Frankie.

This is Frankie, he is a 5 year old miniature dachshund that we've raised since he was 2 1/2 months old. Last week we noticed that Frankie was not acting like himself so we took him to the veterinarian and they said that he had somehow suffered a mild back injury and was placed on conservative medication to treat it. He was scheduled for a follow-up appointment for a week later. One day before his scheduled appointment, we noticed that Frankie was having difficulty controlling his hind limbs. He struggled to go to the bathroom, walk, and even stand still. After further inspection by his regular vet, they found that he was beginning to lose sensation in his legs and referred us for an immediate evaluation by a animal neurologist.

The specialist concluded that he has a T13-L1 ruptured disk in his spine near his waist area. This is apparently the most common area for a back injury to occur in Dachshunds due to their long torso, supported by small legs. It is something that naturally develops over time in some dogs and usually occurs between 3 and 6 years old. It absolutely requires surgery, or else Frankie would inevitably face paralysis in his back legs and tail. He will somewhat have to re-learn how to walk with his hind legs post surgery, but would expect to make a full recovery and have full use of his legs again.

On Monday, January 26th, Frankie underwent the surgery. There was never a question of whether we would have the surgery done, but more so how it would be paid for, as it does come at high cost. After hospital stays, an MRI, the surgery and medication a likely total cost will be $4000-6000.

Like any other married couple in their 20s, we're as hard up for money as anyone else and if you could donate what you are able to, even if it $1 or $2, we will forever be grateful.

We miss him dearly. Please, if nothing else, keep him in your thoughts.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

When donating, please include your mailing address as we'll be sending out thank you cards to everyone who helps us out.

Day 1 at home.

When I got home yesterday, Frankie came walking out of his kennel wagging his tail so fast. I put the bronco blanket on the floor next to me and he immediately layed down. I put the excess blanket over top of him so that he was covered. He stayed there for the next 3.5 hours. He got up to eat and to go potty and then we set up his "suite" - (a plastic gated area, maybe 4-5' in diameter for him to stay in while we are away or can't watch him, actually made for toddlers) for him to go to bed. Frankie usually sleeps with us every night, curled up close to my side. We turned off the lights and went to bed and not even 10 minutes later, we started to hear weak little barks from the living room - over time, they got louder and louder. Morgan went out to try to calm him down but he kept barking (I wouldn't know, I was sleeping!). He came in to tell me that Frankie was still upset. I went out and ended up crawling into his suite, curled up in a ball, and Frankie immediately starting snuggling and fell fast asleep. At that point, I knew I was in there all night long. Can't say that it was the most comfortable sleep of my life - we have hardwoods with a thin area rug on it, but I slept so good. I had such a deep sleep last night, even if I did wake up two times feeling like my hipbone was severely bruised from sleeping on the hardwood!

This morning when Morgan got him up to eat and potty, I heard him yelp. Hopefully it was just the way that he was picked up. When I got up this morning and moved, he let out a tiny yelp. i am so scared that I am going to hurt him. He is deep asleep on his dog bed with two blankets over him, a bowl of water for the day, and a potty pad that he more than likely wont use. I hope he gets a lot of rest today. We may have to figure something else out for sleeping arrangements, dont know how many nights I will be able to handle sleeping on the hardwoods!

Im considering calling the vet for some pain meds, just to be safe.

It is so nice having him home, you don't even know. Probably even better for him, i haven't seen him so calm since last Friday before we took him to the vet.

Frankie is home!

Morgan here.

After almost a full week cooped up in kennels and on operating tables, Frankie was finally able to come home today. He started crying when he was brought out to me, possibly because he started to clue in on the short visits we were making, but as soon as he we headed for the door, he relaxed. He slept on my lap the whole drive home, and after saying his hellos to the gang when he got home, I helped him up on the couch and he immediately curled up under the Bronco blanket and fell asleep.

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to help pay for Frankie's care. The exact final cost upon his discharge was $5475.53. It came in a little under the high end of the estimate, but I'm sure anyone can agree, that's still a mighty scary bill to be staring you in the face.

It means the world to us that, especially in a time like this where everyone is tight on money, you were able to open up your wallet and spare a couple bucks for a good cause. It's something we'll surely never, ever forget. Every time Frankie is able to get up and walk, it will be thanks to your help.

That being said, if anyone was considering throwing in a dollar or two to help cover the costs, it's still a great time to act on it! We could really use the help.

Thanks again.

There's no place like home

Frankie comes home today!! :) Morgan will be picking him up around 3:00 p.m. I am so excited. Class will not be able to go fast enough tonight!

Will update more later tonight.

Great News!

This morning I spoke with the tech who said that Frankie is doing GREAT. He is pottying on his own, eating and drinking on his own and is now off all fluids. She said that he was very hyper in his cage and was running around. She said that he was up walking and that while he has has not perfected his walk, he is doing well and will gain his balance back over time.

Morgan went to go visit him this afternoon and said that the visit went well. He was able to see Frankie up and outside going potty. Said that his squat for peeing isn't the same as it used to be, but that it will probably return once his back feels better. He was even sniffing out some turds to eat (Frankie LOOOOVES tootsie rolls), so that must mean he is back on track to being his old self again. They had to put a note on his door "WILL BOLT OUT OF CAGE" because he is so anxious to get out of his cage that he will just try to jump whenever anyone opens the door. Morgan said that Frankie continued to cry and shake during his visit, though.

The tech is optimistic that he will be coming home tomorrow!!!! I miss him so much. I am SO glad that he is doing better and I am SO anxious to have him home again.

Will update tomorrow with the latest status and on whether or not he will be returning home!

Dear Frankie,

I miss you so much today. One would think that the days would get easier. But, they don't. In fact, I think it gets harder. I can't wait to have you home. We all miss you so much. I won't be able to see you tonight, but Daddy will come. I wake up every single morning in a frantic - probably because I am so used to waking up with you curled up to the small of my waist. I miss hearing your loud yawns in the morning when I tell you it is time to go outside to go potty. I miss hearing your little nails going pitter patter around the house. I miss hearing you barking at squirrels. And believe it or not, I even miss waking up to find piss on the living room rug because you were too stubborn and lazy to go outside. I miss your big barrel chest. I miss your half inch overbite. I miss your little tail with hair missing. I miss seeing you run. I miss seeing your "hydraulics" when we ask if you want to eat some food and you get so excited that you lift your front end, up and down, over and over again. I miss singing songs with you. I miss seeing your nose sticking out from under the covers.

Hopefully we hear that you were able to go potty by yoursellf today. That will be a huge milestone.

When I was playing videos of you last night, Sammy heard you crying through the computer and he looked so confused and put his nose right up to the computer speaker, turning his head 90 degrees, back and forth. We can't wait for your arrival home.

Love,
Mommy

First Visit, Post-Op.

Frankie - Post Op.


Frankie


It's never easy saying goodbye.


We went to see Frankie tonight. It was our first visit since his surgery. To be honest, I think I had prepared myself for the worst. The surgery incision wasn't as bad as I had prepared myself for. In fact, I didn't pay attention to it, just to him, and helping him feel comfortable. He cried and whimpered through the majority of our visit. At one point, he burried his face inbetween my and Morgan's arm, layed down, let out a few sighs and stopped crying and shaking. I could tell he felt so comfortable and relaxed, just having us near. He stood up a few times but fell over. He tried to push his way out of his kennel. The site where his IV was in his arm was bloody, which made me sad - looked like they have bandaged it a few times. He seemed tired. I know that he just wanted us near so that he could rest and sleep comfortably knowing that we were near and weren't going away. It broke my heart. I won't lie, this is definitely taking a toll on my life. I feel very depressed and struggle with motivation.

Sorry that the video and pictures are so dark, they dim the lights and we didn't want to use a flash.