Post Pet Hospital - Pet of the Month

                  Wally Wynder

        Meet Wally, he is a 3 1/2 yr old MN Pitbull/Rottweiler mix.  Wally was hit by a car on Wednesday evening, January 13th.  Wally has a fenced in yard but figured out how to open the gate, got out and was hit on his neighborhood street.  Once his owner, Stephanie, realized he had gotten out of the yard she went looking for him.  She would call his name and could hear him whining but he would not come to her.  She found him sitting on the curb about a block away.  Stephanie called Dr. Grosser, who is also her dad, and rushed Wally to Post Pet Hospital. 
     Wally had abrasions on his left thorax, legs, feet, face, perianal area and a lacerated tongue. Wally also had rear leg paresis/paralysis.  Radiographs of the spine were taken and Dr. Grosser discovered that Wally had a lumbosacral luxation/injury &  collapsed intravertebral disc spaces,( i.e. spinal-cord trauma.)  Wally was extremely painful and anxious.  We placed an IV catheter and started intravenous fluids to treat shock,  he was given  IV pain medication, anti-inflammatories and an ant-acid.  We placed a Fentanyl patch for extended pain control.  Wally was kept in hospital overnight.  The next day we sedated Wally to clean his wounds and reasess his injuries.  We continued IV fluids and medications adding in antibiotics.  Stephanie would come in each morning and evening   to feed Wally and he would urinate and defecate for her when placed on the treatment tub.  By day 2 we started Wally on oral medications and by day 3 we discontinued IV fluids. On day 5 we started warm water physical therapy and massage with range of motion exercises. On day 7 Wally got his cart (wheelchair for dogs) but didn't have the strength to support his weight with his front legs yet.  We continued his massage and physical therapy and by day 12 he stood up on his own, day 13 he was walking dragging his back end and by day 14 he was actively walking around  in his cart. 






      The first week of February Wally was supporting weight on his left hind leg but still dragging his right hind leg.  At this point Wally was able to stay at home through the work day and no longer needed our daily care. Today Wally walks on his own, toe touching on his right hind leg but mainly supporting his weight on the left hind leg.  The only thing Wally continues to struggle with is supporting his weight when defecating.  We are so happy with Wally's progress and so pleased that he was given the chance to regain his quality of life. For information on carts for canines you can visit www.HandicappedPets.com or call 888-811-PETS.