A wolfdog on wheels!

Rona · 08-03-2008, 22:14

This is a story of Freyr z Peronówki. She had a bad accident more than a year ago. She jumped over a really high and solid fence, ran out into the street and was hit by a car.

Most CSV owners know how determined and ingenious the wolfdog can be when he decides to do something...

Just after the accident Freyr’s owner - Macia and her family went through a difficult time searching for most competent vets, x-raying Freyr and listening to several mutually contradictory diagnoses. With the help of the breeders they got in touch with the country best orthopaedic vet surgeons. They operated on Freyr and managed to put her spine together. Luckily the spinal cord was not broken and after a few months Freyr theoretically was able to walk. The period after the operation was really hard – just imagine keeping a full of energy, young wolfdog lie still for MANY days and nights… The owners took turns at her bed, all the family were involved for several months. Freyr after the operation:

Later, all available rehabilitation methods (exercises, massages, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, etc.) were applied to help Freyr learn how to walk, but she got used to moving on her front legs and this appeared to be permanent. In summer Macia was on one of the camps and I suppose some of you met her and Freyr there.

Wolfdogs ARE very bright, but it seemed almost impossible to persuade Freyr to start using all four legs… Experts in rehabilitation gave up - said it was a mental problem rather than physical, since physically there was nothing wrong with her.

But the owners persevered: they ordered a special trolley to make Freyr move on 4 legs. She didn’t like it at first but then she started enjoying moving more quickly. Now in the morning she rushes to the hall and stands by her trolley signalling that she is ready for the exercises…

She’s been using her back legs more and more smoothly and rhythmically and getting them stronger every day. I hope that soon she’ll be able to run, or at least walk on her own…

Look at the most optimistic pictures of a limping wolfdog …

This was the third walk, Macia says Freyr’s movement has already improved since then!

and some films:

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=jAJcJ_9TVEM

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Om86mDHtw

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=yz-D_EQs-EM

I’d like to congratulate Freyr a fantastic, loyal family

and Macia - a happy and optimistic wolfdog like Freyr - she returns all the love she receives with all her heart!

I know there are many great people among CSVs owners, who look after their dogs – sometimes sick, old or difficult. But I wanted to share Freyr’s story with you as an example of great friendship, loyalty and strong will of a wolfdog and her pack.

Liesbeth · 08-03-2008, 22:25

This is really amazing.
I have a lot of respect for the owners of Freyr!

She's a lucky dog with such a loving and devoted family!!

Liesbeth

Nebulosa · 09-03-2008, 00:56

Thanks for share this history, is a exemple for all dogs owners!
Freyr is a very beautifull and lucky girl, no wonder if in fell time she back to walk by his own seeing that she seems already move the legs with a very good coordenation!

Congratulations for the owners that show really love her and not give up in the most difficult situation!

fenris · 09-03-2008, 09:14

This is just sad - very sad. It is all too humiliating to see the dog suffer like this - and go to all this training and treatment. It is cases where a dog should have help run over the rainbow-bridge to prevent an invalid life. I cannot support this and feel a strong urge to utter my opinion about it - NO.
Fenris

Rona · 09-03-2008, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenris

This is just sad - very sad. It is all too humiliating to see the dog suffer like this - and go to all this training and treatment. It is cases where a dog should have help run over the rainbow-bridge to prevent an invalid life. I cannot support this and feel a strong urge to utter my opinion about it - NO.
Fenris

Well, what can one say to this?

Freyr has a good character - she is full of joy, very loving and will most probably soon be walking like any other dog. She was just very lucky, that you were not her owner.

z Peronówki · 09-03-2008, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenris

It is cases where a dog should have help run over the rainbow-bridge to prevent an invalid life. I cannot support this and feel a strong urge to utter my opinion about it - NO.

So in your opinion it is better and more 'humane' to kill a great lovely dog which have HUGE chances to have normal life after the muscles will recover only to prevent an "invalid life" for some time.... SAD.

I see Freyr had much more luck with having such owners than I even though...

Mirkawolf · 09-03-2008, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenris

This is just sad - very sad. It is all too humiliating to see the dog suffer like this - and go to all this training and treatment. It is cases where a dog should have help run over the rainbow-bridge to prevent an invalid life. I cannot support this and feel a strong urge to utter my opinion about it - NO.
Fenris

You would be right, in the case the dog was really suffering. But from the pictures you can see, the dog is smilling, even when put into the cart. If Freyr is eating, moving around (even in the cart) and smilling, then she wants to live and she definatelly does not see her life as crippled.
Dogs can get over loosing a leg much better and faster, than people. They do not pity themselves, thinking - oh, what a poor ugly dog I become. No.

They get used to run on three legs, and that´s it.
If there is nothing wrong physically with Freyr´s legs, then with the right therapy and help of the cart there is big chance, the dog will walk again.

I´ve seen many dogs with big troubles at the local hydrotherapy centre in Chaumont Gistoux. They had there also a dog, could not feel his back legs, could not walk anymore and the veterinarian suggested euthanasia. In such case, I´d not be surprised, if the dog was euthanised. But yet the owner persisted and started hydrotherapy and acupuncture - and now the dog is walking again! To me, that case is a small miracle.

But maybe there´s a miracle waiting for Freyr, too.

Macia · 10-03-2008, 15:16

Sorry, but I don’t understand somebody who is ready to euthanize a dog ONLY because he looks or moves differently than other dogs. Believe me, there are dogs with more severe problems than Freyr! Freyr is happy, full of life and energy. She does not see any difference between herself and other dogs. People tend to humanize animals too much – Freyr does not care that she looks differently – she is able to do things which other dogs do – play, show affection, even run! I hope that soon she will walk without help.

Just after the accident the vet told us, that even if the spinal cord was broken she would be able to adapt and live more or less ordinary dog’s life. We never even considered euthanizing her, because we saw no reason for this: we love her, she’s a member of our family!
Since the operation, only 4 or 5 people have told us we should have killed her and two of them were drunken ‘yobs’.

There are many people in our neighbourhood who don’t have dogs, some of them old and conservative. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had such views like Fenris, but all we hear from them is that Freyr looks “the most cheerful dog they’ve ever met”.
Freyr taught me how to be calm and patient. Now I know we should not care about some people’s opinions and just do what we think is right and proper.

Luckily, we have many supporters around us. Even people we hardly know approach us when they see Freyr’s improvement and encourage by saying that she’ll soon be on her own legs. Now, since Freyr’s been on the trolley many persons stop to ask what happened but nobody has ever said anything like Fenris.

When I agreed to Rona’s publishing this story I wanted to share with you our hope and enthusiasm that we finally found a method to help Freyr! I also thought that if somebody had ever similar problems with their CSV, (though I hope not) –our case will give him/her support and hope to struggle on.
But maybe it was a mistake, maybe people want to read only about successful champions...

This is a picture of my “unhappy dog”

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/901/pict0074mq1.jpg

PS. Rona, thanks for helping to translate the post.

08-03-2008, 22:25	#2
Liesbeth Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbeek Posts: 373	This is really amazing. I have a lot of respect for the owners of Freyr! She's a lucky dog with such a loving and devoted family!! Liesbeth __________________ Tsjechoslowaakse Wolfhonden van Hagia Sophia' www.wolfdog.be

09-03-2008, 00:56	#3
Nebulosa Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rio Grande do Sul Posts: 1,334	Thanks for share this history, is a exemple for all dogs owners! Freyr is a very beautifull and lucky girl, no wonder if in fell time she back to walk by his own seeing that she seems already move the legs with a very good coordenation! Congratulations for the owners that show really love her and not give up in the most difficult situation!

09-03-2008, 09:14	#4
fenris Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 59	This is just sad - very sad. It is all too humiliating to see the dog suffer like this - and go to all this training and treatment. It is cases where a dog should have help run over the rainbow-bridge to prevent an invalid life. I cannot support this and feel a strong urge to utter my opinion about it - NO. Fenris

10-03-2008, 15:16	#8
Macia Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 154	Sorry, but I don’t understand somebody who is ready to euthanize a dog ONLY because he looks or moves differently than other dogs. Believe me, there are dogs with more severe problems than Freyr! Freyr is happy, full of life and energy. She does not see any difference between herself and other dogs. People tend to humanize animals too much – Freyr does not care that she looks differently – she is able to do things which other dogs do – play, show affection, even run! I hope that soon she will walk without help. Just after the accident the vet told us, that even if the spinal cord was broken she would be able to adapt and live more or less ordinary dog’s life. We never even considered euthanizing her, because we saw no reason for this: we love her, she’s a member of our family! Since the operation, only 4 or 5 people have told us we should have killed her and two of them were drunken ‘yobs’. There are many people in our neighbourhood who don’t have dogs, some of them old and conservative. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had such views like Fenris, but all we hear from them is that Freyr looks “the most cheerful dog they’ve ever met”. Freyr taught me how to be calm and patient. Now I know we should not care about some people’s opinions and just do what we think is right and proper. Luckily, we have many supporters around us. Even people we hardly know approach us when they see Freyr’s improvement and encourage by saying that she’ll soon be on her own legs. Now, since Freyr’s been on the trolley many persons stop to ask what happened but nobody has ever said anything like Fenris. When I agreed to Rona’s publishing this story I wanted to share with you our hope and enthusiasm that we finally found a method to help Freyr! I also thought that if somebody had ever similar problems with their CSV, (though I hope not) –our case will give him/her support and hope to struggle on. But maybe it was a mistake, maybe people want to read only about successful champions... This is a picture of my “unhappy dog” http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/901/pict0074mq1.jpg PS. Rona, thanks for helping to translate the post.