Stacie, good job in working out the dosing schedule.
You can inch up the meds to get them into better clock time dosing.
With Rimadyl inched 1.5 hrs the two doses still have the same total daily amount.
Sucralfate can cause constipation. So watch for that as you may need to add a high fiber food and extra water to combat.
Plain pureed canned pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation.
NOTE: alternatives are really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potatoe
--To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal and soak overnight. At mealtime add two teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day.
-- To firm up the stool add 2 teaspoon plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day to kibble.
Give a teaspoon of pumpkin for every 10 pounds of body weight.
UNWANTED BEHAVIOR
Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the suite, petting. So anytime you see unwanted behavior try speaking in your dog's language so she understands to calm down. Turn your body sideways, avoid eye contact until she calms and settles down. Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime during the day you pass by and notice she's sitting on her butt or lying down quietly, give a reward of a calm loving "good sit/lie." Randomly you can give a small piece of treat, too. Soon your dog will see she get rewards by quietly sitting, and will react to that command when she is doing unwanted behavior.
A tired dog is a good dog. Being selective how you tire her out in light of limited movement of the back is key.
MENTAL STIMULATION
During recovery time, physical activity must be restricted. Your dog can not be allowed expend energy in physical activity to tire herself out. For dogs mental stimulation can be just as tiring. You can help in that department.
--- Dr. Becker, DVM, explains "During your dog's mandated rest time for recovery, her movements will be restricted, but her mind will still need stimulation. Teaching her tricks and games appropriate for her temporary physical restrictions will help relieve boredom."
Choose only the activities that can take place inside the recovery suite and activities that do not exceed the demand for 100% STRICT rest for the back. Your dog will be lying on her stomach or maybe quietly sitting on her butt. Use your dog's daily food rations as the rewards. Adapt each activity so that it takes place inside of the recovery suite while you sit on the floor in front of the suite's open door. Stop if your dog is getting over excited and displaying rambunctious behavior of too much back movement.
You can make something as simple as eye contact a very rewarding behavior that also acts as a way for your dog to “ask permission” when she wants something. When dogs have a focus and an understanding about how to behave to get what they want, they are much calmer overall. To do this, each time your dog looks at you, say, something like, “Yes!” or use a clicker to mark the second she looks at you, and then give your dog a tiny piece of high-value food reward. [NOTE: for crate resting dogs, shift your body a bit] .... wait for your dog to look up at you again, say, “Yes,” and reward again. Do this exercise 10 or so times and then say, “All done,” and put the treats away. Come back later and do it again until you can see that your dog is really starting to make automatic eye contact in hopes you will say, “Yes,” again and give a reward.
lip lick:
head tip:
name object:
As long as your dog does not have a neck disc and will calmly use a kong, it can provide your dog with a job during crate rest.... to work at eating dinner via a kibble meal frozen into a Kong. Licking and eating will now more time & effort and it is stimulating. Be sure to subtract what's in the kong from his daily kibble allottment so as not to gain weight.
what/how to stuff and training tips:
It is really best NOT to put meds in a meal as then you may not know if they got the entire dose.
A tiny bit of no salt, no fat meat broth should not disturb the sulcralfate from working. Homemade meat broth is superior to the watery store stuff that might have onions and salt in it.
Simmer a hamburger patty or some chicken parts (neck, wing, back, leg) with water to cover. Discard chicken bones and skin skin. Cool in fridge, remove fat disc from top of jellied broth. You can freeze the broth to serve as an ice cube for licking enjoyment on OR slightly warm the broth for an inviting fragrance to want to lap up or pour over a meal. Save meat to crumble a teaspoon or two on top of his meal for extra tastiness.
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