spinal injury

Special Needs Pet Feature of the Week: Mira Bella

Posted by Barbara Techel


What is your pets name? 

Mira Bella

How old is your pet?

6 years

Where did you get your pet? 

I had a friend on a dachshund site that posted that she has made contact with an old high school friend in the New Orleans area, and that person had a “piebald” dachshund that she was going to have put to sleep because she couldn’t walk.

After much thought I decided that I would take the dog and rehab her so she would not have to be destroyed.  When I finally saw pictures of her I realized immediately that she was a Double Dapple.  Then kind of as an afterthought her old owner mentioned that she was also deaf.  At that point it didn’t matter anyhow so I flew to New Orleans and brought her home to Montana with me.

I took her to my vet and after X-rays found out she was paralyzed due to blunt trauma or some kind of crushing force to her spine.    Since I am a certified canine massage therapist I began a rigorous rehab program with her as she had been down for so long that she was way beyond the point that surgery could help.

She now can walk albeit wobbly.  In the cold months she has some mobility issues and so we continue her rehab therapies as she needs them.

What is your pets physical challenge? 

Mira is incontinent, deaf, and partially blind on top of her back issues.

What is your pets favorite thing to do? 

Mira is a real cuddly snuggler, and she loves to run, romp and play with my other dogs.  My favorite thing Mira does is what we call going psycho dog, when I vacuum the house the sound doesn’t bother her at all of course but I think she can feel the vibration because she will race around as fast as she can and then grab the closest stuffy toy she can and give it the old doxie death shake.


What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

Mira is a real cheese hound.  If I go anywhere near the fridge she is right there hoping for a slice.

What do you love most about your pet?

I love Mira’s dedication, and her ability to love in spite of the abuse she suffered before she came to me.

What has your pet most taught you?

You can’t keep a good dog down.  Her tenacity and determination to walk and be able to chase around and play with my dogs is amazing.  I think much like most dogs Mira has no idea she has any handicaps and is just as active and playful as the rest of my gang.

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Mira has been an inspiration to many in this area, and the funny thing is with the work I did with her I ended up becoming something of a downed doxie referral person with my vet.  Thanks to Mira and her story no less than 6 doxies have been spared euthanasia after the dogs parents met her and heard her story.


***If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact. Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.***

Helping Dachshunds Diagnosed with IVDD

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

In 2006 when I got the call that Frankie may never walk again due to a ruptured disc, I was devastated.  How little I knew about IVDD (Intervertabral Disc Disease).  Thank goodness for the internet that I found Dodgerslist, a group dedicated to helping others whose pets are diagnosed with IVDD.  They gave me peace of mind but most of all, they gave me hope.

In part, writing my children’s non-fiction books about Frankie was meant to help children overcome their own challenges like Frankie did, but I also wanted to show others that there truly is hope, and a dachshund diagnosed with IVDD can live a long, happy, quality life.

As part of my mission, I decided anyone who wrote to me or called me who was going through an IVDD diagnoses with their pet, that I would do my best to educate them, provide resources, and most of all pass along the hope I had been given by many caring people through Dodgerslist.  There is no greater joy for me than helping another pet parent feel that with a few adjustments, they too, can help their beloved pet.

Today I received a lovely note from a woman, who over a year ago contacted me about her dog Rio and I wanted to share it with you…. because now she knows there too is hope and the hope will continue to spread, as well as the education that despite a disability, animals DO live quality lives. Thank you for the update… this makes my heart sing!

Last year I wrote to you for advice as my little dachshund Rio had hurt his back and was in a dreadful way.  The vet’s were not optimistic and full of woe.  However having found you on the net with Joyful Paws I wrote to you.  I am sure you won’t remember but your words were so comforting and supportiate in that very grey time.  It was a dreadful year and as I sat at my office desk worrying endlessly surrounded by co-workers who had no idea or compassion for Rio words can not express how much help you and your books gave me.

I have been meaning to update you for sometime.  Rio did get a little better and finally after 5 weeks I was able to see him and lean’t to express him and he was able to come home.  He amazed me as he had found a new job to do in the vets while he was there – Nurse Rio tended to all the animals that came in poorly.  He sat under the vets operating table while he worked and shuffled around keeping an eye on all the cages as the cats and dogs sat in them!
Anyway he came home and the hydro therapy began.  Fortunately my partner was able to work from home and took him twice a day as he could not run on the water walker for more than 2 minutes at a time.  Over the weeks he made amazing progress and was able to run on the water walker for 40 minutes.   Although he still drags his back legs a little and has a slight arch in his back he can run and walk again.  His life has returned to the pre-operation fullness, and continues to give us such love and affection it is insane!
I just wanted to give you this news and thank you so so much for your help in those dark days.

There Is Hope Campaign Winner!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Everyone who helped us spread the message about animals with disabilities and helping dogs with IVDD is a winner in our book!!  But the one who won the Frankie prize package valued at $150 by a random drawing is…. drum roll please….


Devri, please contact us at joyfulpaws@yahoo.com so that we can get your information and mail out your prize package!  We will also make a $50 donation in your honor to Dodgerslist so  that they can continue to bring awareness to dogs diagnosed with IVDD and that there is always hope!