My Graham had an accident...

[purrley]

I'm just so upset about Graham's injury and especially if it all happened because of some miserable human being. I just pray that this splint will work for your sweet baby and he won't have to have a surgery. But we all know it could have been so much worse. My prayers and good thoughts are with you, sweet puppy and mom & dad too.

[ October 26, 2001: Message edited by: purrley ]

[AdoreMyDogs]

Bless you all to pieces. You are all amazingly wonderful. This was my first morning with Graham since the accident. I am finding that it is harder then I thought it would be. He is witholding his pee and poop because it's too hard to balance. I am supposed to take him out for very brief pee/poop breaks, walking him as little as possible. He is really showing a stubborn side that I have never seen before, he's not going to the bathroom. He tried to pee this morning and he chose a spot that was on a slight hill and he lost his balance and fell. I then walked him back and forth for probablly too long to try and get him to go again and he refused and I had to go to work so he went back inside and he'll have to hold it until I am off work. He used to LOVE to go outside, even if it was just to get the mail, now he has no interest. In fact, he hates walking in general. He no longer followes me around the house. He's so unhappy. I cried this morning when he fell trying to pee. I am using all of my self control to not baby him at all. I am making him do things he does not want to do, and trying my very hardest to not change the tone in my voice or change the words I use. And I am not helping him along when he stops and looks at me asking for pity. I let him trip over the fallen branches because he has to learn how to walk around or over them, and how to have better ballance. I may sound and appear cold to my neighbors if they see me but he has to get used to this thing, he's going to have it for a very long time. It's killing me. I don't know if I can do this. It's so hard to see him and to not treat him like he's handicapped. I am hoping strentgh will come to me, and acceptance will come to him soon. This is truly going to be a challange because he is my most beloved baby and I love him with all of my heart and soul

[purrley]

My heart just aches for you. I know this must be so very, very hard to see your sweetie in so much misery. I'm praying so very hard that you will maintain the strength to see Graham through this terrible time. Your emotions must be running amok, from sadness to extreme anger. I know I'm feeling it too - God Bless you and Graham. Just wished I lived close enough because I would be there to help you!!!

[Dixieland Dancer]

Leslie,
You don't need to be soooo strong that you can't show him some pity. He is scared now too and a little extra babying from you can help his healing emensely. I would move the branches for him for a week or so and then when he gets use to his "Situation" you can have him deal with it. Give him some time. Talk reassuringly to him while he's outside and help to balance him if he needs it for a few days. He's a great dog and needs you to reassure him now more than ever. He has to be confused and frightened! You are both in our prayers for his quick and complete healing. There are sometimes when being Alpha is just not as important as the well being of the dog! (I know this last comment has some of you scratching your heads asking if you read that right)! You DID!!

[Stenograsaurus]

Oh, poor Graham. I am so upset that this needless injury had happened to him. Are you sure he jumped from that balcony? You can only guess what that poor excuse of a human being was doing to scare him so much. I'm just sick thinking about it. And then seeing the picture makes it all so clear. I would definitely baby him for the first few days. I know when I broke my leg, I needed help at first. It's hard getting used to such a change. I'd help him balance and also kick the sticks out of his way. You don't have to keep it up, but just do it until Graham gets adjusted to this change. It's a very scary, confusing and frustrating time for him as well. My prayers are with you during this time. I added you to the prayer list.

[Daisy's Mom]

Oh my heart goes out to both of you! Poor Graham being in pain, and poor you having to watch him struggle! It must be so hard. If you need anything, you know we are all here for you. Our prayers are going double time. He just has to get better quickly with all of us Pet Talkers on his side.

[Albea]

Dear Leslie: no wonder poor Graham is confused and can't find his balance with that huge cast Give him some time to recover his confidence. I also think that a bit of TLC would help him get well faster. Unlike humans, dogs don't feel sorry for themselves But they need reassurance from those who love them.
I do hope you can find who was responsible for Graham's accident and give him what he deserves. I wouldn't feel at all guilty pushing that dreadful man from a balcony, and not just from the first floor.
Carina and I are sending our love, with very many wishes that he'll recover quickly.

[lizbud]

AdoreMyDogs, /Leslie,
I agree with what Dixieland Dancer said
"you don't have to be sooo strong" with
Graham about this injury,that you can't help
him with the little things until he can
adjust to the cast/balancing,etc. Dogs never
do feel sorry for themselves !!Graham must be
in a lot of pain now & also as scared by this
whole situation as you are.Don't tell anyone
but the weekend when Buddy came home from
his knee surgery, I let him lay wherever he
was comfortable and brought his water dish
to him,even held it up for him to drink from,so he didn't have to move around to much.I also slept on the living room floor
in a sleeping bag for three days,so I would
be sure to be near him if he needed something.Sound crazy? Maybe to some people,
but it just seemed like the right thing to do
at the time. Just 'go with your heart' in this ,believe me you will not be spoiling
Graham,just helping him as he would you if he could.
Buddy & I send our love and prayers to both you & sweet Graham..Good Luck!! Liz.

[RachelJ]

Leslie, I agree with Dixie, Liz and the others. Graham needs your support and assistance right now. It's not going to spoil him. It's what he needs right now. I'd make it as easy for him as you can, he still has enough to cope with and will have to call upon all his inner resources to make the adjustments he has to make inspite of all the help you can give him. He'll understand and appreciate you for it and learn to trust you even more than he does now, if that is possible. I know this is a challenge for you as it is for him.

[ October 26, 2001: Message edited by: RachelJ ]

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Leslie, I feel so sad for you and Graham. This will be one of the challenges of your life, and for Graham too. You have had the strength to get him through agility, and all the other wonderful things he has accomplished and he has shown the strength and endurance to do it for you. The bond of love is so strong between the both of you that you will get through this too. As the others have said, give him a little slack for a little while, let him get used to what is expected of him, he is strong and has the
fortitude to make it through this awful thing that has happened to him. He is a wonderful, loving boy and he will prevail.
Please give him a hug and kiss from Daisy, Perry and me. We send our love and strength to you too.
Jackie

[AdoreMyDogs]

Hi all you wonderful people. Trust me, as much as I would love to be strong, I am not as strong as I want to be. Graham has been getting alot more babying then he normally does. I am not THAT strong, this is my baby that we're talking about I just bought him a wonderfully soft lambskin (poor lamb) bed that was a little bigger then his other doggie bed in order to fit that cast and still be comfey, and I also bought a nice throw blanket to tuck him in every night. I bought a floor mat that has extra grips for my tile kitchen floor so he does not slip going to get his food and water, I carry him up and down the stairs ( 46 pounds first thing in the morning and 2 flights of stairs is not the easiest thing ) I give him a full body (minus the bad leg) massage daily, I am talking to him more, (and I used to talk to him ALOT!!), cuddling with him more, smothering him with tons of love and attention, and all the other extra special things that a sore doggie likes to get...problem is, when I stopped at my moms house right after picking him up at the vet, my mom first talked really sympothetic to Graham, just like I did at first, and Graham was acting really depressed. Then she started talking to him like she normally does, in a more energetic, uplifting voice and he perked up right away. I have been trying to treat him as normal as I can because I want him to feel confindent and I don't want him to dwell on his "problem" but yet move on to a happier state of mind. I still very much cater to his bad leg, goodness I would never let him do something to hurt himself, but I want him to feel confindent, and to accept that cast. The more normal, playful, and uplifting I speak to him, and treat him, the happier he seems to be. When I give him pitty, his whole attitude changes from slightly frustrated to downright morose.

I went home at lunch since he didn't do his pottying this morning and he was doing a little teeny bit better with the walking, and he did go potty...both pee and poo. He seemed to be slightly more OK with the cast. I hope so. I do know that I felt better since he went potty and he was a tad better with ballance.

I don't want you all to get the wrong impression, thinking that I am not giving him the extra special treatment that he deserves. He is. He's my love of loves, my best friend, my pride and joy, my gift from God. He's my beautiful angel.

I'll post on his progress, hopefully soon he will have some. Thanks so much for all the prayers. And thank you SO much for the card, Sandra. It made me cry, but then again I am so emotional, even seeing the CGC pic that Phred posted makes me cry. All these prayers and good wishes mean so much to me and Graham. He and I are so proud to have such dear friends from all over the world.

Love you all bunches!

Leslie & Graham

P.S. within the next couple of weeks I'll try to get a pic of Graham smiling with his cast on so can see first hand that he is feeling better

[Iditarodfan]

Oh my, oh my, Molly G & I are so sorry to hear about Graham's accident. We will pray, do voodoo and "get well" dances throughout the time it takes for Graham to recover. Phredd the pictures are wonderful! Graham is soooooooo photogenic. Hang in their Nurse Leslie, have faith! All of DOTD are pulling for Graham to be back Rockin and Rollin in no time. Smooch, smooch, Hug. Bea

[Iditarodfan]

Oh my, oh my, Molly G & I are so sorry to hear about Graham's accident. We will pray, do voodoo and "get well" dances throughout the time it takes for Graham to recover. Phredd the pictures are wonderful! Graham is soooooooo photogenic. Hang in their Nurse Leslie, have faith! All of DOTD are pulling for Graham to be back Rockin and Rollin in no time. Smooch, smooch, Hug. Bea

Oh Leslie - those pics made me cry. He looks so miserable - but I still see the love in his eyes.

I didn't want to mention it earlier but the "dog hater" thought crossed my mind when you mentioned a maintenance man being in the apartment and how Graham wouldn't jump unless scared or spooked. It gave me chills thinking about it - it did sound really creepy when you first mentioned it.

I'm sure Graham will be a big trooper and make the best of his predicament. He is a happy dog and will be just fine ! Honestly Leslie, I am more worried about you - I know how distraut I would be if I were you. But, you will all adjust and kick into gear and will be used to everything really soon. Good luck and you know we are always here for you.

Sweet Graham, my girls send their biggest hugs and kisses to you. Get well and take care of that leg ! We all love you very much!

[purrley]

Leslie - I've been thinking about you and Graham all day. I just know that your sweet boy will be good as new in no time - what with all your love and the love of all of us how could he not. You both will be in my prayers this weekend and hopefully we'll get a wonderful report on his progress on Monday.
Take care.