Day 14:‘Shocker’ of a day!

Today is the day for Electro Acupuncture.. Let’s see if we can’t zap some life back into these legs!! Worth a try…

This morning routine has started off positive. Another dry night for my boy.

I want to say night time pee holding is now sorted but these will be famous last words I’m sure.

Sadly all that holding has to come out and he’s adamant this morning that this will not be out in the garden!

He tries to scoot off on his bum all over the house when I’m not looking for a split second. Such excitement of naughty freedom always seems to come with the nappy being kicked off and trail of dribbles in his wake.

He’s full of beans this morning and I can’t catch him to start with. Who’d have thought a paraplegic dog could scoot around on his butt so fast! Everything, everywhere has been pee’d on!

Physio goes ok but he’s too excitable this morning to do his standing and he’s refusing to eat his breakfast - minced turkey isn’t his favourite but home cooking is all about a balanced diet. He can’t have sardines and sausages everyday!

Head in my hands, two washing machines on the go washing everything possible, yet I can still smell the strong aroma of dog pee. I have nothing left to wash! … But ME!!

He’s having some time out in his bed; he took himself there, clearly sensing mummy needs some time out herself… he’s driven me to the end of my tether.

Best just get in my own bed until mummy sees the funny side!

I make a call into work to let them know my morning has been a little stressful and time has run away with me. I won’t make it in before his acupuncture appointment. They will hold the fort but I know my workload is piling up and I really need time to catch up. Someone’s got to bank roll this pups rehab!

I decide to just ‘take 5’… I sit down on the sofa with a peppermint tea and a chocolate hobknob or 6 and am feeling a little broken.

I have Alexa playing the radio in the background and at this exact moment where I feel like I want to either cry or scream the song “Stand by Me” starts playing as if right on queue like in a movie. The sun even makes an appearance through the window too.

I look up to the ceiling; say a little thanks to my Nan up in the heavens for spurring me on, I shall take it as a sign and I’m back in the game! The heart strings have been tugged.

I hear Lloris stirring from his nap and decide to have another go at outdoor peeing.

Oh such a good boy, he pees a little and we practise his standing.

He can actually now stand for 12, 14, 16 seconds! A massive improvement on yesterday 10!

I realise it’s now not so much him falling from the stand, he loses balance in his stand because he tries to walk forward.

Important to note though; his legs still do not work for themselves at all. He cannot get into a stand position alone. This achievement is all about him taking weight on his legs. Day by day he’s getting stronger with this but still remains at his best outside whilst sniffing the air.

All is forgiven, he’s trying, we’re friends again!

I do a little more googling on his rehabilitation and stumble across a story of a frenchie with the same condition but sadly didn’t come with the ending I am hoping for. Nevertheless they did post a link to a Facebook support group.

I have joined! Lets see what others can teach me on this!

I’ve answered a few peoples questions, obviously shared my ‘electric toothbrush therapy‘ tip. Looks like I’m not the only one completely new to this and I have taken a little comfort in reading that pretty much all of those in Lloris‘s condition came on suddenly and out of the blue and those paralysed happened literally within hours of them displaying their first signs of discomfort. So whilst this whole shocker of a condition is heartbreaking it would seem there would have been little I could have done to prevent it from happening. It’s a bone issue with the breed.

I can’t help but post the question I am desperate to know the answer too:

I receive some lovely responses but the most amusing by far was this little gem. I may just have to give that a whirl! Sorry Lloris you have pushed me to it!

Now for acupuncture - read on, this deserves its very own entry …