Your posts mean a lot to me because you've seen this kind of thing before :) The vet we talked to said if her injury was lower on her spine she'd be having bladder issues, but since it's higher up it's normal for her to be able to hold it, just not express it. This morning it seemed like she KNEW she pooped. I was helping a coworker in his office for a few minutes and when I came back, Layla was trying to pull herself forwards out of the crate. I tried to put her back but she pushed forward again and her tail was straight up. I felt, and there was definitely something hard in her diaper (I made diapers out of pee pads lol). So I'm not sure if she knew she pooped but just couldn't control it, or if she could actually feel the poop under her butt, or if maybe it just put her off balance in her front legs.

Linz so glad to hear Layla responded so well to the acupuncture. What a blessing. She really does sound like she's recovering and making strides.
One day at a time girl. Just get through today. How's things with Scott? Better I hope.

You 3 are in my prayers day and night~ Cheri

Lindsey,
Sounds like frequent acupuncture might just be the thing for Layla. I can't say enough about the benefits of acupuncture, it was the only thing that worked for me to get my mobility back when I broke my shoulder a few years ago. I really do think it sounds like Layla is making progress, slowly, but surely and it sounds like the vet this morning seems to think that there is reason for hope. I think of you often and remember you in my prayers.

For some reason, I broke down after work today. I was struggling to get Layla's crate into my car and I thought, why did this happen to ME? Why to my dog? Why when she is so young? We went to pick up Scott from his work and I couldn't drive home. I know it stresses him out when I'm like that, but he told me I just need to accept that it happened and I need to love her for who she is now, even if it's not exactly who she was before.

When we got home, I called my parents hoping I'd get some encouragement and support but they were hard on me too. My mom told me maybe I should spend more time with Scott so he doesn't get upset and leave me! :eek: And my dad said the words "Maybe you should just think about letting her go" :mad: I said NO WAY. She still has life. He said it's taking a toll on MY life but I thought, why is my life more important than hers? He also said the same thing could have happened to a real son or daughter and I said "That's exactly what she is to me" ." When I got off the phone I marched upstairs where Scott was sitting with Layla in her crate beside him, and I sat on the floor and looked face to face at Layla and told her I will never give up on her :( What my dad said came across as mean but it's what I needed... either buck up and deal with it, or let her go. I need to deal with it.

She slept in her crate while Scott and I did some computer stuff, and all of a sudden she jumped up on her front feet and started dragging herself out of the crate. I tried to put her back in but she clasped on to my arm, and struggled to keep pulling herself out. She got onto my lap, collapsed, and put her head on my chest and just looked up at me until she fell asleep. She just needed some mommy cuddle time. And I really needed some Layla cuddle time.

Scott is taking her off my hands for the next couple of hours so I can go to sleep. She'll probably be sleeping in her crate beside him. I have to wake up at midnight to give her medication so it's tough to sleep after that if she's awake. Some extra sleep before that will really do me good. My eyes are so puffy I'm amazed they still open.

Aww, Linz. I've had all those feelings with my own daughter and her struggles. You're all going to be okay some how, some way. Nothing lit a fire under my arse than someone telling me, "so just give up." A wee look with their soulful eyes or a tiny attempt to show their strength fills you right back up. Hang tough. All three of you have come so far already. You'll be in my prayers. xoxo

Thank you so much. She cried all night again. We are leaving her at the university for therapy today so I won't have to worry about her all day at work.

Lindsey
hopefully she will get some pain relief. If she's crying, does that mean feeling is returning to areas she didn't have feeling before? Maybe its a good sign? I don't know much about these things.

You, scott and Layla are still in my prayers.....

Lindsey, I've been following this thread but not posting because I didn't know what to say. My prayers are with you, Scott and Layla. I think you are doing a wonderful job with her!! She is very lucky to have you as her mommy. Big hugs to you all.

Thank you, we need all the prayers we can get.

I'm not sure if feeling is returning, I think she just wants to be on the bed instead of the floor. She keeps trying to jump on the bed and she cries because she can't. I have her little bed beside me on the floor, but she has ALWAYS slept with us. Scott moves around a lot in his sleep and we don't want her getting pushed or hurt at all if she was with us, because she can't move out of the way anymore.

When Ted was having his nose issues before his surgery (sounded like whining vacuum 24 hours a day and 4 vets couldn't diagnose the problem), I was so exhausted (he couldn't sleep, I couldn't sleep) that by the time I made it to the specialty hospital I begged them to keep him, even though they could not do the CT scan and rhinoscopy for another day (cause he had already been put under anesthesia at the prior vet and they didn't want to subject it to him two days in a row). I must have looked like a nutcase crying and saying, "Can you please keep him tonight. I just can't do this. I'm so tired." Lack of sleep makes it 100 times harder to deal with what you're going through. Just a little rest will refuel you; so don't be afraid to ask friends or family or even the hospital to keep him so you can recharge your batteries (the overnight fee was minimal). Hope you get good news from the Unviversity today. Everything's going to be okay. xox

Does she have a tiny kennel/crate? Like the little hard plastic ones? If so, why not put that sideways above your head on the bed, just scoot down a little. My three pups sleep on a king size pillow above my head. I'm kinda short, so my feet don't hang off the bed. This way she's close to you, the crate door will keep her from getting out and the crate itself will keep her from being rolled on. Plus, when it's above your head, you and Scott won't be bumping into it in the night.

We do have a travel crate for her but it's a bit too small and she can't lay down in it very well. She also tries to bite the cage front to get out. That worries me because last year we tried keeping her in the laundry room for a few hours out of the day with a wooden gate, and she chewed so hard through it that she lost a tooth and was still chewing.

I know I don't sleep very well when she's whining beside me, but I think I sleep even worse when she's not there, because we are really attached to each other and she doesn't sleep well when I'm not around and I don't sleep well when she's not around. I can't even have a relaxing sleep when I'm away on VACATION because she's not there with me :(

You could try a soft sided carrier. I think if she is by your head, she won't make such a fuss. I had to deal with this issue with Addie when she broke her leg.

Thank you, maybe I will try to find one. I am just worried about her twisting her back at all. I wish I could tell Scott to sleep in another bed. In fact, some more things just came to light in our relationship that I can't handle right now so I may have to request that anyway.

Another idea is to put her on the nightstand right next to your head if there isn't room on the bed, so that she can see that you're there with her.

When I first brought Maddox home, I was too afraid to let him sleep on the bed just yet. So I put him in the puppy stroller and rolled it right next to the bed. He could see me through the mesh, & I slept with my hand right by that little window so he could smell me. If you don't have a stroller, you might want to think about one - it would be great to push Layla through the house so she could be with you while you're cleaning, etc.

Thank you. Even getting a crate has helped so much. We just move her into whichever room we're in without having to pick her up and risk moving her spine.

Another friend told me this morning to just put her down, she would do the same for her dog. I can't believe it. She is not in pain, she is not suffering, she's just confused and scared. If we just gave up and killed every life that cried, there would be no life left. This is giving me more determination than ever to do what I can to have Layla walk again and prove everyone wrong. Layla loves to prove people wrong. "Oh, you think that gate will hold me in here?" "Oh you think this velcro harness will keep me here when I see another dog over there?" She's a determined little dog.

Lindsey, I just read your thread today and I am so sorry you and Layla are going through this terrible illness. It is perfectly understandable for you to be feeling so emotionally drained and sad. I hope Layla defies the odds and starts to improve and gets her mobility back.

All you can ask of yourself is to do the best of your ability to help her, and it sounds like that is exactly what you’re doing for her. It’s only been a few days, give it time and just focus an today……Don’t despair, with faith, hope, love and prayers anything is possible……I wish you all well and will be thinking about you……

Thank you. She has a 50% chance still, and we're leaning on that. 50% is still better than nothing.

I'm glad the naysayers are giving you more determination. You need it for yourself, Scott and Layla.

On a side note, I had someone tell me that they would've put Addie down when she broke her leg instead of paying for the surgery. I told them they should never own any type of pet.

I know how you feel. When they took Layla away for surgery, the vet (who ended up switching with another vet on her care) said that we may need to think about putting her to sleep in the next few months if she doesn't improve. It was terrible, but we discussed it... at what point would we put her down? If she couldn't walk? Or if she couldn't pee by herself? Or if she just peed all the time?
Then Layla got through surgery, and we visited her the next day, and she was so tired and so out of it, and she looked so sad with a little IV in her leg, and she tried to give us a few kisses on our faces with her dry little tongue, and we both knew then that we couldn't give up hope. We can't put her down.
A lot of people would have put her down without even a thought of surgery, or even life as a paralyzed dog without surgery. She may take a couple more hours out of my day, but isn't she worth it?

Your thread really touched my heart Lindsey. Keep your strength up girl ,Layla is counting on it and to answer your question , of course shes worth it. They all are. Keep us posted. xx

Yes, she is worth it. I'm glad you think so, too.

Thanks everyone

Lindsey keep having faith in yourself, Scott and Layla.....take it all one day at a time...sometimes on minute at a time. I am glad the crate is working out for you and Layla...much easier to move her around in.....a stroller is a really great idea too. When my dog Biscuit was really sick and I couldn't trust that he could sleep on our bed for fear that he would fall etc because he couldn't walk well, I put pillows on my floor in the den for him and slept on the couch and kept my hand near his head while we slept. I would try putting the crate on your bed first and then perhaps moving into the living room/den for a while. I slept there for two months or more. You are all still in my prayers. Accupuncture sounds like the right track to be on. Try and make some alone time for yourself (of course after all of you have adjusted) to sleep, go out to dinner, a movie etc...or just some time alone with Scott.....I hope you have a friend that could watch Layla for a few hours.....it would really help. I know taking care of a loved one can take its toll on the caregiver, so take good care of yourself also. :animal-pa

All Our Prayers
 

I have read through this whole thread! My heart goes out to you! She is in our prayers and thoughts! I hope you keep updating us as you so faithfully have been! Yorkies are strong stubborn little dogs! Shes a fighter you can tell! I hope shes gets better! Give her our love and you and your boyfriend stay strong she needs you to be more then ever!

It's wonderful to see such love in the care you give to Layla. I hope she keeps doing better every week. You're a wonderful mommie.:)

Thank you all so much. I've said it before, but I could not get through this without all of your love, support, and prayers. I come back to this thread as much as possible because it makes me feel a little less alone.

I spoke with someone else from the paralyzed pets website forum and she told me that her dog was in the exact same situation. She didn't have surgery, however, but had chiropractic care, and she is walking again. She had lost "deep pain" as well, but I was told she would pull her leg back as a reflex, just as Layla now does.

Maybe Layla is on the right track.

I saw in this thread where you had done some water therapy. I just wanted to pass on that I had read a story about a vet (this is a long time ago) that someone had brought their german shepherd to and turned over to her because it was partially paralyzed and they couldn't care for it. She took the gs home and would put it in their hot tub for periods of time and also used massage therapy. To make a long story short, that gs was eventually running around on the vet's farm.:D

Aww! We're hoping Layla will be running around soon :) We put her in our bath tub in warm water and turn the jets on. She loves the jets! She walks back and forth in front of them.