TR: Laminectomy for Mah Woofer w. pics (and ::::vibes::: request, PLEASE!!)

[BeanDip4All]

It's been a rough day. Rough couple of days.

Yesterday at about 11:30am (my day off... thank GOD I was home/around), due to the rapid deterioration of what had previously been our dog's slight limp, I rushed him to our Orthopedic surgeon vet. It came out of nowhere... it was almost like he was getting worse by the minute. By the time we were at that vet he was completely dragging his back right foot (not the leg he'd had ACL surgery on).

The orthopedic surgeon, who had repaired dogger's ACL just five weeks ago, quickly assessed and determined this was neurological, spinal related issue and referred us to his colleague, the Neurologist Surgeon Vet at the Specialist/emergency pet hospital clear across town. He called his direct line and got us right in. We headed over. I did my very best to use every rapid but gentle code 3 low g-force driving maneuver I had in my arsenal because poor puppeh quivered and shook in pain with every single bump and turn.

After a very detailed assessment the surprisingly (!!) young and handsome Neurologist informed me that the dog needed to have surgery that night, asap, and he could hopefully repair him to full function. He gave us a 90% odds of a full recovery. "Recovery" in this case meaning the dog would be able to walk and urinate on his own. The alternative to the surgery is that the dog would be paralyzed, not able to walk, urinate or defecate on his own, and would most likely have to be put down.

By this time Linus couldn't even walk with EITHER back leg, he would just drag them behind him... sadly all askew at odd angles and folded over onto each other all mangled up looking

It was getting late (3:30pm). The neurologist had scrubbed out from supervising ANOTHER surgery to see us. He would have to go finish that one 1st then call in his Emergency Night Surgery Team to work on our pooch- they would start at about 8pm through midnight or whenever they were done.

"I'm going to give you a few minutes to decide what you want to do."

Fucking hell.

The projected cost was 6k. Did I mention you have to pay the entire cost up front? This is on top of the 3k we just spent 5 weeks ago for his ACL, and also 1.5k we spent on our kitteh LAST WEEK for her ruptured anal glands (yuck). So... ze financial situation around here isn't exactly flush (also just shelled out for a ski house and season tix) with extra cash floating around.

He's 7 years old. We've only had him 2 years. He's a HUGE part of our lives... a beloved member of our family. But 6k isn't mere pocket change to us. It was really tough decision.

Particularly when your significant other is at his office, ducking out from a meeting to have this conversation over the phone, can't look each other in the eye or give each other a hug, and you both feel totally blindsided because this decision just came out of absolutely no where.

Remember this cheesy but kinda nice 90's song...?

Specifically, the part where it says, "The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind: the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday." ... ? Seems pretty damn fucking accurate right now.

We decided to do the surgery.

In a nutshell, our rationale was basically, "he's been a good dog." Linus has been nothing short of incredibly loyal to us. We would be loyal to him.

Linus is such a good dog.
He supports the democratic process:

is a friend to all breeds of animals:

Photogenic as all get out:

and, most importantly, a good cuddler:


Sticker shock?

itemized breakdown:


I was a wreck last night. A COMPLETE FUCKING WRECK. Fortunately a good friend took me out to a movie to distract me (worked well) and then to a cozy bar with secluded booths where I could drown myself in Stella and whiskey and wallow (worked better). Here I am contemplating the bill. Bring on another round!


Back on the homefront, kitten (sportin her OWN post-op cone of shame) swooped in to enjoy her newfound status as Sole Possessor of All Beds in The House:


Today we sat on tenterhooks for call from the surgeon about how it went, and if he's walking yet. I was participating in (trapped in!) this all-day mandatory ALS training session with these tough macho Paramedics and firefighter dudes. Didn't know many of them that well. Was the only girl at the meeting. Every time my mind would drift off protocols and wander to Buddy, wondering how he was doing and if he was gonna pull through... my damn eyes would start tearing up. Not exactly the best environment to bring on the waterworks!!! Tried to play it off like allergies and my sniffles like a cold. Don't know if I fooled 'em. Fucking sucked.

Got off work, met up with nerdlove and beelined to the good meat market where we stocked up on thick cut, high quality bacon. Cooked it up and off we went to visiting hours at what is basically the doggy ICU.

He's not walking yet, but he's alive and his ears perked up when he saw us.


Rear legs still sadly draggin. They psuedo-carried him out to us in sort of a rear end hoist, with him walking on his front legs only.




ze coup de grâce:


If he doesn't walk within 2-3 days, we'll know the surgery was a failure. Can hardly bear to write that out, it's deeply troubling just to contemplate.

I guess... if he doesn't make it and after all this we still have to put him down... (not like in that case we would get reimbursed for the proceedure!) I won't regret it. Ultimately I guess it's good to err on the side of your heart when making a decision like this, and not your wallet.

3 days. 3 days to walk on his own.

Please send vibes for Linus!

Walk, Linus, Walk...

PLEASE FUCKING WALK, dammit.

good dog.

EDIT- hop over to my UPDATE [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3065151&postcount=49"]post on page 2[/ame] for our good news update! woot yay

[skiing-in-jackson]

Mega vibes+++

and you better tell kitty not get to comfy in Linus' bed!

[up an down]

i am not surprised you made the choice to try to give your dog a chance to recover he is lucky to be part of your family, and hopefully will be with you for many more healthy years!

[mrryde]

You are beyond awesome.

++++VIBES++++

[Grange]

Tough decision. It looks like Linus thinks you made the right one. Hoping for a fast recovery.

[Sagamoron]

Vibes little buddy, get well soon!

[L7]

holy crap that's fucking brutal all the way around. Hope he's on those back feet in short order. This will shorten that looooonnnng corgi torso up a bit I guess.

[Trainwreck]

Serious ++++vibes++++ for you and for Linus.

[sidewall]

Serious vibes to you and your pup, you really take good care of him.

[rideit]

Man, you have gone above and beyond...hope it works out!
BTW, $585.00 for 'forced warm air'? WTF?

[hutash]

Good luck C, vibes for Linus+++++++vibes+++++++



Not that Linus won't be running like a maniac soon, but corgi's do great in carts should the need arise.

[Diamondback]

++ vibes ++ for you and Linus. I'd be a wreck right there with you.

Just keep reminding him that bitches love scars

[Tye 1on]

Let's go Linus!! +++vibes+++ Hang in there C and NL!

[The AD]

In a nutshell, our rationale was basically, "he's been a good dog." Linus has been nothing short of incredibly loyal to us. We would be loyal to him.

You did the right thing. Even if the surgery isn't successful you did the right thing. Good luck to Linus!

[rdennhs]

vibes for linus and the family, I can't even imagine what that is like. HE WILL WALK!

[monkeywrenchMoose]

Vibes to one of the cutest pups i've seen. And vibes to one of the coolest mags on the board.

[Viva]

I'm with ya, Ceej.

[AKbruin]

Heal up, Linus! (I can totally sympathize with you're getting slammed by outrageous vet bills.)

[Elkhound Odin]

Good luck, hoping for the best. What a tough decision to make, you are fortunate to have the finanacial capacity to choose the direction you picked.

Side note: My wife had a lami on C3/4. Thank god the incision was not nearly as large as Linus's.

[Fat City]

What an unbelievably tough situation to be in. I pray I never have to make a decision like that for my buddy, Fletcher, but if forced to......i'd do the same thing.
Good for you helping your helpless buddy out.
+++++++++++VIBES+++++++++

WALK LITTLE LINUS, WALK!!!!!!!

[hutash]

Heal up, Linus! (I can totally sympathize with you're getting slammed by outrageous vet bills.)

Expensive? Yes. Outrageous? No, unless you think you can do it better.

[axebiker]

+++Vibes+++

Good on you, man. There's a special place in your Hereafter (or whatever you may believe in) for you. Best of luck in both the physical and financial recovery.

[fixiewrek]

Vibes to you and Linus!

[Art Shirk]

Walk Linus! You're a great Mom BD. All my best wishes coming your way.

[mtskier]

many, many, many vibes coming your way.

linus is a great dog/companion and you are a generous and caring dog lover.

your post really hit home for me. i have done, and would do again, exactly what you did (regarding surgery) and i have no regrets at all. i would give anything to spend one more day with Smuggs or Tucker (we lost both of them within the past 2 years).

hang in there and think of the day in the not-so-distant future when you and linus will be playing together.