Abby,s Treatment week 5

At the  end of week five, Abby appears to be about the same. Johnny spent the weekend with her, enjoying  their favorite activities which include fetching a tennis balls, walking, and just catching up on time together that they have not been able to have for weeks at a time now. In some ways we have all adjusted to Abby's absence, as well as Abby having adjusted to her temporary home.  But at the same time  we eagerly look forward to bringing her back to her real home where we are hopeful that her recovery will continue to improve, and that returning to her family and familiar surroundings will give her new motivation .  So  it is Wednesday, April. 24th and Abby is finishing up what will be her sixth week and final days of therapy at the LSU vet hospital .  Alex, her current vet resident, has been in close contact with Johnny and has been working  diligently with Abby. And let me say again how impressed we have been with the comprehensive , personal,  and professional  care delivered by the LSU vet hospital personnel  and what a blessing for us that we have been able to get such good care for Abby.  We have begun to think about where we will keep Abby and how we will manage her care from home. We all recognize we have a great challenge ahead. She remains incontinent and unable to walk on her own at this point.  We will be getting the necessary equipment to help ease the transition to living at home, but it's  going to be out with the old ways and in with the new, and these challenges will involve a great deal of compromise  and patience  for Abby and for us. But we are determined to do all that we can to get Abby walking again  and enjoying the activities that she must miss so much.

Abby's treatment week four

Abby has been continuing with aggressive therapy at the vet hospital. Johnny noticed on his weekend visit that Abby has become a real "hell on wheels", and almost jogging on their walks In order to keep up with her . The slight movement of her muscles in her right leg were still apparent and we feel encouraged by that. Johnny and his dad decided that they would keep Abby in therapy for two more weeks at LSU. Her care has been excellent so far and we feel that she is getting the best possible treatment for her condition.

Abby's treatment week 3

Johnny returned to the LSU vet hospital for his weekend visit. The only real change in Abby that he noticed was that it appeared that she was trying to use her right leg a little bit when she was in the chariot. He thought he could see her muscles trying to work. It was very subtle, but a change for the positive to be sure.

Easter weekend

We decided to spend the weekend in Baton Rouge with Abby for Easter. Our first visit on Saturday morning we were greeted at the glass doors by Emily and Abby , who was wearing her new spring bandanna which Emily had given her .  Abby was elated to see Timmy, Annalee , me, and of coarse her  Johnny and frantically scooted around in her little chariot getting hugs and kisses from all of us.  I commented in the last post about the status of her physical condition. But what I really noticed about Abby since the last time I had seen her was that  her enthusiasm, her happy disposition, the smile on her face, and the warmth in her eyes had returned.  Some of this was due to a change in her medicine (they stopped the anti-anxiety drugs) But I think mostly it was the fact that Abby has become comfortable with her caretakers, especially Emily, more comfortable in her routine, and more independent with the use of the "chariot" which  allows her to walk and run around on her own.  When we are ready to leave  it is difficult to get Abby to go back inside. She has gotten in the habit of stopping at Johnny's car,  waiting for him to open the door, jump in, and head back home. We all can't wait for that day to come!

Abby's treatment and recovery - week 2

Johnny spent the weekend visiting Abby and I'm not sure who enjoyed it more! The vet hospital is on a large campus with several buildings and shady grass areas. They took long walks with Abby in her little "chariot" stopping often for Abby to smell the grass and look and listen to the birds etc. They played fetch  with a tennis ball which  Abby never tires of. She has become interested in watching two large horses that are staying there I assume for treatment. Later she happened happened  upon a barnyard area that is normally locked , entered pulling Johnny along with her, and spent some time chasing roosters around their barnyard.  He felt after the visit  that Abby had clearly acclimated to her new surroundings,  was more familiar with her new routine, and had become attached to one of her primary caregivers, Emily.  Her clinical therapy included electrical stimulation to her muscles, walking on the treadmill in the water, as well as other exercise activities. Her left leg is still unresponsive, she remains incontinent, but there were some changes in her right leg. It has started to spasm/shake all the way down to her paw. The vet does not know what this means exactly, but we are all hoping  and praying that it is a sign that some sort of signals are reaching her leg???

Abby's Profile

ABBY'S PROFILE

Abby is not old. Abby is not sick. Abby did not suffer from a traumatic  accident.  My son, Johnny, has raised Abby since she was six weeks old.  They have been inseparable ever since.  She grew up fast,  along with Johnny , who was an LSU undergraduate at the time. Abby moved several times, had many dog friends,  survived frat like parties and game  days, and was picked up safely more than once from streets far from home.  In spite of this, when Johnny's dad , Timmy, and I first met Abby, she was an extremely well trained, obedient lab.  She wiggled her way into our hearts in no time.  So we learned that Abby, now five years old, is the quintessential yellow lab. She loves to fetch tennis balls, play frisbee, get in the water whether it be a lake or swimming pool, chew bones, go on car rides ,play with children,  hang out in the kitchen at dinner.time , enjoy a tummy rub,  or just lie close to Johnny and chill.  

SO HOW DID ABBY SUFFER FROM A SPINAL STROKE?

It was not because she was old. It was not because she was sick. It was not because she had a traumatic accident.  I can only share our story of what happened on that day.  We were all actually gone most of that  Saturday celebrating St. Patrick's day.  When Johnny returned home with several friends, Abby greeted him and wagged her tail excitedly as usual.  He did notice her whimpering somewhat but thought at the time it was just part of the frenzy .  A few minutes later when Johnny went back outside, he heard Abby really whimpering and lying in the front yard kind of in a ball.  He discovered that she could not stand up so he picked her up and brought her in the house.  She was unable to move her hindlegs or back end in any way. She only moved from side to side while sitting with the use of her front legs, or could lie down.  Abby was not in any apparent  pain having suffered paralysis from what we were later told was a spinal stroke .I know it sounds like we are leaving something out. But she really was okay one minute and not the next.

SO WHAT DID WE DO?

Johnny realized something was very wrong. He put Abby in his car and took her to the emergency after hour vetinerary clinic here in Monroe, La.  After examination, the vet on-call thought that perhaps Abby had a disc issue that might require surgery. At the very least we would need an MRI To determine what  the problem was exactly. The closest place to do that was at the veterinary hospital in Baton Rouge, 3 1/2 hours away.  Within the hour Johnny and his dad were on the way to Baton Rouge.  Hours later after the MRI, it was determined that Abby had indeed suffered from a fibrocartilaginous embolism or FCE.  No surgery would fix this.  She has paralysis of her back legs and flank.  The million dollar question is how permanent will this be. Since the strokes occur in the spine and not in the brain, Abby is still completely herself mentally and spiritually.

SO WHAT CAUSED THE SPINAL SROKE ?

Oh how I wish we knew!  The  cause is really not known. The best information can be found on Google under fibrocartilaginous embolism, aka. FCE. It is  also referred to as a spinal stroke

SO WHAT TREATMENT IS ABBY GETTING?

We feel so blessed that Abby is in the fine care of the vetinerary  team at LSU's  vet hospital. The
hellish part is that Johnny cannot be there with her, knowing  she must be so frightened by her unfamiliar surroundings and her illness.  She is given therapy every day which may include getting in
the pool, exercising her limbs, etc.  We all felt that it was critical that Abby see a "family" member each day of her first week while she was getting acclimated to the facility and to the health care team.  Johnny's girlfriend Anna Lee went on Monday, I went down on Tuesday and Wednesday, Johnny returned on Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday. She does seem to be adjusting to her situation. Johnny was actually able to play ball with her on Saturday when they had her fit to a chariot type cart that allows her to move about on her own.  Please watch the video. She's expected to be in therapy from 2 to 6 weeks,  and wevare praying for a recovery  that will allow her to come back home . It is such a relief just to be with Abby and  love on her. But at the same time it makes our hearts  heavy to see her struggling with this Illness  and  not able to do the things a happy, active  lab is used to doing.  It just ain't right!

SO WHAT 'S YOUR STORY?

If you have  a dog who has had a spinal stroke please share your experience with us.

Healing Abby

DIAGNOSiS: FCE.  Fibrocartilaginous Embolism

We, my family are seeking input from any Dog lovers whose dog might have had experience with this frightening and debilitating condition  We are searching for better understanding of what the next couple weeks will have in store for us and my son's beloved yellow lab Abby. More to come...