Pat's Clarita 3/4 Surgery

Congratulations!!! It really looks like Clarita is on a good path of nerve recovery, ear scratching is a big deal.


Do you have a plan to gradually re-introduce physical activity? Need furniture blockers and other back friendly ideas?  www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm#aftercrate

Do be aware that the pack dynamics in your household have forever changed.  This story is not to scare you but to make you aware.

 For dogs the inborn instinct about weakness is for survival protection of the pack as a whole. There are two things that can happen in pack dynamics when a dog has been or is sick.
1. The healthy one may try to eliminate the weaker in the pack.
2. For the sick one, now the weaker in the pack to become more protective and aggressive because they know they are weaker now and may be subject to being attacked.

Make sure that Clarita always feels protected from her best buds when home alone... the crate will be that source of protection. Whenever you leave the house and they are not supervised, it is a good idea to crate them for their own safety.  We have had many instances where a deadly attack among best buds could have been avoided by crating. One I recall is of two sisters who had grown up together and never showed any signs of aggression to one another. The two dogs were put in the kitchen while their owners went out to dinner. They came home to find the IVDD dog almost dead from the vicious attacks of the other.

Pat - WOO HOO!!! Congrats on Clarita's graduation from crate rest.

That is wonderful news that she can scratch her ears with her rear legs! Goosie never regained enough nerve function to do that. So...I scratch his entire head/neck/ears every morning. :-)

Hope you and Clarita will enjoy this beautiful Spring we are having. Hugs, ~Lisa

Thank you all!  I will get another video of Clarita soon so that you can see how she is doing. 
She is walking pretty well, although wobbly. And, we will go to water PT once a week for a while.  We are so lucky to have Animotion so close by!  Pat


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April 26, 2013  Sent back to the Forum on behalf of Pat:

Hi Paula, I am just a little concerned about Clarita because sometimes her back is a little "hunched" (is that a word?) She is doing great, but maybe it is too early to have her straightened out.. she is nearing the end of her 7th week since surgery. I will try to get a pic for you.. thanks for all you do! Pat

Thanks!  I feel much better after reading the Dr's info..  Since Clarita seems to feel well, perhaps the hump will disappear as time goes on.  She is still recovering.. Will try to post pics tomorrow!  Pat

the URL is the address to a web page. The address start with http://

You will find the web address at the top of your browser.

Tomorrow is actually the end of Clarita's 8th week since surgery.  I watch her anxiously.  Using the ex pen for a variety of uses.  Put it in the yard for her to stay in or as a barricade so she doesn't go up the porch steps.  As careful as I am, I see her trembling sometime.  Maybe just cold.. maybe she is doing too much.  I pray she gets to be normal! 

Hi Paula, I hope the folks that are just going through the initial stages of IVDD and surgery (or conservative) will see the video and how Clarita is doing. I was SO stressed when all of this occured but was encouraged every step of the way by others success stories.  In the beginning I was overwhelmed and couldn't sleep, but now I know that if I was just patient and followed Dodgers lead things would work out.  We aren't completely out of the woods yet, but are on the way!

Hello again, Clarita is doing SO well. She is walking, although a little wobbly. I watch her like a hawk, as I look for any signs that she is uncomfortable or relapsing.. But, so far, so good! I have blocked off the stairs to the 2nd floor and put cushions on the sofa. She really wants to get up there. Do you think she can go up the one step onto the back porch? It is about 7" high. I am still handing out literature to anyone I see with a Doxie. So many people have them! And, love your DVD.. Paula, Linda, Lisa & all, you are such Angels.