Merlin my Greyhound

3 weeks ago I took Merlin to the vets because his right hind leg wasn't stepping under him properly and thought he may have arthritis but the vet who I saw refered him to the orthopedic vet. The orthopedic vet said he wanted him to have an MRI scan, which was Wednesday last week. From start to finish this took 2 weeks, would have been quicker only the scan only comes fortnightly.

When talking to the vet after the scan he wasn't happy, there was a disc pressing on Merlin's spinal cord and infection round it. He gave merlin antibiotics and sent the xrays away to be read by someone else. Last Friday, 2 days after the scan, this other person phoned the vet to tell him to operate asap, there is something else going on there and there could be a tumour.

Wednesday Merlin was taken in for his operation. Instead of finding a nice, soft disc to push back into place, it was hard like bone and the vet had to chip it away. He couldn't get it all but got most of it and it is no longer pressing on Merlin's spinal cord. This has been sent away for analysis.

Merlin was doing very well until yesterday afternoon when his back legs swelled up and was bruised, the vet nurses were putting ice packs on and massaging his legs all night, thankfully the selling has gone down now.

Merlin should have come home today but is having to stay in the vets. My vets are also an animal hospital and emergency vets and do spinal operations regularly.

Thankfully I spotted that Merlin wasn't walking right, if I hadn't and he carried on, it wouldn't have been long before he was paralysed. Watch how your dogs move, lock it into your brains and when something does go wrong, you may pick it up before it is too late.

Luckily you noticed it Mattie. Hope Merlin will come home as soon as possible and everything will be okay with him.

Hope Merlin get home soon and thanks for the advice

At 10.30am I thought I had enough time to have a shower before the vet phoned, they normally phone about mid day, I was wrong, he phoned when I was in the shower. I phoned back he said that I could come and get Merlin, I didn't bother to dry my hair, got dressed and ran. I was then sitting in the waiting room for 1.25 hours, a pup was rushed in, he had eaten Co-Codomal.

Got Merlin and the vet and I lifted him into the car and we set off. When I got to a roundabout I stopped, had a look at Merlin just in time to see him disappear, he had stepped off the back seat. I pulled over and he was stuck, turned round and drove fast back to the vets. Thank goodness I hadn't gone far.

A vet and nurse came out but he was well and truely stuck so I moved the front seat forward to give more room. Merlin then got back onto the seat but wouldn't come near the door so we could lift him. The nurse got in with him and managed to get him to the door were the vet picked up his fron end and the nurse the back and lifted him onto the floor.

The vet said that I could take him home if I wanted but he would prefer him to be back in the hospital just in case so poor Merlin is back in

I am having a sandwich at the moment then going outside to reorganise the car so he can't fall off the back seat.

Bad luck Mattie. Hope Merlin may go home tomorrow.

Poor Merlin hope he has a speedy recovery. Let us know how he is doing

Wishing Merlin a speedy recovery and sending good thoughts x

Hi Mattie, everything alright with Merlin. Is he already home?

Yes thank you, Merlin is home and doing really well but his back legs are still swollen. He doesn't appreciate 3 walks a day even though they are only for 5 minutes, prefers to sleep in his bed. I also have to massage his legs several times a day and put ice packs on.

I am shattered, been sleeping downstairs but 5 other dogs want to sleep on the sofa with me, there isn't enough room so they wait until I am asleep and all jump on top of me.

I'm glad to hear that Merlin is home and is being looked after very well . I hope he recovers fast, so he can enjoy his walks again and has no more pain.