Poppy has been limping again. OH took her back to the vet this morning - back on anti-inflammatories, and a strict regime of 20 minutes lead walking a day only - no running, no jumping, no playing; for a week. Got to get this right, so mustn't weaken. The problem is, when on the anti-inflammatories she doesn't feel any pain or limp, so it's all too easy to think she is ok and to let her run around. AND she's really crazy and pent up, and is begging us to play with her the whole time. Luckily OH is back from his business trip, so can help to keep her entertained at home. And Son is at home for a few days too - he and Poppy really love each other and spend a lot of time cuddling. OK, what am I going to do to keep her entertained? All you people who have done WEEKS of this, any tips?
Re: Back on lead walks only Julie wrote me a list on my thread about " roasted bones". Hope it gets better this time!
Re: Back on lead walks only Oh dear Karen, poor Poppy and poor you , its so hard when they have loads of pent up energy, feel for you x
Re: Back on lead walks only So sorry Karen, poor Poppy just desperate to run around. I think we need Julie who is now the expert in all things to do with this particular problem Get better soon Poppy and good luck Karen xx
Re: Back on lead walks only oh no! Poor Poppy! I hope she gets better soon. Did the vet say what it might be? Oh yes, after 4 months, I've got the restricted exercises thing down to a fine art. Although, for all my efforts, it's nothing without the 3 hydro sessions a week - this is the thing that keeps me sane. I'm on a bit of a high today, as we just got a huge well done this morning from his physio exam, in that we've significantly built his muscle while on restricted exercise and no pain killers, he is weight bearing on the leg now - and we have a new, harder, set of physio exercises to start. Sorry, a bit of a boast there! But I'm chuffed. With the lead walking, the critical principle (according to the people involved with Charlie's care) is that the lead walking is to be restricted only to the extent he doesn't limp - this was the advice both before and after diagnosis. Limping and walking makes everything worse, and leads to back problems. We check him before every walk, and it goes ahead only if he shows no sign of stiffness - we haven't cancelled a walk for 5 weeks now. We experimented with different routines until we found the durations and frequency he tolerated. This is Charlie's routine: 6am Out to the garden on a lead for a pee, playtime and cuddles, physio exercises 7.30am 25 – 30 min lead walk After walk: settle down in his pen with a 8in1 chew Mid morning: clicker train any new physio exercises Noon: Physio exercises then 15 – 20 min lead walk Mid afternoon: Playtime 4pm 25 – 30 min lead walk After walk - settle down in pen with a small rice – or similar - chew 6pm Physio exercises, then 10 – 15 min lead walk Frozen Kongs after the 6pm walk Cuddles and back and leg massages mid evening, more frozen kongs 10pm 5 – 10 min lead walk When Charlie isn't doing any of the above he is in his pen, or in the kitchen if someone is working in there. If I let him have the run of the house, he would drive me mad with his constant nagging, chewing and general refusal to settle. In terms of time fillers, I can't claim credit for them - I think every one of these has been suggested on the forum and I've just collected the ones that work for us: 8in1 filled rawhide (small - only one a day) Anco roots Pizzles Frozen kongs Hard packaging with kibble inside An entire newspapers scrunched up in one big pass the parcel with a bit of kibble in each sheet Frozen rice hedgehogs filled with soaked kibble Kong goodie bones (I fill these with sea wraps - sticks of sweet potato wrap in fish skin) Kong wobblers Kibble hidden between the balls of a trixie cube The best quiet game is he has to lie very still (if he moves, we don't play) and catch a soft ball (we use the trixie cube balls) and give it back to me. He loves it, and will play it for ages.
Re: Back on lead walks only Thank you so much Julie, that's really helpful. Last week the vet said she had a sprained wrist and inflamed tendon. The vet OH saw today (who in my opinion is not a patch on the other vet) thought she might have strained something in her shoulder. I think I'll have to go back there myself and have another chat with them. :-\ Regarding the hydrotherapy - since it's not so cold at the moment, I am wondering whether swimming might be ok for her? I guess I'll have to call the vet about that too..
Re: Back on lead walks only Really sorry to hear it's back to lead only, Karen. Can't add anything by way of suggestions - Julie is going to be Forum Consultant on restricted exercise for years to come!! Julie, has it really been FOUR months already??! End of this stage is now in sight... No one could have done more to get Charlie into the best possible situation prior to his op. Clare
Re: Back on lead walks only Just re-read your post Julie - you are incredible. What dedication! I take my hat off to you. Just looked at our vet's website - would you believe they have a hydrotherapy unit!!! Don't think it'll be necessary for just a week - but very useful to know, should we ever need it in the future. Just five minutes walk from our house! They have a full physiotherapy center - I didn't realize, as I've never needed it before. Haha - on the website, they say they even use the hydrotherapy treadmill for cats, if they like it! Cant say I can quite believe that..
Re: Back on lead walks only Poor Poppy! Hope another week off does the trick! If they had space in the hydro unit I would take her even though she's only off games for a week. The new stimulus plus exercise might tire her out and if you ever needed it again you would already have done it once and would know how it all works Short nonsensical reply as just checking on everyone before a meeting. Back later x
Re: Back on lead walks only [quote author=Karen link=topic=4350.msg52641#msg52641 date=1391693267] Just re-read your post Julie - you are incredible. What dedication! I take my hat off to you. Just looked at our vet's website - would you believe they have a hydrotherapy unit!!! Don't think it'll be necessary for just a week - but very useful to know, should we ever need it in the future. Just five minutes walk from our house! They have a full physiotherapy center - I didn't realize, as I've never needed it before. Haha - on the website, they say they even use the hydrotherapy treadmill for cats, if they like it! Cant say I can quite believe that.. [/quote] Ah, thanks - it's come at a time when I'm mainly home based, so (with help from friends and family, and the dog walker) we've managed to do it. I'm just about to start another bit of work, which will take me out of the house a lot more, but I'm nearly at the point where I can send him for his surgery then hand him over to the pros for his recovery. I am the biggest fan of hydro and physio for dogs now - the treadmill has kept Charlie in amazing shape, the pressure and warmth of the water alone is healing and soothing. And the physio has played a big, big, part in building muscle. It's great news your vet has a unit (hope you don't need it for anything serious though), that's a great resource. The hydro person was telling me today about the biggest dog she had in the treadmill - a 96kg St Bernard! There was hardly room for her in there too! And the smallest - a Chihuahua called Chille Bean! She said it was really hard work bending down to keep his legs straight.
Re: Back on lead walks only I find mine love to sit in front of me and give take, give take, give take So she can be doing her retrieving which she loves but doing it statically.
Re: Back on lead walks only That's a good idea, Stacia. We can practice 'give', 'take', and 'hold' as well.
Re: Back on lead walks only Karen sorry Poppy isn't past this yet...it was strange,you popped ( pardon the pun) into my head earlier when I was nipping to the shops and I thought I must send you a message,when I've sat down to catch up,there you are with an update .... You are right,Julie is doing a phenomenal job,I've seen it all in practice too and she is so well set up and calm about the whole thing..... On that note, Julie when you are reading this....BOAST AWAY At your successes ,I'm cheering for you too ,you've put so much effort and care into Charlie ,I know you don't do it for the pat on the back for a minute,but you take those pats when they come,you deserve them xxxxx Hope Poppy manages this week Karen and it is the end of it after some more rest.I'm starting to think about the Summer and make plans now to compensate for our restrictions...Dex is calm,settled and chilled in the house when he has had his excercise,he was only really a puppy last year...I don't know how a 18 month old bundle of energy will cope with the temperatures this year......swimming in whatever form is going to have to feature prominently for sure x
Re: Back on lead walks only Ps,forgot to say,that is a gorgeous picture,lovely to see her doing what she loves x
Re: Back on lead walks only Ooh, exciting - vet just called back, we have a hydrotherapy appointment this evening!!! Will report back later. Only 20 minutes - but I am sure that will be enough. Really hopeful this will be quite tiring for her mentally and physically, without putting strain on her leg. Also I'll see the vet again and have another discussion with her about what's going on with Pops. Thank you Angela for your kind comments!
Re: Back on lead walks only Love the picture of Poppy - such a lovely dog. Great news about the hydro appointment, hope it goes well - let us know.
