Jasperxxgabby
Well-known member
Jasper developed sudden paralysis in his hind legs and last Tuesday - 21st June, his vet referred him to a center in Birmingham where a consultant was waiting for him, he had an emergency MRI scan and Spinal Decompression Surgery. What had happened to Jasper was a disc which had gradual degeneration, ruptured, resulting in the disc material herniating upwards into the spinal canal and putting pressure on the spinal cord. The MRI showed a a wide area of cord compression on the right running from the 1st to 3rd lumber vertebrae. Jaspers spinal cord has been decompressed by a "hemilaminectomy" where a window of bone was removed from over his spinal cord allowing the disk material to be removed. The MRI showed he as degeneration in other disks.
Its been a horrible time to put it mildly, on the Tuesday morning when I took him to my vets I thought that was it for Jasper, after phone conversations between the vet and the consultant Jasper was given a 60-70% chance, when we got to Birmingham and the consultant examined Jasper he said that Jasper did have sensation in in hind legs, he then gave Jasper 90% chance of success. Since we have got Jasper home its been up and down, he as progressed to the point where he can actually stand and support his weight for a short time then he sits down, we have made a 4ft by 4ft kennel for him and he will actually walk in it(wobbly for a short time) and he shuffles himself in his bed to get himself comfortable, It was brilliant and a relief when he done his first poo, 6 days after his operation, he as a sling called a quick life and he is allowed outside four times a day up to four minutes a time, the sling supports his back end and he move really quickly and he loves it, it was funny in a sad way when he first attempted to cock his leg to wee. Then the realisation of the situation hits me and its like a smack in the face the state my beautiful little boy is in. I know his recovery will take weeks or months. Jasper is due to see the consultant again in two weeks time up in Birmingham or sooner if needs be, he is in the care of his usual vet and he had his stitches out today, yesterday evening Jasper developed diarrhea so he having treatment for that and they have changed his painkillers, poor thing is unwell today as if he's not got enough to deal with.
So there you are, I'm on a bit of a downer about it all at the moment, the guilt in me is just winning the optimistic side of me for the time being, I hope that Jasper will recover and that he will be out walking and enjoying himself, he as always been an outdoor dog, he would walk all day if he was could, and its just so sad I could scream about it all. Its like a part of him as gone its hard to explain and i am rambling now sorry if I seem doom and gloom its just, I dont know.
Its been a horrible time to put it mildly, on the Tuesday morning when I took him to my vets I thought that was it for Jasper, after phone conversations between the vet and the consultant Jasper was given a 60-70% chance, when we got to Birmingham and the consultant examined Jasper he said that Jasper did have sensation in in hind legs, he then gave Jasper 90% chance of success. Since we have got Jasper home its been up and down, he as progressed to the point where he can actually stand and support his weight for a short time then he sits down, we have made a 4ft by 4ft kennel for him and he will actually walk in it(wobbly for a short time) and he shuffles himself in his bed to get himself comfortable, It was brilliant and a relief when he done his first poo, 6 days after his operation, he as a sling called a quick life and he is allowed outside four times a day up to four minutes a time, the sling supports his back end and he move really quickly and he loves it, it was funny in a sad way when he first attempted to cock his leg to wee. Then the realisation of the situation hits me and its like a smack in the face the state my beautiful little boy is in. I know his recovery will take weeks or months. Jasper is due to see the consultant again in two weeks time up in Birmingham or sooner if needs be, he is in the care of his usual vet and he had his stitches out today, yesterday evening Jasper developed diarrhea so he having treatment for that and they have changed his painkillers, poor thing is unwell today as if he's not got enough to deal with.
So there you are, I'm on a bit of a downer about it all at the moment, the guilt in me is just winning the optimistic side of me for the time being, I hope that Jasper will recover and that he will be out walking and enjoying himself, he as always been an outdoor dog, he would walk all day if he was could, and its just so sad I could scream about it all. Its like a part of him as gone its hard to explain and i am rambling now sorry if I seem doom and gloom its just, I dont know.
I have a friend in a similar situation to yours and the orthopedist said to let the dog go at his own pace but keep him motivated to do things on his own -- only by using those legs will he restore ability to them -- he was confident that a cart was not the right option yet as the dog would likely slowly regenerate walking ability (he is one of the best orthos in Ireland). Also have other friends who had a similar surgery on their lab X and though he did have some weakness he still gets around OK after many years.
