk of putting her down (if she's not happy) was mentioned. I'll try to word this nice as I know this is very hard for you. The poor thing hasn't even woke up from the operation. It was mentioned about therapy & baths. Alot of other good advise here. I've heard many stories how a pet will be at deaths door & all of sudden they spring to life. One of them being mine. Had a pup w/pneumonia, vet gave me some meds, sent me home. Told me if he survives the night to bring him back. I rocked, sang, & rubbed that pup "all" night. He sprang back that morning & totally shocked the vet. So....my point is....Keep the Faith...Hold that Baby.....Don't lose Hope....She is depending on you. I know you can Do it.
I have faith in your little girl.

[linz06]

Thank you all so so so much. I talked to Scottd after that last post and I mentioned how we had touched the subject before about what choice we would make if she were unhappy and I started to say "after being with her tonight and holding her" he interrupted and said "I couldn't do it." and I said "Me neither."

We are committed to doing EVERYTHING in our power to make her the happiest dog alive, whether she is handicapped or not. She has honestly changed our lives completely from the moment this happened. She has taught me to enjoy every moment because you never know when you'll get another chance. If I could go back in time I would have played with her so much on Sunday instead of spending my time setting up the house and letting her just follow me around and sleep at my feet. Never again. The people (and dog) that I love are so much more important to me. I will never take anyone for granted again. I just want her to come back to me so I can show her the best life she could possibly have because she deserves it.

April is apparently a bad month for me. Last year, out of nowhere, my mom had a stroke in April. Against a lot of odds, she fully recovered. She is on medication now for the rest of her life, and when she's really tired you can notice a slight slur in her voice, but otherwise you would never know anything happened. I only hope I can be as lucky with Layla.

I will check out that link now ladyjane

[linz06]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Many times I have done what you are doing right now and everything ended up so totally different than what I had feared. We can all tell you to slow down and try to think only of the moment, but I understand how you are feeling.

I have never had a dog with a handicap like that, so I cannot share personal experience. I am sure someone else will be able to.

I just found the following website and the story about Cody touched my heart...perhaps it might help you right now.


http://http://handicappedpets.com/ww...paralysis.html

Oh...and they also have a forum...you might get some good information there!

Cody's story touched me too. We can never give up on Layla. She's only 4 years old... if she starts walking in 10 years I'd be ecstatic! We can continue to encourage her even if she comes home in a cart.

[ladyjane]

There you go...that's the spirit!! Hang in there....you really do not know what the future will bring.

I hope you get some sleep tonight...I am sure you need it.

[dwerten]

stay positive - when my friends dog went into a coma from ivermectin toxicity she was very upset not knowing what to do and i called a bunch of vets there were some that said put her down she will never be the same,etc but our vet now said no way she will be fine they are like sleeping beauty and she will wake up and be fine so i only called and told my friend that not what the others said and so glad i did as she is perfectly normal now. She came out of it with no seizures, nothing - she got pneumonia as they had to suction her trachea etc but she got through it.

there are alot of support groups on yahoogroups.com so i would join one asap and learn as much as you can. If worst case she is in a wheely cart I would not worry she is tiny enough to wear diapers and be in a wheely cart as my neighbor takes his dog for a walk all the time and his pug is in a wheely cart - he adopted him that way.

I just think it is too soon and they have to give you the worst case scenario as it is prepare for the worst and hope for the best type thing. Yorkie prayers are amazing. I have seen it over and over so give it some time.

Kathy's dog was running around totally fine and next minute no use of his legs and he is now running around again with most use so I would talk to her as she has been through what you are going through just as others have so lean on those who have been through it and be strong as she needs you as dogs sense our feelings and she needs you to tell her it is ok she is going to be ok and that you love her as it will help her get better

I know you are disappointed as any of us would be going through what you are going through i cannot even imagine as i was a basket case when i almost lost dex to pancreatitis and they basically told me he may not live and the last yorkie died that was in there a month before him as he was real severe and i broke down and cried as I thought he was just going in for fluids and all would be ok and when they came in and said it was not good my heart sank. But he is alive and well today now for 4 years and i feel so blessed. Modern vet medicine is amazing these days and the key is getting to the specialists in serious situations which you and your vet did and that increases the odds tremendously.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

There you go...that's the spirit!! Hang in there....you really do not know what the future will bring.

I hope you get some sleep tonight...I am sure you need it.

yes please get some rest she is in good hands. I could always sleep knowing dex had 24hr nurse caring for him so please do the same she is in good hands and you need your rest

[ladyjane]

BUMP ... prayers needed for Layla.

[linz06]

Thank you. I dreamed last night that Layla was in a cart. I woke up to my alarm and I immediately prayed and prayed and prayed that she would be back to her old self. Before I knew it I woke up to my snooze alarm and I had just dreamed that she was running around the house.

It's really hard to be here without her, so tonight we are staying in the city at my grandma's house. I will still be on YT at work today but then I won't be able to see anything or update until tomorrow morning.

[dwerten]

praying for improvement today

[Connie]

I'm praying for you, your boyfriend and Layla. I wanted to tell you that when my daughter's yorkie had the paralysis from his ruptured disc, he did not have control of his peeing and pooping, but slowly, but surely, that came back over time, as did his walking. I can't remember it all as it was a few years ago, but our vet explained that the area will eventually smooth over and straighten out and take the pressure off the spinal column. I imagine there is still a lot of swelling in that area on Layla's back and given time, I am praying she will recover fully. Hugs to you...I hope today you will notice a great improvement!