It's been a year. Let that sink in for a minute. Just before Thanksgiving last year we were taking Bentley to the emergency room and wondering how things would be without him. A story of loss. Instead, thanks to some amazing doctors, family, friends, and even strangers.. we've been able to tell a very different story. A story of survival, generosity, perseverance, and quite frankly, some luck. Ok, Lots of luck.
It's also a story of friendship. If you remember, Bentley and Bandit has a little falling out after the accident. Something about Bandit leading Bentley into oncoming traffic. And for many many months, the two of them didn't associate.
You would never know that now of course. Just as before, you would have trouble separating this pair of friends. In fact, the missing leg seems to provide a better head rest for Bandit, his long nose filling the empty space.
And Bentley won't be bested by anyone. He has trained himself to climb the stairs and finds his way into his favorite spots. The softer the better. As you can see from the first picture, the Recliner seems to be his furniture of choice. He has a way of making you feel guilty if he finds you sitting there.
Bentley really does have a dog bed. Apparently, it's built for two. Though Bandit doesn't play the lead role in this particular story, I sometimes feel that he should probably get his own blog. That blog would be titled "Extremely jealous, attention thieving husky guy".
Occasionally you will find Bentley out sun bathing with Sasha who doesn't particularly enjoy the cold, other dogs, or men. Sasha doesn't particularly enjoy much. In fact, she mostly enjoys when the other dogs stay away from her. She actually behaves more like a cat than a dog.
Most days you wouldn't know any of this ever happened. Bentley certainly doesn't spend any energy considering the past. He's moved on to three legged naps, hard wood floor slipping, and lots of wrestling.
He chases the ball, guards the bones, and fiercely defends us from every strange sound in the neighborhood... and even stuffed manatees . He's as perfect as the day we brought him home and he brings us more joy than we can articulate. He's the perfect oddity.
Bentley doesn't know what Thanksgiving is. It's always been my favorite holiday, for it's simplicity. Forget what you heard in the history books, Thanksgiving is much simpler these days. Be with the ones you love, share a great meal, and be thankful for what you have... for as long as you still have it. As we all know, another day is not promised. This Thanksgiving will be much different than our last.
Bentley will be home with his team. No two-a-days at the hospital and no difficult decisions to be made. This year we will give thanks for all of you. All those who supported in thought or deed. It can often seem like there aren't enough good news stories in the world. Maybe there aren't. However, Maybe they just don't get told.
Somewhere in GA, there is a three legged rottweiler named Bentley. He's sitting on his favorite couch, with his favorite ball. There's nothing particularly extraordinary about him... except that he got a second chance.
Six months ago yesterday, Bentley was in a fight for life. It wouldn't be easy. It would start with a dozen fractures in both legs a lengthy surgery. It would involve a MRSA infection and an amputation. It would take a team of Doctors and Techs nursing him for more than a month and two more months of rehabilitation. It would take thousands and thousands of dollars. It would bring us to extreme highs and extreme lows, and to the brink of making one the hardest decisions we would ever have to make. It would take a relentless Dr. to save his life.
And in the end it would all be worth it. Six months later everything would be almost normal again. He would flip on his back again. He would chase the kids again, and he would sprint through the yard again. This is Bentley six months later. His scars remain, but so does his spirit.
You can't put a price on that.
A few minor adjustments and he gets around just fine. He still stands tall for his morning breakfast which sometimes is a random lucky charm. Our wood floors are covered in non slip mats now, so he can navigate a little easier. Sometimes he sleeps in his personal pen, but lately he has been sleeping in the open as our comfort level increases.
He's back to hanging with his
best bud. Bentley doesn't always have the endurance to wrestle for too long so they often lay on the ground next to each other and "face fight". As annoying and loud as it sometimes gets, I can't help but think it's the greatest noise in the world.
Sometimes he even finds his way in to a bed. He needs some help getting up there, but apparently not so much help getting down. I learned this the hard way one morning as he threw himself out of bed and down a flight of stairs to investigate some random noise. By the time I heard him hit the floor it was too late. Nothing seems to stop this guy.
Sometimes he lays on the couch with mom even though we don't let dogs on the couch anymore..... well, three of them aren't allowed anymore. He's relentless. He won't take "no" for an answer.
And sometimes his medical team comes by for a house call. And THAT is the real beauty of this whole story. New relationships and the most wonderful people you never would have met. If you don't believe we are all connected, go back to the beginning and read this whole blog again.
It started with an accident but every day since has had a purpose.
Much love to you all and thanks for following. So many of you made this possible.
Just over a week ago, Bentley quit walking. He went from infinite progress to limited movement overnight. We took him for x-rays and there was nothing obviously wrong with him. Our assumption was that the pin in his leg was causing him pain or discomfort. Without certainty, we were left with a big decision. As you know, at that time, the Dr. was hoping to keep the pin in his leg for another thirty days due to the x-rays which showed at least one part of his bone was still healing. Obviously, this leg is all he has left. Truth in lending, if he loses this leg, without help, we can't afford to go on. We can't afford to start over, and I don't think we could stomach a situation in which Bentley lacked the ability to move under his own power. After consulting with Dr. Davis in Aiken, I made another call to Dr. Runnels in Augusta on Monday the 27th of March. I conveyed to him that Bentley was still not able to walk and inquired about our options. Dr. Runnels decided that we should remove the pin. He figured the danger of muscle atrophy from not walking was equal to or greater than the danger of removing the extra support.
On Tuesday the 28th of March Bentley made his way back to AAE for his pin removal. As you can see by the look on his face, he was thrilled. If I haven't shared it before, I'll just tell you that Bentley gets car sick like no other. He starts drooling as soon as he gets in the car and more often than not, he throws up. That's WITH medicine. He just can't do it. For whatever reason, on this day Bentley sat up for the whole ride. I guess he knew this was a milestone that he didn't want to miss.
Bentley was brought into the back for surgery immediately upon his arrival. We hoisted him up on the table and one of his best buddies (Crystal) kept him calm while his anesthesia was administered. As you can see, he was enjoying some sweet dreams almost instantly. Dr. Runnels went to work and got the pin removed. I am still amazed at how skilled these people are.
So this is the pin that came out of Bentley's leg. Sorry about the visual, but it was hard for me to believe how big that thing was. If you go all the way back to the first blog entry and look at the initial (post Op) x-rays, you can truly appreciate the significance of this stainless steel. You may have also noticed that it appears to be bent. I can't fathom how much stress he is generating on his leg in order to bend steel. That's also a little scary because now he doesn't have that. All the stress is now on his bone. Truly unbelievable.
Bentley was out the door and on his way home a two hours after he arrived. He was still drugged so most of the day was spent recovering. They sent us home with a antibiotic just to ensure we aren't worrying about another infection. That would be devastating. So he slept and slept and slept. At dinner time I woke him up and he didn't really have an appetite. He didn't show any interest in food or water, and wasn't trying to go outside to do the nature thing. He did manage to crawl over enough to protect his food from the Huskies. You can see him sleep guarding his food.
At around 11pm, Krysta and I decided to try to make him use the bathroom. It was terrifying because we didn't know how his leg would respond. We harnessed him outside and sure enough, his leg looked like Jello. It was super wobbly and he couldn't stand at all. My heart absolutely sunk and honestly, Krysta and I just exchanged a few looks of disappointment because we were without words. We left him sleeping, back in his cone of shame, and hoping that something would go our way.
Fortunately, that was today. This morning Bentley seemed a little more chipper. I harnessed him outside to get him to go potty. He planted his foot and stood firmly. I couldn't believe it honestly. Slowly, I released tension from the harness to see if he could stand. Not only did he stand, but he took off. He left me in his dust and scooted across the yard. I was finally able to get him back under control and harnessed him back inside even though he didn't need me to. The plan now is to take it slowly and ensure that he doesn't overdue it. Tonight we are counting our blessings and hoping that the next 30 days go quickly and quietly. We will continue his exercises in home, and will hopefully have him back in Aiken for rehab within a week or two.
For now, Bentley is feeling a lot better and seems a lot more comfortable. He's back to nub wagging and house guarding. All is well for now. Hope to bring you more good news shortly. Thanks for following.
On the night of 20 March, almost exactly four months after his accident, Bentley has had his first major setback. To be honest, we really don't know what's going on. On Monday night Bentley was resting on his bed. My intention was take him outside one more time and I called his name. He rose to a sitting position but didn't stand up. It's not completely unusual because sometimes he is a little stiff after laying in place for a period of time. This time was a little different because he laid back down. I called him again and he took a few hops forward. He clearly wasn't walking. I was hoping it was a mild irritation and gave him some pain medicine. It wasn't until the following morning that I became truly concerned. He barely made it outside to use the bathroom and I had to carry him back in. A few hours later we were back at Augusta Animal Emergency to see Dr. Runnels. Bentley had X-rays done but we still don't know how serious this is. He still isn't walking. The plate on his leg is coming apart. One screw is broken and another is severely bent. I believe there are two screws left. He Dr. doesn't think that plate is functional anymore. It also appears that the pin is now further into his hip. That being said, the pin still can't come out because there is at least one area that still needs time to calcify and we don't see that happening for at least another 30 days. It's a double edge sword. If he isn't able to walk, we risk throwing away all of the rehabilitation we have done. 8 weeks of it. I expect the muscle to atrophy quickly if we can't get him up for rehab. On the other side, further stress on the leg could be a disaster. Anyway, he isn't walking at all. We are back to the sling and moving him between potty breaks and his bed. The good news is that he doesn't seem to be in pain and his mood is generally good. We are cycling his medicine and hoping that whatever is preventing him from walking will work itself out. All options are still on the table, but we know we have to save this leg one way or another. We're consulting with both his surgeon and his rehab specialist. I am also considering a trip to Columbia SC for consultation with a Orthopedic Surgeon. Anyway, it's stressful but we're certainly not in panic mode yet. Hope to bring you better news soon. Down but not out.
It's been a little over three months since Bentley was hit by a car and almost two months since I posted about him. In that time I have a shared a few pictures and a few videos that capture his progress. Still, it doesn't do it justice. It's just time, but time is valuable. I'll get right to the point. Bentley is winning.
Here you can see Bentley eating his food. No big deal right? Wrong, huge deal. This didn't happen without work. Even once Bentley started walking again, it wasn't pretty. It's not perfect now, but it most certainly wasn't pretty in the beginning. Bentley figured out he could put most of his weight on his front legs and plow forward in a mostly uncontrolled fashion. It got him moving, but that's a lot of forward momentum and there wasn't a whole lot of agility. Getting him to stand and use all three limbs has been the challenge. It was many weeks watching that back leg quiver and watching him shift that weight forward to avoid using it. He's using it now. How do you fix that? If you said "under water treadmill", you're right.
This contraption is like a huge aquarium with a treadmill on the bottom. When Bentley first started on it, he was only able to walk for about five minutes, harnessed, with enough water under him to keep him fairly buoyant. Now, he walks for nearly 20 minutes and the water level is down far enough that he is virtually doing it by himself. He is assisted by some sweet ladies who towel him off after each workout. In other words, it's not all bad. Today his workout was cut a little short because his right shoulder was bothering him. Before each treadmill session he practices his stability on a balance board, walks over some hurdles and does a figure eight drill through some obstacles. Today he tried to go up the "ramp of doom" but only made it half way. It's not really called the "ramp of doom", but that's probably what he calls it. We just started outdoor walks this week. He walks the road in front of the house which has a good incline. That forces him to push off his back leg and build some muscle. He needs that if he is ever going to conquer the ramp.
Here you can see Bentley getting those front legs elevated, forcing weight onto his back leg. Dr. Davis keeps his back straight, leg in position and rocks him on it to increase stress. I thought I would explain that so you didn't think he was doing step aerobics. He's not quite there yet.
We always finish up with some laser therapy and stretching before we jump in the big fish tank treadmill thingy. This is Bentley's favorite part because he has to do exactly nothing and he gets fed treats while people massage him. I have considered standing in for him during this portion on several occasions.
Since my last post we have gone to Aiken every week but one. I'm not sure how long we can keep that up as it's very time consuming. I think we will move to a bimonthly model soon and try to do more at home. Bentley still has a pin running from his hip to his knee. We had an x-ray done about a month ago in hopes that it would be removed, but the doctor noticed that one of his screws had broken and the decision was to leave it in until the bone calcified more. We are hoping to get another look at it soon. It's not really bothering him too much but Dr. Davis felt some fluid built up in his hip and I think his comfort level will go up enormously once that's out.
Bentley still hangs out near his favorite Myrtle and enjoys a good nap on the patio. He has resumed his couch naps too.
And his post workout dog bed naps :)
There is still a lot of work to do but we are making progress every day. No more cone of shame and when dad is up to the task, he even gets carried upstairs for a good night's sleep in the big bed. Thanks for all the love. Bentley has a lot of fans and I don't get though a whole day without someone asking about him. From Augusta Animal Emergency to Aiken Pet Fitness and Rehabilitation, and everyone in between, we are forever grateful.
Aiken is about a 45 minute drive from where we live. That's an hour and a half round trip plus the therapy session. It's in between Augusta and Columbia S.C. It's the only place of it's kind around here, so we feel pretty lucky that we even have this resource available. Krysta and I were able to go together the first time. It was pouring rain. I didn't notice it until right now, but if you look closely, that sculpture right beneath the lettering sure likes like our boy. Propped up on it's front two legs with its backside trailing behind.
None of this is going to be easy. Not that we were expecting it to be, but there is a lot we have to learn and it's all still a little overwhelming. This is a huge time commitment and we always find ourselves wondering if we are doing things incorrectly. We don't trust ourselves yet. The staff in Aiken is GREAT. When we arrived, we were the only show in town and had three experts in the room with us. I only have a few pictures from the rehab session, but I think you will get the idea. You can see here that Bentley is straddling a exercise ball.. though a little more oblong shaped. It's keeping him from being able to rest his front legs on the ground and forcing some weight to the rear. He only did this for a few
minutes. We also used the harness in much the same way to force him back on the left rear while making sure his leg was in the correct position. They showed us how to rock him on it a little, using some treats to encourage body twisting and core muscle development. It was all about posture and making sure he doesn't develop bad habits. He really wants to do everything with his front legs.
In the second picture you can see him getting some laser therapy. They also took out his staples. The amputation site looks really good. It healed nicely and I think it's safe to say we are now passed the infection concerns that we once had. His leg is really weak though. It didn't take him long before he was at complete muscle failure.
Bentley left Aiken weighing in at a whopping 76.8 lbs of twisted steel and sex appeal. He's about 22 or 23 pounds lighter than he was when this whole thing started. Krysta must have forgotten he lost his leg because she told them he weighed 96lbs the last time he was weighed in Augusta (with his leg). It didn't take us a long time to figure out the discrepancy. :)
Now, it's very important that we keep him at this weight because even a few pounds puts added stress on his recovery. We have cut down his food from two cups twice a day to 1.5 cups twice a day. We also had to buy smaller treats to bribe him with. Luckily, he likes ice cubes and carrots (and watermelon) just the same.
This is what we looked like when we got home. He slept for the rest of the day on Monday and most of Tuesday. Tuesday we had a hard time getting him to do much of anything. Just getting him to go outside to answer natures call was a chore. It wasn't until Wednesday night that we were able to do anything of substance with him.
We do a lot of laying around these days. As you can see here, sometimes you just need somebody to lean on. Sing it with me: "Lean on me, when you're not strong... I'll be your friend......
So cute. They actually stayed like this for quite some time. It reminded me of the scene in Forrest Gump... Forrest and Bubba leaning up against each other so neither one would "wake up with our faces in the mud". He just wants to be near people. In a sense, it's better that this happened to him and not one of the other dogs. Bentley is naturally lazy and though he does seem to get bored sometimes, he is mostly content with laying around and snuggling with whomever will give him the time.
But he's alert now and he seems to be comfortable. We really haven't noticed any pain whatsoever. It's been 48 days since his initial surgery. I'm guessing either this week or next week we will have to take him back in to AAE for a follow up Xray. I'm really curious to know if the bone in that left leg has really started to heal and what, if anything, we have to do with it. There is a chance that we will still have to get a pin removed. Dr. Davis thought she could feel it grinding near his knee. It's not bothering him, but it might have to come out if that's not already the plan.
He does most things on his own now. We still harness him to walk out to the yard, but he doesn't much like us holding him up while he's trying to pee or poo. He gets a little embarrassed apparently. He walks enough to get a few steps away from us, and supports himself well enough to "conduct bidness". We try not to let him get to far from us though because once he get's forward momentum, it's hard for him to stop. If he keeps pushing his weight on his front legs, he's going to look like one of those dudes at the gym who keeps skipping leg day.
This is where Bentley likes to hang out. There's a little Myrtle right behind him and he likes his butt resting on it. We always plant Rye grass in the winter to keep our yard green. If not, the dogs turn the backyard into something that resembles the moon.
And this my friends, this is how you know Bentley is feeling better. This was his signature move when he had two legs. I actually took this picture tonight and seemed like a good way to end the week. It's good to see that his confidence is coming back and he's feeling a little more at home.
We are going to try and get Bentley down to Aiken again this week. They were trying to find a special harness that would better support his back end but account for his amputation. They let us borrow a really nice harness, but it tends to slip off with nothing holding it on the right side.
The adventure continues :). Thanks for following and we will be sure to update you again next week.
Bentley came home on 30 Dec 2016 :)
I can't tell you how good that feels. I CAN tell you that it seems like forever since I updated this blog. It's only been about eight days though.
In that eight days we made it through Christmas and got to see our boy make some huge strides. Immediately we noticed his personality return. He also figured out he could walk. Most of you have seen the video by now. I can't remember what happened that day, but we had gotten to AAE super late. Late enough that the staff wasn't sure that we were coming. The staff must have told Dr. Peters that we had arrived because she was camera ready when we walked back to
see him. She told us to wait and we did... and he came to us. It was only a few steps, but it totally reminded me of the feeling I got when my children did the same thing. A few wobbly steps as they fall into you. Just to the right side of his enclosure, a stocking hung, gifted by "Santa Paws" who had apparently made it there before we did. Maybe not your traditional Christmas experience, but one that I will absolutely never forget.
Once again we brought some small things to our favorite medical team. Some sweets on Christmas Eve and a Breakfast bake on Christmas Day. Not much, but something. All the other animal hospitals are closed on holidays so when you and I are hanging out and enjoying our family time, these guys are sacrificing theirs and standing by.
So, we brought them a picture of Bentley so they could be reminded of how important they are to us, and our pets. Bentley spent a lot of time there. We spent a lot of time there. Even now, it seems strange that I won't be going there tonight. What was once a inconvenience became something Krysta and I will miss. We got to know the people there and will miss them dearly. And because I know some of them will read this, I'll just say: We are in debt to you and appreciate your care and kindness. The many things you have done for us and simply for the way you treated us. Our countless unannounced visits during some pretty stressful times and your ability to keep our spirits up, even when it was your spirits that probably needed to be lifted up. Most of all, we thank you for taking care of Bentley. Not once did we ever think he was better off anywhere else. Not once. From day one, we knew he was in the best of hands and you proved that time and time again. You all hold a special place in our hearts and collectively or individually, if any of you ever need anything, please just ask.
This has been a family affair. Many of you mentioned that, among other things, we were teaching our kids a lesson about love. That wasn't intentional, but if that's what they learned, I'll take it. They are some pretty amazing kids who don't always get the credit they deserve. They don't have it as hard as many kids their age, but they do put up with a pretty crazy lifestyle. Mom and Dad are on opposite schedules. Even now, as I'm writing this, krysta is at the restaurant managing the New Years Eve hysteria. Kyla is in Atlanta, Katelyn is at a sleepover, and Ryan is with a friend setting off some fireworks. I'm here covered in panting dogs who think we're under attack. During the last month the kids have had to adjust their schedules and take on some extra responsibilities so that Krysta and I could get out to do what needed to be done. Everyone has really pitched in to keep the wheels turning.
And Bentley has kept the faith and waited patiently for us to visit. Sometimes boycotting his food and water until we were there by his side. And sometimes he might have gotten some beef jerky or some watermelon as a reward. If you haven't seen a dog eat watermelon, you'll have to come by. Ours live for it. I'm not sure why, because I barely touch the stuff ;)
The infection is gone now and we are looking to the future. Seeing Bentley happy has been so encouraging. A few days ago, they pulled the drain from his amputation site and let us know that he would be coming home soon. We called the rehabilitation facility down in Aiken and made an appointment for Bentley to start therapy on Monday. Soon, I will actually be taking some time off work so I concentrate on his recovery. Thought I haven't talked to them in detail, I imagine it will be more intensive in the beginning and taper off or become manageable from home. If the staff in Aiken is half as good as the staff in Augusta, we will be grateful.
There's still some risk, so we have to be extremely careful with him. I know you guys have seen other dogs with missing limbs and trust me, I have seen it to. I know it's not the end of the world. Once again, it's not that he's missing a leg. He's missing a leg and his "good leg" is being held together with pins, plates, and screws. It was the more damaged of the two during the accident. If a leg shouldn't have made it, it was that one. And now, that's the one that he is counting on to get him through this. This thing isn't over and the next few weeks/months will be critical. However, we have come a long long way, and we are totally up for this next challenge. He's home. Did I mention that?
He's kind of "roughing it" these days. I had to laugh today thinking about it actually. If there's ever been a more famous Rottweiler, I don't know about it. This guy is absolutely getting spoiled. I was on call last night so I slept on the couch just a few feet from him. He was snoring hard like he'd just returned from some kind of epic adventure. He made it outside a few times today and proved he can do just about everything on his own. The activity is wearing him out though so he is getting a lot of naps in.
Come and get your picture taken with Bentley and you could be in his blog lol. All the kids in the neighborhood are coming by, taking pictures and making videos. There is even a movie in production...... apparently. Though the trailer I saw this morning has more pictures of the kids, and less pictures of Bentley. Either way, Bentley definitely loves the attention and he seems pretty relaxed. The other dogs are doing a little bit better with him this time too. The last time he was here, that right leg was really bothering him and the other dogs definitely were able to sense the amount of pain he was in. This time, there is a more relaxed atmosphere we are hopeful that things will get back to normal before too long.
Sasha (pictured on left) was the first one to lay down next to him. She's eight years old and is the "mother" of the house. She actually lays on the floor in front of his bed facing outward in a protective posture. She really seems to be protective of him. Bandit on the right is his best friend, who was with him during the accident. Though they haven't reconnected just yet, they don't seem as anxious around each other as they did the last time Bentley was home.
And speaking of visitors, today Bentley was visited by his "Grandparents". They own his mom "Bella" and have been supper supportive during this whole ordeal. These are some truly great people who selectively bred in the qualities we love most in this dog. Everything you thought you knew about the Rottweiler breed goes right out the window when you meet this blood line. Absolutely the most peaceful, playful, and well mannered dogs you will ever see. Anyway, it's pretty cool that they cared enough to drive all the way out here to see him. What a great family Bentley has.
So that's where we're at right now. Starting therapy on Monday and waiting to see what comes next. But before I go, I have to include two last pictures. This one is from the hospital last night, right before Bentley was released. Ryan was checking him out to make sure that he was in good enough shape to come home. He couldn't hear a heart beat, but we brought him home anyway, just in case.
And this, my friends, is Booger. No blog is ever complete without a picture of Booger. Ryan actually got to feed her a bottle which put her to sleep in his arms. He doesn't get too excited about animals but That's a mighty cute Booger. You're welcome :)
So that's Bentley's New year. He wanted me to thank you again for all the support. He also wanted me to wish you and your families a great 2017. We wish you all exceptional health and happiness.
It's been a year. Let that sink in for a minute. Just before Thanksgiving last year we were taking Bentley to the emergency room and wondering how things would be without him. A story of loss. Instead, thanks to some amazing doctors, family, friends, and even strangers.. we've been able to tell a very different story. A story of survival, generosity, perseverance, and quite frankly, some luck. Ok, Lots of luck. 
It's also a story of friendship. If you remember, Bentley and Bandit has a little falling out after the accident. Something about Bandit leading Bentley into oncoming traffic. And for many many months, the two of them didn't associate. 
And Bentley won't be bested by anyone. He has trained himself to climb the stairs and finds his way into his favorite spots. The softer the better. As you can see from the first picture, the Recliner seems to be his furniture of choice. He has a way of making you feel guilty if he finds you sitting there.
Bentley doesn't know what Thanksgiving is. It's always been my favorite holiday, for it's simplicity. Forget what you heard in the history books, Thanksgiving is much simpler these days. Be with the ones you love, share a great meal, and be thankful for what you have... for as long as you still have it. As we all know, another day is not promised. This Thanksgiving will be much different than our last. 
