Wow! I can’t believe it has been 10 weeks already since that terrible night whereby my baby boy ended up paralysed.
The sound of his squeal will forever ring in my ears. I failed to protect him that night and no matter how many vets/surgeons or internet articles I read which tell me IVDD is a disease that was and is ‘coming to get him’ and I couldn’t have stopped it, I will always wonder if I had been educated on this disease that’s common to the breed beforehand would I have adapted his life differently or had him taking supplements for bones and joints from a young age.
There is no use focusing on the ‘What if’s’…. We are ‘Here and Now’ … and do you know what? Life really isn’t all that bad … for either of us!
So what have we learned over the past 10weeks:
All about IVDD for a start! I didn’t have a clue prior to this and I honestly thought I had extensively researched french bulldogs as a breed prior to becoming a frenchie mum.
I’ve learned more than anything that these little pups are clever, and sensitive and they ‘feed from you’. So on the days I felt like giving up, so did he!
This is going to sound crazy but on those days where I hit breaking point and wanted to throttle him, the next day would always be one of our best. It’s like he knew when he needed to ‘pull his socks up’
They are capable of way more than they bother to do half of the time! A big part of the battle is to keep them and you motivated. I found writing this blog has helped me to do that.
The physio exercises I do with Lloris at home, especially in the early days where I was religious with it at least 3-4 times per day certainly not only strengthend our bond but also built trust between us. I could tell he was scared to hurt himself and would panic and I was scared I wasn’t strong enough to hold him. I wasn’t about to let him down. He soon learned I wasn’t going to let him fall and became more willing to engage in the exercises. This work above all else is no.1 in his rehabilitation; aside from that..
Try everything you can think of and afford. I couldn’t pin point which specific things in our routine has had the most affect so far, I would say everything has had its place.
Supplements for preventive care for the future are a must from all of the research I have undertaken and with my home cooking it is easy to add these all into his feeds making it stress free to administer
I’ve learned to treasure every minute with my crafty, cheeky, diva of a little boy because no matter how much I throw at preventive care, I am merely buying him a little more time.
I would love him to reach the ripe old age of 12/13 yrs which is good going for a frenchie and to soundly pass in his sleep of old age, but the truth is…. Either IVDD or Cancer have this pups card marked and as such each and every day Lloris is here is a blessing.
Finally i’ve learned …. Correction… He has reconfirmed what I have always lived believing. Where there’s a will there’s a way… you’ve just got to want it enough!
When I heard that prognosis for the first time;
may never walk again 50/60% chance
Could take 9 months if at all
It just never really sunk in. That wasn’t an option for us and I realise we are the lucky ones. For so many frenchies and their families their battle continues on long beyond this 9 month estimate with progress so painfully slow.
I hope we never have a next time, but if we do…. I would count my lucky stars to be where we are now at 10 weeks.
In summary;
He can walk
He is in no pain
He can go to the toilet on his own
He is house trained again - when he wants to be
He now sleeps happily in his own bed!
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