Dinkie was taken to the vet for an initial assessment. The doctor found that Dinkie had a crossed reaction to the pinch test. Which means, when he pinched the toe of the right foot, the left foot reacted. Having a reaction was good enough for Carla. She took Dinkie home and began working with him, stretching exercises, water therapy and walking therapy, 3 times a day, to build up his strength and muscle mass.

A week later we went back to the doctor, as Dinkie also has a severe upper respiratory infection, to get his levels re-checked. The doctor was amazed, that in that short time, with regular therapy, Dinkie's back feet were reacting normal to the pinch test. :O)

Dinkie made great improvements over the course of 8 months. He no longer needed band-aides or booties to protect his feet, as he was able to walk and run without dragging his legs behind him. He even gained back his bladder and bowel control in the house, and didn't need the belly band, either.

Then in mid November, Dinkie was playing with a rambunctious Ceelo, who the rescue could not find a foster home for, and Ceelo jumped on Dinkie, bruising his already damaged spine. It was a devastating set-back. Dinkie had lost his ability to walk and lost bladder and bowel control.

We rushed Dinkie to the Doctor in hopes of this being a bruising versus a bilateral disc rupture.

Thanks to the generosity and quick sewing of our good friend Shirley, Macy No's Design, Dinkie was fitted with several scoot bags, which were personally delivered to Mr. Dinkie at the hospital emergency room.

Dinkie had to stay over night, he received acupuncture treatment and was able to come home to begin intensive water therapy, in hopes of his regaining what was lost. But, if not, we were prepared to get him measured for a custom walking cart.

The next day, Dinkie was able to come home, with a weeks supply of steroids and orders for kennel rest. Dinkie does not do well in a kennel and would literally hurt himself to escape. So his ordered kennel rest consisted of ensuring he was not able to drag around, which is pretty tough for an active wobble-walker to take. But he loved our alternative lap-rest.