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Post by Rachael & Lentil on Dec 4, 2020 19:18:29 GMT -7
Hi all! Just wanted to give an update now that Lentil is a graduate. Thank you all for your help throughout this entire process, it has been so comforting to have a place to come to ask these questions! Lentil is officially off of crate rest although to be honest, for a few weeks now with the vet's approval we have been keeping him out of the crate and just closely monitored. Now that he is "official," we're still carrying him up and down stairs (we live in an apartment so not as easy to just add a ramp), we haven't allowed him off leash in our yard yet, and we are trying to teach him not to jump. He isn't strong enough to jump onto the couch or other furniture, which is actually a good thing, and when he is on the couch with us we make sure to lift him down. He has gotten away from us a few times but we're working on it. He has figured out how to get onto the bed using the ramp (we already had one for our older chihuahua), but we only allow him on the bed when we are there too reading and with his leash on so we can control him. He still sleeps in his crate for the night. Overall he seems to be doing very well and definitely seems stronger than when we took him for his post-op appointment two weeks ago. He will still slip if he's trying to move too quickly on the hardwoods, but in general he is walking fine. We're trying to limit his running too much at this point but don't want to knock all the life out of him! He's been enjoying playing with his ball when we roll it to him to play a lower key version of fetch. I would say so far so good but we are definitely open to any advice or suggestions!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 4, 2020 20:38:48 GMT -7
Rachel, some surgeons do call for 4 weeks of rest and others 6 weeks. We just went by your report of 6 weeks for the graduation day. Please celebrate Lentil's graduation! Add a graduation photo to our Gallery to give other members inspiration about your IVDD Survivor! dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/2262/add-dog-dodgerslist-photo-galleryGRADUATION, A SLOW RE-INTRODUCTION The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free riegn of the house and yard immediately! But by now it is time to provide a more formalized training to use ramps to furniture and to retrain for not jumping. Here is a sample schedule to slowly introduce your dog back to family life and physical activity. Back friendly activities to encourage: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/15/back-friendly/?highlight=sample%20scheduleLots more ideas and tips for living with your IVDD dog: dodgerslist.com/quality-of-life Rachel, we invite you to hop on to our educational bandwagon team. Education about disc disease is our number one mission! We wish we did not have to hear of another dog that was put to sleep because of disc disease nor one denied the correct principles of STRICT rest to help them heal. We would like all of our members to pay forward for the help they have received with their dog by helping us educate!
We depend on you. Here are three ways to help... -- "Share" our FB posts www.facebook.com/Dodgerslist-- When in conversation at the grocery store line or wherever you may meet breeds most prone to IVDD (Dachshunds, Beagles, Poodles, Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, and Chihuahuas) give out our little wallet cards. Hand carry our literature and introduce us to your family vet. Ask Linda to send you a free brochure packet for your vet: dodgerslist.com/free-literature-2/ vWould you consider helping another trying to make decisions about surgery. We have a directory where you can share surgical info. Here is where you can share your dog's info: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/13/member-reported-surgery-costs-recommendationsState: Hospital: Address: Cost: Date of surgery: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments: Do drop in when you can and let us know how Lentil continues to do in getting back to enjoying family life.
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