Day 10, and the stitches are out. She rushed into the vets and greeted everyone with such joy. She is so funny. The vet said she's doing well, still no inflammation and there is a good range of movement. Long may it continue I'll know more when she has a hospital check up and X-ray on 13 August. I've noticed she is becoming slightly nervous of people and sounds that haven't bothered her before. I'd put it down to the fact that 99% of walks are in completely isolated country pathways. The vet agrees so I've had a little drive round my area and found some good places to walk that are fairly busy but without a chance of meeting an off lead dog. She met 3 dogs today no bouncing, she need has been a fan of any of the toy breeds. Mabel sends Labrador licks to everyone and I send a great big thank you for all the comments x
Great news - another milestone passed on the road to recovery and no sign of inflammation is really good news, everything is crossed for the x-rays next month. I think the slight nervousness is quite common in dogs on restricted exercise, Juno was a bit twitchy about the cows in a field and some sheep which were in another . Just keep getting out and about and don't make a big thing of any response. I think sometimes they are just reacting to our own actions/feelings as I'm sure we are nervous about meeting other dogs/people when our pups are recovering from surgery and it's these vibes that are the triggers . So pleased she had a lovely walk after her trip to the vets, she's being such a good girl
Interesting - Julie's Charlie was showing quite some nervousness after his cruciate op, too. So glad to hear Mabel is doing so well!
Good that she is doing so well . I'm sure over time she will be back to herself with noises and people. It does show how much constant proofing and exposure is needed.
Good news! Onwards and upwards. Yes, this is true. It was quite distressing, and seemed to have a range of triggers, and sometimes no trigger. Sometimes I thought there might be a cause, other times I could see absolutely nothing that could have triggered it. Just had a nervous dog on an empty street that he had walked up 1000s of times before.... Happily, it has largely worn off now, perhaps he still spooks a tad more easily than before, and there is still the occasional moment when he seems nervous....but that's it. I tried to give him more "choices" in the house, so a bit less control, and resolved to get him out to one new place a day - even if that was to drive to walk on almost the same suburban streets but "new" ones. There was definite improvement around the time I started doing all these things, but his walks were getting longer too. I think he found very short walks intensely frustrating in that as soon as we got out of the house we turned for home (it seemed to him) - like putting a lovely meal in front of a starving man then taking it away after he had 2 mouthfuls!
We have been on our new locations today, it's a good job she likes the car and I'm between jobs at the moment. Driving for 10-15 mins for a 5 minute walk. This afternoon we went window shopping to check out kitchens for the extension next year. Very nice. Bless Mabel she is super excited to get out the car and pulls like crazy. The turn about walk doesn't work as she wants to walk and any direction will do. I've found just stopping is the answer. People look and think I'm strange I've realised I'm getting tougher and don't feel the need to explain to complete strangers, although I do worry terribly and agree Mabel probably picks up bad vibes. I have said she has to behave otherwise Juno will be over on the ferry to have a word. It's always nice to read in other threads that Charlie and Juno are doing well. Long may it continue
Juno started to pull like mad on her first few longer walks (more than 5 minutes) so we could actually walk down the drive and along the road. as soon as she pulled I stopped, didn't say anything but just waited for her to sit before walking on. After 2 or 3 stops on a couple of days the pulling stopped . Amazing how quickly they learn. Juno will definitely be over on the ferry soon, or should say Eurotunnel - booked for our rabies jab for next week
Driving to do a 5 min walk - yup, been there. The frustration of short lead walks ruined Charlie's otherwise good lead walking. It took ages to get it back. He is even now not completely reliable and I have to work hard in new places. I refuse to let him pull even when injured, although I take care that he never gets a jolt. I do this by having the lead in my hand, my elbow bent and touching my body. As soon as Charlie pulls my elbow away from my body, I stop my feet but allow my arm to extend slowly to bring him to a halt. If the lead is always kept the same length, this is very clear and consistent for the dog (and for the human) - you can come to a sudden halt but the dog stops in a gradual movement. It avoids a jolt on injured joints. Relevant for a single rear leg injury (but not a bilateral injury) is to have the dog on the side which puts his good leg nearest to you. That also minimises jolts. And of course, throw out any front fastening harnesses - the enemy of dogs with joint problems (IMHO).
It's actually really nice you can travel with pets. I'll warn Mabel no more bum tucking hoolies while you're in the UK . My brother emigrated to New Zealand and took both his dogs. They are both absolutely fine no worse for wear. Loving their new life.
Thank you Julie for the invaluable information, I was getting really worried on the impact of pulling on her joints. I was thinking today she is treated as if she's a delicate flower but I don't want her to become a little hooligan. She still has to have some degree of training despite her surgery, it's just the how it has to be. Her heel work has always been superb, it should come back. We played a little game earlier with my husband walking in one direction with Mabel and I'd take a few steps in the opposite and then use my recall. She turned and came trotting towards me. Hopefully she won't forget her recall either.
I'm glad it's helpful and we can share tips. I think of my arm as a sort of elastic band - or shock absorber. So long as you are consistent, it still works. Charlie forgot none of his training - if anything, absent his particular worst distractions (moving things and other dogs), his focus on me increased dramatically. What did happen was that the things that previously had driven him crazy with excitement had an even worse effect for his isolation from them. But Charlie had (and will have) a much longer break than Mabel, so hopefully you won't see much effect at all.
Mabel is slowly becoming more focused on me which is a good thing. Buses were an issue this morning and they never were before. Later today it will no doubt be something else. . Poor you and Charlie being isolated for so long. I count myself very lucky that we could be back doing off lead walking by mid to end of August. Although it's harder than anyone can ever imagine who hasn't had to go through restricted exercise I just have to take it one day at a time and fingers crossed she won't need further surgery. (OH thinks I'm mad but I'm preparing myself that there is a big possibility she may fall into the 10-20% where by this operation doesn't work). Maybe just maybe this time next year we are back to a more normal routine.
That's the philosophy, one day at a time, and I'm crossing everything for you that Mabel won't need further surgery. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst - what's normal, we have Labradors. I think of normal as a day without a limp. Although I'm a lot more relaxed, I'm always monitoring. Don't think it's something I could stop now
That's the only way to be, Ive just taken Mabel out to lunch with me. My friend said she's made a great recovery, not that simple I replied. Apparently I'm over the top. Needless to say they have never owned Labradors and I may have one less friend soon. Oh well my girl comes first.
As a recovering neurotic owner you can never be over the top where our girls are concerned following a diagnosis of ED . Perhaps you need to explain more fully what ED involves and how it is a lifetime condition, not something that disappears after a few weeks of care. We know we're not over the top and that our actions and feeling are totally rational (!!!!!) and if they don't understand that they are not worthy to be our friends - well at least until they get a Labrador pup of their own
I would like to introduce you to my friends dog Quijo. Quijo worked as a Guide Dog but was retired at the very young age of 5 as he had ED. I've known him for about 8 years. So he is a grand old gentleman now, so he is a little stiff now and likes to laze I the sun, like any old dog. I honestly don't think his ED has been a great problem to him. He has walked round the village and frolicked in their large garden. Of course it is better if careful selective breeding cuts down the number of dogs with ED, but he has had a happy life. His name in unusual because he came from Norway. I am told a British Dog went out to replace him and to introduce new blood into the gene pool.
Oh how lovely - do you have any photos of Quijo, he sounds a great dog and we would love to see him. It is so good to hear that a dog can have a normal life after a diagnosis of ED - something we fundamentally know but only time helps us accept that knowledge, but unfortunately the impact on a dog's life is dependent upon the extent of the ED and the form that the ED takes.
Thank you, I'm beginning to sound like a long playing record explaining ED, I'm beginning to bore myself. Some people don't want to listen. Quijo Sounds lovely, and pictures would be nice. It gives me hope reading these stories. Mabel's ED is severe but with the right management we will get through this. It's a really funny thing but I've got terrible arthritis in my hip and lower back. I'll probably have a new hip next year I'm hanging on until the end. I told the lady who Mabel is going to start hydrotherapy with and she said. "that's a blessing because if you find something difficult so will your puppy." Everything has a silver lining.
With me it's 2 dodgy knees which at the moment seem to be getting worse but there's not much that doctors can do; so I can appreciate how Juno must feel when walking is painful, it would just help if our pups weren't quite so stoic about their pain! Juno has never once made a murmur of pain or discomfort throughout her limping episodes or through all the examinations and surgery so that's probably the one area that I find hardest to deal with, it's so hard to identify when she is in pain
