VooDoo

This is what a good day has looked like for us in the last 6 weeks.

Interesting note:  If you look closely at the picture - you will notice that VooDoo is dozing on the floor with electic current going thru the needles on his back and legs without anyone restraining him in any way in the middle of the busy back room of the vet's office.  He has become a very good patient.

I didn't want to post anything about VooDoo in any way until I knew what would likely happen.   Of course, nothing is for certain, but it looks like VooDoo is going to make a full recovery from an accident that left his front right leg partially paralyzed.  He could not right his foot and walking on the top of it about every 12th step.  From what Dr B has told me, the prognosis for this kind of injury is kind of grim. She suggested that I buy a 'boot' to put on his foot so that he wouldn't damage the top of it when he walked - that's when I got scared. 

Best case, would be if the nerve regenerated which can take between 6 mos to a year.   Can anyone imagine a border collie on 6 mos of crate rest??  6 weeks about finished us.

The biggest problem is that when the nerve is injured, the muscle wastes away and the limb starts to curl up  and it happens very quickly, like within 5 days.....  When the nerve regenerates (if it does), the limb is no longer functional. Luckily for us, VooDoo was able to keep his foot up most of the time when on leash walking on level ground - so began the night of the walking dead.   We walked at least 5 miles a day for over 6 weeks- which got very scary in my neighborhood after the time change....no sidewalk, busy streets and lots of stray dogs.

VooDoo is such a champ - he put up with being confined to either a crate or leash walking for all this time and did not melt down.  He was awesome with acupuncture, clearly and tolerated adjustment with Dr Latter with enthusiasm. 
He still can't run with the other dogs,and I'm not sure when/if that will ever happen again.

But we have the ok to start agility training again - what a gift that is.  6 weeks ago, all I I could plan is how to give VooDee and normal life without amputating his leg -  now he has his entire life back, with or without agility, he will be fine!

Wow - how easy it seems now to appreciate normal life!

Thanks for the lesson VooDee - I am still learning...