It was another quiet evening at home. Mom and I were sitting at the computer - I'm a lap dog you know. Mom keeps her chair very low to the ground - for me - and besides, she likes it that way! Well, I decided to jump off and wander around and stretch my legs. But, as I jumped off, I caught my foot in Mom's sweater and broke 2 BONES - RIGHT IN HALF! I screamed at the top of my lungs - and kept screaming. Such pain! Mom picks me up (very carefully) and places me in the centre of the bed to check me out - but I'm not letting anyone touch me! OUCH!
I think Mom is pretty sure that my leg is broken, so she gets out the yellow pages to call the Emergency Vet Clinic on Fourth Ave. here in Vancouver, BC. Unfortunately, there are two clinics right across from each other - and she calls the wrong one first! And you know what they said? Sorry, but they are closing up for the night! So Mom says "But your ad says 24 hour emergency service!" - They said "Do you have a crate? You can put him in it overnight." So my Mom says (she's getting pretty upset by this time) "He's got a broken leg for God's sake - he needs help NOW!" They said "Well you can call the Emergency Clinic across the street. They handle emergencies 24 hours a day. It's the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic (VAEC) and their number is 734-5104." So Mom hangs up and calls the other clinic.
"Oh, of course, bring him right in - we'll see him right away!" Mom breathes a sign of relief and calls her Mom and asks if they can come and get us and take us to the animal hospital. "We'll be right over!" says "Grandma" and her husband "Uncle" Dan. Mom is worried because she doesn't have any money (click here for her sad story), but "Grandma" says not to worry, she will look after it.
When we get to the animal clinic, they welcome us with much love and concern. Dr. David Stirling comes out right away to look at me - says my leg is definitely broken - and he whisks me away to give me some pain medicine to make me more comfortable. (Now that's what I call service!!!) By this time, my poor Mom is so worried. She's crying and blaming herself. It was a freak accident. Us Cresteds have VERY delicate, fragile little bones. Well, then the doctor comes out and tells Mom that the "Estimate" so far for emergency treatment is $538.00! "Grandma" says not to worry - it's looked after! Then Dr. Stirling says it might be around $700. for surgery! ("Grandma" says not to worry - she will pay for it.) Poor Mom is really beside herself now. THANK YOU "GRANDMA" and "UNCLE DAN". What would my poor Mom have done without their help. What if they had been on one of their camping trips down south? Perish the thought! (My Mom later tells me that she would have raised the money somehow - sell the car, TV etc. - that she would NEVER consider having me put down - NEVER! EVER!! - that I am just as an important member of the family as any human family member! Gee, I feel special!)
It's about 10:30 now and I'm resting reasonably comfortably - a little drugged up - but considering the circumstances that's not too bad. Dr. Stirling reassures my Mom and gives her the options for my treatment. He tells her to go home and get some rest and to feel free to call ANYTIME - day or night - to check on me. And to call in the morning to decide on my options. Mom comes into the back to kiss me good night. I know she doesn't want to leave me - but she has no choice. So Mom goes and Mom calls at 1am and 5am and then 9am!!!! to check on me - I don't think she got much sleep that night!)
SUNDAY MORNING . . .
When Mom calls at 9am, she finds that I have rested "comfortably" during the night, but there had been concern about my blood glucose being low and low liver enzymes. The doc feels it is probably due to the trauma of the injury - but they are monitoring me closely just in case. Us little dogs are more prone to these kind of problems and they aren't going to take any chances. By now the $538. "estimate" is up and over $800! And now they tell my poor mom that surgery is going to be $2050 including my stay in recovery! I don't know how my Mom and my "Grandma" and "Uncle Dan" got over that one - but they all give the go ahead to get Dr. Levitt (an excellent orthopedic surgeon) to come in and do the surgery. (I know, Mom probably could have shopped around for a better price, but she felt that better care was more important than price! After all, I've probably got another twelve or more years left in me and she didn't want to see me develop problems in my leg due to cheaper surgery. No insults are intended here to those who charge less - but instead of a surgical repair with a metal place, I might just have had the bones "set" and put in a cast. My break was much too serious for that!)
Mom and my "sister" Lee come by in the afternoon to visit me. Boy am I glad to see them! I sat om Mom's lap and enjoyed their visit! They stayed for about an hour, but had to leave so that I could get rested up for my surgery the next day! I'm wearing a "Fentanyl Patch" for pain, so I manage to sleep most of the night.
MONDAY . . .and TUESDAY . . .
Today is the big day. I will have my operation later this afternoon. My blood work and other tests are all back to normal. Mom and Lee come for a visit in the morning. Naturally, I have to sit on Mom's lap and get a hug. The clinic is nice enough to let Mom stay for an hour and a half - because we are just sitting quietly and happily - usually they try to keep the visits shorter. But we are all on our best behaviour! Well, Mom and Lee finally leave so I can get some rest before my operation which is scheduled some time around 4pm. It actually doesn't get started until 6pm and it's not until 7:30pm that my Mom gets the word that everything went really well and she can come and see me in the morning. Of course, she calls several times in the middle of the night to check on me and is relieved to hear that I am doing well - all things considered. So she comes in the next day around 11am and is hoping to be able to take me home. Dr. Klassen wants to make sure that my blood work is OK so she runs some tests (which turn out fine) and also wants to make sure that I eat some food. They also have to give Mom instructions on how to feed and care for me and outline all the "Post-Op" care. She also gives us a referral to a "Family" Vet - Dr. Ashburner - so that we can see him for our follow-up care. Finally, around 3:30, Dr. Klassen says we can go home. HOME SWEET HOME! Yippee! (And Mom is starting to look a little better, too! I don't think she has eaten or slept much the last few days.)
Boy, it's nice to be home. Mom has set up cushions on the floor so she can sleep with me. I used to sleep in the bed before - but it is too high for me now and Mom would worry that I might try to get down in the middle of the night and hurt myself. (We are talking about a major lifestyle adjustment here as I used to jump up on the couch and had free run of the apartment - but no more - Mom has to keep everything down at floor level for me and I need to be watched 24 hours a day! Thankfully, I don't get stuck in my kennel/condo unless it's absolutely necessary - like for trips to the vet and stuff.) She has lots of soft pillows on the floor for me with lots of warm blankets. Ooooh, comfy! Unfortunately, I don't sleep to well and keep my Mom up most of the night. But we get through it! I even manage to get up and hobble to the paper and have a torrential pee (lots of fluids from the IV). I'm managing pretty good to take a few steps here and there, but for the most part, Mom carries me. I am getting lots of rest (I need it) and am going to my new Vet tomorrow for a check-up.
WEDNESDAY . . .
We go visit Dr. Ashburner today. He's real nice and is very gentle with me. He changes my bandage (he says I can keep if off now - but my Mom warns him that I am a "leg-chewer" and would feel safer with it on) and checks my swelling and temperature. I will be able to get my stitches out in about a week.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES ON MY RECOVERY (Mom was getting tired updating my web page for me - so she's going to take a break now). THANKS MOM!!!!
UPDATE:
Well, I finally got my stitches out. I am wearing a bandage so I don't lick my leg, but I only have to wear it for another 3 days. I am walking around a bit - and scared my Mom half to death the other day when I tried to jump up on the couch. And I really miss sitting on her lap at the computer - but I am confident that we will come up with a "compromise". I have to go for x-rays in 3 months to make sure everything is healed and to make arrangements to have the metal plate removed. (I can do this anytime in 3 - 6 months).
We still live "on the floor" but we're getting used to it. Mom watches me like a hawk and doesn't leave me alone for one minute. I know she just wants to make sure that I am safe and don't hurt myself again.
Well, that's all for now. I just have to start walking around a little bit more and get this leg in shape again!
VANCOUVER ANIMAL EMERGENCY CLINIC
(24 Hour Emergency and Critical Care for Companion Animals)
1590 West 4th Avenue (at Fir St.), Vancouver, BC V0V 2N2
Telephone: (604) 734-5104 / Fax: (604) 733-6340
E-Mail: vaec@aol.com
VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL especially Dr. David Stirling, Dr. Kath Klassen, Dr. Bland, Sarah, Dita, and all all of the other wonderful staff of the VAEC and Dr. Levitt.
PACIFIC SPIRIT VETERINARY SURGERY
Dr. Lyndell Levitt
5808 Angus Place, Cloverdale, BC V0V 2N2
AND AN EVEN BIGGER "THANK YOU" (if that's possible) to "GRANDMA" and "UNCLE DAN" for their generosity and understanding,
And of course to my MOM who loves me and takes very, very good care of me!
WEST KING EDWARD ANIMAL CLINIC
(Medicine and Surgery of Small Animals & Birds)
Dr. R.E. Ashburner
510 West 24th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 2B4
Telephone (604) 873-4433
