Copyright 2004-2010 Pitter Patt

by Helen Ranieri

I never knew until I got this little 12 week old black Pomeranian. He was not supposed to be my puppy but ended up to be. I hate to admit this NOW but Charlie was one of the ugliest puppies I had EVER seen. He was bald on his body in different spots , his tail had no hair and he was a little shy. He was the puppy no one wanted out of the litter and he was free. You should see his coat now. It is gorgeous and I MEAN GORGEOUS !!! I noticed at about 9 months old that something with his back legs did not look right. I took him to my Vet and he referred me to an Orthopedic Surgeon !! I then KNEW this was not going to be good. We saw the surgeon and he took a lot of XRays. I was then told that his bones had continued to grow BUT his muscles and tendons had NOT !! Both his back legs were bowing like a violin bow. He gave me ALL the bad news and I left the Vet with A LOT to consider. As days went by he got worse. He could barely step up a 4 inch step into the back door. I went back to the surgeon for another consultation. What had happened because of this problem was arthritis had already set in to his spine and he was already in pain and he was under a year old.. He told me I had 2 choices. Have the surgery OR put him to sleep..I had such a bond with this puppy BECAUSE of his handicap I spent a lot of time with him just talking to him. He was never active as most pups even as a 12 week old puppy should be and he never held his tail up like a Pom should. He was a definite misfit. The surgeon also told me he had NEVER in all his 25 years seen a puppy with this condition !! It was a first time surgery like this for him too. We sat down and discussed the plan of action. He was going to have to cut wedges out of the 2 bones in BOTH his back legs just to straighten them out. Like you would chop a tree down.I was sick to my stomach hearing all this. He also had to take both knee caps and pull them from the back to the front , drill holes and place his knees back in place . Charlie would also have to stay in a crate for 12 weeks. NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. I NEVER used a crate for him for he always slept with me in his bed on my bed . He was my absolute BEST friend. I bought a huge soft sided crate prior to surgery. He had the surgery and it doesn`t end there. I felt so guilty when I picked him up. You could SEE the pain and suffering he was going through. Honestly I FELT the pain he was in. MY legs were aching too. NO LIE. I went home with antibiotics , pain killers and needles filled with Adequan (spelling?). I insisted I could give Charlie the injections rather than having to tote him back and forth 30 miles ,3 days a week. I used to breed Exotic Parrots in 1988. I had a business in my home with OVER 100 birds. Hand fed some from day one. So the Vet trusted I could handle this. One week after surgery therapy began. He wanted me to start 2 days after MAJOR surgery and I said NO I could not pull on his legs 2 days after surgery so he let me wait one week. I also bought a huge storage plastic container to use as a swimming pool in the bath tub for swimming him which I had to do 3 times a day.. It was a long road we have traveled together and our bond is like no other. It is amazing how he trusts me. I love him dearly. Now it has been almost 2 years since surgery. He does have crooked back legs. The Vet had told me at BEST I would have a fully functioning four legged friend after all this and that was good enough for me !!! The left foot points outwards a little. He NOW holds his tail up PROUDLY. This just recently came about. It took over a year and 1/2 for him to be able to hold his tail up. Believe me it is a BIG deal to me. I am so proud of how he endured all this and is doing so well. He runs now and runs up steps but can`t go down. He tried once and he went down like a snowball going down a hill. Thank God he was OK. I did not see his entire trip down the steps but I heard the thundering noise and I saw him as he was almost at the bottom which was too late for me to do anything. Needless to say he has NOT tried that again.. In short he is almost as normal as any other dog and I love him dearly. Then came "Valentine" this January. She is a Teacup Yorkie. Charlie adores her as she does him. I was not sure since Charlie is VERY VERY shy and when I was working at a grooming shop I would take him with me and Charlie was terrified of all the other dogs. He wanted nothing to do with them. He would stick right by my side. . I knew though if the dog was smaller than he , it just may work. Sure enough it has turned out wonderfully. Not only does Charlie have a best buddy but he is also getting a true doggie workout everyday. He was putting on the pounds because of his inactivity due to the surgery. Now he is shedding the weight and happier than ever. You should see them play !!! I get tired just watching them. I am so glad it worked out with the two of them. OH believe me it was NOT instant friends but has grown over the months. In fact I have had Valentine 3 months today. She is just a bundle of energy with a touch of attitude but a lovebug just the same . I knew what I was getting into with a Yorkie because of working at the grooming shop for years and talking to ALL the clients that brought in their Yorkies. I did not go into this blindly. I adore them both but Charlie is truly ONE OF A KIND. We went through a lot together . He is so smart it amazes me..I love 'em both. Truthfully , I used to cry after his surgery when I would look at him in the crate.. It was so hard to take him outside to do his business and he would holler from the pain BUT I must tell you it was the BEST decision we made when we chose the surgery. He is so PROUD now that he can hold his tail up high and actually wag it..It is amazing how a small thing like a simple tail wag can make your day when for over 2 years I NEVER saw him wag it.. I adore him..Valentine too, of course !!!