Hello:

So I have been a bit quiet - our streak of things going well and going our way has come to a halt and we hope beyond hope it is temporary.  

• Pofi's benign lump was removed a few weeks ago
• He was scheduled for removal of sutures a week ago yesterday
• I had to run to the vet for a cat wellness check up that morning and had trouble putting my hands on the cat so was running late
• I neglected to put his cone back on him due to my haste
• In the hour I was gone, he removed the bandage, pulled out all his sutures and opened up what was a well healed incision
• U of MN got me in early (our appointment was late afternoon) and decided we could work to heal it without any restitching
• They mega - wrapped again and the surgical resident volunteered to make time for us again the next afternoon (Saturday) to rebandage and check to see it seemed like it was starting to heal
• Saturday went well - surgeon sent pics to the original surgeon who was at a conference and they agreed it looked good and to proceed  - they re-wrapped 
• Sunday we went to dog park  - a man was shocked at his age telling me he thought Pofi was probably about 4 and nowhere near 12
• Monday late afternoon another appointment with his original surgeon to inspect and probably leave unwrapped
• An interview I agreed to be part of at work got moved to late afternoon causing me to again have to rush after that concluded to make the appointment
• Pofi had trouble getting into the back of my Rav4 - he normally hops in pretty gracefully, but didn't get all the way up - front leg and chest in, but hit his pelvis against the frame and was sort of stuck there with back legs splayed till I assisted
• At the hospital, despite trying to help him out, I had not had forethought enough to put a harness on him and he still landed badly - it is a blur, but he definitely crash landed a bit though I had his collar hoping to protect his front leg from too much force - but his back legs again didn't do so well sliding out from under him
• Still, he pulled the surgeon like a freight train trying not to go with him and coming back
• We got home still wrapped and a plan to get unwrapped early morning Friday with the surgeon - before I let him out of the car, I did get a sort of support harness onto him and really gingerly got him out
• He was acting a little sore and exhausted - seemed little tenuous on back feet, but still went upstairs that night on his own and of his own volition and slept on our bed
• He came downstairs Tuesday with me at his side and the harness out of caution, but was getting around okay - to prevent him from overdoing it, all animals were sequestered to part of the first floor via doors and baby gates - I had to be in the office that day and attend, briefly, an after hours meet and greet
• I called home from that event and Ken said Pofi had been on his feet, but shakey and Mia knocked him over in her ebullience and he was now whining
• Switched him to another support lift for rear legs that night and got him out for bed time potty
• Closed doors to upstairs to sleep downstairs with him that night - he got up for water, but lost his balance and slipped to floor in kitchen - I helped him back to a bed and started giving him Tramadol and Gabapentin to try to sedate and relieve pain
• But morning his mobility was severely compromised - called and left message for surgeon or other at U of MN
• Surgeon called back and we discussed - said it sounded like he pulled his groin badly
• We decided on continued meds and rest till Friday morning appointment unless he seemed very uncomfortable
• He continued to need serious assistance, but is using legs and getting out to potty with steady assistance, but gait is odd
• Eating very well - no issues
• Brought him in yesterday morning for wound and mobility issue assessment
• Was not at all happy with cart provided - surgeon ended up getting him out of card and walking him with the harnesses back to treatment
• Assessment - very clear painful groin muscle pull - this is the good news
• Also - for some reason, some neuro deficit - could be damage to spine, could be tumor, but he thinks tumor highly unlikely - least likely given all we know and can observe
• Most likely scenario - FCE, fibro cartilaginous embolism, in the spine caused by the bad landing or the subsequent tipped over fall - and effect is exacerbated by the bad groin pull
• Could recover from this with time (and presumably PT)
• But first, we also have to heal the groin pull
• He barely permitted us to use the cart to get him back to the car
• Got a "Help 'em Up" harness at the hospital because they had them, but it is not ideal and I have ordered a Get a Grip
• Added a muscle relaxant to the drug mix
• He was chill all the rest of the day
• Still eating well
• Rough time with a potty break when he finally wanted one at 11: 30
• Plan is to only do potty breaks when needed - keep up with meds and let him rest - back to see surgeon in a week to see if we have some incremental improvement

Oh, and did I mention we have plane tickets (non refundable) and hotel reservations for my college homecoming leaving this Wed night and that I prepaid someone to stay with the dogs every night while we were gone?  And my bffs are only going because I insisted I was - we have been planning for 2 years.  Obviously, we are not going - at least not both of us.  Wait and see if I can consider going alone perhaps leaving a bit later and coming back a day earlier.  Ken would have the days off to be home.  But only if Pofi seems like he is improving.

I am deeply worried we may be at an impasse on this journey - but I also know how strong this dog is.  But I can't let him suffer and have to figure out if recovery is possible and how meaningful that recovery is.  Right now he is bright eyed and loving and eating well and waggy tailed despite this immobility.  But I don't know if that would last if he does not regain decent use of back legs.  

We thank you for good thoughts and prayer and vibes - my spirit is pretty crushed knowing my haste is at play in what should have been avoidable trauma.

Thank you,

Lisa (and Pofi)