Saturday, January 10, 2009

Rusty


Poor Rusty. Eric called me at work on Thursday morning. I was in a team meeting when they buzzed Eric into my teacher friend's phone. Eric was crying and I couldn't understand him. He said Rusty had been paralyzed and that Rusty couldn't move his back half. I left work and we took Rusty to the vet. They confirmed it was probably a spinal injury (dachshunds spines can become injured very easily.). They told us we had to get him into surgery ASAP or he would become permanently paralyzed. With surgery comes no guarantees and the cost of the procedure is a minuscule 3,000. Well, what could we have done. Our dog is looking into our eyes and begging us to help him. We take him in for the surgery (which is at a different location). Yesterday, we went to visit him. They had shaved his whole back and he had a Frankenstein looking suture up his spine. Our poor dog. We still don't know if he will recover. They told us there are many options if he doesn't. One to put him on a cart and they can train us to manage his bladder. Some might say, hey it's just a dog..... This dog is a part of our family who has been with us longer than our children. Yes, there would have come a point financially where an attempt to save him would have not been an option. Luckily, the cost was not at that point. Now it is just a waiting game. If you read this and can say a prayer for our dog, thank you in advance.

3 comments:

Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog said...

As the mom of a doxie cart dog I understand every emotion you are going through. Rusty is not just a dog, but an important part of your family. You are doing the right thing. Rusty will do fine, no matter what, whether in a cart or not. Dogs teach us beautifully about adversity, never feeling sorry for themselves.
Do you know about Dodgerslist (www.dodgerslist.org). It is filled with tons of helpful information on spinal injuries in doxies's. Also, www.handicappedpets.com is another great resource.
If I can be of any help, please let me know. I understand... and I promise you it will get better. Hang in there. I am saying prayers for Rusty.
Barbara Techel
Author of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com

Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog said...

PS: Feel free to email me with any questions I might be able to help you with.
Barbara Techel
Author of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Dear Amy & Eric,
It's been a long time since we chatted, and I am so sorry about Rusty. Since I am an animal lover and have met your sweet dog, I will pray for him...Our pets are more like family sometimes, than family can be...
Miss you all and I wiull stay in touch..
Love and Prayers,
Pam Mickewich (from Connecticut)