Brain Damage After Surgery

My Great Dane puppy had groin hernia surgery at 4 weeks old because he was strangulated and they could not wait until he was older.  He did not want to wake up from the surgery, they finally had me go in and talk to him, he then started to wake up.
After surgery he slept almost all day for a week only waking up to go to the bathroom and to eat.  I called the vet, they said this was not normal, but as it was during a blizzard they felt that as long as he was eating and going to the bathroom it had nothing to do with the surgery that he would be alright.
It has been 2 months since his surgery, he eats fine and is growing but has no muscle tone he, he can not stand on his hind legs for more than a minute to try to get on the couch etc.  He is mentally slow.  His siblings are 32-38lbs now and he is around 21, now he was the runt.  We exercise him daily and the only thing my vet has suggested was suplimental vitamins.  Do you have any suggestions on how to build his stanima and to help him mentally, could this be from brain damage?  Thanks for your help,

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I am so sorry about your puppy!
The following are procedures that may help your puppy:
1. Physical therapy in which he would run in an underwater treadmill.
2. Hyperbaric chamber therapy.  I don't know if a hyperbaric chamber is available in your area, but please do a google search or call a veterinary teaching hospital, or a veterinary school in your area and ask if there is one close to you.
3. Electro-acupuncture and Aqua-acupuncture (also known as: Biopuncture).

Each one acts a little bit different on your dog's nervous system and the innervation to his muscles and extremities.  Acupuncture and Hyperbaric chamber therapy may enhance nerve healing.