Stevie's Jan 2013 conservative Pekingese Canada

 Last year my beloved Odie crossed the Bridge and my heart and soul were shattered. I knew that I would never ever have that kind of bond again...

Then... in December 2012 a student in one of my classes worked with a rescue, and during the segment on epilepsy she mentioned that they were looking for a foster for a blind Pekingese that had been having seizures. Blind and/or epileptic dogs are nothing new in this house, so we applied to be foster parents. Once approved Stevie came to our home, and I knew about 5 seconds after meeting her that I was going to be a foster failure for this little girl. We applied to adopt, took her to the vet to get her seizures under better control after a horrifying episode of cluster seizures on Boxing Day morning, and got her a tag with her name and our phone number - and removed the one that said Rescue Dog. Her adoption was finalized on December 27th. As I was drifting to sleep that night I realized that it was Odie's birthday...

Fast forward 4 weeks and we awaken to our little girl having a seizure - a small one, but she didn't bounce up afterwards, and I realized with dawning horror that her hind end was paralyzed. At first I thought that she had suffered from a stroke, then realized that a stroke would affect one side of her body and not just the back half. Off to the Vet, she recommends cage rest and Steriods and going to the specialists for a CAT scan. We live in the middle of no where as far as getting that kind of test done - but the nearest Specialist suddenly had an appointment available for the CAT scan a day and a half later. My husband was able to take her in thank goodness. Stevie was so good and so brave for all of this. She had the deep pain reflex in her back feet and wasn't incontinent. The CAT scan showed 2 prolapsed discs and several others just that are potentially troublesome. The specialists pushed for surgery - that would have to be done 400 miles away. They kept saying things like " this SHOULD help" and "we THINK that" and "it USUALLY works" and with more imaging tests we MOSTLY have success". I was infuriated and frightened - no one would give me a staight answer. We were willing to do whatever she needed, but not willing to put her through a difficult surgery and rehab for MAYBE. No one even mentioned conservative treatment. We left in tears...

After alot of discussion with our own Vet we did opt for conservative treatment, she thought that we had a good chance of success given Stevie's current continence and feeling in her feet. Cage rest it was- only out to potty while slung in a towel, or to go to the Vet. A long 8 weeks, especially battling the deep snow and sub zero temperatures (nothing like standing outside, holding up your wee girl, praying to any Gods that might listen, with tears freezing on your face).
How we cheered each milestone - the first true tail flipped up over her back wagging episode, the first attemps to scratch with her back feet, her first attempts to get her feet under her. She is courage in a fuzzy coat! Stevie had laser therapy and accupuncture treatments, biweekly and then weekly. She started walking - sort of- by 8 weeks. Then back to the specialist clinic for rehab/physio and to be fitted for a rented wheelchair. I knew that she wouldn't need that chair for long and she didn't. It was returned last week - she walks, and runs, she is a bit wobbly, and her left leg is a bit weaker. We continue rehab for that. Last Saturday, 11 weeks to the day that she woke up paralyzed, she passed her St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Evaluation. Stevie will spread her message of love, courage and acceptane to those whose lives and days need a bit of cheering.
Never give up!!