It's official!!! I'm adopted!!! I will always have lots of extra special needs though and my forever family is very appreciative of any ongoing assistance. Visit the following links to continue supporting Theo's care with his family....
....and read below for his whole amazing rescue story!
Theo was taken to a local veterinarian (not ER hospital) after becoming paralyzed. His family did not think they could afford the recommended referral to a neurologist for an MRI and surgery, so they surrendered him to the vet clinic in hopes that a rescue would step up and provide the medical care he needed in order to avoid euthanasia. From 11:30 am to 11:55 am, I started thinking about how we could help. At 11:55 am we were told that we only had until noon before the vet clinic euthanized this sweet baby. Whaaaat! OK we'll figure out the details later, just give us that boy! After a LOT of back and forth and frantic pleas for someone to foster, the vet clinic finally said they would hold off on euthanasia and wait for us to come get him. Assuming he would need surgery, I knew we actually had a couple days to figure out an actual foster. I posted another frantic plea on Facebook and a few of my S Florida friends messaged me that they could help. Beatriz offered to go get him at the vet and transport him wherever he needed to go. She rushed over there and scooped him up and headed to the ER/specialty hospital for a neurological exam, MRI, and surgery. We started fundraising for the anticipated 1k MRI and 4k Surgery. We estimated we would need approx 6k to take in this boy. We can do it! Look at this face!
After doing an exam, the neurologist called us with same bad news. He is completely paralyzed (no control over bladder or fecal) and has zero pain response. I mean, it's good he's not in pain, but zero feeling is not good in terms of prognosis. IF his injury happened within 24 hours, he has a better prognosis with surgery. But that "better" prognosis is 50%. There's a 35% chance he'll stay the same. A 15% chance he'll actually get worse, the paralyzation could move up the spine and eventually paralyze his lungs. In that case, euthanasia would be the humane choice so that he does not suffer suffocation. With zero surgical treatment, he has only a 5% chance of recovering function. We were quoted $9,000-10,000 for this surgery. Our hearts sunk. That's a LOT of money. Even if we raised the difference between what we had in the bank and what we needed, it would wipe us out. We have multiple special needs kids already. One who just had an ER visit and needs a cardiac consult. What if another has an ER visit? We wouldn't have the funds. But of course, I can't just say no without trying to think of other options. As we tried to figure out our options, we were able to get a little bit more background info. Theo had his first episode in March and he was referred to the neurologist. He never went. They must have managed at home with crate rest and meds. The issue with IVDD though - you always risk flare ups. Just because they recovered once, doesn't mean it won't happen again, in his case it did. He was coming out of his crate on Thursday when he yelped and went down. Completely paralyzed. He was taken to the vet the next day (Friday). We were contacted on Saturday. We are now well outside the 24 hour window where surgery has the measly 50% recovery prognosis. We definitely can't spend 10k for under 50% success. But he's also not in pain. How can I euthanize a dog who is not in pain? I can't. I just can't. He could go on to live a perfectly happy life- he just needs some wheels and someone to express his bladder since he can't. After consulting with other people who specialize in special needs bullies we felt confident with our decision, so we declined the surgery. But now what? Where does he go? Luckily one of our Frenchie Meet Up moms stepped up and saved the day and offered to foster Theo while we figured out transport to get him up here. (Thank you Kiko for sharing your momma! We know your thoughts on sharing so we're super grateful! LOL We love you!) She went to the ER to pick him up and they showed her how to express his bladder. He was also started on a steroid.
He may be over a thousand miles away, but he still got the traditional HBR Welcome PupCup!, Thanks Veronica!
The plan was to get him to Indianapolis to get an MRI (for half the price of an MRI in Miami) and start physical rehab. We have a great rehab program here that I've done with own IVDD Frenchie.
Thank you to everyone who has donated towards my care!
Thank you to our Dog Scout friend Emily who is a veterinarian. She came by the day after Theo went to his foster home to help his foster momma express his bladder.
She is now a pee pro.
Guess who just got the all clear to fly!
I'm not wearing dat!
As we prepare for little Theo’s arrival, we need your help in getting supplies! Theo is completely paralyzed in the back end so he needs a little extra stuff .
We've hit a bump in the road. Blonde lady was halfway to Chicago and my flight had since been delayed twice due to weather. It's frustrating because we are currently waiting to see if the flight is going to be cancelled.
1-12-20 Transport Plan A: Miss Veronica and Miss Sandi will use their frequent flyer miles to get Theo to Chicago (Jet Blue doesn't fly into Indy) and The Blonde Lady will drive up to Chicago (only 3 hours) to pick him up. Much better than setting up a Bullie Train that will take 2 days and multiple hand offs. He will be IN the cabin (NEVER put your bulldog under the plane!) with his hoomans. The direct flight is only 2 hours. This is quickest way to get him here and the least stressful. Or not...... The weather was a nightmare the day he was supposed to fly in. Over 1,000 flights out of Chicago were cancelled. Flights into Chicago were all delayed, including Theo's. Luckily we found out about the delay before leaving for the airport. After 6 hours of delays, we thought his flight was going to take off. They headed to the airport. After getting through security, Little Theo began to panic. He had been given some meds to help calm him, but that was hours ago before we knew the flight would be delayed a million times. He started having trouble breathing and he threw up. They raced out of the airport and took an Uber straight to the ER. His body temp was 108. They gave him a sedative which immediately calmed him down. They put him in oxygen and let him rest. His body temp came down quickly as soon as he was calm. Respiratory distress does not happen just with heat stroke, it can happen when they get too stressed. The airways inflame and they can't breathe. This sends them into panic and it spirals downhill. We are so glad this happened BEFORE he got on the plane. If it happened on the plane, he would not have made it.
Truth.....
I’m now safely home resting with my Florida foster. I'll stay here until the hoomans figure out a car transport up to Indy.
So the ER vet gave me dis nice floofy bed, and well I mighta promptly pooped on it. It’s kinda what I do. Imma poop monster
What? It just exploded! A HUGE thank you to everyone who has shopped little Theo’s wish list!
He is set on cookies, snuffle mats, & chew bones. We have updated his list if anyone would like to send additional supplies to his foster.
Theo’s foster mom put one of his new beds in his crate,
covered it in a washable pee pad, and put a belly band on him.... and came back to this!
Holy cannoli, have you seen all my stuffs?? fank you for shopping my wishlist!
This little nugget had an appointment this week at the Animal Recreation & Rehabilitation Center.
He got some acupuncture and cold laser therapy with Dr Loeser.
Theo... can do it all even without use of back legs
#abilitiesoverdisabilities #handsomeaf
#dollypartonchallenge
New diapers New traction booties Thank you everyone for shopping my wish list and keeping me put together.
Look at my new washable pee pads that were donated!
They have my foster sisters face on them
The After-Bath pic
#thud #sohandsome #abilitiesnotdisabilities
#bathday for Theo!!! #ET #fresh
acupuncture day for Mr Theo
Hi guys. Is you havin a good Monday? -Theo
When you’re just trying to hold on until Friday…
Acupuncture day for Theo.
Having snacks with Theo □
I got to go to Theos acupuncture appointment this evening! Yes it appears that he is standing and sometimes even almost walking… Likely just muscle memory. He still needs to have his bladder expressed and he is fecal incontinent. there are several exercises that we are going to continue to do in hopes that he may be able to be a “spine walker“ which means he may not have any feeling, but muscle memory will help him to mimic walking. Crazy stuff but it’s possible. He does make some indication that he feels when acupuncture is being done. We are so happy with the progress this little guy has made. We have more exciting news for this guy’s future which we will announce later. Stay tuned !
It's official!!! I'm adopted!!! I will always have lots of extra special needs though and my forever family is very appreciative of any ongoing assistance. Visit the following links to continue supporting Theo's care with his family....