Sausage dog on road to recovery as owners unite to help pay for surgery

ABOUT £1,500 has been raised for the surgery costs of a dachshund that needed spinal surgery earlier this year.

Twenty-five sausage dog owners gathered at the Flower Pot Hotel in Aston on Saturday for the monthly Sausages of Henley walk.

After the walk, they enjoyed a barbecue at the pub where organiser Chris Darrall, who founded the group six years ago, collected donations.

Five-year-old Frankie, a black and tan sausage dog, was diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease last year, and underwent major surgery in February in the hopes of restoring his mobility. Intervertebral disc disease is caused when degeneration of intervertebral discs causes the disc to herniate and compress the spine, similar to “slipped disc” in humans.

It can cause pain, weakness and sometimes paralysis and affects up to 25 per cent of dachshunds, which are predisposed to the illness because of their long backs and short legs.

Helen Middleton, Frankie’s owner, said that he is attending therapy twice a week at Wobbly Dogs in Hare Hatch.

She said: “He is still recovering. He’s just started aquatic treadmill sessions, and he has had two times now where he has been walking on the treadmill which is good. He has laser therapy and/or aquatic treadmill therapy twice a week at the moment. His lovely physio Lynne is fantastic and her advice and regular sessions is getting him stronger and stronger by the day.

“She has advised me he’s now at a turning point and it’s really important he keeps it up to give him the best chance of getting back on his feet and, with that in mind, we are even more grateful before for everyone’s generosity.

“He had his surgery in February. He needed spinal surgery so one disc was removed and then one either side was repaired as well because they were weak. The surgeon said to lower the risk of it happening again they should be repaired as well.” As Frankie’s insurance ran out two weeks before his injury, Miss Middleton has spent more than £6,000 on his operation and post-operative care, including hydrotherapy.

She had been taking Frankie to Sausages of Henley walks for about a year before his surgery and that the support of the group has been comforting.

She said: “It’s been really comforting having support from Sausages of Henley, in particular Chris and Hazel that organise it.

“It enables Frankie to carry on and socialise and see his friends which he gets really excited about.”

To donate, visit www.gofundme
.com/f/FrankieFightsBack.