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Post by Rob & Oliver on Aug 24, 2017 19:19:50 GMT -7
Hi all. Tomorrow is FIVE WEEKS of crate rest. Time flying bye. All looks good to date....
End scene....
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Post by Rob & Oliver on Sept 7, 2017 14:13:45 GMT -7
Hi Linda, Paula, Paulina, Romy, Marjorie and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone, so thank you too. Here's the update:
Tomorrow is 7 weeks of crate rest. Oliver is doing great, but for a two day bout of diarrhea again, but that's now resolved. I've been engaging in short walks when I take him out to begin to build up his stamina and rebuild muscle mass etc. Continuing laser therapy once a week, but this all looks good. I will be reviewing your post-crate rest guidelines and do all I can to prevent another incident in the future. All we can do is our best, right?!
Thanks everyone. Rob
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 7, 2017 15:51:51 GMT -7
Robert, please be cautious and continue the strict crate rest for the full 8 weeks. Graduation day is September 14 and at that point, you can very gradually start reintroducing movement once again. Don't be concerned about loss of muscle tone - that will come back quite quickly once movement is reintroduced. You wouldn't want Oliver to do too much too soon and have a relapse so take the prudent course by carrying him in and out to potty with only a very few steps at potty time until graduation day of September 14. Even once the strict crate rest is over on September 14, it's a really very gradual, slow building up of muscle tone and strength that needs to be done. If he does too much and has pain, it would be difficult to determine whether it's another disc problem or muscle strain. So easy does it. There's a schedule on this page that I found very helpful when my Jeremy graduated from crate rest. Please take a look at it. But again, this is information to be used after September 14. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm
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Post by Rob & Oliver on Sept 14, 2017 16:38:07 GMT -7
Guess what day it is? ? IT's EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. EIGHT WEEKS. we've graduated. and i met with our neuro, dr. levitin two days ago, clean bill of neuro health...subject to the 5000 caveats of how best to try to prevent future episodes....
love to all of you who helped.....
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 14, 2017 16:49:40 GMT -7
Robert, so wonderful to hear from you again. It sounds like you are very proud of your committment and feel it's worth it to have given Oliver every chance possible to get that disc healed with the 8 weeks. Good job! Kudos to you! Are you planning on a slow and gradual introduction back to physical activity and family life at your house over the next 2-3 weeks? Similar to the plan here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmWhat about furniture blockers, teaching about ramps? www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm
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Post by Rob & Oliver on Sept 14, 2017 17:12:41 GMT -7
It's so funny. My living room looks like a war zone right now from the past 8 weeks, and right now, I have large pillows blocking any possible couch jump....Just as your pics show
And I have put down my ramps again; am letting him have some but limited access. Same with walks. Slowly....but steady.
I do have one question, Oliver is moving slowly when I walk him. More slowly than before the incident. I think he's just not used to being out and about again. Thoughts?
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Post by Julie & Perry on Sept 14, 2017 20:39:48 GMT -7
Well, imagine if you'd been in bed for 8 weeks? I'd take it slowly and let Oliver work back up to his normal routine.
Great job getting through crate rest!!! Woohoo! I'm doing my Snoopy happy dance for you guys.😀
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Post by Pauliana on Sept 14, 2017 20:51:55 GMT -7
Rob, it is time to celebrate! YOU and OLIVER DID IT!!!! Oliver will rebuild his stamina and strength day by day. He'll want to rest often,after all he has been used to resting for 8 weeks.. Follow the after crate rest article, I found that to be very helpful after Tyler graduated crate rest. Slow and easy wins the race!
Thank you for being so helpful with your fellow members! It is appreciated!
Enjoy many happy years with Oliver!
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Post by Rob & Oliver on Sept 15, 2017 5:02:10 GMT -7
Thanks Julie and Paulina. Yes, I know the drill. Start slow, but start...I've printed out the After Crate and blocking furniture jumping pages to read a bunch of times to make as if breathing.
By the way, Julie, having thanked everyone else on this go-round, I also wanted to thank you for your often chiming in with good comments, tips and likes. I see u all around the threads, u do such good work in trying to offer help and comfort to others here, so I wanted to really thank u!!!
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 16, 2017 4:42:27 GMT -7
Hi, Rob. I noticed in one of your posts to another member who you were so kindly helping that you mentioned having packed away Oliver's crate. Do you have Oliver in another type of recovery suite now until he's stronger? It's very important not to just let Oliver have the run of the house too soon. Those muscles are very weak from lying in the crate for two months and need to be very slowly built up again, which can take a few weeks. Also it's a good idea to crate Oliver from now on whenever you leave the house and he's unsupervised. As you can see from the following schedule, Oliver should just be walking up and down the hallway so you can observe for pain rather than going for short walks so soon. Walking more slowly during walks could be from sore muscles.
1st week. Mon-Tues- 1 min up and down hallway 1x back in crate observe, no signs of soreness?
then:... Wed 1 min up and down hallway 3x a day Thurs-Sat 1 min up and down hallway 4-5x a day.
2nd week. Can move about the house under supervision for 5-10 minute periods 3x day, no rough housing, running, jumping. Your dog will feel good as new and may want to do too much. If you can't supervise, then back in crate.
5 min walk outside 1x a day early in the week building to 3x a day later in the week
3rd week. 10 mins walk outside 1x a day, building to 3x a day plus crate free time: 10-20 mins. 3x a day.
4th week. By now the dog will have good muscle tone and should be on an almost back to normal schedule
Congrats on doing all 8 weeks of strict crate rest! And thanks again for helping other members - it's much appreciated.
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Post by Rob & Oliver on Sept 16, 2017 5:06:47 GMT -7
Hi Marjorie. Nice to hear from you. Yes, I've packed the crate up as I have an X-Pen area for him in my living room with recovery suite and bed that's very easy to get into (has no front barrier). Am going to ease him back into life, I have and have already read (several times) the After Crate suggestions. But all indications are good, even his butt problem is under control nicely for now. FOR NOW. (-:
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