DeKALB, GA......Sweet Bosco is a two-year-old Staffordshire Terrier Mix that was picked up as a stray after being hit by a car. We were originally contacted when he first came in but had to say no because we were just way too full with critical ICU cases. Two weeks passed, and we were contacted right before Bosco was PTS to see if we would re-consider. Nothing had changed, and we were swimming in ICU Medical bills. It seems like every dog we have recently taken in has been in ICU for a very long time with no sight of them getting out anytime soon. I got videos of this sweet pup and was shocked that no one had stepped up to help him. I finally caved in and agreed to help. How these cases end up in my lap as the final say on them is beyond me, but it did.
I asked all the questions to see if he could walk any, use the bathroom, etc. Sweet Bosco had been in terrible pain for almost two weeks while the shelter decided what to do. That is why I grabbed him. I couldn't bear him suffering any longer. We had him taken to Carolina Veterinary Specialist in Charlotte, NC to see our dear Neurologist, Dr. Bob Bergman. We also had to get our Special Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Michelle Nanfelt involved. Bosco had a crushed pelvis with a piece of bone in his spinal cord. He also had an old Acetabular Fracture that would have to wait until he recovered from his spinal surgery.
When we first received Bosco, he had to be stabilized so surgery could not be done right away. The best time to do surgery was right after he was hit by the car but that window was now gone. Once we got him comfortable, we were able to determine that he was paralyzed on his rear section. He had good anal tone, but that was masked by the pain he had been in. Dr. Bergman did a Cat Scan and an MRI to get the most information he could before he went in to remove the piece of bone.
We do not know how much mobility Bosco will get back in his rear legs but are very hopeful he will get some back. The bone fragment had to be removed and doing so put him at risk for more trauma. Dr. Bergman was happy with the results during the procedure and feels like he will eventually get movement back in one of his rear legs. We had a cart made for our dear boy, and he is getting lots of sling walks.
Bosco has the biggest head of any dog we had seen in a while for his size. He is a big Lovebug that loves everyone. He is improving but still has a long way to go before he can use both of his rear legs. He will have to have months of Rehab to give him the best possible chance. Bosco can use the bathroom without any issues and never makes a mess. He is perfect in every way to us and waits patiently for someone to pick him up and take him outside. We had a cart made for him that enables him to run and play to his heart's content.a We have to slow him down to make him correct his rear legs. When he doesn't, we put them in the proper position to keep the muscles active.
Bosco should not have been put in the situation he is in now. If someone had stopped and gotten him to the hospital, he would probably be walking now. Spinal Injuries do not respond well after a long period of time. We have given Bosco the best chance he will have ever to walk again. We are each very hopeful and will give him every possible chance to have a good outcome.
We need Donations to cover his Surgeries and his Rehab. To say we are swimming in Medical Bills is an understatement. Please, do whatever you can so we can get rid of as many bills as possible and help more dogs like sweet Bosco. Thanks for caring.
