Sammie

[Tambrey]

As many might recall...a few years ago, Sammie slipped a disc and ended up rupturing and being paralyzed...we rushed him to Ames where they successfully did surgery on his back and he has been doing wonderfully...

Not sure what happened today...possibly a slip on the ice outside going potty......or maybe a tough bowel movement...his back is bothering him again...we are doing what the vet has said for now...crate rest....if need be they will put him back on anti-inflammatories in a day or two...but want to see if crate rest will help first...he is still walking some but his muscles are very tight and he is slow...so hopefully rest will help a pulled muscle heal...and hopefully that is all it is...

But...if it happens again and he is paralyzed, well...we had already decided back with his first surgery that if it happens again we will not put him through another surgery....

We are going to take this a day at a time...at this point in time...and think positive...last time it happened, we had no idea he had a back problem until it was too late...this time we do and hopefully have caught it soon enough...

Please pray that Sammie pulls through this okay....

[Marty]

You have my prayers for Sammie, Tambrey...been there with them, and I know the decisions are so difficult. Hugs all around.

[E's]

So sorry about this development. My thoughts are and will be with you and this darling little dog!

[momPaws]

Praying for Sammie & for you.

[k9Karen]

I'm so sorry Tambrey - sending bunches of good wishes to you and Sammie

[Tambrey]

Thanks everyone...
this morning he came walking out to greet us...and wanted to go potty...he seems to be constipated this morning - not sure if because his back is sore or maybe that IS the cause of his sore back....he went but it was a strain for him to go....

he is wanting to get up and move about today but we are limiting activity for a few days at least...we are not keeping him int he crate if we are home, but trying to keep him on the cushion at least, and have water, food and piddle pads nearby for him

We'll go back in Monday and see what they recommend then...if we want to try muscle relaxers or if he is doing better on his own....

[Traci]

If he's not doing better by morning, xrays at least can help to determine if something is amiss in the spine.

If you have canned dog food, try feeding it for a few days in the event he has hard stool or constipation.

Don't assume anything until he's evaluated and xrays done.

Hang in there, get better, Sammie!

[Tambrey]

yes, we will take him to the city hospital after roads get cleared if we want x-rays done...and I don't think that would be a bad idea if he does not improve....

We do not have canned dog food....just canned cat food

And would the catlax we have be okay for him?...We were going to ask our local vet, but I guess they are busy shoveling their own ways out from home!

I also considered a drizzling of EVOO in his dry food?

I LOVE being snowed in...but not when something like this happens

[Traci]

NO to the cat food, and no to the olive oil (if that's what you were referring to). You said that although he strained, he DID produce, so, was it rock hard or what?

[Tambrey]

No, that is what was weird....he strained, but it was mucusy and fairly soft....normal...not alot, but he idd not eat much yesterday either...today after he went out and had his secons BM, he came in and ate some, but still not alot

yes, EVOO / olive oil..I just know there are dfferent grades of olive oil, and I just use the EVOO