R.I.P. Babba Ghanoush - the Yoga Dog!

Eric Chatigny is organizing this fundraiser.

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Babba desperately needs your help!

Babba Ghanoush fell badly this July 1st and had trouble walking. He always had an 'Elvis leg' but this was different : hunched head, panting- let's call this Problem "A". He was not complaining about pain but he was not improving and we needed to start finding out what the problem was. So, we decided to bring him to a vet and it took several days to find someone available to see him, but we found something on July 15th. Babba went into this vet's clinic walking at 2:30pm and came out unable to walk at 4:30pm. THAT VERY SAME DAY, upon returning home at 5pm, he drank alot of water and his stomach twisted. BANG! GDV (Gastric dilatation volvulus), also known as gastric dilation or gastric torsion. By 6pm, he was at the CVRS emergency, from the Plateau to the South Shore in 30 minutes (with a few driving illegalities). So now we had Problem "B".

The options for Problem "B" were 1) emergency operation or 2) put him to sleep. Not a choice that was difficult to take : let's save his life! The operation could have gone either way. At his age, he might not have been able to wake up after such severe trauma. It went exceptionally well (testament to his spirit!!!) and his stomach is now stapled in place. However, there is still Problem "A"; still very present and in full effect. He, unfortunately, has not reverted to being (at least) in the same condition as pre-vet visit. The neurologist diagnosed him with Wobbler Syndrome (cervical spondylomyopathy) and has given us two options (which are not as drastic of those of the GDV). Option A : medication and treatments (osteo, physio, acupuncture, etc.). and the best solution would be Option B : MRI ($2,500) to determine the true nature of the problem with possible surgery ($5,000) to relieve the herniation.

I feel almost obligated to apologize for asking for help. It has been an extremely tough year and a half for myself and the yoga world. Modo Yoga NDG & Griffintown had to close their doors and the reduced schedule, as well as the restrictions to our regular capacity, has made it extremely difficult to survive. I am having difficulty thinking about my inability to give him the proper care he deserves. He deserves to have all of the chances to get better.

- So, please, if you can spare $1 or $1000;
- If you can pass this on to others and SPREAD THE WORD - let's go viral
- If you know of a SEAMSTRESS to make a hind leg sling for him, to support his rear...
- If you have old Polysporin or Trameel/Tramacare tubes and/or anything that is a deep moisturizing lotion, like O’Keeffe’s or Skinfix
please drop it off at Modo Yoga Montreal (3863 blvd. St.Laurent, suite 205)
- If you know of MIRACLE WORKERS (canine osteos, acupuncturists, dare I say a great vet, etc.) please let me know email: [email redacted]
- If you know of a way that we can SUSPEND HIM in a sling, harness, yoga swing so that he can move without bearing weight
- If you know of or can find a used Canine Wheelchair for a large breed dog - 130lbs.
- If you have some other way to help him, please let me know.

Currently, Babba will need a lot of care. He is incontinent because of his inability to properly walk. He needs to be massaged and moved constantly to try and avoid muscular atrophy. We are assisting him as much as we can, but he needs help with everything.

Aqua Therapy will be amazing once his stomach wound and stitches will allow it.

What is Next?

continuing the Muscle Activation Therapy in D.D.O as much as we can.
Acupuncture treatment - August 13th at 13h in St.Hilaire
finding a dog osteo
finding an aqua-therapy centre
building a potential wheel chair or transportation device
setting up his Aqua Therapy (when the wound allows it)
getting him a Peanut exercise balloon
must resort to making a rear-end support (hence the seamstress shout out) because nothing on the market works on him

UPDATE - July 24th

After several days of muscle activation therapy and little movement or exercise, his movements are not increasing but his attitude and appetite are wonderful. I feel like we are maintaining him stable while the "work week" begins on Monday. So until MONDAY, July 26th we will wait for something to 'officially' get started. I would like an X-Ray of his back, shoulders and hips and if the results yield nothing than I almost feel obligated to get an MRI to isolate the true source of the issue.

UPDATE - July 25th

Another treatment at the Muscle Activation Montreal in D.D.O. (4th one so far) and today was a definite day of improvement. He walked ALOT better and was able to use the washroom (all over my leg and foot but that's another story), he can lay down without wincing. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Wendy and John. It gives me hope to see him doing better.

UPDATE- JULY 26th

Not a good day. Very tired. Would not get up for his appointment. Has slept the ENTIRE day with periods of being alert. Sat up from 4pm-4:40pm. Ate a little, drank a lot. I anticipate an interesting evening but it’s normal to be tired. Poor Bubbs.

The following video is kind of hard to watch...

About Babba G

It was February 2012 when Babba Ghanoush first graced the studio of Moksha Yoga Montréal (now Modo Yoga) with his presence. And what a presence he is! He would grow up to be 140lbs (62kg) and he has attitude to spare (it is probably what is getting him through this). He is SO expressive with his eyes and stoic face, he would ultimately steal the hearts of many people (and probably scared away a few as well). He made countless Instagram appearances on practitioners’ feeds, as well as the studio's. A community celebrity. Walking Babba was always humbling : "There is the yoga dog!" "Hey that's the yoga dog!""Isn't that the yoga dog?""That's the dog in Harry Potter!" The walker became invisible, unless it was to be asked, "What kind of dog is that?".