By Janet McAfee
Last summer this column featured the story of Pippen, a small one-year-old Terrier in Loving All Animals’ foster program. Rescued from a high kill shelter in San Bernardino, Pippen was a bit fearful at first, but thrived in her wonderful foster home with Luanne Parks. She learned to walk on a leash, overcame her separation anxiety, gained weight, and enjoyed the company of other canines, all the while keeping a watchful eye on her special human.
However, one evening Pippen seemed a bit lethargic and slept closer than usual next to Luanne. She uttered a high pitched yelp when she jumped out of bed the next morning. She suddenly fell sideways with her legs stiffly outstretched, becoming immobile. Pippen stayed overnight at the vet, and seemed to improve.
When the dog suffered a second episode, no Coachella Valley veterinarian had an MRI, magnetic imaging machine, to properly diagnose her condition. Loving All Animals was referred to neurology specialist, Dr. Stephen Hanson, with the Veterinary Neurology Center in Tustin.
An MRI diagnosed Pippen with a birth deformity of the C2 vertebrae, a condition called atlantoaxial subluxation. She was born without a dens, a small fingerlike hook, that connects the vertebrae which became dislodged when she jumped out of bed. This marked spinal compression would cause more episodes in which the dog would become immobile, cease breathing, and suffer an awful death. Dr. Hanson generously offered us a 20% “rescue” discount for the corrective surgery which has nearly a 100% success rate of restoring a dog to a normal life.
There is no full time neurologist practicing in the Coachella Valley, but thankfully Dr. Hanson operates a satellite office in Palm Desert two days a week. When he first set up his Orange County practice in 1996, Dr. Hanson was the only veterinary neurologist in Orange and LA counties. Dr. Hanson advises pet owners, “If your animal exhibits weakness or becomes wobbly, it’s important to get it evaluated by a vet as soon as possible.”
Luanne Parks is an angel who provided extensive nursing care while Pippen remained encased in a surgical bandage, hand feeding her and carrying her around during the weeks of healing. Today Pippen runs and plays with the other dogs, joyfully playing with her favorite green alligator stuffed toy. Her life took another wonderful turn when she was adopted this month and became “Pippen Parks”. Luanne reports, “Pippen is like my little child. She trusts me so much, and she is very attached to me after I nursed her during her recovery. I know her ways and habits, while others might not understand as well. We have a strong connection, and I can’t imagine her being anywhere else but with me.”
Pippen got a second “second chance” thanks to Loving All Animals, their generous donors, a wonderful veterinarian, and a loving foster mom. Contact Loving All Animals at www.lovingallanimals.org or (760) 834-7000. Contact veterinary neurologist Dr. Stephen Hanson at (949) 784-8703.
