Dodgerslist Successes

	CH KATANDRA'S VERONICA MW Betty Potts, Prairiedachs Veronica was born on Sept 4, 1991. She is a small red wire female miniature Dachshund. I bought her from my partner in Dachshunds, David Hocker. I thought she was very nice and began to show her. Veronica loved to go to shows with me, although she hated to be groomed or have her nails clipped. (She still does) She did a lot of winning and I showed her for several years. She was only 4 years old when she suddenly began to exhibit soreness in her back and went completely down. She still had some bladder and bowel control, so I was hopeful that she would recover without surgery. I had read about using injections of Adequan to help dogs recover from disc disease. I asked my vet to order some. We had to use Adequan for horses as there was none for dogs at that time. Veronica received 7 injections of Adequan during June and July of 1995. She completely recovered and was spayed in August of 1995. She now is my constant companion at home, sleeps in my bed, and watches TV with me on the couch. She talks to me, and responds to what I say to her. I do not let her jump or do stairs, as she once had a sore back from going up and down stairs. A shot of Adequan helped her recover in a day. I can't say enough about the benefits of Adequan as it saved this precious dog for me. Dodgerslist would like to thank Dr Lou Herrin, Bloomington, IL for helping Veronica recover.
	CH PRAIRIEDACH'S CISCO MW Betty Potts, Prairiedachs Cisco was born on Oct. 29, 1996. He is a miniature red wire male. There were five in his litter, and from the beginning, I knew I had a show dog. He finished his Championship easily, and went on to win many prizes in the two years he was shown. He began to exhibit soreness at age 4. He would cry as he ran out of his crate into the yard. He would cry a little when I picked him up. I suspected disc problems and took him to my vet. This was in august of 2001. We started him on Adequan shots a few times a week. He was confined to his crate, or a very small exercise pen. We also gave him injections of Vitamin C, Prednisolone and one time he had Guafenisin. Cisco was not a dog to be quiet, and he jumped around in his crate quite a bit. I think this is why it took him so long to heal. He was never in a lot of pain, just soreness. His back legs became wobbly and at one point, he could hardly stand. But then he began to get better. His legs became stronger, and by February, 2002, he was back to normal. I remember the day I walked him on a leash into my vet's office. Cisco was neutered in March of 2002, hiw showing days over. He now stays at home, running in the shady back yard at my home in the country. He has a sweet personality and gets along with all my dogs. He has not had anymore back problems. Dodgerslist would like to thank Dr. Tommy Wilson and Dr. Jessica Todia, Midland, TX for helping Cisco to recover.
	POGO Richard Signorelli On June 30, 2003, Pogo, my five year old miniature dachshund went down after playing his favorite game of fetch. The next day, two of his ruptured discs were repaired surgically. He had no deep pain going into and coming out of his surgery. For almost the next two months he was completely paralyzed in his hind legs with no deep pain response. For a dog who lived to run, jump, and play fetch, his situation seemed very bleak, yet he still appeared content with his life to me. Upon his release from the hospital after a one week stay, Pogo has undergone an intensive rehabilitation regimen as follows: 1) within two weeks of his operation, he began swimming therapy on a daily basis which involved Pogo walking with his front legs in a kiddie pool playing fetch. For the first seven weeks, his hind legs would just drag on the bottom of the pool. The hydrotherapy was increased from 20 minutes a day to more than a total of one and one-half hours every single day (two or three sessions a day); 2) "bicycling" and massaging exercises several times a day; 3) towel and tail walking so his hind quarters would be supported as his front legs did the walking; 4) electronic acupuncture twice a week for two months, then weekly for another month, and then monthly thereafter; 5) vitamins and supplements: Vit B complex; Vit C with ester; Vit E with selenium; dismutase (wheat sprouts); herbal pills prescribed by his vet/acupunc; glucasamine and chondroitin; and arthramine. By the sixth week, with no discernible improvement, I ordered Pogo's cart from Eddie's and arranged to hire a dog sitter/caretaker to help me with his long-term care. By the seventh week, I noticed that Pogo's hind legs were moving in his kiddie pool. By the eighth week, Pogo took his first steps on dry land. At the present time, we are now almost fourteen weeks after Pogo's injury and surgery. Pogo is walking well almost all of the time. He does not need the cart at all and does not need any other assistance to walk. He still only has some deep pain response. Pogo also has decent control over his bodily functions which also continues to improve over time. On a weekly basis, he is showing significant improvement in his ability to walk. He is now able to be walked on a leash with his brother Grady. Life is returning to normal again. I believe the lesson that Pogo can relay to others, especially the newer members, is this: with intensive (and obsessive) long-term rehabilitation over many weeks and months, even the most severely injured dog, like Pogo, may regain the ability to walk. The first month is very difficult. The second month less so but still hard. By the third month, a routine is established which makes the process easier. By the way, I should note that throughout this long process, including when he was completely paralyzed, Pogo was very happy with his life and definitely had a life worth living. It was also the only life he would ever have here. It was a life that had to be protected. Though for a somewhat lengthy period of time, my entire social life has been devoted to my baby, it has been worth it. This little 12 pound dog has become an inspiration to me and to others with regard to overcoming obstacles and disabilities. Pogo's injury was the biggest tragedy of our lives. His rehabilitation has been the greatest event that we have ever experienced. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity of thanking my mother, Anita Signorelli, who helped me care for Pogo when I had to work. She literally devoted her life during the last three months to caring for him in her home when I was unavailable. I will never forget her selfless devotion to Pogo. I would also like to thank the members of Dodgerslist for educating and inspiring me throughout the rehabilitation process. Richard E. Signorelli
Hannah is the smooth on the left	HANNAH Ragni Jensen Hannah, a very active girl, developed severe back pain at the end of May, 2003. Medical management (steroids, crate rest, acupuncture) did not relieve the pain and she developed weakness in her back legs, so she had surgery that same day. Her pain was gone overnight! and she tried to walk out of her kennel at the vet hospital the next day! The four weeks of postoperative crate rest were the longest and hardest 4 weeks of both of our lives! but well worth it, as she is totally, completely recovered! Aquatherapy postop. (walking on an underwater treadmill) was wonderful! as it allowed her safe, supervised walking while she was being "rested." At 4 months postop, my biggest challenge remains convincing her that jumping is not a good idea, and to use the ramps positioned in various locations around the house! She remains on good food (Drs. Foster and Smith kibble), glucosamine/vit C, fish oils (and other essential oils), and a daily exercise regimen of 1/2 to 3/4 hr. walks and lots of romps in the backyard with brother Charlie and sister Lexi (and, of course, "cat patrol," watching for the neighbor's cat who likes to hunt in our backyard!) I am very grateful to her surgeon, Dr. Elaine Caplan, and to Sandra Hudson, canine rehab. specialist, for their role in her recovery. I am also deeply grateful to the Dodger's List members who were so supportive and encouraging, and who all treasure the huge hearts and just plain stubborn will of our little ones to get better! Miracles do happen, indeed--thank goodness! Best wishes from Ragni and Hannah Dodgerslist would like to thank Drs. Breen, Ory and Hahn, Animal Hospital of Georgetown, Georgetown, TX and Dr. Elain Caplan of Round Rock, TX for helping Hannah to recover.

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