Many dogs when they can feel their legs and have a bit of control over moving them, don't like the ROM PT. I'd say just do what Fern will tolerate. If your arthritis permits sling walking Fern into a shower stall where you don't have to lift her, then try the hand shower to flow warm water over those back legs. Maybe then she'd allow a bit of flexing the joints and some range of motion. Alternatively you can try warming her legs with a warm towel from dryer.
Do you have a friend or neighbor who can feed Fern some very tiny treats (piece of apple, carrot, meat) to distract her while you try ROM?
If her neuro function is not yet at the stage where the actually has control to move the back legs in a walking motion plus the strength to do it, then she would be dragging back legs and using front legs to get around or dependent on the sling for support. Could you pin point for us were exactly Fern is:
1.
yes! Deep Pain Sensation: the first neuro function to return. DPS is the critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about this very tricky to correctly idenfiy neuro function.
2.
Yes very likely Tail/butt wagging with joy at seeing you or getting a treat or meal.
3.
Yes Bladder and bowel control verified with the "sniff and pee" test.
4.
Yes! Leg Movement, and then
__?_ attempts or has ability to move up into a standing position, and then
____ wobbly walking.
5. ____ Being able to walk with more steadiness and
____ properly place the paw.
6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
LEARN MORE:
dodgerslist.com/2021/02/06/nerve-healing-after-disc-episode/GRADUATION: a slow, gradual transition back to family life
This page will give you ideas how to make your home back friendly for Fern and activities to encourage and ones to avoid.
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/15/back-friendly/Make your home back friendly with ramps instead of stairs, blocking off furniture and training to keep all four paws on the ground:
dodgerslist.com/2020/07/09/home-protect-ivdd-backsLots more ideas and tips in living with an IVDD dog now and many happy years ahead. Includes harness, dentals, and more:
dodgerslist.com/living-with-ivdd-tipsYou will want to consider how you will prevent rug burns from scooting and protecting bacteria from entering the bladder. Females have a very short path into the bladder and the use of a garment will protect against urinary tract infection (UTI). Here are some sew and no-sew options:
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/13/garment-skin-uti-protection/ i.postimg.cc/Z5n6y40B/IVDD-survior-gallery.gif **
Please celebrate Fern's graduation! Add a graduation photo to our Gallery to give other members inspiration about your IVDD Survivor!
When you are at home to supervise, begin letting Fern have some free reign of your home. You know get back to her normal eating in the kitchen, watching you cook, follow by scooting you as you move room to room , etc.
When you are not at home to supervise both dogs it would be safer for Jenn to be inside her recovery suite. There has likely been a change in pack dynamics. Being able to correctly interpret signs means you can be aware of what is going on should this develop.
For dogs the inborn instinct about weakness is for survival protection of the pack as a whole. There are two things that can happen in pack dynamics when a dog has been or is sick.
1. The healthy one may try to eliminate the weaker in the pack.
2. For the sick one, now the weaker in the pack to become more protective and aggressive because they know they are weaker now and may be subject to being attacked.
Make sure that Fern feels protected from her best bud when home alone... the crate (recovery suite) will be that source of protection. Whenever you leave the house and they are not supervised, it is a good idea to crate them for their own safety. We have had many instances where a deadly attack among best buds could have been avoided by crating. One I recall is of two sisters who had grown up together and never showed any signs of aggression to one another. The two dogs were put in the kitchen while their owners went out to dinner. They came home to find the IVDD dog almost dead from the vicious attacks of the other.
I would say do not stress with all you have going on, about doing the at home ROM if Fern just will not abide you doing it. She is going 3x/week for rehab and getting joint flexing and muscle workout there. Maybe at the clinic she accepts it because strangers are doing it? Have you asked the PT people how they are managing ROM?
