Spinal Fracture
Submitted by grayc104 on April 26, 2012 - 8:39amI have a gorgeous, happy, and absolutely adorable 4 month bully named Ruby. She is the light of our life, and in all honesty the center of our world since my Husband and I do not have kids yet.
Ruby is a very active happy puppy but the last week has been one of the worst in my life. Ruby began acting very lethargic and wouldn't move much a week ago, which earned her a trip to the emergency vet. She spent several days there where they weren't sure exactly what was going on.
On Thursday evening, they called around midnight and told us she developed a fever which was steadily rising, and her health was deteriorating. They suggested we rush her down to Upenn Vet Hospital, which we did. The team down there was great! And after several hours going over everything we could think of with the team there, we headed home exausted and Ruby was admited to the hospital.
In the middle of the night we recieved the worst call I've ever gotten. They found a fracture in Ruby's spine. My beautiful, innocent puppy was very very sick and they had no clue if she would make, or what her prognonsis would be. My Husband and I laid in bed and cried harder than you could imagine. This was devistating and I felt like a totaly failure as the person who is suppose to protect her. They felt that she must have had a freak, bad slip on our new pergo floors, and because her bones are still soft, the muscle pulled away from the bone and tore a piece of her vertebrae off. DEVISTATING.
The next 24 hours were agonizing. We were told the best case scenario she would wear a splint and in the crate for 2-3 MONTHS. The worst case they would have to perform and expensive spinal surgery, or if it was very bad, we'd have to consider ending her suffering. My heart literally broke.
I went to bed that evening and prayed that God would put his hands on the angel he sent us, and heal her. And I just imagined them calling with news saying it was better than expected. I promised him that if he protected her, I'd do everything in my power to return her to good health, and Friday evenign they called with MUCH better news!
After an MRI and the Neurologists meeting to review her case, they determined that she had a fracture in her L2 an L3 vertebrae, but that LUCKILY THERE WAS NO NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE DONE! She wasn't out of the woods yet, but she didn't need surgery, and came home Saturday afternoon happy as could be.
She doesn't need to wear a splint, but DOES need to be strictly crate rested for 2 weeks, and the two weeks after that she is allowed to start going on short 5 minute walks. We have to go down to Upenn again May 15 will they will perform more radiographs, take a look at her injury and advise us how to proceed. If all goes well, she is expected to live a very, healthy and normal life.
We are so thankful to have our baby girl home, BUT, she is furious being stuck in the crate constantly and I don't blame her. She had puppy energy, her pain is being managed with medication, and she wants out! It breaks my heart to keep her in there, especially when we settle down for the the night and she can't understand why she is invited up onto the bed, and under the covers where she normally snores away the rest of the night.
She is restless in there and digs and yells constantly! She needs as much rest as possible and even the narcotics she is on aren't sedating her!
I wrote this post, because I could use any support you are willing to offer! This is a very hard time for my Husband and I, and we're terrifide of her regressing. I feel personally responsbile that his happened while in my care and am full of guilt. She has the SWEETEST disposition and loves all people, and animals that she meets. She is truly a special soul.
Has anyone gone through, or heard of someone going through a similar injury? Has anyone had a bully with a serious injury who turned out ok? Any words of hope would surely be apprecaited!
Please pray for my sweet Ruby!
OMG - unbelievable!!
WOW - I cannot even imagine what you are going through. Poor little princess! Im so glad that it's not worse than you first thought and that she will make a full recovery. You cannot blame yourself. Stuff like this happens and it's beyond your control. She will be okay so stop feeling guilty. Im sure it's hard for her to be in the crate after she has already experienced the freedom of a bed! But it's the best place for her to be while she is recovering. You are doing a great job with Ruby! she is lucky to have you as her mommy!!
What a freak accident
I hope she doesn't have to have any surgery.
I would occupy her with as many yummy tasting chews as you can find. raw bones, pb stuffed kongs, etc.
Ester had nothing as serious as your girl, but she did have a hairline fracture in her leg as a puppy, 10 wks or so. She had to also be in the crate for about 6 wks if memory serves me and healed just fine.
All my dogs are trained when puppies to sleep in a crate in another room so there wasn't anything traumatic about that. One of the reasons I recommend people don't let their puppies sleep with them. It creates IMO some seperation anxiety issues if they have to sleep in a crate or be left at one time or another without you.
Keep us posted on her progress. Sounds like some prayers have been answered.
Not sure which part of the
Not sure which part of the spine was broken but my guess if it were from avulsion then it would be the spinous process or transverse process which are not part of the actual column. These are usually stable fractures so no surgery is needed and Ruby should live a normal healthy life. If the vets told you were the exact fracture was let me know.
She did tell where on the spine
I've pasted here from her post.
After an MRI and the Neurologists meeting to review her case, they determined that she had a fracture in her L2 an L3 vertebrae, but that LUCKILY THERE WAS NO NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE DONE!
l2 and l3 are the levels but
l2 and l3 are the levels but this doesnt tell where in the bone the fractures were which can make a huge difference
Ok ... that makes sense.
So would it be less severe if the fracture was farther down the bone away from the central part of the spine or I guess the spinal cord?
Wow
I know it will be tough to have her in her kennel, but if it can get her better that will be worth the kennel time. Kilmore had gone through a back issue, over a holiday weekend. We had him at a vet, but not our since they weren't open. This was the emergency vet for the weekend. They told us that he was constipated. I think I spent over 8 hours at that stupid vets office. It was a very bad two days. When we got to our normal vet within 2 minutes of us being there he thought it was his back. After that our vet said call his cell anytime and if he was in town he would see us. He got Kilmore back to normal. We thought we were going to lose him that weekend, but luckily he made it through. We will be thinking of you and sending prayers your way.
Sarah
Sorry to hear this
I cannot imagine how you feel, however do not blame yourself. I understand it is 2 vertebral fractures without spinal canal involvment. I wonder if your vet would be o.k. with the idea of a pet stroller and you could take Ruby on walks to decrease the boredom. I did this after joint surgeries for my bully and it really helped him. I could throw it into the car and take him to the beach which he loved. If she was in a stroller believe me she will get lots of attention which bullies live for.
On a positive note (not a dog though) I fractured L1 and L2 in a trampoline accident in high school. After a period of time being immobilized, it healed beautifully and I never had any issues.
Kiss Ruby on the mouth and keep us up to date on her progress.
Deborah and Mr. Higgins
aww......sending up prayers for your sweet Ruby!!! SOooo
happy to hear the GOOD parts....but I know it's hard to deal with the crating, etc...poor thing!!! :-(
Praying that she'll continue to heal......!!!
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
ay sweet baby
ay sweet baby girl...(((huggles)))
prayers,thoughts and positive energy sent your way...
don't beat yourself up sweetie...best thing for her right now is
do what you are told by her dr...you'll see everything will work out fine!
smoochies the scrunchy face
Thanks!
Thank you everyone! I can't tell you how much your encouraging words mean. The most important thing is that Ruby is still doing great, although very upset that's she'll still in the crate. The good news is though, that we got through our first week crated without a mental breakdown! Each day that passes, I feel more and more confident that she'll recover and go on to lead a happy and healthy life.
To answer the question about the location of the fracture, I'm not sure how to describe it, but if you were looking at the veterbrae fromt the side on an xray, it's on the bottom inside corner of L2 and L3. The good news is that in her report it says "there is no sign of instability in the fracture", which I'm sure is HUGE. I know that this whole thing could have been MUCH worse!
One more week of strict crate restriction and we can start introducing short 5 minute walks, which should break up the days better for her. After the two weeks is up I'm aslo considering putting up a gate by our small walk in closet (and I mean small), laying a bunch of comforters in there and sleeping with her in the closet at night till our follow up appointment at UPenn. She is so deserperate to be with us, and I believe that happiness and physical contact is as important to her healing as medical intervention.
This little girl is our lives and I'm just desperate to hear that she's ok again. She is such a happy sweet thing, and as you know, Bullies are very special animals! So human-like sometimes it's scary! Here is a picture of the girl who is barking to get my attention as we speak...
Oh poor baby looks mad!!
Oh poor baby looks mad!! Well, this is very short term considering the long healthy life she will live. You will be free soon Ruby!
well atleast she has no
well atleast she has no problem giving you the stink eye!!! lol
Sending positive thoughts your way
<3
When my baby was 4 months old..
The vet thought that is what happened to him too. They thought there was a spinal fracture. He was in serious pain and wouldn't move or use his hind legs. When we picked him up, he would yelp and it tore me up. We had to wait for the xrays to be sent to the neurologist and have him look at them, then get a diagnosis. This took about 10 whole days, then we had to get to the neurologist. Turned out our baby had Discospondylitis, an infection of the spinal vertebra and the discs. I totally freaked out when I heard this. He was my first bully, my baby and I thought I was going to lose him. All I could think about was meningitis. Everywhere I posted, no one had ever dealt with it, so I felt totally alone until I found a blog someone wrote about their 4 yr old bully who came down with it.
Usually it's more from e-coli or staph infections. Jackson actually got it from strep somehow and it decided to attack his spine and all the soft tissue around it. He was taken in to the hospital, given an MRI to make totally sure and put on an IV drip for 48 hours. 6 months of antibiotics to get rid of the infection and to fuse the bone at the level it attacked. There is the possibility of it coming back so that's why he had to be on the antibiotics for so long. The neruologist didn't want to take any chances. He had monthly xrays to check out the progress. If that didn't work, he'd have to have surgery. Luckily, maybe because he was so young he healed very well. The neurologist was very impressed.This cost us about 4k after all was said and done, but I'd pay 5 times that for him. I am a bit partial towards him because of this, but i love all 3 of my babies.
You would never know he ever had this, he has more energy then my two younger ones, though he is only 1 and a half. He loves to run and jump, probably would be very good at agility actually. But I couldn't make my spoiled baby work like that! I mean spoiled too. When he was sick, I had to hand feed him and still do! He will not eat out of the bowl on the ground still to this day. He will go all day witout eating if I don't feed him. I'm sure at some point he'd eat, but I can't let him starve, he is my baby!
So, no fracture, but I can totally understand how you are feeling for your 4 month old baby, I was right there at one point too.