Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I'm sure he's getting all the love, hugs and attention he could need, but please send him extra healing wishes from Poppy and me xx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie So pleased and happy! Yay! Got to see Charlie today! Which was wonderful. I miss him so much it hurts! He is doing really well. He is over the initial 48 hour “being very quiet” period and now his rehabilitation begins. He is doing short lead walks, and PROMs (passive range of motion exercises). Icing his leg has also started, which he is tolerating well. He is a bit wiggly for the PROMs but he’ll soon get used to having to stay still and relax. Found a really interesting study, which seems to show dogs receiving this kind of rehabilitation can expect to have no functional difference between the repaired and normal limb after six months (not so for dogs on just restricted exercise). Which cheered me up no end. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11991410 (Effects of postoperative rehabilitation on limb function after cruciate ligament repair in dogs). I’ll be able to get a print out from Greyfriars, I hope, as I don’t have access to the whole study. (I saw a dog (GSD) using wheels to get to the swimming pool - I hope to be able to speak to his owner next time. And heard a lot about a dog that is 50kg and can't walk during his recovery from a spinal injury, coping with that at home would just be impossible. It's an amazing experience seeing and hearing about the things they do and how these dogs can recover and heal.) His wound is white, dry and smooth, with just very slight puffiness around the stitches – I’m astonished by how good it looks. The redness and bruising that I saw earlier in the week has gone, and there is just a bit of puffiness around his hock. His clipper rash has gone, apart from about an inch of redness on one side at the edge of the area that was clipped. He is almost not lame on the leg at a walk, and stands on it to pee all the time. The physio assessment result was that he is doing really, really, well. He seems happy and relaxed. Not as good as he is at home, he is a bit “hyper alert” – but there is lots of activity, dogs barking and things – but pretty good. They were very complimentary about the prep we did for his crate and cone - saying that they can see we did lots of work. He is tolerating both well and is calm (not so some of his neighbours, although I think they are in more pain than Charlie, and have more serious things wrong with them). Although the maximum time he is in his kennel between activities is 2 hours. We were allowed to be outside with him today, on a mat, with him on a lead and nothing within reach of the mat that he can stand on. It was lovely. There was sunshine! At one point he rolled on his back and we gave him all the tummy rubs you have sent. Just phone quality snaps and little vids. OH and Charlie in the sunshine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/97932779@N08/12856372164/ Close up of Charlie (sorry about the chit chat, this one just turned out the best of Charlie http://www.flickr.com/photos/97932779@N08/12855944395/in/photostream/ Cuddles! cuddles by JulieTandCharlie, on Flickr
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Well lying in the sun with your pup looks really tough The sun on his back will help no end, he almost looks like he's wondering what all the fuss is about. Bless him, it's fabulous that he's doing so well and a testament to all your preparation!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie What lovely Charlie news , love the little vid and the photo of you and him is gorgeous , so pleased for you all ;D ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Thanks! So happy with him today. All is well and it's working out just fine.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Oh he looks lovely,the shine on his coat!wow! I love his little paw tuft too that hasn't been shaved away. I can't see the second video,I'm just buffering...I've never been the same since my IT meltdown the day of Charlie's op. I'm glad he's seeming more himself too,bet it's given you a really good lift seeing him and it being such a nice day for you to get some time outside with him x
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I'm so pleased Charlie is doing so well Julie. All your hard work pre op has paid off. It's great he's putting weight on the leg and you can see a differance already. He'll be home in no time the weeks will fly but try not to think about it or you'll slow them down. Still keeping my fingers crossed Jen
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Glad you had a good visit . Charlie looks really, really good love the videos x
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie His progress is amazing. I'm sure that his relaxed mental state must be helping a bit... You did a brilliant job preparing him for this and you must feel chuffed that it's all paying off now. He is looking great!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie He is looking very well and very relaxed. He has been a very lucky dog having you as an owner.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Awesome!! You really do deserve HUGE kudos for how well Charlie was prepared for all this.....I'm sure they will want him as Greyfriars Poster Dog by the time it's all over!! It does sound like a fabulous place.....I wonder if they will take my daughter in after her ACL surgery? As long as she has access to wifi she would do just fine in a crate... ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Lisa link=topic=4619.msg58051#msg58051 date=1393728675] I wonder if they will take my daughter in after her ACL surgery? As long as she has access to wifi she would do just fine in a crate... ;D [/quote] ;D ;D ;D I have to say, some days, after doing Charlie's walks, massages, physio, clicker training, play sessions, driving him to swimming at Greyfriars, then sat down to work late in the day with an ache in my neck... while he stretches out on his memory foam bed for a snooze after his busy day... I have occasionally thought "You make yourself comfy there Charlie, I'll swap places with you tomorrow, mate". ;D ;D ;D I'm quite glad it's all someone else's problem for a bit!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I know! 7 more to go, and the main risk period is over...then after x-rays, I can start doing a bit of gentle training, and we'll be building back up! Once we're increasing the exercise, we'll be on the home straight, really. I nearly demanded him back last time I visited. I held firm. He is in the best place, less stressful all round. But I might be able to have him back for weekends in 5 weeks. I get to see him tomorrow! Not that I'm living from visit to visit or anything like that. :
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg58445#msg58445 date=1393874324] I nearly demanded him back last time I visited. I held firm. He is in the best place, less stressful all round. But I might be able to have him back for weekends in 5 weeks. I get to see him tomorrow! Not that I'm living from visit to visit or anything like that. : [/quote] All completely understandable but hold firm best for both of you! Looking forward to more pictures tomorrow please xxx
