Those words rang in my ears, as I held Hotties head in my arms. Tear streaming down my face... I said " what????" in total disbelief- not make what??" I said in a demanding voice. The vet said mrs. XXX he will not make it- the fracture we are sure has hit the spinal cord.
My mind raced to the day- just a simple bark with borzoi bounce like a polarbear on ice- then screaming in pain. Yelling for my husband who was already flying up the stairs from the basement from the noise. The screams from him as we got him in the car, and I am frantically dialing on my cell as we drive down the mountain the emergency number to the emergency clinic over 20 miles away. The screams on and off out of my car as we drove- arriving at the clinic as I bail out of the car, yelling into the lobby- I NEED A VET- NOW PLEASE NOW... PLEASE NOW PLEASE NOW.. They come and get him on a streacher.. take him in- I am totally hysterical. My husband is fighting both his own tears and me.. After what seemed like an hour, they let us in. Hottie is fighting for breath with tubes every where- " he isnt going to make it- he needs to go the doctor states again. After minutes as they continue I get the word again- Mr. xxxx can we see you outside- then they come in... I get " honey- he has to go... do you want to stay... I replied outraged- NOOO- HE WILL MAKE IT.. I get several more " honey... come on... do you want to stay... followed by outraged NOOOOO'S... Finally the doctor says " okay we will keep him on medications but to let him suffer more than a few hours, is not good... My husband convinces me to come with him. As I leave Hottie. All the way home I leave every frantic message I can with all 6 vets at the office... They said they would call by 5pm with an update.. the call never came... I felt like I lost my best friend- unwilling to accept what happened but knowing they had said this for years that one day a fracture in his back would make him in invalid...
The next morning, after crying all night- distraught with grief to the point of physically sick, the phone rings. Its my senior vet. He got my calls, didnt call the night before, because when they picked him up, he was not responding. All the words I remember was " We have Hottie- he is critical but there is a chance- do we have permission to treat him more than life saving care". Suddenly the world lifted off my shoulders- all but yelling into the phone " WHAT- SAY THAT AGAIN- as I hand the receiver to my husband to hear... I do not remember the trip off this mountain- My husband drove faster than a speeding jet. We got there to sign the permission to treat- and I got to see him. Weak and confused- I could see it his eyes- he would make it. Both of us, and the vet were crying ( I think he was crying because we were).. I sat in the lobby- my husband said waiting would make him crazy and went grocery shopping- bought way too much... Not thinking right himself.. finally after 3 hours- the vet came out- and said- " he will make it, but we have to see how much damage there is as far as his recovery. He may not be what he was- but he will make it..." Three days later he came home. Slow but proud, we took him out the ramp at the front of the house. Walking only on a leash.. By the end of the week he was getting his " sauce back.." and starting to boss the dogs around- by 3 weeks he was back. Weaker in voice, but back...
Never give up on your dog- NEVER.... Luckily my vet didnt listen to signed papers- .. and have a good vet!