Mister the worm
It's been a while!
We are approaching the 1-year anniversary of when Mister first broke his back. AKA Christmas Day! And, what a day that was.
In a previous post, I detailed the dramatic series of events (go on, give it a read! https://helpmisterwalk.com/updates/giddy-yap/). Between the snow, flights, bills, and exhaustion, it was nothing short of traumatizing. But, even so, it still all feels worth it.
As I sit here typing, Mister is cuddled up on a heated blanket after playing outside with his sister Polly (the poodle). Since the last update, Mister has lost weight, gained leg strength, and gotten that pep in his step back. He’s progressed so much! So much, in fact, he’s been jumping onto the couch! Which he is not supposed to do, but you have to appreciate the milestone. It’s quite impressive for a sausage dog!
Come to think of it, milestones are often all we have to look back on. The finer details fade away as the lessons, memories, and feelings rise to the surface. I remember last Christmas like it was yesterday. I felt sad, rushed, and confused. But, I also had a sense of calm and hope. I remember sitting on the plane with my head on the seat in front of me while a sea of thoughts crashed between my ears. I remember entering the veterinary hospital and seeing Mister’s stupid, doped-up face from fentanyl and muscle relaxers they gave him. I remember that god-awful, 8-inch scar on his back and all 11 staples. I remember it all.
I also remember him walking again for the first time and the look he gave me when he did (Mister’s First Step https://helpmisterwalk.com/updates/misters-first-step/). And, I remember, just 10 minutes ago, when he ran in from the backyard and hopped over the doorstep like a trained athlete.
In the back of my mind, I know he could get hurt again, but I can’t let that stop him from being a dog. Freedom and movement have proven beneficial for his condition and I can tell he’s much happier than when he was boxed up in a pe
Mister wants to remind us all to take a break and roll around in the grass. You deserve it!
The dust has settled from the weekend. Evelyn and I are back at work and Mister's been catching some much-needed ZZZs. And, he's got a lot to show for it! His back-left leg regained some strength and he's been able to stand/walk in short spurts!
The next main event is his staple removal. The incision is notably smaller than last time and far less gruesome looking. Though, it's far from pleasant. What's really great about getting the staples removed, is we'll finally be able to give him a bath! Recently, it's just been baby wipes. You may not have thought about it, but the smell a little sausage dog can build up after peeing and pooping on himself for a week is nothing to turn your nose at. There's only so much Pampers Baby-Clean can do for you....
The Nashville Oktoberfest Dachshund Derby is coming up in a month on October 8th. Mister raced in this event last year and even won his heat! Can you believe it? He won and now he can barely use the bathroom. If you know anyone connected to the derby, I think it would be awesome if Mister could do the opening heat. A pup can dream, right?
Anyway, the excitement and sweat of summer is dwindling away as the fresh air of fall welcomes us into a new expanse. For some, it may simply be a change of season, but for others it is a season of change. Every year, I find peace in this delicate transition. Just as the leaves fall, It's an opportunity for us to brush off the past and stand naked in the street while everyone drives by and comments on how dead we look. I'm sorry, that took a sudden turn. If it were up to me, the year would start in September and end in August. Who wants to start off in the freezing cold? What a stupid idea. Wow, I'm getting way off track now.
I think I'm just going to stop there,
Dylan
The Boot Scootin' Boogie 🤠🔈
Mister giving a high-five
Evelyn and I just visited Mister and he’s doing great! You can tell by the look on his face he’s in good spirits. He even felt like giving me a high-five!
The moment he saw us he started crying and we both could have broken down in tears. He continued to cry for two minutes while we gave him kisses and snuggles. It’s crazy how much a dog can be a part of your family. He’s basically our kid.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t bring him home, but we’re hoping we can tomorrow. What’s important is he’s stable. And, if that means spending another night at the hospital, then we’re in support. We may get another update tonight, but tomorrow morning is more likely.
In the meantime, we’re setting everything up at the house. Our bedroom, office, and living room each need to have either a crate or exercise pen to keep him contained. We still have some of this from last time he had surgery, but there are several items we had to buy.
Overall, Evelyn and I feel good. Visiting Mister took off a load of stress, but having been in this circus before, we know what comes next. Caring for a dog after back surgery is exhausting and downright frustrating at times, but worth it. We're not going to have it all together over the next several months. We will lose sleep, be in bad moods, be distracted at work, and want to quit. But, we won't quit because we'll have your support and Mister to remind us everything is ok. And, that is enough for us.
From the tips of our tails to our cold, wet noses, thank you,
Evelyn and Dylan
visit our website to view more content or support Mister through donation: helpmisterwalk.com
Like son like father. Mister has taught Dylan a few tricks since this all started.
Mister’s feeling good enough for some home videos! 😊
Smell that? Something's coming you don't wanna miss.
Mister's First Step
Mister took his first step!
It's been quiet the last few days. Just lots of rest, lots of cuddles, and lots of pitiful looks from the short-legged heartbreaker. I've continued Mister's exercises and noticed his leg muscles getting bigger and more firm. This is a good sign and suggests his circulation and motor function are improving.
Part of our routine involves strapping Mister in a harness to support his back side while he goes potty. Typically, he pulls himself forward with his front legs and drags his back legs in the grass...but not today! Today, he took a step with his back, left leg and stood on it. I couldn't have been more excited! To make it better, he peed and pooped within the first 5 minutes. This is a record under the new regime and means I spend less time standing in the cold. He is so considerate.
We have an appointment this Thursday to get the staples removed. Mister is blowing past milestones, and we're excited to hear the doctor's assessment of him. Overall, it is getting easier. We still have a long way to go, but I think the worst of it is over. Nonetheless, it's important we stay vigilant. We are taking a step in the right direction.
Mister Dragging His Feet
Mister is on the mend! The last few days have been quite good, outside of a few choice encounters you will soon learn about. The biggest news is he's regained control of his bladder and bowels. This means no more wetting the bed and no more giant, over-stuffed belly. He’s feeling a lot better. You can see it in his face!
Not much has changed with movement in his legs since the last update. We still see him stretch and wiggle them occasionally, but nothing monumental. However, his energy levels are higher and he’s tried to pull the ol’ escape move a few times, dragging his legs behind him of course.
All things considered, it’s been pretty smooth sailing…except for the poop. The poop has been a little too smooth sailing if you’re smelling what I’m stepping in. Between stepping in Mister’s poop, stepping in other dog’s poop, and even catching poop, you read that right, it’s been an absolute sh*t show. You see, we didn’t learn Mister had control of his bowels until he pooped into my hand as I picked him up to go inside. Truly, it was under the best of circumstances because in that moment, we knew he wasn’t full of crap anymore. The seal had finally been broken and the veil was torn. But, it didn’t stop there. Evelyn and I frantically ran inside not knowing we had both stepped in massive piles of doo-doo. Luckily, Mister’s pen was on the other side of the house, so we tracked it all the way in with us. We spent the rest of the night cleaning the house. Needless to say, we were pooped.
Humor is the only thing keeping us sane. We’re also very glad Mister is doing well. He’s turning 4 years old next month and has a lot of life ahead of him. I think we’ll look back and laugh just as we are now. It doesn’t matter how bad a situation seems; there’s always a way through it.
Mister Turns to the Dark Side
Strict crate rest can make anyone turn to the dark side.
Mister Walking in his Harness
Hi everyone! Yesterday was a rough one, but we are seeing subtle signs of improvement. Notably, Mister has been able to stretch out his back legs and even stood up for a few seconds! This gives us lots of hope and I know Mister appreciates being able to move his back legs even if it's just a little.
He is still consistently peeing himself and can only have a bowel movement if we manually express his anus. And, even then, it's only a small amount. I don't know if you have ever performed this on a dog, but it's an experience. That's for sure. We've contacted the animal hospital where he had surgery and are bringing him in tomorrow to express his bladder and stimulate defecation. I've also made an appointment on Jan. 12 for staple removal and reassessment.
It's already been 5 days since the surgery and we're starting to see a pinhole of light at the end of the tunnel. He's getting his personality back and wants to move around more. These are all good signs, but we have to make sure he stays confined and rested. We still have 5-7 more weeks of strict crate rest.
See more at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mister-walk-again
