Gigi is starting to get a little frustrated with the restrictions now. Last night's response to Mom's return from work was a bit more bouncy, despite Dad's attempts to maintain "poise and decorum". Requiring her to lie down before Mom approaches is all fine and dandy, but Gigi still gets a few hops in here and there.
It is still a team effort to walk her outside - one on the lead end and one on the sling end. Gigi is trying to take over that routine as well - Dad is NOT allowed to lead and Mom MUST be in front "or the train don't roll". Gigi tried to take us all "up the mountain" for a brief walk but Mom says no. "Ok - so how about the briar patch - that was FUN!!" (Ow.)
I don't know why it took me so long to get the concept, but it dawned on me this morning that the length of healing is directly tied to the regrowth of the bone. Like a tooth implant, it takes a while for the bone to regenerate in the space created - and until that time the plate holds things in alignment. Once the bone has filled in and strengthened, then we can begin putting stress and strain on it. OHHHHHHHHHHHH. I get it now. Minimal exercise (potty walks) to keep the muscles from atrophy, but no muscle stress or building until the new bone cells are in place.
So off I went to the internet to see about the conditions which will support bone regeneration and nutrition is probably the best thing I can do as a bouvmom. Check out the article I linked in (that endeavor took me a while to figure out...probably adds another week to my brain-life) on nutrition and bones. I don't know that this is exactly the same for canines, but I would bet in mammals bones are bones.
If it wasn't snowing, I'd be off to the store for some "Missing Link" nutrition supplement but tomorrow will have to do. Meanwhile, it seems to me that now is not the time to hold back on the protein calories (in an effort to reduce Gigi's weight). We can cut out the filler stuff, and perhaps on the tapioca... and I have her new frozen bone toy in the freezer for later.
Hugs to all bubbies with bolts.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday 1-28-10
One week. Good progress. Good adjustment (by all of us) to the new routines. And we have a new routine as well...the 2 pm "milk and cookies" as Gigi gets her pain medications from Dad.
Gigi is getting more sparky by the day - and this will become a major issue as she heals. Tonight, on her way out to potty, she considered jumping off the top step onto the ramp. Only the extraordinary mind-reading skills of Mom preempted a disaster. (Remind me to turn off the ski jumping coverage...no doubt that is where Gigi got the idea).
Mom's return from work today was not so calm as yesterday. It is only a matter of time before Gigi begins to associate the 2 "warning" rings of the phone with Mom's arrival. Tonight was a compromise - "I promise not to drag Dad to the front door but I'm not gonna lie down". Oh brother.
We're going to break up the evening with two outside walks instead of one long one. Since we live on a mountainside, there is precious little "flat land" - so two walks on the flat may prevent attempts to climb the mountain on one longer walk.
It is time to bring out the bouv board games. I've been puzzling over this for a while. Perhaps I can teach her how to play "the shell game" with treats. Then, when she's ready for "the big time" we can hustle the hustlers in Manhattan...
One more week before we take out the staples. No signs of horrible atrophy. Remind me to weigh her at the next visit to the vet - Gigi has been on a reduction diet. While she wasn't obese, any extra weight puts her good knee at risk. I didn't realize how much extra she was eating until I took my lunch to work. Without her help, lunch now lasts for 2 days. Oops.
Gigi is getting more sparky by the day - and this will become a major issue as she heals. Tonight, on her way out to potty, she considered jumping off the top step onto the ramp. Only the extraordinary mind-reading skills of Mom preempted a disaster. (Remind me to turn off the ski jumping coverage...no doubt that is where Gigi got the idea).
Mom's return from work today was not so calm as yesterday. It is only a matter of time before Gigi begins to associate the 2 "warning" rings of the phone with Mom's arrival. Tonight was a compromise - "I promise not to drag Dad to the front door but I'm not gonna lie down". Oh brother.
We're going to break up the evening with two outside walks instead of one long one. Since we live on a mountainside, there is precious little "flat land" - so two walks on the flat may prevent attempts to climb the mountain on one longer walk.
It is time to bring out the bouv board games. I've been puzzling over this for a while. Perhaps I can teach her how to play "the shell game" with treats. Then, when she's ready for "the big time" we can hustle the hustlers in Manhattan...
One more week before we take out the staples. No signs of horrible atrophy. Remind me to weigh her at the next visit to the vet - Gigi has been on a reduction diet. While she wasn't obese, any extra weight puts her good knee at risk. I didn't realize how much extra she was eating until I took my lunch to work. Without her help, lunch now lasts for 2 days. Oops.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday 1-27-10
3am - Gigi's bouncing seems to have triggered some pain, so we're up for a hot compress and some loving. She's circumvented the collar but only succeeded in licking the outside of the leg and not inside where all the stitches and staples live. By 4 am she's quieted down and I think I made it back to the bed.
6 am - All those days off from work make the usual 6 o'clock alarm cruel and unusual punishment. Then the sheep hear it and within minutes we've got the worst serenade of the century outside the bedroom windows. Gigi is now snoring contentedly. Figures.
The morning routine goes relatively well - Gigi doesn't seem to be limping any worse than before her Cirque de Soleil performance yesterday. She accepts her pills well (three cheers for lamb curry) but is not pleased with the reality that she stays home while I go to work.
Before I leave, my husband and I decide on the return strategy... I will call as soon as I turn onto our dirt road, and he will put the lead on Gigi, then hold it down with his foot so she cannot get up. I will park the car and come inside immediately (instead of unloading mail, work satchel, purse, etc) and we will strictly enforce the "down, stay" until she's calm. She has never been a boisterous greeter, but she invents new and exciting games, so there's no telling how it will go.
8 pm - Well, that strategy worked like a charm. No rowdy performances, no shenanigans, about 16 yawns as she releases her energy and within minutes we are outside, taking care of business, and into the car for a ride to the vet - another laser treatment. Gigi loves the Potty Park at the vet's and "good things" happen once again.
10 pm - pain pills down the hatch and one last rendition of "The Belly Rub Song" before Gigi gets settled for bed. She loves the song, especially the last line which my husband delivers with many different notes from the official version (that is, the version Mom sings). Gigi growls and shoots him "the look". Even songs have to follow protocol.
I adore bouvs.
6 am - All those days off from work make the usual 6 o'clock alarm cruel and unusual punishment. Then the sheep hear it and within minutes we've got the worst serenade of the century outside the bedroom windows. Gigi is now snoring contentedly. Figures.
The morning routine goes relatively well - Gigi doesn't seem to be limping any worse than before her Cirque de Soleil performance yesterday. She accepts her pills well (three cheers for lamb curry) but is not pleased with the reality that she stays home while I go to work.
Before I leave, my husband and I decide on the return strategy... I will call as soon as I turn onto our dirt road, and he will put the lead on Gigi, then hold it down with his foot so she cannot get up. I will park the car and come inside immediately (instead of unloading mail, work satchel, purse, etc) and we will strictly enforce the "down, stay" until she's calm. She has never been a boisterous greeter, but she invents new and exciting games, so there's no telling how it will go.
8 pm - Well, that strategy worked like a charm. No rowdy performances, no shenanigans, about 16 yawns as she releases her energy and within minutes we are outside, taking care of business, and into the car for a ride to the vet - another laser treatment. Gigi loves the Potty Park at the vet's and "good things" happen once again.
10 pm - pain pills down the hatch and one last rendition of "The Belly Rub Song" before Gigi gets settled for bed. She loves the song, especially the last line which my husband delivers with many different notes from the official version (that is, the version Mom sings). Gigi growls and shoots him "the look". Even songs have to follow protocol.
I adore bouvs.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday 1-26-10
Gigi had to stay home today - the first day since her surgery that she has had to miss work and probably only the 3rd day in 7 years that she has not be able to go to work for health reasons. She was not a happy camper and spent the day in her confinement area, ignoring my husband's best efforts to feed, water and love her. She (begrudgingly) accepted her pain medications in cheese. No doubt she would have preferred the sauerkraut...
She refused to go out to potty. This makes for a long day afloat...perhaps she is refusing water during the day for that very reason.
Upon my arrival, I hear the welcoming ruckus; she's confined in all dimensions except vertical. There she is, bouncing and carrying on like a fool, eager to race out to a bigger place to bounce even higher. If I sit down on the floor she'll get reinforced for bouncing (and I'll likely get trampled to death). If I walk out until she's calm she'll blow through the gate. I'm remembering how this dog, upon rescue, scaled a 6 foot barricade to prove her point about not liking confinement. So we put the lead on the front end and the sling on the back end and try to control her through directed activity - walking forward. More forward than walking but redirected.
We made it outside without mishap, although she was attempting to jump off the ramp in her enthusiasm. Some success at the request to potty - but really, mom, nothing in makes for nothing out.
Later she's insisting on sleeping next to me as I work at the computer. Whining a little - and I'm wondering if she hurt something in the process of bouncing. As I see it, we have few options. Make her walk with my husband a little to warm up before I get home (unlikely), get a sedative into her before I get there. Or sit down with her as soon as I get home and "take my licks"...reinforcing the wrong behavior to bring about the more immediate safety outcome.
She's adamant about keeping to routines. We sit here for computer work and we sit there for dinner, and then it is time to bring on the ritual foods - dinner, then the carrot, then the bone, and then the popsicle. And then it is time to watch the TV and she has to be facing the TV... I absolutely nixed the idea about "going for a ride, mom". Keeping the routines is not the option - figuring out how to keep the restrictions in place while we do them is the challenge.
You don't realize the power of a bouv until you try to rein them in on the routines they've run by heart, for years. She's such a compliant dog most of the time. Perhaps that's because she's got me so well trained.
Well at least she's humoring me with the colonial collar. She's only taken it off once.
Meanwhile, the swelling in the knee is down, the incision is looking the best yet, and her ankle isn't as swollen as yesterday. The warm moist compresses are better tolerated today than before. Inflammation is down overall and she made it through on less pain med today. But I gave her the full dose at bedtime. We all need our sleep.
She refused to go out to potty. This makes for a long day afloat...perhaps she is refusing water during the day for that very reason.
Upon my arrival, I hear the welcoming ruckus; she's confined in all dimensions except vertical. There she is, bouncing and carrying on like a fool, eager to race out to a bigger place to bounce even higher. If I sit down on the floor she'll get reinforced for bouncing (and I'll likely get trampled to death). If I walk out until she's calm she'll blow through the gate. I'm remembering how this dog, upon rescue, scaled a 6 foot barricade to prove her point about not liking confinement. So we put the lead on the front end and the sling on the back end and try to control her through directed activity - walking forward. More forward than walking but redirected.
We made it outside without mishap, although she was attempting to jump off the ramp in her enthusiasm. Some success at the request to potty - but really, mom, nothing in makes for nothing out.
Later she's insisting on sleeping next to me as I work at the computer. Whining a little - and I'm wondering if she hurt something in the process of bouncing. As I see it, we have few options. Make her walk with my husband a little to warm up before I get home (unlikely), get a sedative into her before I get there. Or sit down with her as soon as I get home and "take my licks"...reinforcing the wrong behavior to bring about the more immediate safety outcome.
She's adamant about keeping to routines. We sit here for computer work and we sit there for dinner, and then it is time to bring on the ritual foods - dinner, then the carrot, then the bone, and then the popsicle. And then it is time to watch the TV and she has to be facing the TV... I absolutely nixed the idea about "going for a ride, mom". Keeping the routines is not the option - figuring out how to keep the restrictions in place while we do them is the challenge.
You don't realize the power of a bouv until you try to rein them in on the routines they've run by heart, for years. She's such a compliant dog most of the time. Perhaps that's because she's got me so well trained.
Well at least she's humoring me with the colonial collar. She's only taken it off once.
Meanwhile, the swelling in the knee is down, the incision is looking the best yet, and her ankle isn't as swollen as yesterday. The warm moist compresses are better tolerated today than before. Inflammation is down overall and she made it through on less pain med today. But I gave her the full dose at bedtime. We all need our sleep.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday 1-25-10
Midnight - Gigi is supposed to be wearing a collar to prevent her from chewing out the staples from her leg. This means she whines through the night because the collar is so uncomfortable. I can’t stand it. So we worked out a deal – she’ll make a lotta noise when she changes position and I’ll wake up and check to make sure she’s not chewing. She’s sleeping much better. I’m a zombie. So today will begin “collar training day.”
8 a.m. - POURING rain. She’s not concerned. Nope. I can wait. Days. I remember back to the first days of rescue when she’d go 3 times in 15 minutes. Always after a walk. Always after she was back in the house. She’s come such a long way!
I moved Gigi’s bed with bolster pillows into the great room so we could spend the day with me being a little more productive while she remained under supervision. Things were fine until I turned my back to wash a dish…she made a beeline for the bedroom and her usual spot, however, her bed was gone and only the bare wood floor was there. Could have been a disaster had she slipped while trying to walk or lie down, but apparently the only damage is to my heart…
2 pm - Went to the vet for another laser treatment – swelling is down in the knee but her ankle looks like she need “support hose”. They assure me this is fairly normal and do their laser thing. Going back on Wednesday for more.
She’s loving the rides to and from the vet. I’m not looking forward to telling her she has to stay home tomorrow as I leave for work. No doubt she’ll give her nurses, Ken and Pirate, a rough time.
There’s progress evident daily. It won’t be long before she doesn’t buy my requests to stay put or stay calm. She’s already starting to pull on the lead. I bought a halter for her so I can control the head. We are still walking in tandem – I control the head and Ken supports her hind end in the sling. Kinda looks like a Chinese Dragon as we wend our way from the house to “The Potty Palace” – down the drive a bit to the first pasture gate, then up the mountain trail. Or not. The incline is too much for her, so she settles for the first briar patch on the right… Mom dutifully goes along and into said briar patch…apparently there’s a fine line between a good mother and a chump.
6 pm Gigi has been asleep for 3 hours now. In the collar. Those trips to the vet really take the stuffin’ out of her.
8 pm - Still snoring away. Had to wake her up for meds. Let's hope she doesn't wake up about 3 a.m and want a belly rub. I may not be in the mood.
8 a.m. - POURING rain. She’s not concerned. Nope. I can wait. Days. I remember back to the first days of rescue when she’d go 3 times in 15 minutes. Always after a walk. Always after she was back in the house. She’s come such a long way!
I moved Gigi’s bed with bolster pillows into the great room so we could spend the day with me being a little more productive while she remained under supervision. Things were fine until I turned my back to wash a dish…she made a beeline for the bedroom and her usual spot, however, her bed was gone and only the bare wood floor was there. Could have been a disaster had she slipped while trying to walk or lie down, but apparently the only damage is to my heart…
2 pm - Went to the vet for another laser treatment – swelling is down in the knee but her ankle looks like she need “support hose”. They assure me this is fairly normal and do their laser thing. Going back on Wednesday for more.
She’s loving the rides to and from the vet. I’m not looking forward to telling her she has to stay home tomorrow as I leave for work. No doubt she’ll give her nurses, Ken and Pirate, a rough time.
There’s progress evident daily. It won’t be long before she doesn’t buy my requests to stay put or stay calm. She’s already starting to pull on the lead. I bought a halter for her so I can control the head. We are still walking in tandem – I control the head and Ken supports her hind end in the sling. Kinda looks like a Chinese Dragon as we wend our way from the house to “The Potty Palace” – down the drive a bit to the first pasture gate, then up the mountain trail. Or not. The incline is too much for her, so she settles for the first briar patch on the right… Mom dutifully goes along and into said briar patch…apparently there’s a fine line between a good mother and a chump.
6 pm Gigi has been asleep for 3 hours now. In the collar. Those trips to the vet really take the stuffin’ out of her.
8 pm - Still snoring away. Had to wake her up for meds. Let's hope she doesn't wake up about 3 a.m and want a belly rub. I may not be in the mood.
Sunday 1-24-10
I’m sure I was here for it. And I’m sure Gigi was too. And that’s all I’m sure of. Amazing what no sleep does for the memory.
I do recall that Gigi wanted to be with us as we watched TV. She seemed particularly interested in "The American Revolution" series and turned herself around in her bed so she could see the TV. I wondered if she'd prefer "Born Free"...
A friend suggested I sit with Gigi and read aloud - she's think I was talking to her, and I'd get some reading done. Given that Gigi is a therapy dog and listens to it all, I was thinking about what books she might like to hear... Definitely "The Incredible Journey", skip "Old Yeller" - it will make her cry and there's nothing worse than a bouv with snot in the beard - and maybe "Call of the Wild", although that might be too racey for her right now.
Gigi refused to go inside Sunday after she went out for business - insisted on a car ride, so we loaded her in and drove up and down the dirt road. She loved it. Poor puppy had to sit the in wayback because it's too hard on us to lift her up to get her out - which meant she couldn't put the nose out the window. That however, meant she simply laid down and looked out the back - probably much safer on her leg. I turned on the rear window washer so she'd have a better view. I think she kinda liked looking the trip from a different perspective. Bouv brains.
When she started trying to lick her knee yesterday evening, I had to put the "Colonial collar" - my homemade version of the Elizabethan collar. Mine is made from folded manila file folders, a long ago t-shirt and some megaclips to keep in on. Works well - mostly because she was never very limber in that direction so all she needed was a reminder. But she started complaining at midnight about the collar. My hopes for a solid night went to pot, but the good news was she didn't even lick at her knee for the rest of the night. I know because I awoke every time she moved!
I do recall that Gigi wanted to be with us as we watched TV. She seemed particularly interested in "The American Revolution" series and turned herself around in her bed so she could see the TV. I wondered if she'd prefer "Born Free"...
A friend suggested I sit with Gigi and read aloud - she's think I was talking to her, and I'd get some reading done. Given that Gigi is a therapy dog and listens to it all, I was thinking about what books she might like to hear... Definitely "The Incredible Journey", skip "Old Yeller" - it will make her cry and there's nothing worse than a bouv with snot in the beard - and maybe "Call of the Wild", although that might be too racey for her right now.
Gigi refused to go inside Sunday after she went out for business - insisted on a car ride, so we loaded her in and drove up and down the dirt road. She loved it. Poor puppy had to sit the in wayback because it's too hard on us to lift her up to get her out - which meant she couldn't put the nose out the window. That however, meant she simply laid down and looked out the back - probably much safer on her leg. I turned on the rear window washer so she'd have a better view. I think she kinda liked looking the trip from a different perspective. Bouv brains.
When she started trying to lick her knee yesterday evening, I had to put the "Colonial collar" - my homemade version of the Elizabethan collar. Mine is made from folded manila file folders, a long ago t-shirt and some megaclips to keep in on. Works well - mostly because she was never very limber in that direction so all she needed was a reminder. But she started complaining at midnight about the collar. My hopes for a solid night went to pot, but the good news was she didn't even lick at her knee for the rest of the night. I know because I awoke every time she moved!
Saturday 1-23-10
3:00 am – Pain noises and started licking at knee. Found a pain pill on her bed – not sure if this was missed in the last dose or before. Major quandary…if I assume she only had one, I can give her another. If I assume she had two this would be her third…or did I give her three last night. That would make this #4 and I’m not ok with that. It is amazing how scrambled my brain is on lack of sleep! THAT’s why I made a care chart – to track what meds I gave and when…staggering out to the kitchen to check. Looks like I gave her 2, maybe she missed one. Gave her 2 at 4 a.m… She settles down about 4:30.
Forget the Bite Not Collar. I should have checked her neck measurements before I ordered - I knew she needed the girth but being a girl, I'm not so good on length...
Once the Tramadol kicked in we all got a bit more sleep. Gigi's getting fussy about being left in her bed so we're rearranging carpeting so she can get into her usual place beside my desk. That is her daytime routine, with bed only after 9 pm or when mom's gone. So I think the change in routine is part of the issue during the daytime.
We did another walkabout and couldn't quite achieve "good things", but she was interested in walking and we went 2x the distance of yesterday (mind you, that means we walked from the side door to the place in the yard where "good things sometimes happen". I think I will go find some "good things" to spike the place where she can get to easily.
Wound is oozing a bit, and ice is appreciated after her walk. I'm basically doing what the PT people did to me - warm before exercise and ice after. She does NOT like the warming so I make that pretty minimal and try massage.
Not eating her usual foods today - and despite the "guaranteed result, always works for rescue folks" of butter-fried egg on kibble she wouldn't touch the egg. It was the MOST perfect egg I have ever fried, bar none. Of course it contaminated the kibble. So Pirate "did the manly thing" and ate it for her. Pirate is being quite the nurse - sitting beside Gigi's gated community, coming to get us when she needs something (which has a high likelihood of being edible and he then gets his commission).
Gigi's tastes are more toward fruit and veggies today. I should get her some corn today - on the cob is her preference but we'll take what we can get!
These guys are a hoot.
3 pm – Back from the vet and the 3rd laser treatment. Gigi was rarin’ to go for a ride and emerged from the back of the Subaru with all the stature of the Princess she is…one step at a time, acknowledging accolades by sticking her nose higher in the air. Absolutely regal. Insisted on walking over to “Potty Park” but not very productive. Then back to the office building – not a hint of anxiety about entering. I suspect it is because I told her this was not a hard visit – just a check up and laser treatment and no pain involved. She was totally calm. I was amazed.
Once home, I fed her the newly recommended diet – canned corn, canned dogfood. She’s all in favor of this.
Lesson #2. Don’t feed lickables on a flat dish – the tongue will pop them out ALL over the place… She loved it and settled down for a long, long sleep. I'm cleaning the 5' radius from her tongue.
8pm – I offered a walk and Gigi’s eyes lit up. My objective was to get her outside to potty. Her objective was to get to her “usual” place for the evening – next to my desk. So here we sit – me, logging in the events of the day, and Gigi sleeping on her “good side” now, snoring gently.
She never did agree to go out.
Forget the Bite Not Collar. I should have checked her neck measurements before I ordered - I knew she needed the girth but being a girl, I'm not so good on length...
Once the Tramadol kicked in we all got a bit more sleep. Gigi's getting fussy about being left in her bed so we're rearranging carpeting so she can get into her usual place beside my desk. That is her daytime routine, with bed only after 9 pm or when mom's gone. So I think the change in routine is part of the issue during the daytime.
We did another walkabout and couldn't quite achieve "good things", but she was interested in walking and we went 2x the distance of yesterday (mind you, that means we walked from the side door to the place in the yard where "good things sometimes happen". I think I will go find some "good things" to spike the place where she can get to easily.
Wound is oozing a bit, and ice is appreciated after her walk. I'm basically doing what the PT people did to me - warm before exercise and ice after. She does NOT like the warming so I make that pretty minimal and try massage.
Not eating her usual foods today - and despite the "guaranteed result, always works for rescue folks" of butter-fried egg on kibble she wouldn't touch the egg. It was the MOST perfect egg I have ever fried, bar none. Of course it contaminated the kibble. So Pirate "did the manly thing" and ate it for her. Pirate is being quite the nurse - sitting beside Gigi's gated community, coming to get us when she needs something (which has a high likelihood of being edible and he then gets his commission).
Gigi's tastes are more toward fruit and veggies today. I should get her some corn today - on the cob is her preference but we'll take what we can get!
These guys are a hoot.
3 pm – Back from the vet and the 3rd laser treatment. Gigi was rarin’ to go for a ride and emerged from the back of the Subaru with all the stature of the Princess she is…one step at a time, acknowledging accolades by sticking her nose higher in the air. Absolutely regal. Insisted on walking over to “Potty Park” but not very productive. Then back to the office building – not a hint of anxiety about entering. I suspect it is because I told her this was not a hard visit – just a check up and laser treatment and no pain involved. She was totally calm. I was amazed.
Once home, I fed her the newly recommended diet – canned corn, canned dogfood. She’s all in favor of this.
Lesson #2. Don’t feed lickables on a flat dish – the tongue will pop them out ALL over the place… She loved it and settled down for a long, long sleep. I'm cleaning the 5' radius from her tongue.
8pm – I offered a walk and Gigi’s eyes lit up. My objective was to get her outside to potty. Her objective was to get to her “usual” place for the evening – next to my desk. So here we sit – me, logging in the events of the day, and Gigi sleeping on her “good side” now, snoring gently.
She never did agree to go out.
Friday 1-22-10
4 am - OMG why do her haunches creak? or is something wrong?
Gigi was exhausted when she got settled into bed, and then slept soundly until 3 30 am when she started whining. Water - yes please, no thank on food, didn't make any attempt to get up when we offered "out" - now she is sounding like a screech owl.... woooooooooooooooooooo,, wooowowwoooowoooowoowooooooo.
She's been on one side for the entire time - seems like I should let her shift position but then again will she do that on her own?
Ironies of all ironies - I shave her down to 1 inch all over EXCEPT for the surgery leg, because I figured they would shave that to the skin. Oh no. They opened her up on the inside of the leg. So now I have a dog who won’t want someone fussing on her leg with hair now getting more matted by the breath... I'll wait until the next dose of pain killers and then trim her down. Poor baby.
So what about this creaking stuff - she sounds like an antique chair. The vet tech doesn’t know and will relay the question to the vet.
9 am - Lesson #1: Don't bother to undress: Go to bed "all standing". If you wait for her to stand up before you get dressed to take her outside, she will have changed her mind by the time you get your shoes on. This morning it looked like a chinese firedrill as we scrambled into action when she started scrabbling around.
We headed for the door and I could see the dawn of recognition in her eyes - stairs down and up - no thanks. I’m not gonna pee. Nope. Not a chance.
So we took the bottom tray out of a giant rabbit cage, put it on the porch and filled it with leaves. Maybe she'll agree to use that. If I can't get her outside later, I'll move the tray inside and if THAT doesn't work, I'll demonstrate...
She drank a lot of water when she came home last night, and again this morning. Ate a little last night but nothing yet today. I have to get something into her so I can give her the antibiotics. She swallowed the pain pills with tapioca this morning but it was more my idea than hers.
She's zonked right now. I'll wait till she stirs before trying out the pan idea. I'm cooking bacon. Maybe that will tempt her to rouse up. She's been on her good side almost the whole time - only an hour or two on the other side. But she's on a dense foam pad and not the cold floor.
Pirate is being the consummate tender. Comes and tells me if she moves. He doesn't like her being behind the baby gate and protests every time I put it up. Since she isn't moving, I left it down and Pirate's much happier. Wait till he sees the collar on her... We bought a Bite Not collar – thought that would be more humane than an Elizabethan collar when the urge to chew sets in.
12 pm - We've got 1/2 inch of ice on the drive and yard so ain't nobody goin' nowheres. I put the tray in the house because I don't even want to try going out myself (to the car, not to the tray!).
I have hay around back and will drag that up once the sleet/snow/rain stops falling. We also have lots of ashes.
A friend suggests posting a warning for visitors not to knock on the front door – the explosive response could cause injury. Excellent idea. Since we get very few visitors here and the long gravel road is "irrepressible" re warnings - but the foxes and the airplanes trigger them every time - I'll put on some music.
She still hasn't peed but she did eat a couple carrots.
4 pm SHE PEED SHE PEED SHE PEED! and peed and peed and peed. 24 hours... She went outside via the kitchen door and down the ramp. We had to carry her back up the 2 stairs - she just can't quite get the 3-legged thing. It took her months to learn how to walk up and down stairs properly when she was first rescued, so I think there's a glitch in the software somewhere.
I had put the potty tray in the bedroom so she'd know the options. Smart dog. Determined dog. And she stopped by the bone cupboard on her way back..."I went out, gimme a bone". Tail was wagging as she dropped it on the floor. She didn't really want the bone, but she thought the sauerkraut was grand. So she ate a little dinner, had her pain meds and all's right with the world.
Tonight's fare will be kibbles and pumpkin. And I have an applejuice popcicle for later, since the snow cones in the yard are out of reach.
No weird popping or creaking sound today - and trust me, I have been listening. I called the vet hospital (3 a.m.) and they thought perhaps it was the leg/hip/spine getting back to normal after the surgery - the tech said they pull up on the leg (so it is vertical to operate on) and that things might have been out of place. Makes me shiver to think, but she seems ok and was willing to walk.
She got herself stuck under the bedside table this morning, pushing herself around. I had to remove all 50 books and then lift out the table so we could get the sling on her to get her back to bed. Modification of that arrangement completed, my husband suggested I put the books back on bookshelves. Imagine! The noive!
I put hay down at the end of the ramp – seems to have been a good visual, because she was quite willing to try down. Still carrying her up the steps.
9 pm - Interesting pattern emerging - when we first got her from rescue, she would become increasingly anxious as the sun went down - whistling/squeaking. That behavior had disappeared many years ago. But it is back. Curious. Doesn't want anything and a bit early for pain meds.
Gigi volunteered to come out of the bedroom and I thought she was headed out to potty but she walked to the TV, then turned around and walked back to bed. "It's time to watch TV, you lunkheads."
We are getting much better at "bringing up the rear" so to speak. And she's very good about staying on the rugs and walking slowly. Teamwork is everything!
Starting to indicate discomfort, urge toward licking or chewing. I so hate to put that collar on her - it is a bit wide for her neck but the lesser width wouldn't be long enough to go around. Wrestler's neck. Or perhaps Wrestler's Mother. Ack Ack Ack.
Hoping for a quiet night because we're witless at this point. Remember - to bed "all standing"... I have a feeling potty time will come at an indecent hour.
Hugs to all the bouvs with bolts.
Gigi was exhausted when she got settled into bed, and then slept soundly until 3 30 am when she started whining. Water - yes please, no thank on food, didn't make any attempt to get up when we offered "out" - now she is sounding like a screech owl.... woooooooooooooooooooo,, wooowowwoooowoooowoowooooooo.
She's been on one side for the entire time - seems like I should let her shift position but then again will she do that on her own?
Ironies of all ironies - I shave her down to 1 inch all over EXCEPT for the surgery leg, because I figured they would shave that to the skin. Oh no. They opened her up on the inside of the leg. So now I have a dog who won’t want someone fussing on her leg with hair now getting more matted by the breath... I'll wait until the next dose of pain killers and then trim her down. Poor baby.
So what about this creaking stuff - she sounds like an antique chair. The vet tech doesn’t know and will relay the question to the vet.
9 am - Lesson #1: Don't bother to undress: Go to bed "all standing". If you wait for her to stand up before you get dressed to take her outside, she will have changed her mind by the time you get your shoes on. This morning it looked like a chinese firedrill as we scrambled into action when she started scrabbling around.
We headed for the door and I could see the dawn of recognition in her eyes - stairs down and up - no thanks. I’m not gonna pee. Nope. Not a chance.
So we took the bottom tray out of a giant rabbit cage, put it on the porch and filled it with leaves. Maybe she'll agree to use that. If I can't get her outside later, I'll move the tray inside and if THAT doesn't work, I'll demonstrate...
She drank a lot of water when she came home last night, and again this morning. Ate a little last night but nothing yet today. I have to get something into her so I can give her the antibiotics. She swallowed the pain pills with tapioca this morning but it was more my idea than hers.
She's zonked right now. I'll wait till she stirs before trying out the pan idea. I'm cooking bacon. Maybe that will tempt her to rouse up. She's been on her good side almost the whole time - only an hour or two on the other side. But she's on a dense foam pad and not the cold floor.
Pirate is being the consummate tender. Comes and tells me if she moves. He doesn't like her being behind the baby gate and protests every time I put it up. Since she isn't moving, I left it down and Pirate's much happier. Wait till he sees the collar on her... We bought a Bite Not collar – thought that would be more humane than an Elizabethan collar when the urge to chew sets in.
12 pm - We've got 1/2 inch of ice on the drive and yard so ain't nobody goin' nowheres. I put the tray in the house because I don't even want to try going out myself (to the car, not to the tray!).
I have hay around back and will drag that up once the sleet/snow/rain stops falling. We also have lots of ashes.
A friend suggests posting a warning for visitors not to knock on the front door – the explosive response could cause injury. Excellent idea. Since we get very few visitors here and the long gravel road is "irrepressible" re warnings - but the foxes and the airplanes trigger them every time - I'll put on some music.
She still hasn't peed but she did eat a couple carrots.
4 pm SHE PEED SHE PEED SHE PEED! and peed and peed and peed. 24 hours... She went outside via the kitchen door and down the ramp. We had to carry her back up the 2 stairs - she just can't quite get the 3-legged thing. It took her months to learn how to walk up and down stairs properly when she was first rescued, so I think there's a glitch in the software somewhere.
I had put the potty tray in the bedroom so she'd know the options. Smart dog. Determined dog. And she stopped by the bone cupboard on her way back..."I went out, gimme a bone". Tail was wagging as she dropped it on the floor. She didn't really want the bone, but she thought the sauerkraut was grand. So she ate a little dinner, had her pain meds and all's right with the world.
Tonight's fare will be kibbles and pumpkin. And I have an applejuice popcicle for later, since the snow cones in the yard are out of reach.
No weird popping or creaking sound today - and trust me, I have been listening. I called the vet hospital (3 a.m.) and they thought perhaps it was the leg/hip/spine getting back to normal after the surgery - the tech said they pull up on the leg (so it is vertical to operate on) and that things might have been out of place. Makes me shiver to think, but she seems ok and was willing to walk.
She got herself stuck under the bedside table this morning, pushing herself around. I had to remove all 50 books and then lift out the table so we could get the sling on her to get her back to bed. Modification of that arrangement completed, my husband suggested I put the books back on bookshelves. Imagine! The noive!
I put hay down at the end of the ramp – seems to have been a good visual, because she was quite willing to try down. Still carrying her up the steps.
9 pm - Interesting pattern emerging - when we first got her from rescue, she would become increasingly anxious as the sun went down - whistling/squeaking. That behavior had disappeared many years ago. But it is back. Curious. Doesn't want anything and a bit early for pain meds.
Gigi volunteered to come out of the bedroom and I thought she was headed out to potty but she walked to the TV, then turned around and walked back to bed. "It's time to watch TV, you lunkheads."
We are getting much better at "bringing up the rear" so to speak. And she's very good about staying on the rugs and walking slowly. Teamwork is everything!
Starting to indicate discomfort, urge toward licking or chewing. I so hate to put that collar on her - it is a bit wide for her neck but the lesser width wouldn't be long enough to go around. Wrestler's neck. Or perhaps Wrestler's Mother. Ack Ack Ack.
Hoping for a quiet night because we're witless at this point. Remember - to bed "all standing"... I have a feeling potty time will come at an indecent hour.
Hugs to all the bouvs with bolts.
Thursday 1-21-10
Gigi spent the night in ICU with a technician by her side – actually, the technician was in the cage with Gigi because Gigi was a bit “demanding”… Hard to believe with all those drugs in her she’s still trying to run the show. What a bouv!
7 pm – Picked Gigi up from the vet – I could hear her chatting in the back as soon as I walked in the building. A debriefing by the technician, a handful of papers, a bill that makes the national debt pale in comparison and we’re out the door. Into the sleet storm. Better we take her home now than tomorrow, when it is supposed to be worse.
7:30 pm – Getting her out of the car is no picnic. Going in was fine. Coming out requires me to get into the back of the Subaru, lift her hind end up while on my knees bent forward and convince her to walk down the Styrofoam block steps like all the other times we practiced. Nope. Unh-hu. Not now, not then. Meanwhile the sleet is starting to make it treacherous for us as well as her. We finally convince her to vacate the car, and we have to carry her up the steps. Into bed. Meds down. Last “jinkie wawa” and we hope we’re off for a good night. Gigi stops talking and literally falls over – out cold. I think she was running on nerves. I sure have been.
7 pm – Picked Gigi up from the vet – I could hear her chatting in the back as soon as I walked in the building. A debriefing by the technician, a handful of papers, a bill that makes the national debt pale in comparison and we’re out the door. Into the sleet storm. Better we take her home now than tomorrow, when it is supposed to be worse.
7:30 pm – Getting her out of the car is no picnic. Going in was fine. Coming out requires me to get into the back of the Subaru, lift her hind end up while on my knees bent forward and convince her to walk down the Styrofoam block steps like all the other times we practiced. Nope. Unh-hu. Not now, not then. Meanwhile the sleet is starting to make it treacherous for us as well as her. We finally convince her to vacate the car, and we have to carry her up the steps. Into bed. Meds down. Last “jinkie wawa” and we hope we’re off for a good night. Gigi stops talking and literally falls over – out cold. I think she was running on nerves. I sure have been.
Wednesday 1-20-10
8:45 pm - Gigi is in surgery tonight - she is #2 in line and should be all finished by midnight. They have overnight staff and the vet will be on the premises until 2 a.m. I can pick her up tomorrow evening. She will have an ice pack on her post surgery, and they will have given her 2 laser treatments by the time I pick her up. Plus adequan, which I had already started 2 weeks ago. The vet says she will be off narcotics in 2 days, and does not anticipate her needing pain meds. She will be on antibiotic as well. Glad I talked with the vet in detail tonight as he had forgotten she was allergic to Baytril. (He didnt' have her chart there, he was just answering my questions so I wasn't panicked by that slip.) He said maybe tranquillizers PRN to keep her from being goofy. I asked if I could take them.
I asked a multitude of questions and wrote down all the answers, but there seem to be some contradictions. Maybe it is only because I'm hanging on every word and being too literal. He said "only activity as necessary" for pottying for 6 weeks... and passive range of motion as soon as the staples are out. Inclines are ok, stairs with support/sling. Even long stairs ok with sling. He was cautious about car rides because of the accidents that could happen. I asked about 5 minute walks to keep her from atrophying and he said “only business as necessary”. Then again, it often takes her a few minutes to potty so maybe that works out ok. Will potty walks keep her from atrophying? I read horror stories about the atrophy risks online. It is so hard to trust – even the specialists. Another lesson in life…
Asking questions for future planning, I asked about PT with water support. The vet was adamant - "only activity as necessary for 6 weeks".
Meanwhile... I have chest pains. Episodes of hysteria. The only thoughts are of doubt and doom. And I seem to have misplaced my brain. Can’t remember from one side of the table to the other what I’m doing, or supposed to be doing.
I asked a multitude of questions and wrote down all the answers, but there seem to be some contradictions. Maybe it is only because I'm hanging on every word and being too literal. He said "only activity as necessary" for pottying for 6 weeks... and passive range of motion as soon as the staples are out. Inclines are ok, stairs with support/sling. Even long stairs ok with sling. He was cautious about car rides because of the accidents that could happen. I asked about 5 minute walks to keep her from atrophying and he said “only business as necessary”. Then again, it often takes her a few minutes to potty so maybe that works out ok. Will potty walks keep her from atrophying? I read horror stories about the atrophy risks online. It is so hard to trust – even the specialists. Another lesson in life…
Asking questions for future planning, I asked about PT with water support. The vet was adamant - "only activity as necessary for 6 weeks".
Meanwhile... I have chest pains. Episodes of hysteria. The only thoughts are of doubt and doom. And I seem to have misplaced my brain. Can’t remember from one side of the table to the other what I’m doing, or supposed to be doing.
Vet called and said "ruptured cruciate, did great in surgery, no surprises, and she's heavy drugged for the night". She was a sweetie and they will call me tomorrow after they've done a post op eval. Guess it was the
right decision after all.
Can I barf now? The tension has been dreadful.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Preparations for Surgery
Life has been moving too fast since learning Gigi needs TPLO surgery on her right hind leg. She's a very large Bouvier des Flandres, 9 years old, and overweight by about 20 lbs. We, her people-parents are average height, overweight by more than 20 lbs and living in a house with wood floors and porches that all have steps up.
Here were the preparations we did and how they worked out...
FLOORS - we begged and borrowed carpeting of all types and created contiguous runways over the most travelled areas. Anything that didn't have carpeting was blocked off to dissuade her from that route. The critical issue (in my mind) was non-slippage because bouvs tend to launch themselves. The effect totally matched my ADD decorating style - and it works very well to reduce the likelihood of slipping (for all of us).
CONFINEMENT AREA - We created two locations for confinement - the usual sleeping area and the "family area". Gigi normally sleeps on the floor between the bed and the wall so the important additions included siderails to keep her from "scooching" backwards under the bed or the side table. We tied a 2x6 to the inside of the bed legs and put a 2x6 across the back - between the wall and the bed - and lashed it to the side table legs. Put in a pool flotation lounger and lined the rails with body pillows (long round pillows) for bolsters. This arrangement has worked INCREDIBLY WELL. She was able to brace her feet against the rails and ease herself down onto the bolsters in the initial, most painful stages. She was also able to rest her head on the bolsters which made life in the collar more bearable.
COLLAR - Forget the Elizabethan on a large dog. The "Colonial Collar" (my own design) has worked very well - 2 file folders, folded in half (to fit between the top of the shoulder and the base of the ear), stapled end to end (for length to go around the neck more or less), and all this folded inside a stretchy, soft but not heavy fabric. Then wrapped snuggly around the neck and clamped with a spring clamp (like you'd put on a thick report). This might not work for a very limber dog, but Gigi isn't so limber in the spine, so this was effective.
RAMPS - we got a telescoping pet ramp for stairs and cars. However, while she can and will go down, she cannot climb up because she slips on the nonslip material... So now we use it only for stairs down from the house. For getting in and out of the car, I made 3 styrofoam block steps (about 20x20x6) with a 1/4' piece of 20x22" panelling glued to each piece. This makes it look and feel like a step, but is light enough for me to lift easily. I'll put a photo in on this when I get a chance.
Here were the preparations we did and how they worked out...
FLOORS - we begged and borrowed carpeting of all types and created contiguous runways over the most travelled areas. Anything that didn't have carpeting was blocked off to dissuade her from that route. The critical issue (in my mind) was non-slippage because bouvs tend to launch themselves. The effect totally matched my ADD decorating style - and it works very well to reduce the likelihood of slipping (for all of us).
CONFINEMENT AREA - We created two locations for confinement - the usual sleeping area and the "family area". Gigi normally sleeps on the floor between the bed and the wall so the important additions included siderails to keep her from "scooching" backwards under the bed or the side table. We tied a 2x6 to the inside of the bed legs and put a 2x6 across the back - between the wall and the bed - and lashed it to the side table legs. Put in a pool flotation lounger and lined the rails with body pillows (long round pillows) for bolsters. This arrangement has worked INCREDIBLY WELL. She was able to brace her feet against the rails and ease herself down onto the bolsters in the initial, most painful stages. She was also able to rest her head on the bolsters which made life in the collar more bearable.
COLLAR - Forget the Elizabethan on a large dog. The "Colonial Collar" (my own design) has worked very well - 2 file folders, folded in half (to fit between the top of the shoulder and the base of the ear), stapled end to end (for length to go around the neck more or less), and all this folded inside a stretchy, soft but not heavy fabric. Then wrapped snuggly around the neck and clamped with a spring clamp (like you'd put on a thick report). This might not work for a very limber dog, but Gigi isn't so limber in the spine, so this was effective.
RAMPS - we got a telescoping pet ramp for stairs and cars. However, while she can and will go down, she cannot climb up because she slips on the nonslip material... So now we use it only for stairs down from the house. For getting in and out of the car, I made 3 styrofoam block steps (about 20x20x6) with a 1/4' piece of 20x22" panelling glued to each piece. This makes it look and feel like a step, but is light enough for me to lift easily. I'll put a photo in on this when I get a chance.
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