The story so far…. (Part 1)

December 9, 2016 – After being hit by a car we rushed Baxter to the nearest after hours emergency vet a few towns away. I knew he was hurt but as I cradled him I was optimistic as he was breathing and his body seemed intact. After taking him in they came back to tell us his jaw was broken and he would need surgery first thing in the morning, his lungs were bruised, and they weren’t sure why but he wasn’t using his left front leg but the X-ray was clear. They suggested it may be badly sprained, so they splinted. Honestly, at that point his leg seemed the least of our concerns.  We were grateful, he was gonna be ok. Surgery was scheduled for the morning.

December 10, 2016 – Instead of feeling relief that my favorite boy was going to be ok, I spent the night up worried about finances. The estimate for his surgery was $3,500. Two weeks before Christmas and I don’t know about other people, but we didn’t just have $3,500 extra. Am I bad dog Mom because I wasn’t prepared for this? In an ideal world we’d all have a nest egg for vet bills, but we didn’t. In the end, we emptied savings, cut some corners and told our family we weren’t celebrating Christmas this year and came up with the money. It wasn’t easy, but more than worth it. He’s my baby.

Baxter came home that night, still groggy from anesthesia. In retrospect, he came home way too early. He should have stayed another day. He couldn’t stand on his own, he was incontinent, taking shallow breaths, we were up all night worried watching him breath. But again, the leg was splinted and we were told it was fine. He wasn’t using it because it was splinted and some dogs just won’t use a splinted leg. His jaw was wired to hold it in place. He was on a soft food only diet.

December 11, 2016 –  He was still groggy and not himself. I was beginning to wonder if he had suffered some brain damage or neuro damage based on his behavior but I really think he just needed more recovery time. We were picking him up to carry outside to use the bathroom as he still couldn’t walk. But he could no stand, albeit a bit wobbly. He started eating good, he had never had canned food before as we only serve dry so this was a treat he enjoyed.

December 12, 2016 – In an ideal world we could pause life and care for our loved ones for as long as needed. But in my reality, I just landed a new, high energy fast paced, well paying job…. I need to go to work as does my husband. But it’s obvious Baxter can’t be left alone. He’s still requiring assistance with basic tasks such as eating and toileting. My husband stayed home from work to care for him and bring him to the vet as something is clearly wrong with his leg. It’s like a limp noodle, it just drags there. He makes no effort to use it. I’m no vet but I know it’s not a sprain.

I get a call at work from my husband. His voice is cracking….. I know. In my heart I knew all along. He suffered a Brachial Plexus Avulsion. It’s bad. He needs his front left leg amputated.