A Toby update

So I took little Toby to see my usual vet last night and the prognosis really isn't great. The nerve and muscle damage to his hind legs is severe and they will never recover any decent mobility. The vet gave me the option of putting Toby to sleep, after telling me all the issues that he's likely to encounter. But you know he's such a happy little pup and his disability doesn't seem to hinder him, right now he's annoying my cat, chewing loo rolls and running (or hopping) amok around the living room!

I call him the tripod puppy, as he's like a child with rickets, he puts his back legs together and hops about.

I've decided that hydrotherapy will be good for him, to try and build up some muscle tone, to at least support his back legs better so we've been swimming this morning, then running about with the usual toys for some playtime. The water will also help with his skin, which is so try and flaky due to the fleas, ticks and mites that he's had.

It's actually quite amazing to see how he has adapted to his situation. He hops out into the garden, can't be bothered to try and walk, hop etc down the step into the grass so he sort of just rolls off and pulls himself into his favourite patch of long grass to watch the birds.

I've decided to try holistic therapy for him as well, as I'm a firm believer that alternative medicine very often can make a difference where conventional medicine can't.

Sometimes animals just choose you and just because there might be something different or wrong with them, doesn't mean they don't deserve the best chance in life too. Poor Toby has had the most horrific start in life, so I am determined to do the best I can for him :-)

Amazing Animals!

Anyone who knows me, will tell you that I'm a sucker for animals in need. My heart breaks at seeing so many abandoned, unwanted pets at this time of year and trying to find new homes for thm can be almost impossible for the pretty able bodied pooches and moggies. So what happens to the very young, elderly or those with a disability?

I recently saw the plight of a poor little puppy, who was rescued from the Dubai Municipality along with two siblings, originally in ok health although under weight and with a tick infestation, the pups apparenetly had a reaction to some medication to rid them of the parasites. From what I'm told, all three animals suffered paralysis and although two managed to make a full recovery, one little pup is still struggling.

I've taken this little puppy, named Toby into my care and I will to everything I can to try and see if I can't make a difference to him. The poor boys back end is pretty much skin and bone where his muscles have wasted away and his back legs are dead straight. Even so he sort of manages to hop about. You can liken him to a wheel-chair user that has a well developed muscular upper body and a week, wasted lower body as that's pretty much what he looks like.

The thing about animals though, i that they don't feel sorry for themselves, they get around their disabilities and just get on with life - because they have to. Toby is happy to run about the garden, annoy the cats, play with his toys and seems a happy little chap.

Today I have a vet appointment for him, so I will find out the prognosis and what if any treatment can be given to him.