Pat's Wienie 4/16 surgery

I don't know if we'll ever feel the same as we did before we learned of our pups having IVDD. I know I'm hyper-vigilant with my 6 pack and foster pup like never before. I suppose we could make ourselves nuts waiting for another episode But we know what our options are and we have this awesome support system with DL. If I had to go through this alone (my husband is a basket case when one of them is ill) without the DL team and fellow moms & dads of IVDD furbabies, I'd probably fold.

Wienie is doing well. I can tell he is somewhat depressed being in the xpen and feeling so good - can't understand why he can't go out and play! So I bought him 10 squeaky toys - yes 10! His love of squeaky toys is unreal. So, I dumped them all in the pen and he squeaked away for several hours. My other doxies gathered around the pen. He felt like KING because he had all the toys and they had none! No longer exhibiting signs of depression, his job is to now protect all his squeakies from the 6 pack - he just needed a mission in life!

I am up to 3 minutes per walk 4 times/day. He has again started that little doxie trot he had prior to his disc episode. I keep him from getting carried away - when he starts to pull on the leash I pick him up and carry him back to the house. He always was a bit difficult to abide by rules, so this gentle discipline is good for him. He's pulling less and less!

I will keep all up to date on my Wienie boy! I so appreciate all the input and good wishes, as I hope the same for your furbabies. 

Sometimes I think our pups' unhappiness/depression is harder for us to experience than their pain - we can at least fix their pain. Could it be that Angel is lonely? Is she your only dox? Isolation is so hard on them because dachshunds are so social and playful. When they have the run of the house they can bop around from room to room and person to person. Only 7 days left and she'll start her rehab and continue to mend. Continue to be strong for Angel as you have been....only 7 days left!!

My "kids" get a special treat a few times a year -hotdog pieces! I cut the greasy (UGH! So totally gross) little hotdog into tiny pieces after I microwave them. A trainer once told me a dog would do anything for a hotdog. It's true! It brightens their spirit! Dachshunds are so food driven! Try an occasional hotdog tidbit and see if Angel perks up a bit. I found that changing up the normal routine for Wienie while he's in the "pen" is helpful for his psyche. This whole process of healing is all about mind, body and soul.....theirs and ours! Healing thoughts to you and Angel..Pat

You're welcome, Angel's Mom! We've got to stick together on this IVDD stuff! It's so hard to see our "kids" go through this. Just remember...when you put that halter on for her first short walk your world will totally rock! And, I always have treats in my pocket when training my fosters to stay on the ramp. Every now and then one of the little mavericks hop off the side but they actually prefer the ramp, as you will soon find out. I go to Menards and buy their runner carpets that are on a roll (you buy it by the foot - very cheap). I lay it on the ramp so the ribs are horizontal on the ramp and they have something to grab on to. Then I get out the 'ole glue gun and glue it down. It's easy to remove and hose down when it gets dirty. If you just have the wood surface they slip too easily. My pups and I send our very best and many hugs! Pat & the 6 pack + 1

When doing ramp training make it a daily training session much like you would for any other command you want them to learn. And if they are picky train without treats, I trained my dogs all the sit, stay, come, heel, etc using no treats at all. It was a good lesson for them as they now know they have to behave at all times, reward or not.

Make your dog walk up and down the ramp repeatedly giving a command such as "use your ramp". Give lots and lots of praise at the top and the bottom each time. Spend 5 minutes or so daily doing this exercise. Anytime you see the dog attempting to jump on or off the furniture a quick, sharp "no" to stop them and then "use your ramp". Lots of praise if they get it right. If they actually do jump again a quick, sharp "no" and put them back where they started (up or down) and make them use the ramp by command. Again, lots of praise for getting it right. Yep, it's some work. But after a few weeks of diligence and daily training it will start to be a habit. They may still try to sneak a leap here or there...partly out of old habit partly to test you and see if the new rules still apply. Be diligent and prove the new rules are permanent! Periodically it can be necessary with some dogs to do a little 5 minute refresher session.

It will be worth it when you have company and your dog proudly goes up and down that ramp...people think it's the cutest thing they've ever seen.

4 1/2 weeks since my Wienie's surgery and the progress is amazing! We continue to go for longer and longer walks and he does well - good balance, no stumbles or knuckling. That being said, he knocked down the gate I have barricading the back door. Living in Illinois, we know better than to replace the storm doors with the screens until the weather is consistently above 60 degrees, so we just put a gate up until we get the screens on the doors. Anyway - I can't believe he did that! He's been "body slamming" against his xpen for a week or so I knew he was getting anxious for freedom. Until today, I've kept him on a walking schedule and than back to the pen - in spite of his protests. Today we returned from our walk and, as I was taking his halter off, the UPS guy rang the doorbell. I went to sign for the package and that's when he made the break. I turned around and he was gone:(  I looked all over the house and saw the gate was down and went out to the yard. He was in his old digging site - digging. Wienie has always hated confines and, although we have a big, fenced yard, it wasn't good enough for him. He always wanted to get to the other side. He seems OK and I will keep him on complete crate rest for a few days and am hopeful there isn't any damage. He isn't in pain and, hopefully, no set backs.

Thank you, Paula, for your kind words. I'm so paranoid that this will set him back. But am so thankful he isn't demonstrated any problems tonight. I'll keep you posted. Pat

Hope Wienie is doing okay now, such a scare!  Please keep us posted.  Hugs and kisses to wienie from Daphne and me.

Congratulations! I've not seen the garden frogs…sounds like a very good idea…would LOVE to see some pictures, please!!!!