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Post by tugandbucket on Oct 10, 2013 18:13:49 GMT -7
Three.. more... days. No changes since the last check in. Though we have loads of leg movement... kicks those suckers around when doing the back wiggle dance and will stretch them out for a rub when I touch his toes. No standing or real weight bearing yet, but he does try. We had a conversation with the doc this week and he's decided that an ex-pen would not work for us. Rusty is a natural jumper/climber and we just aren't willing to take that chance. He did say that Rusty can move to a larger crate out here in the main part of the house, after his next checkup. We've also decided that when we start our little exercise routine (mainly passive), we'll do a small dose of ace. This little man insists he can bolt now, when I take him out of crate for potty time. So, doc thinks it will be better to 'temper' the instinctual bolt thoughts. lol I've been looking at Eddie's carts - for some point in the future. Good thing it's in the future. I don't know what I was thinking, but upon seeing the price... well, I wasn't expecting that much. Anyway, that's about all we have to report this week. Here's the little man on the morning of our one and only day of what we call fall weather. He was wondering if mom ordered the shiver weather. lol
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Oct 11, 2013 10:08:30 GMT -7
Counting down the days with you! - you are wise to be thinking ahead, especially if Rusty is already thinking about bolting. Stevie got hurt 5 weeks out of her first crate rest because of a freak slip on a wet floor. We have rugs scattered through the house so that she has good grip, and she is never allowed near a wet floor! We were able to rent a wheelchair for Stevie's land based rehab- for $30 a month- she wasn't big on the water rehab in the bathtub. She only needed it for a month, and now walks without one at all . Here are some links to look at to prepare for Graduation day After crate rest activity www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmMake your home back friendly www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm
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Post by tugandbucket on Oct 17, 2013 19:08:30 GMT -7
Here we are, four days post graduation. (throws confetti in air) This little man certainly seems to know he graduated. He spent all of Monday evening "yelling" at me when we were supposed to be sleeping. I don't even want to know the full translation - though I think a rough paraphrase would be, "hey woman, I graduated, let me out NOW!" haha Slow progress continues. No real standing, though it isn't for lack of trying. Lots of tail wags when we get home in the afternoon (which is interesting, because he was not a tail wagger prior to injury). Yesterday he balled up his blanket and used it as support in a semi-stand. This afternoon before I brought him out into the smaller crate, he attempted to show me he's ready by doing some 'laps' in the larger crate, really pushing with that right leg. We're doing small range of motion exercises twice a day and so far he's doing well and not fighting me on them. We've held off on the ace and will see how we progress. I've got him cleared to spend 10 minutes in the backyard in a small enclosed area on Saturday (it's about 3x3). Thanks for all the support and helpful information. It's meant a great deal to me and I'll continue to check in when time warrants. Busy time of year for me with this tween and work.
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Post by Pauliana on Oct 17, 2013 19:31:27 GMT -7
Congratulations Kim and Rusty!!!!!! You did it!!! Happy to hear of Rusty's attempts to stand with the bunched up blanket.. Awwww! He sure is handsome! Love his pictures!
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Oct 17, 2013 19:54:33 GMT -7
Happy Graduation! You did it! Keep us posted on Rusty's continued progress.
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Post by tugandbucket on Oct 25, 2013 23:56:58 GMT -7
Little man, Rusty, update. Fourteen days out and the plateau seems to be ending. He's still not standing, but we now have frog squat thrusts happening more and more. He gets those feet mostly in correct position under him and thrusts himself forward. A bit of progress. His first time outside went uneventful for all of two minutes. One of the wayward cats was out there, unbeknownst to me, and when Rusty spotted it, all bets were off. There he went in a rushed drag, bark, I'm going to kill you movement from one side of his tiny pen to the other. Sudden movements were something his doc warned us against, so... for now, outside time is off limits.
Poor guy is so done and over this whole being in the crate business. But since I'm working so much, crate bound he is for a while longer. Luckily the pug has taken up station next to his crate out here in the main part of the house. They sit and talk to each other most of the evening before bedtime.
I am curious though. The harness I use for him is a bit big now (that good old loss of muscle from crate rest) and I've been trying to find another one. I noticed in some of the photos used here, the black/green [harness] one. Any ideas where I might find one? I don't travel to town often, so knowing who might carry it (we do have petmart and petco) would make things so much easier. I'd like to start taking him out in the afternoon when I get home (not a lot of kids out at that time and I've not seen the neighborhood cats out at that time), but with his harness being big - I don't want to take the chance of him slipping out of it.
Hopefully next update will have still more progress.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 26, 2013 11:46:52 GMT -7
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Post by tugandbucket on Nov 9, 2013 11:30:15 GMT -7
With a broken heart, I am sad to come here and inform you that my darling Rusty Bucket passed in my arms this morning. Rusty had been making great strides in his therapy. Standing more and more. Unfortunately, this morning he awoke with all the signs of congestive heart failure. I held him until the end, reassuring him that his girl and his mommy loved him with all our hearts. We buried him out back under his favorite tree branches, carefully wrapped in his favorite night-night blanket.
RIP my little sweet man.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Nov 9, 2013 12:40:54 GMT -7
Oh Kim, I am so teribbly, terribly sorry. I sit here with tears of sorrow for your loss, so sudden and so devastating. You both fought such a brave battle, and I know how much you will miss him. May the happy memories of times that you shared help ease your sorrow. Run fast and free little man. You will meet again at the Bridge. (((Hugs)))
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 9, 2013 13:05:41 GMT -7
Kim, my heart breaks to hear this unexpected news. Rusty with your help had made such promising strides. Godspeed little Rusty. Now Rusty resides always in your warm and loving heart and lives in your fond memories of him. They all spend far too short of time on this earth. There is a lovely website called the Dachshund Memorial Garden where you can pay tribute and even place a photo. Many touching poems to help in this time of grief: www.dachshundmemorialgarden.comWarm ((hugs)) to you and your family.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 9, 2013 19:57:06 GMT -7
I'm so terribly sorry to hear this, Kim. My heart is so saddened by this unexpected loss. My sincerest condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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Post by Pauliana on Nov 9, 2013 20:14:33 GMT -7
So sad to hear about Rusty, Kim.. How heartbreaking and sudden. Comforting Hugs over the miles. He will be as close as your precious memories.
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Post by RustysMom on Nov 10, 2013 18:22:14 GMT -7
So very, very sorry to hear this..... my thoughts are with you and yours at this difficult time.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 11, 2013 8:56:33 GMT -7
I am so so sorry for your loss. I used to come and read Rusty's story to give me courage and hope with my Mimi. He is now waiting for you to come play with him again some day, running around like crazy with his ears flying in the wind.
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lupi
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Post by lupi on Nov 12, 2013 8:47:09 GMT -7
So very sad to hear this. I loved reading about how spunky Rusty was. He sounded like he had crazy amounts of personality! I'm really sorry for your loss; I'm sure your house feels way too quiet right now. Lots of hugs, Nicole
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