I can finally write about what Greg, Michelle and I have been through with our 4 month old Dobe puppy Leo – Alldobe Not Negotiable.  To make this easier to follow, I have broken it down into days and abridged it somewhat so as not take up too much bandwidth.  It is still very long and I apologise for that in advance.

DAY 1 -Tuesday - Dec 20 2005

Leo comes inside from the kennels (he sleeps inside in our room at night).  Greg & I both laugh at his ears being really high on his head.  This is normal for a 4 month old Dobe that is teething.  Later that night Greg extracts a chicken back that has caught in Leo’s throat.  Again we put this down to Leo being a guts and not having a lot of teeth to crunch it with.

DAY 2 -Wednesday – Dec 21 2005

Greg & I are concerned with how Leo looks when he emerges from his crate.  His face seems swollen and he appears to have slight stiffening in his front legs.  I ring my Vet and he says bring him up.  On examination, my Vets thinks it may have been the way he slept but he examines his throat and says there is bruising (probably from the chicken back being caught).  I take him home.  No sooner have I arrived home than the phone rings – “Get him back here straight away – I think he has Tetanus” my Vet tells me.  I race him back to the Vets to be greeted by both Vets, one administering a drip with the Tetanus Anti-Toxin (Leo had 3 Anti-toxin shots in total) while the other cleans his entire gum line with Hydrogen Peroxide.  He has contracted the Tetanus through his open gums due to the teething.  Treatment has commenced – we now have to wait.  Antibiotics are administered as are low doses of Diazepam to keep him sedated.  Leo is up on his feet by 6.00pm that night – we are all thinking he will be home by the weekend.  My Vets tell me he will make a full recovery as it was caught in time.

DAY 3 -Thursday - Dec 22 2005

Leo has taken a turn for the worse.  He now has total paralysis in his legs and jaw, is extremely light & sound sensitive and has constant saliva.  He is having trouble swallowing.  It is decided, after my morning visit, that I can’t visit as I stimulate him too much and this is not aiding his recovery.

DAY 4 -Friday – Dec 23 2005

I am still not allowed to visit Leo.  A feeding tube has been inserted into his throat.  His condition is no worse but no better.  Leo has an allergic reaction to the Penicillin so another antibiotic is used.  Apparently there are two drugs needed in this treatment that can cause an allergic reaction – one is Penicillin, the other is the anti-toxin – thank goodness it was the Penicillin!!!

DAY 5 -Saturday – Dec 24 2005

Leo seems to be responding.  He only has slight tremors now when the staff have been in to turn him (he needs turning every hour) and feed him.  Someone is with him constantly.  I am told I can visit him for a short time on Christmas Day.  He is still congested and there is a concern of pneumonia developing (a common “side-effect”).

DAY 6 -Sunday – Dec 25 2005

Leo is looking better.  He knows Mum and Dad are there and as my Vet gets his dinner ready he is raising his head and knows he is about to be fed.  My Vet and my husband discuss making up a sling to keep him upright thus taking pressure off his lungs from the constant lying down.  We leave armed with the necessary measurements for the items needed for this sling.  That night, Greg comes up with another idea and after discussing this with our Vet, it decided that is an even better sling.

DAY 7 -Monday – Dec 26 2005

Greg & I are at Bunnings when their doors open to buy the remaining items necessary for the sling.  Then it is off to the Vets where Greg and our Vet make this sling and Leo is placed in it.  He seems to like being upright for a change.  I take dry bed and more pillows up so as to make him as comfortable as possible.  Leo seems to be responding better being in the sling.  His recovery is well on the way

DAY 8 -Tuesday – Dec 27 2005

One of Leo’s legs has swelled due to being on them constantly so that is bandaged (apparently Leo is not impressed that the Vet only has Pink bandaging at this time and lets him know by nudging him with his head).  This is a good sign as it means he has some control back.  I am happy with how he looks when I visit (I am restricted to phone calls and one visit per day at the moment).

DAY 9 - Wednesday – Dec 28 2005

The congestion is all but gone.  Leo is moving his head around with ease and trying to eat cat biscuits one at a time.  He is also licking his bowl after he has been fed via his tube.  Both Vets are very happy with his progress, so much so that Leo is also given a hydro bath to freshen him up and allowed have little walk which he is extremely happy about.  He tries to get away from the Vet to chase one of the cats that the other Vet owns.  All Diazepam is stopped.  He is still on a drip though.  I am now allowed to visit twice a day!!!!!

DAY 10 - Thursday – Dec 29 2005

When I ring my Vet, he tells me that Leo went walkabout in the surgery when he took him out of his sling to change the bedding.  He tells me that it was the drip that stopped him from escaping.  He is also throwing his Octopus around and playing with it.  This is excellent as it means he is getting control of his limbs back.  He is also offered some Barbequed Chicken which he eats (small pieces) with gusto.  He is eating his pureed food straight from the bowl.  When Greg & I visit him, he is yawning and licking us and trying to get out of his sling to get to us.  I can’t help but cry with joy as he licks my face. 

DAY 11 – Friday – Dec 30 2005

When speaking to the Vet this morning, he laughs and his first words are “Bring me some more Chicken – he is eating me out of house and home”.  Leo is now walking normally on his front legs (even though his front feet are very flat) and my Vet believes that by this afternoon he will be walking well enough to enable him to him come home in the next few days.  He cannot lie down or get up on his own as his rear legs are still very rigid but flexion appears to return slowly.  The feeding tube will be removed tomorrow all going well.  The drip will be probably be removed on Sunday.  He says I may have Leo home by Tuesday.  I am in tears again with this news. 

DAY 12 - Saturday - Dec 31 2005

Leo has slight fluid build up in his front leg (due to lack of proper mobility) so it is decided that he stay at the Vet’s until this is better.  He is eating and drinking really well, so well that his feeding tube is removed as is his drip.  Greg gives him a hydrobath which he seems to really enjoy.

DAY 13 - Sunday - Jan 1 2006

Leo is looking much brighter.  His ears are still really high on his head, his front feet are coming up, his front legs are straightening and he seems to have a little more strength in his pasterns.  His rear legs are still stiff but he can walk without aid.  Still cannot get up and down on his own but my Vet tells me I can take him home tomorrow morning.

DAY 14 - Monday Jan 2 2006

Greg & I are at the Vets at opening time. Leo is excited as if he knows that he is going home.  He still has a long way to go but his recovery will more likely improve at a faster rate at home.  He cannot get our the back door without help as he can't raise his rear legs high enough to get over the small step.  Leo spends most of the day in his room in the dark and quiet.  He needs rest to regain his strength and let his muscles rebuild.

DAY 15 - Tuesday Jan 3 2006

Leo is improving slowly every day. He is wanting to be with me and can get in and out of the back door without be helped.  His appetite is also increasing which is good as he has lost some weight due to his illness.

Austin & Leo outside together for the first time since Leo came home.

DAY 16 - Wednesday Jan 4 2006

Spent much like yesterday.  Leo is happiest when with me so, after consulting with my Vet, I move his bed into the lounge room and when he is ready to snooze is when I can get housework, etc done.

Austin (top) with Leo - 4 January 2006

DAY 17 - Thursday Jan 5 2006

Leo is wanting to spend more time outside and is exploring the yard with gusto.  He has ice cream that night and he can lick all around his lips and nose so his tongue is basically back to normal.  His back legs are still not doing what he wants them to do but they seem to be getting more bend at the knees and he is able to trot albeit stiff rear legged style.

DAY 18 - Friday Jan 6 2006

Leo jumps up at the back door to tell me he wants back in - this is a major milestone.  Later in the day when he is out again, I go to see where he is and he lying on the grass.  I go to help him up and he gets up on his own.  Another major milestone!!  He still cannot sit though.

DAY 19 - Saturday Jan 7 2006

Leo is spending more and more time outside.  His front feet are virtually back to normal.  He is running around the yard and playing.  His back legs still do not have the flexion in them that we had hoped they would have by now but when he goes to the Vet for his check up the Vet is thrilled at how much he has improved since leaving on the Monday.  He is constantly trying to sit and is getting closer and closer to achieving this aim each time.

 Leo & Austin on Dad's lap