Ruby is a Gem of a Pug, Part 2

by Laura Richmond

Laura is “mom” to four rescued pugs and a basset hound named, Smash. She is also a talented jewelry designer and you can find her creations at http://www.richmondltd.com/ or http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/pugwa. This is the second installment in the saga of Ruby.

I went to visit Ruby (at the vet’s) every morning and sat on the floor of the VCA Animal Hospital holding her, making sure she knew I was not abandoning her, and returned every night after dinner. I wanted to make certain she knew I would be there each morning when she woke up and every night before she fell asleep.

We had only had Ruby less than a couple of months. I’d seen a Pennysaver ad. for an older black pug for sale for $150.00, about 5 blocks from my home. I told the old owners (who were moving out of state and not including Ruby, something I never understand) that I had three older pugs myself and adore them more than life. We have Pug Birthdays for each one every year, we take them to our cabin for vacations and they never are alone and every dog sleeps in a family member’s bed at night. I also said I would not purchase Ruby for $150.00 but my family would be honored to take her in and love her to pieces, and she would always have all the vet care and treats she ever needed. Needless to say, Ruby’s family came to our home with Ruby and knew we were the perfect family to take in their beloved pet.

Upon Ruby’s third day in the hospital I was told she was in physical therapy and to walk down two doors where I could sit with her while she had therapy. This was the first I’d heard about her receiving therapy. I walked into the room and Ruby was laying on a mat on the floor, on her side, with a floppy plush stuffed dog toy supporting her neck while the therapist had two electrodes on her inner and outer leg muscles to stimulate the muscles and prevent atrophy as she was now immobile. I asked the therapist all sorts of questions and, most importantly, did she think this would be good to do after I take Ruby home…. should I bring her in for this physical therapy daily or weekly?

The physical therapist commended my earlier decision not to operate on Ruby and said their office can lease me this machine for $25 a month. I could take it home the next day when I pick up Ruby !!!!! She explained that I did the very best thing for Ruby, which was not the invasive emergency surgery that the VCA hospital encouraged, preying on clientele who are in the most vulnerable state of mind. All too frequently pet owners go into debt to pay for such surgeries. More often than not, I was told privately by the therapist, these “emergency surgeries” are hardly ever needed!!

I had just saved our family $17,000 by declining all the surgeries. Still, the hospital asked me every day that I came to visit Ruby if “I had changed my mind yet”. I did not realize at the time they were keeping her for four days (not in Ruby’s best interest at all) and I believe it was solely to encourage me to change my mind. I was continually told that most likely within a week after I take her home she will be unable to eliminate on her own and will eventually die …

Hahaha! The physical therapist said Ruby won’t die and showed me right there on the mat, with a pee pad below her, how to stand her up and hold my fists on either side of her hip and push inward. If her bladder was full the pressure would cause it to empty, and right there it worked and I had a million epiphanies at once! I will absolutely lease the muscle stimulator, which I knew I would need for a long time to assist Ruby in strengthening her muscles. However, when we researched online, we found it is much cheaper and easier to buy the stimulator. So now, for less than $100, I have a stimulator and it’s all mine.

I also was told by this angel of a therapist that I could go online and order a hand held harness to support Ruby’s back end. This would allow her to walk on her front feet while supporting her back feet so she could go outside to potty with the other pugs .  . This harness could also be used to help Ruby support her own body weight on all 4 paws. So five times a day I held her up, gradually allowing her to take more and more of her own body weight in order to build up her strength. Also, the therapist told me that Ruby could use a body protector. It’s like overalls to put her body into so she can pull herself around the house and have some mobility.. I also went ahead and special-ordered a pug wheelchair so, at times, if Ruby wanted to run around with our other pugs, she could be placed in the wheelchair for more independent mobility. Now she could resume her daily pug walks around the block and resume some normality . .

The final part of Ruby’s ordeal will be revealed next week.