Anya update!

It occurred to me I hadn’t updated y’all on Anya once we got her walking again in January.  That is Anya with her tiny little son as a puppy about a year ago – before the disk started blowing.

It was a little over a year ago when her disk first started to rupture and she was in so much pain. I took her back and forth to the emergency vet almost every day to find out what was wrong.  She went on drugs and crate rest, got a neuro consult, and he told me to keep with that since she was getting better.  And she was doing great until she wasn’t. Just one morning I got up, and she was laying on the floor and couldn’t walk and in so much pain.  I took her to the neuro that afternoon, she went into surgery overnight, they told me it was very grave that she would ever walk again.

She came out of surgery, she couldn’t walk, no response in her legs at all, and that was like that for weeks, though I kept working with her every day, working her legs, stimulating her nerves, with only occasional movement.  Until the legs started to move and I worked evern harder, and then I got her in water treadmill therapy, and she started walking.

Her gait is still kinda weird, but she runs with the other dogs outside.  I still carry her up and down the steps – not because she can’t go up and down them, she is just not allowed!  She gets stronger, and ever now and then she’ll have a weird day, like she loses coordination, and then the next day, she is walking better. I figure those nerves will be hooking back together for months still.

So a year from when she went down and 8 months since her surgery, and she is a happy little girl. She can’t sleep on the bed with me because I don’t know how to prevent her from jumping off, so she is in a little playpen right beside me. I thought she would hate it, but she loooooooves having her own sleeping space without the other pups in her space.

It’s been a long year, and we learned so much. She talks to me all the time with these little  low growls and moans, wanting me to do stuff for her. She boops me with her nose. We have developed a way of communicating I didn’t think you could have.

I worry less about her, protect her just as much and am grateful for all she has taught me and is still teaching me.

But as far as scent, I am pretty enamored by the Antica Farmacista Prosecco room scent for summer – Satsuma, Sugared Black Currant, Apricot, Muguet, Cyclamen, Passionfruit, Madagascar Vanilla, Sandalwood, White Musk. And I found a great vanilla scent of theirs, the Vanilla, Bourbon & Mandarin. OMG, that is so yummy. I use that one in the kitchen. It’s not heavy vanilla, just a little boozy with orange.  Love it. Crisp Satsuma Mandarin, Sweet Clementine, Orange Peel, Heliotrope, Bright Verbena, Spicy Bourbon, Warm Amber, Bourbon Vanilla, Labdanum Balsam.

  • Maya says:

    I am so very happy to hear that Anya has been healing so well. I love good news, especially about the innocent ones in our lives!

  • Musette says:

    I am really happy for you, honey! I know how much you love and care for your pups and y’all are very fortunate to have each other! I love how, so often, animals recuperate beyond our expectations and despite our dire prognoses, because they just live their lives, not paying any attention AT ALL to what others are predicting for them. We could all learn a lesson from that, I think!

    xoxoox

  • Dina C. says:

    What a lovely testimony to your love and tender care for little Anya. So glad to hear that she has come so far and is getting better every day. Delighted for you both!

  • MMKinPA says:

    I’m so happy for you and your fur baby and her recovery.

  • Tara C says:

    Yay! I have been wondering about her and hoping no news was good news. You did a great job with her! The faith and love of a mother can accomplish miracles. We develop such a strong connection with those animals we have to care for intensely. My dog who had congestive heart failure for two years before she passed away, we communicated without words. May Anya go from strength to strength.

    And I have that same orange, vanilla & bourbon one, it is delicious!

    • Patty says:

      Yeah, she worked really hard, but I never, ever was sad or worrisome around her, even at the worst. I think dogs pick up on that. i really do. Just like people. Isn’t that thing great? I want to get the Manhattan one too, it sounds kind of similar but a little different. My stacks of room scent bottles is looking a lot like my perfume collection these days!

  • March says:

    Patty, this makes me so happy. And it reminds me nobody can say, for sure, 100% this will (or will not) be the outcome. I am so glad you have each other.

  • matty1649 says:

    Your love and dedication has paid off. I’m so glad she’s made a full recovery

    • Patty says:

      Well, not saying full. She runs kind of wonky, and I do think we can get it a little better now that I can get her back into cold laser and accupuncture treatments. But if this is as far as she gets, I’m totally okay with that, it is 1000% further than I ever though we would get.

  • Bee says:

    What a sweetheart! I hope she continues to get better & stronger. This room scents sound divine – I have a dog and cat of my own & do dog day care in my home so I am obsessed with making it smell good. My current favourites are Basil & Thyme and Tuberose & Orange Blossom oils from The Body Shop. Also loving Seychelles from The White Company. The latter has a very clean seashore & suntan oil scent.

    • Patty says:

      She is a pip. Yeah, with four dogs, this is a constant! In addition to all the laundry, vaccuming and couch cleaning. Do you do Rover? Seychelles sounds great!

      • Bee says:

        I don’t think we have Rover here in UK. Our business grew from word of mouth when people saw us handling our two keeshonds in the park and asked us for help & advice. We’ve been caring for the same group of regular dogs for about 6 years now. They are like our canine family.

  • Koyel says:

    I am so happy to hear she is doing so well <3

    • Patty says:

      Same. I keep worrying about a relapse, it happens that some dogs require multiple surgeries, and at 8k a pop, it is worrisome.