odnarb

[quote name='Horsefeathers!']Thank you SO much for posting your story. That gives me even more hope. [/quote] You are welcome! It took a while, but Brando recovered pretty well :) [quote]I really like that cart that Brando has. Rocco has one, too, but it looks different... his feet don't touch the ground, but right now he really can't put one foot in front of the other... yet. He would just drag them which is why he has to wear boots. Still, I very seldom ever even put him in his cart thingy except for longer "trips." We are trying really hard to get him to use those legs and he really is trying.[/quote] That's one thing that is great about his cart. His feet do touch the ground, and it forces him to use them. You can adjust the seat for more or less support. So they have just a bit of support for when they are weary, or lots of support for a very weak dog. It's like one of those baby walker things, where they sit in the seat (no kids, don't know what they are called :lol:) Here is where I got it from: [url]http://www.doggon.com[/url]. They are wonderful, and I highly recommend their products.

[quote name='courtnek']read up in the post - HF explains what her vet thinks. and welcome aboard!![/quote] Thanks for the welcome :D [quote]Looks like a spinal hemmorage of some sort, that they cant operate on...HF got him through another member here...HF is one of the most loving, caring dog people I am most pleased to know!! what, I have to ask, happened to yours? he's beautiful by the way...[/quote] Probably the same thing. Brando was the victim of a Fibrocartilaginous Embolism. It happened 6-2-01. Here is some information on his condition: [url]http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1663[/url] I found him a few hours after it hit. He was fine when I went home on my lunch break, and paralyzed when I came home at 5-6 o'clock. He was unable to use his hind end at all, and had no deep pain whatsoever on either side. He recovered well, and that is likely attributed to getting him on IV steroids within hours of the initial embolism. Many dogs with his degree of paralysis never recover at all. Today he can walk around the house and yard. His weakness isn't totally obvious to people who are unfamiliar with normal canine movement until he gets tired. Then he starts to move like a jacknifing semi, LOL. He tires easily, which is why he has the cart. His rear feet touch the ground with the model he has, so that he can use it more like a walker and his rear legs still get exercise. Here's a few more pics of my boy in his cart: [img]http://odnarb.com/bchairtrail.jpg[/img] [img]http://odnarb.com/mttaborbrandochair.jpg[/img] [img]http://odnarb.com/walkingboys3.jpg[/img][/url]

[quote name='Horsefeathers!']I'm just so excited, I can hardly stand it. Rocco's been getting the holy moly crap worked out of him lately. In just this week, he's shown great results and I'm really optimistic that we're going to be able to get him walking again. Just today, he STOOD on his own!! With his feet in the right place and everything!! You'd have to see him to know what a big deal this is.[/quote] I understand, the first time Brando stood again, I was ecstatic! He just uses his wheelchair for exercise, he gets around the house OK. [img]http://odnarb.com/bchairtrail2.jpg[/img] I just joined, why is Rocco paralyzed?

Remember folks, things cost differently in different parts of the country/world. Anyway, as far as the stuff for the spay goes, this is the stuff you should ask about. Ask about pre-anesthetic bloodwork. Many folks think this tests to see if they are "allergic" to anesthesia. What it does is test the function of the internal organs and blood cells to be sure the dog's system can handle metabolizing the anesthesia. And just because your dog had bloodwork a couple of years ago, or even six months ago, doesn't mean he/she doesn't need it now. Dogs age a lot faster than we do. Internal organs can degrade fast. If the organs aren't up to snuff, surgery protocol needs to be changed or cancelled. What about IV fluids? Blood pressure drops under anesthesia. That can be fatal. IV fluids help keep the BP up. It also helps keep up body temperature (hypothermia kills, too). They help the organs metabolize the drugs more efficiently. Also, there is an open vein in case emercency drugs are needed. What kind of anesthesia? Preferably, you want sevoflurane (1st) or isoflurane (2nd) gas anesthesia. Injectable only anesthesia isn't as safe. Ask if they use any induction drugs, or if they gas the animals down. We use either propofol or valium/ketamine to induce depending on bloodwork and other potential health problems, or sometimes we gas the animals down (depending on the situation). Ask if they give any pain relief. Make sure they don't use stainless steel sutures (your dog will never be able to get an MRI if one was needed). Often times the spays/neuters are able to be done very cheaply because they cut corners & costs. Cheap steel sutures, cheap anesthetics that aren't as safe, no pain relief, etc. Is it worth saving a few bucks if it means your dog's comfort or safety? Something to think about...