After my second surgery it took a bit longer to start to walk, but once my legs started gaining strength I was on my way.
My name is Gunther and I'm 9 years
old. Mom rescued me from a shelter when I was 7 months old. My first person threw me away... she got me from a pet store for her husband. I loved him,. but he died, and she didn't want me anymore. She left me tied outside to a tree all day while she worked, then kept me crated the rest of the time. Then one day she left me at a shelter. That's where Mom saved me! In December 2004 I became paralyzed with IVDD (Intervertebral Disk Disease). Lots of doxies get IVDD. I was
I had to stay in the crate for a long time after my surgery... six long weeks.
Here's me with Dr. Bowersox. He took my stitches out then I started water therapy to help make my legs stronger.
Here I am after my second surgery for IVDD in Oct 2006
This is Dr. Glennon, my surgeon, and a picture of me getting my stitches out.
I felt better with the stitches out. I started walking pretty good too.
completely paralyzed by a ruptured disk. I had surgery on December 23 to repair the bad disk. Everyone at Veterinary Specialties said I was a Christmas miracle, because I stood on Christmas Eve and took a couple steps. Mom says thank heavens for the expert hands of the surgeons and prayers from a LOT of friends and family, I got almost 100% better within two months. I was walking and even running and playing with my bruddas & sista.
My first surgery was paid with the combined donations of many friends on Mom's Dachshund group Dachshund Daze, along with a large donation from HUA (Hearts United for Animals). I was so blessed to have such support from so many wonderfully giving people.
Things went very well for almost two years until October 2006 when I once again became paralyzed from the mid-back down. I had a second surgery. I got better slower that time but I did get better. By Christmas I was much better and walking and running again. Mom says she's very proud of me cuz I've overcome so much.
After all that stuff I started losing my eye sight too. I have PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). I can't see at all anymore but I get around and run and play and stuff just the same.
There are lots of pix on my page from when I was first with Mom, and all my surgeries and all my life n stuff. Mom loves taking pix of me & my bruddas & sistas!
This is me when I first came to live with Mom. I was just a baby.
Here I am two days before my first surgery. I was totally paralyzed with IVDD. Next is me after my surgery.
Pretty soon I was able to stand and start to walk again, and I got to play some too out of my crate!
A couple years ago I started losing my vision, I have PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). Little by little I lost all of it and now I can't see at all. Mom says I have an angel watching over me.
Geez, Mom... can't a guy even go pee without you takin' a picture?
Mom gets us lotsa toys!
Christmas time 2007
I love to lay in the window and catch some rays!
I love my brudda Nolte!
This was me on my first Christmas with Mom!
My sista Maizie is a good butt pillow!
Bennie & me was visiting Nana's house. Look at Biscuit, he's giving us a dirty look!
Mom says I look like a show boy!
The yard can be scary for a guy who can't see... but I always find my way to the ramp.
This is my baby sista Joanie. She's kinda fun to play with & she's a good snuggler.
Gunnie's last day was difficult... his breathing was labored & he was physically exhausted. But he still wagged his tail and his heart, tho weak, was filled with love. He wanted nothing more then to be hugged & cuddled in his last moments.
God blessed me with you, my sweet Gunnie bunny.
I turned 9 yrs old on January 3. I wasn't feeling very well, so we waited to celebrate a few days later when I felt much better. I got lots of goodies & luv my new toys!
This is my new baby brudda Dannie. He luvs me & I luv him too.
I luv playing with my brudda Georgie & my sistas Maizie & Joanie!
This is me with my sista Karla. I'm not too fond of her, but she does make a good pillow.
That's me on top the doxie pile! Comfy!
My heart started to fail in September and I've had some bad days & some good days since then. I also found out 2 of my cervical disks are calcified, which was very painful for a while. I had to be on strict crate rest for several weeks until my neck felt better. Mom took good care of me and kept me comfy and loved me lots.
My sista Fawnie was worried about me & snuggled with me a lot.
Mom says I'm her li'l pumpkin. I was embarrassed.
This is me & Maizie on the way to see my doctor for a checkup. I wasn't feeling at all well this day.
The medicine the dr put me on helped sometimes and some days I felt great!
Happy Autumn! Mom took special pix of me, Bennie & Fawnie for the Dodgerslist calander for 2010! All three of us are IVDD survivors.
Nolte is my favorite snuggle buddy
Here I am with all my bruddas & sistas on Christmas.
We gots lots of fun toys & treats this year.
In the two weeks after his Birthday Gimmoe's health failed drastically. His breathing became more labored and he had fits of coughing. The nights became very difficult for him; he was restless and his little body was exhausted.
The last night before he died was very hard for Gunnie. He struggled for breath, his heart pounded. But thru it all that sweet boy's tail thumped away. Such a sweet boy.
The girls were particularly worried for Gunnie the last night. Fawn, Joanie & especially Maizie kept very close to him.
By Wednesday morning it was clear I had to make a decision... He was so physically exhausted he could barely open his eyes. His chest heaved, his heart was struggling so hard. I couldn't let my sweet boy suffer any longer. It was time to let him go.
Sweetpea Gunnie has been a joy and a blessing in my life. He has touched the hearts of many people and has bounced back from several tragic health issues. He's been a little miracle. From the day I met him at the shelter he'd been dumped at as a 7 mth old pup I knew he was one of the very special ones. I miss him so... rest in peace my little Gunnie bunny.
