Sammie's Surgery

[Tambrey]

thanks...yes we will call the surgeon again with an update, and I am sure the vet contacted her as well...
the right side had the worse paralysis, so I expect it will take a bit longer to get those nerves and muscles back into working order...we just keep doing the therapy...massaging and short leash walking and range of motion...

We had a mishap this afternoon...grrrr...I was sitting on the couch and Sammie was sleeping beside me...the phone rang, so I got up and got it then went back in on the couch...he never even moved when I got up...but then my husband unexpectedly walked in the door to get a computer part he needed, and before I could do anything, Sammie was up and jumping off of the couch...YIKES!!!
I yelled his name, tried to catch him, but all I did was keep him from hitting the floor so hard...he yelped once rolled over onto his back, belly up and laid there scared to death...finally we got him up, and he was shaking, so I held him until he stopped...then I very carefully set him on the floor in front of my husband, who was sitting there...and Sammie walked right over to him, wagging his tail...WHEW!!!...But he was back in his crate right after that and has been there execpt to go potty...he has been fine this evening, but I think the couch will not be an option tomorrow...I will sit with him on the floor!!!

[Traci]

Oh, poor poor Sammie, that must have been painful.

I would agree, get on the floor with him from now on, during this recovery period. Do you have the steps built yet?

[Tambrey]

yes, I am sure it hurt some...however, he did not act like it five minutes later...he is terrible about wanting to run now whenever I get him out to go potty...I really need to keep him close on the leash...

We have not made the steps yet, as he still has another week, at least, of confinement before he even begins to do more extensive walking and so forth...but we want to get them made hopefully this weekend...

He does like to lay on the couch beside me, and even snuggle with the cats, and as long as I am just watching TV, I can keep a finger tucked into his collar, to make sure he does not try to jump...but if I am on the laptop or doing something, then I am keeping him in his crate, but I move it to be right in front of me at the couch...

[E's]

Yikes indeed! Glad Sammie is okay. You folks are very brave to take this on in your busy lives/household - I fear I wouldn't have the stamina for it - to say nothing of not having the know-how you do - for this very reason: in one instant the little dickens - like all puppers, cats and horses - can get itself in a jam after all the trouble its people go to Hang in there! I admire you very much.

[Tambrey]

thanks E's...Sammie is doing better than we EVER expected him to do...the surgeon said that by this summer he should be able to just be a dog and do all the things dogs do...

Most of the people who know about the surgery cannot understand why we would spend that kind of money on "just a dog" and told us what they would do... but you know....they just don't "get it" that they are a part of our family...our lives...and we do whatever we have to for as long as we have to...
We would have even gotten him the wheelcart if necessary...I had already been looking at different styles online while he was still at the University hospital...
fortunately, we will not be needing that...hopefully never!...

[Traci]

"just a dog"...How dare they!!

[k9Karen]

"just a dog"...How dare they!!

A pox on those who do not love animals!

[Tambrey]

Next phase of therapy has begun Sammie can be out of his crate and just rome around the house as long as we are in the room with him...but my living room and dining room are like one big room, and the kitchen is off of those...imagine an L shape...
he cannot do stairs yet, or jump on furniture, but we have French Doors to close out to the entry hall, so he cannot get to the stairs...gotta figure out something to block the furniture...and get those stairs built THIS weekend!!

He is doing GREAT!!...I wish I could video him to show how well he is walking/running only 3 weeks after surgery!

yes...running...we really try not to let him, but even with a tight rein on the leash, he runs along beside us...

oh, and she said he can start going on 5-10 minute walks outside, sort of let him decide how long but no more than 10, so lastnight when I kept walking past the end of the sidewalk to go out around the first lightpost...Sammie looked at me in shock, then his tail really started going and he danced around in circles...he was so excited to be out on the dirt road...
now it will be more bath times again with all the dirt he will gather on his belly and under his front legs...hahaha

[Marty]

Sounds like he is doing great, Tambrey!

Going back to that "just a dog" thought...my Dad, who has now passed on, when I told him about the surgery, he said that long ago they would have just shot the dog. And that was from a dog lover!!!

[TheSkeptic]

ACK --- I haven't been reading this board and I find this! Best wishes for a rapid recovery.