I'm glad she seems fine - I bet you had a heart attack! It may be the restricted exercise, it can send them a bit stir crazy. Charlie is in a crate or on a lead at all times for 8 weeks after an op. That's just the way it has to be to avoid the mad hoolie risk. I gate off the kitchen and take him off lead in there and in other rooms (with most of the furniture turned over) when he is calm.
That's what you call a heart in the mouth moment. Juno attempted to do a mad bum tuck a few times but managed to stop her before she got going, although many don't agree but for me it's when a firm NO stops the madness before it begins with lots of praise for having stopped. The main thing is she doesn't appear any the worse for her little gymnastic turn - just keep an eye on her the rest of today and tomorrow to make sure there is no reaction. Fingers crossed, but she will be fine
First check up at the vets today, no swelling or tenderness on her elbows. Mabel sat on the floor as good as gold as she was prodded and poked. She has only put on 0.3kg really pleased with that although will reduce her food slightly as she's still having plenty of treats through training and games we play. Yesterday's gymnastics session did her no harm. She was super excited in the vets skidding across the floor. Another heart attack moment. I'd had such a hissy fit yesterday, husband did say he thought I was over the top. I've told the vet and she thought being over the top is the way to go in this situation. Sometimes I just love it when I'm right Next appointment is on Monday to have the stitches removed and hydrotherapy says 8th August. A lot happier today.
Bless her! Sounds like Mabel is doing really well, glad the visit to the vet went well. Loving the photo with her surrounded with cardboard after her fishskin hunt!
Oh that's great news, and that there is no reaction to yesterday's "exuberance" and nearly time for the stitches to be removed already. I have to confess that I forgot to reduce Juno's food initially to allow for the treats she was getting and lack of exercise until talking to my vet at the 4 week stage when she thought Juno was looking a little plumper than usual . I reduced her food that evening and her weight was stable over the following 4 weeks and I have since reduced her food again - I'm so mean . Last weigh she had lost 0.5kg which I was really pleased about and due for a weigh early next week but just realised I can't go my normal day as it's a holiday here - Bastille Day!
I've had to be so strict with myself giving her least food. Poor girl she must think mean mummy won't let me play with other dogs and now I'm being started to death . At least she can still prune the garden. Enjoy Bastille day, if I remembered correctly don't you have fireworks and parties.
It's best to be a little mean with the food as you want to keep her nice and slim, as it all helps the elbows but at the same time you don't want her to be hungry as she is still growing. It's really hard sometimes to know if what we're doing is right for our puppies. Are they hungry, are they hurting, is that too much exercise, is that a limp? - See told you I was neurotic about it but now I work at Juno keeping a nice waist and worry about the scales once a month, and used a couple of the mental activity toys with treats and her kibble in them to amuse her once a day while she was recuperating, which worked well. I also used the time indoors to do some training which didn't involve moving around much - things like sleep, or touching left or right, mental activity is good as it all helps to tire them out. Juno loved hydrotherapy but was completed exhausted after her first session bless her, so you have that to look forward to. Mabel's doing so well. Any idea as to when you can start extending her exercise? Most of the parties and fireworks are in the main towns and it is usually a nightmare to park anywhere to get to see the fireworks, French driving and parking has to be seen to be believed sometimes . The displays normally start around 23:30 otherwise you can't see the fireworks exploding anyway - I think it's about the only day of the year that rural France isn't all in deb by 22:00 . As we're pretty rural it's easy to forget that there are any celebrations, it's just a bit of a pain to remember that all shops and businesses are closed for the day
So glad someone is neurotic as me. I've spent ages checking her elbows I was convinced they swelled since my friend popped round to see Mabel. She sees her all the time, so why try and have a mad bum tuck hoolie round the table. I managed to gently wrestle her to the ground . She has two weeks and one day of 4x5 mins walks a day. Then I can gradually increase her exercise. Very excited about the hydrotherapy the lady who owns the centre spent 45 mins chatting to me. Her dog has hip dysplasia, it's so nice when someone understands how awful things feel at the moment. I was watching the secret life of dogs on British TV last week someone had taught their dog to recognise the words sit and come. I'm going to start teaching Mabel to read tomorrow. I'm training her paw to target. Slow progress but she's so keen bless her.
When I picked Charlie up from his first op, I said to the surgeon "I feel like he is made of glass". The surgeon said "for the next 8 weeks, that's a good way to feel". I'm glad she is doing well. Don't compromise - it's not worth it. I use so much food for activities, Charlie is lucky to see 20g in his bowl at the end of the day...and if I can't just see the ends of his ribs when he is standing straight, he doesn't get that. It's just the way it's got to be and that's that.
I saw that as well - the benefits of satellite dishes. Looking forward to hearing the reports on how Mabel's reading proceeds. I was thinking about it for Juno but life is a bit mad at the moment. I think it's a great idea for dogs on restricted exercise though.
Very excited today, we have new neighbours they have 2 labs, one black, one red fox. Won't be meeting them for a while, looking forward to the day when we can have Labrador play dates
A That is such a powerful and very scarey image of what you are dealing with .... You seriously are all doing amazing keeping these young,energetic dogs safe from post op damage and giving them the best chance of recovery x
Thank you, I know exactly how Julie felt I feel exactly the same. I had acupuncture yesterday as I felt so stressed. Felling much better today. It is literally like treading on egg shells. All I can say is thank goodness for the forum I'd be lost without it.
Seconded there - don't think I would have come through the diagnosis, scans, surgery and recovery for Juno without the forum. It was the support and advice here that kept me sane (real relatively ) and my heartfelt thanks goes to every member.
Funny how people assume that just because your puppy has surgery, then you both become public property and almost everyone has some words to say. Two comments today one nice, one not so nice. " she's looking so good, this time last week she did look poorly". "Has she's got joint problems? did you get her from a puppy farm?" What can you say, there are a lot of thoughtless dog owners out there.
I know, just makes you feel like hitting people sometimes, on the positive side it's good to know that people think that Mabel is looking much better so you know it's not just you who thinks so . I would totally disregard comments from the thoughtless/ignorant and personally I can't workout the link between surgery and a puppy farm, I thought the majority of their problems were behavioural rather like that rude person. As we know only too well our puppy's parents may be clear from ED but it is lurking there in the genes and it's just bad luck that it's our poor pups that got the short straw in the hereditary stakes but they are still happy and thriving little girls
Wise words We are just back from a five minute walk via the pub. I had a glass of wine, husband had a beer and Mabel had her kong. Nice afternoon chilling.
A very nice trip out for you all. I'm sure Mabel really enjoyed her walk - the glass of wine sounds good as well
