I’ve had a shocking time with my little guy Ewok.
Over the space of a few days he got weaker and weaker and eventually paralysed at the ripe age of three.
Getting good veterinary care in rural Philippines is impossible. So I jumped on the bus with him and travelled 3hrs to the nearest major city.
After X-rays and scans etc , it was determined he had a badly compressed spinal cord and no feeling from the waste down. The treatment was going to be long and no guarantees. But we had to try.
He spent three and a half weeks at the vet. The treatment was amazing. Would get video updates morning and night as they worked on him and I would do the 6hr round trip each Friday to visit him. When I would walk in where he was caged he would squeal in excitement and wag (his upper body would move as his lower couldn’t).
After three and a half weeks of constant therapy he was able to stand for a couple of seconds if stood up. The decision was then made to pick him up and bring him home to continue treatment.
I set up a big ice cooler and filled it with water and started exercising him in there. Eventually he could stand for a few mins unassisted. After a week and a bit , he was able to stand in the water for 10 mins. I kept it at 10 mins and each time lowered the water level, until he did 10 mins of standing still in an empty esky.
After 6-7 weeks , unbelievably, he stood up in front of all of us and walked over to his bowl. We yelled in excitement more than I yelled during the 2017 grand final.
The weeks of twice daily catheters, once a day suppositories, laser treatments, massaging him etc have been worth it.
He’s now walking around and doing better every day.
Been a long few months , but we are well on the way .. he’s a fighter
Also, I just want to say. He was never in pain at any stage and at every stage he had a smile on his face (as best dogs do). I nearly pulled the pin on multiple occasions , but he kept saying no with his behaviour.
