Buster's Story - How it happened and how we progressed:
Every pet owner's nightmare is witnessing their beloved animal in distress or pain. For our family, this fear became a reality when our dog fell from our van while still harnessed to the seat belt, resulting in severe nerve damage to his hind legs. This is our journey from the moment of the accident to adapting to life with a disabled dog, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way. The content of this page shows you progress in 3 months.
The Accident
We were moving house, and we were returning to the new house with items to unload. Buster was eager to hop out of the van as soon as we got home. In a moment of enthusiasm, he leaped out before we could stop him while still harnessed to the seat belt. As he jumped he twisted and dangled from the van, there was no impact but the way he twisted we think affected his ribs and back where the harness was fitted. That night with Buster panting and in distress was probably the worst night of our lives, the injection wasn't working. Calls to the vets were constant.
The Immediate Aftermath
The immediate aftermath of the accident was chaotic and heart-wrenching. Buster was not himself and was whimpering in pain and unable to stand properly. We rushed him to the nearest veterinary clinic, not thinking the worst. The veterinarian conducted a series of tests and gave him an inflammatory injection, it didn’t work. After speaking to four out of five vets, four recommended euthanasia with severe nerve damage to his hind legs. The prognosis was grim: Buster had lost the use of his back legs and would likely never walk again. We couldn't let him. We could give him a quality of life.
Coming to Terms with the Diagnosis
Hearing that Buster would be permanently disabled was a devastating blow. The emotional toll on our family was immense. We struggled to accept the reality and were overwhelmed by questions and doubts. How would Buster adapt? Could he still have a good quality of life? Would we be able to care for him properly? Every day was a learning curve, especially in the first few weeks when things were uncertain and new to us.
Buster was incontinent and and we were going through a lot of money on nappies. His mum improvised and started using baby reusable nappies with a hole hand stitched for his tail. Painstakingly making them from scratch hand stitching the with a needle and thread to a point her hands hurt.
Adjusting to a New Normal
Adjusting to Buster's new condition required significant changes in our daily routines and a steep learning curve. Here are some of the steps we took:
Modifying the Home Environment: We made our home more accessible for Buster by adding ramps and ensuring there were no obstacles in his path.
Investing in Mobility Aids: We purchased a specially designed wheelchair for dogs, allowing Buster to move around more freely and maintain some level of independence.
Massages and Exercise: Regular massages and gentle exercises helped to maintain Buster’s muscle tone and prevent further health issues.
Emotional and Psychological Support
One of the most challenging aspects was addressing Buster's emotional well-being. Dogs are incredibly resilient, but they can also experience confusion and depression when their mobility is impaired. We focused on providing plenty of love, attention, and positive reinforcement to help Buster adjust emotionally.
Despite the challenges, there were moments of triumph that reminded us of Buster's positive spirit:
Rediscovering Play: Buster learned to play and enjoy life in new ways. We adapted his life to accommodate his wheelchair, and he continued to find joy in his outdoor adventures.
Strengthened Bond: The experience strengthened our bond with Buster. His resilience inspired us as a family.
Conclusion
Our journey with Buster, from the accident to living with his disability, has been filled with challenges, learning, and growth. While the initial shock and grief were overwhelming, Buster's resilience and determination showed us that life goes on, and it can still be full of love and joy. Caring for a disabled pet requires patience, adaptation, and a lot of heart, but the rewards are immeasurable. Buster continues to be a beloved member of our family, reminding us every day of the power of perseverance and unconditional love. It shows that with unwavering love from Buster and his family anything can be achieved. It's getting over the fear and the worry at the beginning. The not knowing what came next. Once we overcame those and started seeing Buster's development and new enjoyment of life is the thing that inspires us all to carry on. The moments of happiness and courageousness. The worry, unpredictability and sympathy we felt for him was better because we still had him as part of our family instead of the alternative advised. He has given us hope and strength as he still lives.
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