Gypsy

I got a call from Mom that something was wrong with Gypsy. Mom was out in the front yard and heard a yelp come from Gypsy in the back yard. When she got back there she saw that Gypsy was sprawled out on the cement patio. She wondered if she had broken something, or possibly had a stroke... poor Gypsy couldn't move.

With the help of her neighbor Steve, mom got Gypsy into the car and took her to the Animal hospital where she underwent a battery of tests and it was decided that she needed a Canine Neurologist. Gypsy had likely suffered a stroke.

It was the holiday weekend, and in Colorado there is only 1 Canine Neurologist...who was out of town. So in the doggy ICU we stayed. Gypsy received a catheter and IV fluids and pain medication. We sat with her and talked to her and kept her calm. She was shaking and whimpering, scared and cold. We took her outside to lie in the sun and give her some fresh air, but that only made her more anxious. In order to move her we had to lift her up onto a gurney and wheel her outside. She could not stand or walk, or even roll over. She was paralyzed.

Mom struggled with letting her suffer until we could get her treatment, or just putting her down, but as you know, she had this same sort of situation with her other chocolate lab Snickers 9 years ago... so mom opted to wait and give the vets a chance.

When the Neurologist came into town he saw her right away and ordered an MRI. It was determined that Gypsy had a cervical disc injury, it had slipped out of place. NO STROKE! The vet was very confident that he could fix this surgically and Gypsy would recover almost fully. This was wonderful news and an answer to our prayers!

Gypsy spend 2 more days in the hospital after surgery and $8000 later she was home, gaining strength and beginning to walk again. Thanks to everyone at the VCAA Animal Hospital and the Emergency Vet Clinic in Parker! We have our Gypsy back!