Torbe Torbert Torbertson - (our Triple T)
On Thursday, 14 January 2010, our little pug, Torbe, was hit by a car on Backlick Road in Annandale, VA after escaping from our friend’s fenced in back yard. The emergency vet at South Paws in Falls Church confirmed a L-7 compression fracture. He stayed over night in the ICU for observation and we were left with the grim decision to put him down secondary to the cost of surgery. As the night passed much evolved and we turned to the SPCA and the Central Florida Pug Rescue for help to save our little guy…and by noon 15 January, the Drs and nurses at South Paws had Torbe ready for travel and we were off to Orlando to be seen by our family’s friend (and veterinarian) and a Neurosurgeon.
Although we have been very hopeful, we have hit several road blocks…finances and time just are not on our side. Our veterinarian discovered that Torbe not only has a L-7 compression fracture, but there is a 100% overlap of his L-8. After an evaluation by an Orthopedic-Neurosurgeon in Tampa, FL, it was determined that Torbe will in fact regain the ability to walk again (with time) with or without surgery, his level of pain and continence remains questionable. The Neurosurgeon opted NOT to follow through with the surgery secondary to it being too extensive, expensive, and would absorb several hours and resources.
The Surgeon in Tampa referred us to a Surgeon at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL who is willing and able to do the surgery for Torbe, however requires 75%, of a quoted cost of $4000.00, down and the remaining 25% upon discharge. He understands that the CFPR is making efforts to raise the funds for the surgery; however as time goes by Torbe’s vertebra will begin to fuse itself further complicating the surgery. Although he is willing to take the risk of doing the surgery this long after the injury occurred, he will not be able to operate after this weekend.
As of today, Torbe remains in the care of our friends, the Burtons, at the Piedmont Animal Hospital in Apopka, FL where they are managing his pain and assessing his overall prognosis. He will remain under their extraordinary care for the next 2 weeks when my parents will bring him back home to us in the DC/NoVA area…hopefully with much alleviated pain and a box of puppy diapers. In the meantime, I was told he will be seen by an acupuncturist and has received daily visits from my father (his 3rd favorite human on the planet).
Torbe has remained in good spirits throughout this whole ordeal and seems to be enjoying the extra attention…and we can tell this by the looks on his face, the way he perks his ears and cocks his head, and if he could, he’d be wagging that little curly tail of his…Liam and I are certain of it!
The decision of having to put him down still lurks in the shadows, but as of right now as long as he remains in good spirits, is happy, and is relatively pain free we’re simply not considering it.
We will definitely keep everyone posted via email, Facebook, and our website at http://www.katieandliam.net/. Also, feel free to visit our friends at http://www.centralfloridapugrescue.org/.
Thank you for all your well wishes, thoughts, and prayers…and donations! Please continue to keep our little puglet in your prayers.
Although we have been very hopeful, we have hit several road blocks…finances and time just are not on our side. Our veterinarian discovered that Torbe not only has a L-7 compression fracture, but there is a 100% overlap of his L-8. After an evaluation by an Orthopedic-Neurosurgeon in Tampa, FL, it was determined that Torbe will in fact regain the ability to walk again (with time) with or without surgery, his level of pain and continence remains questionable. The Neurosurgeon opted NOT to follow through with the surgery secondary to it being too extensive, expensive, and would absorb several hours and resources.
The Surgeon in Tampa referred us to a Surgeon at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL who is willing and able to do the surgery for Torbe, however requires 75%, of a quoted cost of $4000.00, down and the remaining 25% upon discharge. He understands that the CFPR is making efforts to raise the funds for the surgery; however as time goes by Torbe’s vertebra will begin to fuse itself further complicating the surgery. Although he is willing to take the risk of doing the surgery this long after the injury occurred, he will not be able to operate after this weekend.
As of today, Torbe remains in the care of our friends, the Burtons, at the Piedmont Animal Hospital in Apopka, FL where they are managing his pain and assessing his overall prognosis. He will remain under their extraordinary care for the next 2 weeks when my parents will bring him back home to us in the DC/NoVA area…hopefully with much alleviated pain and a box of puppy diapers. In the meantime, I was told he will be seen by an acupuncturist and has received daily visits from my father (his 3rd favorite human on the planet).
Torbe has remained in good spirits throughout this whole ordeal and seems to be enjoying the extra attention…and we can tell this by the looks on his face, the way he perks his ears and cocks his head, and if he could, he’d be wagging that little curly tail of his…Liam and I are certain of it!
The decision of having to put him down still lurks in the shadows, but as of right now as long as he remains in good spirits, is happy, and is relatively pain free we’re simply not considering it.
We will definitely keep everyone posted via email, Facebook, and our website at http://www.katieandliam.net/. Also, feel free to visit our friends at http://www.centralfloridapugrescue.org/.
Thank you for all your well wishes, thoughts, and prayers…and donations! Please continue to keep our little puglet in your prayers.
At South Paws Emergency Room in the oxygen kennel
The O2 Kennel hours after the accident
Brotherly Love
One Handsome Puglet!
posted by Katie O at
18:18
1 Comments:
I can't imagine how horrible this is for you and Liam. My thoughts and sympathy are with you.
Amanda
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