[starcat999]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate all of the information. Jean, that would be great if you could get more information from your sister.

I will ask my vet about the hydrotherapy. Maybe she knows a place we can go. We don't have a pool, and with Molly's incontinence, I don't think our friends would care to let us use theirs. ;) Our surgeon did recommend hydrotherapy as the best therapy for her. He also offered PT services, but the location of the surgery center (Florida Vet Specialists) is an hour away and is VERY expensive. I think we can find something more local and less expensive. FVS is very pricey. Meanwhile, their PT did show us a series of exercises to perform on her legs twice a day, which we've been doing, but we can see no improvement, really. She does twitch her tail now and then when I stroke her back, and lately her left legs twitches a bit, but not very often.

The surgeon told us that without the surgery she would never walk again and the longer we waited, the more permanent the damage could become. He didn't exactly PROMISE that she would walk again, but he said he had had a lot of success with dogs with her type of problem, and he said she definitely would not walk without the surgery, so we decided to have it right away.

He initially told us the surgery went very well and was quite optimistic that she would eventually walk again. However, a couple of days after the surgery, she lost what little use she still had of her left before the surgery. When I called and told him, the surgeon was quite dismayed, and started talking about more tests, etc., some of which Molly had already had. I told him that after $10,000 (yes, $10,000 - 3,000 in diagnostics to find out what's wrong with her, 3,000 for the surgery, 3,000 to treat a post-surgery bladder infection, skin infection in the surgery area, and pneumonia that almost killed her, and $1,000 in misc. meds), we'd couldn't afford anything further and that we'd have to take our chances with getting her well on our own, with the help of our local vet. After $10,000, Molly should be able to roller blade, let alone walk! ;) My husband and I are inclined to believe we've been had by the surgeon - anyone know of a good attorney in the Tampa area??

I haven't talked to the surgeon in a few weeks, and I left a message for him last Monday to call me so I could give him Molly's status and get a current opinion from him, and he never returned my call. It's as if he knows he screwed up and is avoiding us.

We've been using a sling to get Molly around the house and outside, but I don't think it's very comfortable for her. Mary Mac, the harness you recommended looks like it would be much better, so I think we will order one.

Thanks for your feedback, and sorry about this LONG post!!! Have a great weekend.