Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Well, I felt a bit sad about the visit today. I didn’t have much time, as had to get back, changed and into town for a meeting. He is very “hyper” and distracted and it’s hard to get his attention– like in the early days of his injury, when he was in his pen too much because I didn’t have sufficient control, which I later sorted and got him calm. And he is pulling dreadfully on his lead, I guess they haven’t had the time to make him behave when they have to move him around. I felt like a lot of my hard work is going down the drain… Physically, he is well cared for, but in his kennel a lot. First for safety as he has to have someone managing if he is out of it. As a consequence, there is a lot of muscle atrophy, more than I was expecting. Not all of this may be reversible. I didn’t get a chance to talk about this with anyone, but I’ll try to on Saturday. Bit upset, wondering if I should try to have him home…I’m not sure I’d be able to do better though, and might do a lot worse. Was in tears when I had to leave him. Your leaving by JulieTandCharlie, on Flickr
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Oh Julie, so sorry you didn't have a good visit today :'( firstly, I am sending you big hugs {{hug}} Secondly, I can understand you were upset about him being in the kennel a lot, but would it be any different if he were home? The good thing about Charlie being there is the access to hydro, physio etc. hopefully you will have a better visit on Saturday xxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I'm late checking in on you and I feel really sad reading your update Julie,big hug.i know you will be worried.Its really early days ......Ternaya is right,if he was home with you he would have been on 'crate arrest' mostly this week so his physical condition ie his muscle atrophy would have been the same I'm sure.i know you will be worrying about his mental condition too.........I think you have to watch and wait.I still stand by thinking you've done the right thing and he's in the right place at this stage ( I speak as someone who had to manage a dog from re injuring him self for only 20 days....and it was hard and I was able to devote 24/7 to it) However,going forward into the recovery period if you feel it's not right for him then nothing is written in stone,you make a plan ( at which you are brilliant ;D) and you bring him home x Don't look down the weeks and get into a panic,take it a step at a time.for now,remember all the time you have invested in him,that's not forgotten ,it might be diminished somewhat by you not being his world at present but everything you have trained will come back...if I'm wrong on that though someone will speak up and offer better advice. I think at this early stage the stress of having him home would outweigh the upset you've had today feeling you haven't seen your boy happy :'(......... Next visit Saturday?Everything about that visit will feel better because you won't feel so rushed,I know you will go prepared to talk to the right people and air your concerns. Let us know how you find him xxxx Sending Best Wishes Angela xxxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I could wax lyrical on how you've handled things but Angela has already said everything I wanted to So I shall just send you and Charlie big hugs, know that you have done the very, very best for him xxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie So very sorry to read your post Julie , feeling sad for you all . As to advice , I can only say what I would do, if it were me in your situation , the trouble being of course that I am not in your situation so its hard to be realistic, but here goes . You have a full three days before your next visit, time to really think about how you could manage Charlie at home, make a list of Pros and Cons , then weigh it all up . Its bound to be having some effect on Charlie, being away from home and familiarity, his routine has all gone down the drain and so yes, he will be confused . Having said this , he will cope as dogs do and will soon forget what has happened , he will soon pick up his training again, he has youth on his side and is a clever lad . So really, its a case of whether you can manage him and only you know if this is possible , but I wish you all the luck in the world , he has had the best possible start to his recovery xxxxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie My boy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/97932779@N08/12932766683/in/photostream/ (With a banned squeeky toy - I no longer care, he can have whatever he wants!)
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Hang in there, Julie. It's all a bit of an upset for him, but once this recovery period is over and he gets back home he will settle in fine. I'm sure he will have a crazy few days (weeks?) but he'll soon remember everything and you'll be off to the races, so to speak. And, as others have said, there is nothing saying that you can't bring him home earlier than you thought, as long as you think you can cope.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Big {{{hugs}}} from me too. Keep your chin up Julie. It must be tough for you right now but just hang on in there as he really is in the best place. They will be doing the right thing at the right time to build that muscle back up and he will be back to his own self in no time. xxxxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie You will get the muscles back! My 16 week Lab lost all the muscle in his shoulder and leg after three months of restriction but with me doing physiotherapy and him getting back to full exercise he was fine. I also, years ago, I rescued had a GSP aged 13 months who had been kept in a kennel, with just a barrel to sleep in and a bucket of water, he had no muscle whatsoever on his rear legs, but with exercise he developed very well. I am sure Charlie will remember all his lessons you have put in to him; he may well be 'difficult' when he first comes home, but he has been well programmed ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Aw, he's so lovely. Totally get the massive wrench of leaving him. Big hug to you. Agree with the others - have a think about the pros and cons of having him at home. Don't worry about the muscle loss or the boredom - the effects of both are fully reversible. Will be be able to do his hydrotherapy at some point?
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4619.msg58663#msg58663 date=1393964700] Don't worry about the muscle loss or the boredom - the effects of both are fully reversible. Will be be able to do his hydrotherapy at some point? [/quote] Thanks (and thanks all, and Stacia too for sharing that experience, it does help). Have talked it through with OH. Who thinks we cannot risk Charlie being at home. The surgeon told us the most common thing is for someone to make a mistake, and a dog charges to the front door, or has a mad hoolie, and the bone shatters. He thinks we'll (he means me) will crack, and take him out of his crate "because he's bored". And the surgeon wrote on Charlie's release sheet that Charlie was such a lively dog, that if the only way to keep him quiet was for him to be in a crate, he had to be in a crate. OH thinks him being in a kennel is not the worst thing...the risks are drastically reduced in 7 more weeks. OH thinks Charlie is a confident, happy, dog and it'll take no time of tummy rubs and sea biscuits in front of the fire for him to forget all about it and return to normal. So although it's hard now, he is comfy, well looked after, has plenty of breaks from his kennel and has just got to stick it out. As have I. I think he is probably right... He also muttered as he walked away "it's suppose to be the best place in the UK and it's costing a bl**dy fortune, what does that dog want? A personal butler too?" but I don't think I was supposed to hear that bit. : ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie That all sounds really well thought out and reasonable. Even if it doesn't help the fact that there's a huge Charlie shaped hole in home and heart. On a happier note though, I did smile at the image of a Jeeves type character sidling up to Charlie's crate: 'Will Sir require another sea biscuit, or may I retire for the night?' ;D ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Merla link=topic=4619.msg58688#msg58688 date=1393970214] On a happier note though, I did smile at the image of a Jeeves type character sidling up to Charlie's crate: 'Will Sir require another sea biscuit, or may I retire for the night?' ;D ;D [/quote] Bless you for making me laugh! ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I hate to say it, but your OH sounds quite sensible. Sounds like a good chap
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I agree with your OH Charlie wants to run around, but if he did he could hurt himself and undo all the good done in the op that would be really bad. The important thing is that his knee heals. That will happen at Greyfriars. You know all that. You just love him and hate to think that he might be a bit unhappy. It won't last that long. Afterwards, he will put it behind him and live a splendidly long and rich life with you.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Kath made me laugh too - yes, I think Charlie would have no difficulty at all adjusting to life with 'staff'! Even the best laid plans (and yours are always the very, very best) can be tough to see through. Visiting Charlie is something you look forward to so much that when it isn't a satisfactory visit, you will find it very upsetting. If the muscle atrophy is causing you concern, that aspect will not change at all if he is crated with you as opposed to kennelled with them. Knowing all this doesn't unfortunately make it easier... but Charlie won't hold it against you. He will bounce back in every sense. Thinking of you, Clare
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie It must be very hard for you leaving Charlie there, but if I could have had the opportunity with Drift when he broke his elbow, for someone else to look after him, I would have done so like a shot. I almost had a nervous breakdown with worry, he was crated and that was hell, he had to be sedated and that was hell, I couldn't have visitors as he got too excited and that was hell, I had to keep the other two dogs in the other room and that was hell, I could go on :'( I was terrified that the screw would come out of his elbow and we would have to go through it all again. I think you would also have a nervous breakdown with the worry of keeping him quiet :'( So he is in the best place and soon it will be just a memory and you will be enjoying life together again.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Yes, feeling a bit better. Am going to see him again tomorrow morning. Stacia, thank you - it would be exactly like that (apart from with a nutty 1 year old, which wouldn't be easier). Everytime I waver, please send me a post like that! Thank you.
