Matrix Rats Rattery

Welcome to Twilight's page AKA Lulu..

 Lulu is a Pit/lab mix, she is a chocolate/black beauty that I recieved as a valentines present in 2005. It was basically love at first sight, she was small and soo cute..  Lulu is a very special dog, she shows every one love and affection , but if you try to break in she shows her true nature as the best guard dog ever..

 Any who.. I've decided to make this page for all of you who are keeping track of Lulu's progress.. for those of you who don't know anything yet.. here is a timeline of events of way my little girl has her own page for recovery.

Lulu, Rusty and my Hubby. Relaxing on the Love-Seat, This is before she got sick.
Approx date; Oct 22, 2007

Feb. 18, 2008 - I woke up that morning finding Lulu completely paralyzed in her hindquarters, scared shitless I rushed Lulu to my vet's office, after a series of x-rays, the vet didn't have much to say other then Lulu had somehow managed to herniate a disk in her back.  2 days before she had been crying while she was walking but I only thought it was maybe her feet were getting cold from the snow and ice outback, and just put vasiline (patrolum jelly) on her feet to keep them from getting too cold. I should have noticed something was wrong and taken her to the vet then, but I could have never guess it was in her back. Any who.. on the morning of the 18th she wasn't able to get up and move.  And she was screaming in pain, so I packed up my 2 year old girl, and dropped her off at the babysitters and rushed to the vet going like 85mph down a 45.. So that evening I want home with Lulu, knocked up on pain meds and with medications to keep her comfortable.

 
Lulu afternoon of Feb. 18, 2007. She's wearing Depends Underware, since she can no longer control her bowels.

Feb. 19 - 24, 2008 - Lulu developed a huge allergic reaction to her steroids, she is pucking up all her food and is un able to keep food down, she also developed a ulcer in her stomach causing her to puck up blood and poop blood. So we switched her from Predisone to Rymidal,  and she is getting a ulcer medication to help heal her ulcer.

Feb. 27- Mar. 4, 2008 - Lulu is doing better, she did develop some miner complications causing her to bleed out again, I've decided that this is a lot of stress, but I'm willing to let this go to help my dog get better, we put her on some more rymidal, and she is doing good, I'm doing daily physical therapy to keep her muscles moving, and have ordered her a wheelchair so she can get out and moving. I just think it's sad that she is sitting inside the house 24/7.

 
Josie, Neo (4mon old Wild Cat Lynx Mix)  and Lulu :
Neo and Lulu have become very close the last couple of days, Josie helps take care of her puppy, I thought this was a great kodak moment of 3 best friends laying next to each other. Josie and Neo keep Lulu company on those long days she would prefer to be out side running with the other dogs.

Mar. 5, 2008 - Lulu got her wheelchair today, It took me several minutes to get it all abjusted and sitting right. at first she didn't want to move, but  after a few minutes she was more happy and trying out her NEW legs. The wheel chair even has stirrups in the back to keep her back legs from dragging.. and it also encourages her to do swimming movement with her hind legs to help the muscles. This is a great little device..

Mar. 6 , 2008 - Took Lulu on her first walk with the wheelchair, she loved it... the first thing she did when I strapped her in was take off down the street.. and was extremely happy to be out of the house..  I only took her around the block for like 6-7mins.. I don't want to over due it since she is still in the healing process..

Mar. 9, 2007 - Got Lulu's new medication in the mail today, it's called Vetri-Disc, it's kinda like a supplement to help her back bone heal it's self and reobsorb the hernia in her back , this medication is the highest rated so fare to help dogs heal faster that have undergone spinal surgery, or spinal injuries.

Mar. 11, 2008 - Took Lulu on another walk a little longer today she was doing really good, and she is even trying to use her back legs more. Which is great since this means she is finally getting more feeling in her back legs. I can't wait until she can go on regular walks again with out her chair.

 
Lulu in her chair..self explanatory.

 
Lulu out of her chair, This is what is called "Scooting".. It doesn't cause any pain, just looks uncomfortable.

 Mar. 14, 2008 - Lulu was able to stand by her self today, which is HUGE considering everything. She is still unable to walk by her self. I didn't take her for a walk at all today even though I had it planned since I didn't take her yesterday, But since we had an inch of snow on the ground. I didn't want her to go outside where the cold air would probably bug her spine. So I'm hoping tomorrow will be a little warmer. She is also wagging her tail a lot more again.. so This means that she is able to feel a lot more in her hind quarters. Which in turn means that the new meds she's on is actually working..Yipee!!

 Mar. 17, 2008 - Okay today was cold but yet very fun for Lulu.. I took several pictures and video for your viewing pleasure. I have put it all together in a nice little video clip with MUSIC!! lol.. so proud of my self..anywho enjoy and remember to comment on this since it's my second video ever on this new program on my computer.. the first video clip she is moving her legs, but since she has aterfid when we want on the walk her feet were in the stirrups to keep them from dragging on the ground.. you can tell she was having loads of fun..okay enjoy..

 Mar. 20, 2008 - Today was a pretty exciting day.. Lulu actually stood up by her self!!.. it was very brief and I missed it by just seconds with the camera.. She stood on her back legs for like 3 seconds then slowly collapsed back to the floor.. But this is a HUGE step for her.. this means that her muscles are slowly getting stronger and that the herniated disk in her back is healing.. which in turn means the meds my new vet gave me are working!! And that is totally AWESOME!!.. I will be taking her for a walk either tomorrow or Sat.. depends on my schedule.. but I will take pics and a small video again..lol..

 Mar. 23, 2008 - Well since it snowed today, Lulu wasn't able to go on a walk, but she did how ever leap a huge mile stone in her healing, when my hubby came home from work today she got up and with wobbly legs walked over to my husband.. I was crying, I was so happy I couldn't believe that she managed to get up and walk .. I can't say how happy I am that she is progressing so nicely, the medicine my vet gave me are literally working miracles on her.. I'm going to send the company who makes this type of medicine a huge letter of thank you as soon as my dog is 100%..

Lulu Stretching her back legs..Her muscles are slowly coming  back.
The whole crew together for a family picture.. cute..

Mar. 25, 2008 - okay today was such a nice day, and after fixing Lulu's tire on her wheelchair that I noticed had a hole in it. We want on a nice walk.. She did really good!! Today for the first time I didn't even put her feet in the stirrups, I put doggy booties on her feet and she moved her feet like she was walking, Granted it was a little sluggish since her muscles are like totally gone, but she was trying . So we walked to the park, Josie played on the swings and I talked to the other mom's about Lu.. who were amazed that I didn't give up on her and have watched her progress the last couple of weeks.. I wasn't able to take any pictures since my hubby took the camera with him to work today to take pics of houses, and stuff.. But today was a huge day for Lulu and now that we are home, she is passed out next to the bed, and tonight I'm giving her an epson salt bath to help keep her muscles from aching to much..

Mar. 30, 2008 - Okay here is a great new update, Lulu has been working her back legs so much by standing and trying to walk around, I figured I'd take a video of her working her legs.. Now I must say in the video it looks like I'm dragging her, but I was just trying to help her support her weight and keep her from tripping me..lol.. but you can see that she is actually trying to walk.. which is HUGE for her since she has so much muscle loss in her back legs.. It will definitely take her a few weeks to get all her strength back to be able to run and play like she did before her injury..

 April 1, 2008 - Lulu tried climbing on the bed this morning, and it scared me out of a deep sleep.. lol.. I was hoping to take her for a walk but since it's soo cold outside and it's kinda sorta snowing i'm going to wait until it's a little warmer, since  I know she is still working on her legs to get muscle and I know from self experience that cold air and warm muscles don't mix.. I can't say how proud I am of my girl for getting healthy so fast. I know the fact that she is healing so fast, also has to do with me giving her physical therapy and all the love I can give her.. The fact that I'm able to stay home with her 24/7 and give her all the support and love is a huge factor on her healing process. I can't wait to see her playing and running again, i'm sure she misses it just as much as I miss seeing her do it..

 April 5, 2008 - After walking Lulu around the house, I've came to this really weird conclusion that her left leg is a lot better then her right leg, Now this may be from where the disk is putting pressure on her spine and could be causing more pressure to off set her right side from her left side..I know that sounds weird, but with spinal injuries thats' how it works.. Now the fact that she can walk.. or does this walkies thing is very good, but I'm still trying to determine if this is going to be as good as it gets.. I'm sure it's not.. i'm sure she will get 100% better, but I haven't seen much improvement since when she started using her back legs again..oh while I guess I'll wait and see

April 9, 2008 - Okay, so I've found a break through with Lulu, she is actually able to control her own bowels again.. YIPEE!! even though I still have to change her daipers it's a huge improvement from the guess work. at least now I can time it when she is going to poop and pee.. since dogs usually stick with a schedule so now all i due it write it down on pad of paper and wala i have a poop and pee schedule.. Now all i have do is keep her from eating her diaper when I leave the house for like 3mins..lol.. since that doesn't help since then I get all the pee and poop on my floor and not that i'm one who loves cleaning up carpet stains it does get old after while.. I will be adding new video here in a day or two of Lulu doing her walking .. she is getting better and her muscles are getting stronger..

April 17, 2008 - Sorry I haven't updated this in a while, but here is a new picture of Lulu I took 3 days ago.. as you can see from the picture she is standing on her own.. She is still a bit wobbly on her legs when she walks.. I will be trying to remind my self to get a small video of her walking probably this weekend to show you guys and post her.. All in all she is doing wonderful and I expect her to be back to her normal self in another month or two, Depending on the weather and how sever her spinal injury was. Since this could honestly be as good as it can get.. and I believe this is still 100% better then what she was.

May. 4, 2008 - Okay I'm sorry for the lack of update here.. I've been extremely busy with an upcoming move, and etc.. So here is a new video of Lulu I've commentated on the video.. so turn up your volumes..LOL.. any who I will try to get this updated more often.. as soon as I have more time on my hands. I've been lacking a little...

 Want to leave a question or comment for Lulu put it here. I will answer all questions. And I will give all the hugs and kisses you leave for Lulu to Lulu.

Thanks for your comments.