IN-TF1 K9 Logos and the Fine Spine Fund Blog

By Logos' "mom," IN-TF1 K9 Handler Jackie McCarty

July 21, 2007 -- Part II

After surgery Logos started rehab. I live in Kentucky so most of the everyday/week stuff we did here. If you happen to be in the Lexington, KY area, the rehab place we’re going to is wonderful. It is called Bluegrass Animal Rehabilitation and Hyperbaric Center (BARHC). For anyone who has an animal with similar injuries, I can’t stress enough how important and nice it is to have a rehab place to go to. It difficult to manage any spinal cord injury (SCI), but with a large/active dog it is even harder. It has been a godsend to be able to have someone else to evaluate him, have answers to the various questions that come up and provide encouragement to keep us going. To work with someone who works day in and day out with spinal cord-damaged dogs has proven invaluable.

His treatment started with a hyperbaric chamber, a machine which pushes oxygen into the spine. The damage from SCI is not only due to the physical trauma, but also from the nerve tissue not getting oxygen. The hyperbaric chamber pushes oxygen into the damaged tissue, which helps to stop and heal the damage. From there they used the cold laser and electronic stimulation machines to help reduce swelling and get the nerve pathways going again. Logos also uses an water treadmill and we do lots of stretching and range-of-motion exercises. I now have TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) and Micro-Stim units that I’m using on him in between rehab sessions.

I had someone kiddingly tease me that I was going overboard on all the stuff I was doing “for a dog.” They didn’t mean anything by it, but has I read through the above paragraphs I can see some will think just that. I guess for some there will never be an understanding of what a relationship with a dog can mean. That is very sad because they’re missing out on a wonderful experience. You pour an immense amount of your life into these dogs, you have to, to be really good. If someone’s life is going to depend on you knowing that dog inside and out, you had better be really good.

For a disaster dog to be great, it takes the right dog, the right handler and the right team to support you. IN-TF1 has that. I’ve been hugely blessed with both this dog and the people that surround me.

Logos is a dog that wasn’t supposed to be. His litter was accidental; to see the pups, they were not what I -- or almost anyone -- would have picked for a working dog, let alone a disaster dog. They belonged to a good friend of mine and he gave me a couple of the pups to play with and find homes for. Although I didn’t think he would ever be able to work, I was hopeful. I didn’t have a lot of money to spend for a dog. On that hope, I named him Logos. “Logos” is Greek and one of the definitions is “living word, speaking.” For the FEMA disaster dogs, they bark or ‘speak’ when they have found someone and continuing barking until the handler can get there. Therefore, his barking/words would mean that there is life under the rubble: Living Word.

Logos is not just my friend and partner, he is my responsibility. If there is a way or chance that I can return him to what he loves and lives for, I have to give him that shot. My dogs have always taught me far more than what I have taught them. I owe them for that.

I’ve been overwhelmed at the response and the kindness people have shown. I have so many wonderful people on this team and have had well-wishers from all over the country. Thank you all so much, it does seem to help to know people are thinking about you when you get in a tough spot.

Jackie & Logos

PS For anyone that may be going through something similar one of the best sites I’ve seen is http://www.dachshund-dca.org/discbook.html. It explains everything in detail and in layman's terms. There is a lot of research going on right now and some of it is very promising. If I were to do things over again, knowing what I know now, I would have headed to Purdue. They are doing a lot of research on SCI and it looks like they will work with pet owners. In Indy, you all also have a good group of specialists. People I have spoken to, who have gone there, have been very pleased. For those in Kentucky, I’d head to a university. Time can be critical; after an injury the areas with no blood supply past 24 hrs. will have lasting damage on top of the physical trauma. Push for the best treatment and do your homework. It will pay off.

For you Indy folks another wonderful place is PetPals Veterinary Hospital. I’ve been taking Logos there for acupuncture with Dr. Julie Towle. She is the only vet I’ve met that is certified in both Acupuncture and Chiropractic. Dr. Rick Arnold, who owns the practice, has been wonderful to not only Logos and I, but also to the Task Force dogs. Dr. Rick has donated his time to take care of all the Task Force dogs for years. I’ve worked in and visited many practices over the years and would high recommend this practice. They genuinely care about their clients and are excellent veterinarians. Believe it or not, that is a hard mix to find!

July, 2007 -- Part I

Logos is my 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, whom I have had since he was 9 weeks old.

We have been through a lot together, so this is just one more chapter, and I’m thankful that there will be more!

On May 1st of this year, I thought our story was over.

As most evenings, I had taken Logos out to exercise by playing fetch. I had thrown the ball a couple of times when, as he turned to catch it, he screamed and collapsed on the ground with one of his legs at an odd angle. I was praying that the leg was broken, because a broken leg is fixable. But once I got to him, my worst fear was realized as it became apparent to me that he had broken his back. Logos was completely paralyzed from his mid-back down. I attempted to elicit some sort of reflex or pain response, but there was none.

I’ve been a Veterinary Technician for 15 years (it is my paying job to support my SAR job!). I have seen many dogs with similar signs and know that the outcome is usually poor, if not ending in euthanasia.

Off to the emergency clinic we rushed, where the staff took great care of Logos and managed his pain well throughout the night.

We were scheduled to go to a specialist for 8 a.m. for a myelogram and possible surgery.

The tests showed that Logos had ruptured a disk (T12/T13) in his back. It was pressing against his spinal cord, cutting off the blood supply and would cause permanent damage if not relieved. The veterinarian successfully performed a hemilaminectomy, a procedure where they remove part of the vertebra, remove the material pressing against his spinal cord and clean out the disk gel (fenestrate) so there is nothing left to re-rupture.

It took about a week before Logos had some control over his bladder. He could bear a little weight at a week and by two weeks, was trying to walk. It was a wonderful sight the first time he wagged his tail!!!

His improvement has been slow, but steady, ever since. Now Logos is getting very frustrated because he wants to work. He tries really hard to do everything with -- or without -- the cooperation of his back end!

We’re off to rehab right now and I will write more later.

So many incredible people have helped us out…thank you so much for your support, it has been overwhelming and we are very grateful.

Jackie & Logos

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