8: Rehabilitation » Dogs Don't Look Both Ways

Dogs Who Are Afraid of the Veterinarians

7: Recuperation, 8: Rehabilitation 2 Responses »

Jan 202012

All you dogs, this post has been a long time coming. Some of us go to visits with the veterinarian and are totally cool with it. Others of us go to the veterinarian and range from skittish to totally terrorized. Where do you fit in?

We can talk about just waiting in the waiting room or bump it up a notch to being in the examination room, or having some procedure done. I’ve seen many dogs hang out behind their parents’ legs in the animal hospital waiting rooms; I’ve tried to make friends with many of these dogs, to calm them down and offer friendship, but they’re just frozen in fear.

I’m on the cool dude side. When I had my injuries from being hit by the car, I had to have surgery, and xrays taken, and all sorts of procedures done on me, including having my bandages changed regularly, and my wounds cleaned. The doctors would ask my mom, “Does he need to be knocked out?” and except for actual surgery, and dental surgery, no, I didn’t.

It helped to have somebody just petting my head and saying “Good boy, Joey” and for splint changes I would need two technicians (my mom counted as “one”) but together we made it through everything, no “puppy’s little helper” required.

But many other dogs do. They have to take anything from a “calm down” pill to having an injection.

Let’s talk about this.

Do you think there’s a difference between how small and large dogs handle this?

Dogs who have been surgically “altered” and those who have not?

I am waiting to hear from you.

***

timeline for rehabilitation, swimming and running again

7: Recuperation, 8: Rehabilitation, x10: Renewal, _Stuff about dogs in General 3 Responses »

Nov 092009

After your dog is injured, when should you expect your dog to start walking?
How far and how fast should he walk? How about swimming and dog hydrotherapy?
What’s the best way to get your dog’s muscles back in shape and to get his stamina back?
If your dog is a runner, when and how should you introduce him to running again?

Good communication with your dog’s veterinarian can give you some guidelines. But as always, observe your dog carefully and notice and pay attention to everything, and use that as a guide.

***

Here is my time line for my rehabilitation from my injury. In general, my parents and my doctors made these decisions, not I. If my parents took me swimming, I went swimming. If they took me running, we went running. They decided how far, how fast, and how long I was to be out and walking, running, or swimming. I guess in the end they made the right decisions, because I’m doing really well now. I’m not even limping!

Day 1: I was hit by the car and brought to the emergency room of the animal medical center. When I went home six days later, I had a full-splint on my leg.

During this time, I may only go outside to pee and poop and then must go back home. I must walk slowly.

Week 5, Day 3: I have surgery on my broken ankle, though I’m asleep and don’t know what’s going on. When I go home, I have a half-splint on my leg.

During this time, I may only go outside to pee and poop. I walk slowly.

Week 12, Day 3: I go back to the animal medical center for a bandage change. It has been 7 weeks since my surgery. Although he was going to only take x-rays at this time, my doctor removes my splint!

Since I’m allowed to go upstairs and downstairs, my parents let me go up and down a lot so that my muscles begin to strengthen. Of course, since I’m on my lead, I can’t go up and down too much, but I do it as often as they will allow me, and as many times as they will allow me. When I am home alone, my parents keep me in the living room and close the little door gate. They don’t want me jumping up on anything.

Week 13: Day 3: I go back to the animal medical center for x-rays on my broken ankle. It has been 8 weeks since my surgery. My doctor removes my bandages!

During this time, my leg muscles continue to start working again.I’m still walking with a limp. When I am outside and I start to hop on three legs, my parents slow me down so that I use all four legs.

My walks start out short. Then they get longer. Then they get longer and longer. Then they get longer and longer and faster and faster. My mom is walking longer and longer and faster and faster, too. This is good for me.

Week 16: It has been 11 weeks since my surgery. I’m running and playing in the back yard. My parents are throwing the ball and I’m chasing it and bringing it back. However, we don’t play this game for too long.

Week 17: It has been 12 weeks since my surgery. I’m walking well enough and I’m strong enough to take a walk around the block with my sister and littermate, Rosie. I am still walking with a limp.

My parents take me to the lake for the first time! My mom walks me around the edge of the lake but I do some swimming, too. I go to the lake a few times this week and I am swimming, usually in place, with my mom holding me up by my harness. My legs are getting stronger and stronger and I’m feeling better and better.

Week 19: It has been 14 weeks since my surgery. Dad takes me running with him. We run for one block!

Week 20: It has been 15 weeks since my surgery. Dad takes me running with him. We run for five minutes! Then we walk. The next day we don’t run and the next day we run again for 5 minutes again. I’m feeling stronger. Jane takes me on long walks and she doesn’t’ let me stop and rest until we get to our destination, or until we get home.

Week 22: It has been 17 weeks since my surgery. Dad and I run for ten minutes! The next day we don’t run and the next day we run again for 10 minutes again. Then the next day we don’t and the next day we do. I’m feeling stronger and my parents say that they don’t see me limp when I run. They say “Other than the bald spot on his back, you wouldn’t know he was hit by a car.”

Week 25: It has been 20 weeks (5 months) since my surgery. Dad and I run for twenty minutes! This is our “short” run. I’m feeling good. I’m not limping. We do this run now a few times a week, one day yes one day no one day yes one day no. During the afternoons, Jane takes me on long walks and she even tries to run for a block or two with me, but I’m much faster than she is and I’m always ahead of her looking back at her. They still say say “Other than the bald spot on his back, you wouldn’t know he was hit by a car.”

Week 25: It has been 20 weeks (5 months) since my surgery.

My dad says “Twenty minutes may be it for him.” I’m going to do my best to run longer and longer and further and further.

My doctor says that I’m “a healthy dog”. I love my doctor!

Week 26: It has been 21 weeks (5 months, 1 week) since my surgery.

I love my life! I go to new places and see new things. I meet new people and new dogs. I make many new friends, both people and dogs. Everybody is surprised at how well I do. When I’m off-lead, I obey my mom when she says “come”. At night I don’t limp.

But I do sleep well!

my timeline, do and donts, did and didn’ts, for my injury

8: Rehabilitation, _Stuff about dogs in General No Responses »

Oct 232009

When your dog is injured, do you know what to expect in terms of your dog’s recovery and rehabilitation? When should you expect your dog to start walking – and how far and how fast? What’s the best way to get your dog’s muscles back in shape, and his stamina back? Good communication with your dog’s veterinarian can give you some guidelines. The doctors should give you the instructions in writing. But as always, observe your dog carefully and notice and pay attention to everything, and use that as a guide.

******

Here is my time line for my rehab and recovery. In general, my parents and my doctors made these decisions, not I. I wouldn’t have agreed to any of them.

Day 1: I was hit by the car and brought to the emergency room of the animal medical center. When I went home six days later, I had a full-splint on my leg.

During this time, I may only go outside to pee and poop and then must go back home. I must be on the lead at all times when outside. I must have the plastic bag on my injured leg every time I go outside. In our home, I may only stay in one room and my parents have me confined to the living room. There is a dog gate so I cannot get out of that room, except for when they open the little door on the dog gate to allow me to go outside so that I can take my walks.

Week 5, Day 3: I have surgery on my broken ankle, though I’m asleep and don’t know what’s going on. When I go home, I have a half-splint on my leg.

During this time, I may only go outside to pee and poop. I must be on the lead at all times when outside. I must have the plastic bag on my injured leg every time I go outside. I may only stay in one room and my parents have me confined to the living room. There is a dog gate so I cannot get out, except for when they open the little door to allow me to go outside so that I can take my walk.

Week 12, Day 3: I go back to the animal medical center for a bandage change. It has been 7 weeks since my surgery. Although he was going to only take x-rays at this time, my doctor removes my splint!

During this time, I may now leave the living room, and I may go upstairs. When I go upstairs and downstairs, I must be on my lead. When I go outside I must be on the lead, even when I’m just hanging out with Jane in the backyard. I still must have the plastic bag on my injured leg every time I go outside, except that now it’s a bootie. There is a dog gate blocking the stairs so that when I am downstairs, I cannot go upstairs except for when I’m with Jane or Phil and on my lead. And when I am upstairs, I cannot go downstairs except for when I’m with Jane or Phil and on my lead. When I am home alone, my parents keep me in the living room and close the little door gate. They don’t want me jumping up on anything. My parents have made me a new bed in their room; at night, I sleep upstairs with them in my bed.

Going up and down the stairs, my muscles are starting to strengthen again, especially my leg that broke when I was hit by the car.

Week 13: Day 3: I go back to the animal medical center for x-rays on my broken ankle. It has been 8 weeks since my surgery. My doctor removes my bandages!

During this time, I am learning to walk again. The dog gate to the living room is pushed away. The dog gates to the stairs are gone. I do not have to be on the lead in my back yard. I do not have to have the plastic bag or the bootie on when I go outside! I can feel freedom! When I go outside for a walk, I must be on the lead (but that’s the way it’s always been.).

My muscles are starting to strengthen again, especially my leg that broke when I was hit by the car. I’m still walking with a limp. When I start to hop on three legs, my parents slow me down so that I use all four legs.

Soon I’ll tell you about my swimming and my running!

*******

physical therapy is a lot of fun, if you’re a dog!

8: Rehabilitation, x10: Renewal, _Stuff about dogs in General 2 Responses »

Aug 022009

Many dogs go to physical therapy after they are injured. Water therapy, called hydro-therapy, is becoming popular. This is good because it builds up the dog’s muscles without putting any pressure on injured areas. It also helps prevent arthritis, which can set in after a serious trauma. And most dogs love swimming. Most. Not all dogs like the water. Some like to look at it but not go in it. Some like to play along the edge. But there are ways to make your dog comfortable with water.

Today started out like any other Sunday: Dad woke up at sunrise, I woke up with Dad. And then I went back to sleep.

He woke me up later and I went out with him on a short walk. Of course in the old days, it would have been a long run. But these are not the old days: These are the new days. These are “nowadays”.

It was a nice walk and then I came upstairs and went back to sleep in my bed next to my mom’s bed, until she woke up.

Then we were all one awake family.

My parents disappeared for a while in the middle of the day. I was pretty sullen to be alone and to not be included in whatever they were doing. But that all changed.

I saw my mom go and get a few of my poop bags and put them in her pack. Then she came downstairs with a bunch of towels, one of which is the towel she always uses to dry me off. I was getting ideas and the sudden and quick motion of my tail reflected that.

Then Dad came upstairs and he was jiggling his keys. I got more ideas.

Then Mom went and got the lead. My ears were on high alert. Then Mom attached the lead to my collar, opened the front door, said “Joey, come” and I knew this was good! Off we went to Dad’s car and me to my usual place in the back seat.

In a little while we were at my beloved lake. I love the lake and I love the dogs and excitement that surround the lake. We took a nice walk and ended up at a cove at one end, where there is a gentle sandy beach. My mom took the lead, and headed straight for the water and I headed straight for the water as well. It was glorious.

My mom said something to somebody about “physical therapy” and my being hit by a car. I wasn’t interested in her talk, however. I had a conflict of interest: I was interested in the water and in another dog that was swimming. It was difficult to make a choice but Mom solved that conflict: She pulled on the lead and said, “Joey, come. Let’s swim!” and I followed, and we started walking in the water along the shoreline.

physical therapy for me

We walked as far as we could go in one direction and there I saw Dad on land! Then we walked back to the original place, and there I saw Dad again! We kept walking back and forth along the soft sands of the shoreline and Dad followed us so he could be near us.

I want to go in deeper

Soon I wanted to go in deeper. My parents said “Do you think he’s ready to go in deeper?” but I seemed to be telling them that I was ready for this so Mom let the lead out to its longest and let me swim out. Eventually I turned around to come back in.

We played this game for a while. Mom and I would head out into deep water and once there, I would decide to turn around and swim toward shore, where Dad was. I would go up on shore toward Dad, turn around, see my mom out there in the water, and decide to go back in the water toward her, as she said, “Joey come! and wiggled her fingers to urge me forward.

Once in a while I was distracted by the other dogs in the water but since I was on lead, there was no chance of going over there and though I tried, I understood my limitations.

conflict of interest

After a while, both my parents said “I think that’s enough for the first day” and I was perfectly happy to stay on land and dry off.

Tonight I had a huge appetite and I am both eager to go out again and very tired.

Physical therapy is really a lot of fun, if you’re a dog!

*******

how will we know when i can run again?

8: Rehabilitation 3 Responses »

Jul 262009

After ankle surgery, how can we know when it’s safe to take your dog running again?

My parents have been watching me like hawks to see when it’s okay for my dad and me to go running again.

My mom has started a series of long neighborhood walks with me, walking at a quick pace. She wants to strengthen my injured leg. She also wants to build endurance in me.

She looks to see if I am limping or using three legs and holding my injured leg up when I go quickly. She looks to see if I am walking on the grass or on the asphalt or sidewalk. She is looking to see if the pads of my paws are tender or are getting calloused and tough.

My parents are looking at the muscles on my left side, the injured side, and comparing them to the muscles on my right side.

When Dad and I are walking and he sees me hopping, he says “Use four legs” and I slow down. Mom has a different technique: “Walk slowly,” she says.

Today we were outside in the back yard and my dad has started throwing the ball for me to catch. He wanted me to see what speed I run at naturally and he noticed if I was hopping or using all four legs.

maybe i'm a little too wild for this stage of my recuperation but catching my ball is so much fun!

He noticed that I ran to catch the ball and that I used all four legs.

He noticed that after about ten minutes, I got tired and needed to stop and rest, so we stopped playing that game.

Yesterday my mom and I had a good long walk for 50 minutes. She was happy to see that I kept up the pace. She was happy to see that, though in the beginning I was hopping a little and she had to slow me down, after a while I used all four legs even when we were going at a fast walk.

My mom noticed that I walk comfortably on the street or sidewalk.

My parents are going to keep their eyes on me and watch me closely and patiently. They are also going to keep taking me on long walks with a quick pace. And they are going to throw me the ball in our back yard and watch me run after it and see how I do sprinting.

I’m happy to get all this training; it’s lots of fun but it’s no substitute for the real thing. My urge to run again is still alive and well.

safety first, safety always

8: Rehabilitation, _Stuff about dogs in General No Responses »

Jul 242009

Here are some more friends from the animal medical center: Dakota, the German Shepherd, and Steve, his handler. These are a really proud and nice team!

dakota_steve_3 Dakota guides Steve, who cannot see his way. Dakota was in the hospital because one morning when Steve was going to work and the two of them were going up an escalator, Dakota’s paw got stuck. He too was in a lot of pain, just like I had been. His toes were also broken, like mine had been. He too has to wear a collar, just like I did.

When they are walking together, Dakota helps Steve to walk in a straight line and around obstacles. Outside, Dakota also tells Steve where the curb is so Steve knows where to stop.

However, only Steve determines when it is time to go.

When they are stopped at a curb where there is a traffic light or a stop sign, Steve uses his sense of hearing to determine when it’s safe to cross.

Dakota and Steve are best friends but each one has his role and they work together as a team to ensure Steve’s safety and happiness.

I speak for Dakota when I say that dogs, even guide dogs, cannot understand or obey traffic signals and stop signs, and cannot make decisions about when it is safe to cross the street.

so many friends

8: Rehabilitation, 9: Complications 2 Responses »

Jul 222009

This morning I got a great bath!

Later in the morning one of the technicians brought me back outside to the lobby, where my mom was waiting for me. When she saw me she really exclaimed “Hi Puppy! Hi Joey!” It seems like it had been so long.

see the new friend I made!

She and my technician talked for a while, and then another technician came over and gave me a big pet. Then another technician came over and said, “Joey, are you going home?” She too gave me a big pet.

I still don’t know why I was in the animal medical center but I am very tired. I am tired because it was exciting to be there, I was kept busy and stimulated, and I am tired because the doctors took a lot of tests. The tests weren’t bad; each time I was brought into the medical part of the building, I would hear “Is that Joey?” and people would come over to greet me. That was a lot of fun for me.

This morning when we were headed toward the large glass doors, my mom said “Joey, sit” and I remembered and sat. I could see another dog outside and I wanted to be there with this dog. But I was good and stayed. Then she said “Good boy” and petted me and then she said “Joey, come!” and we continued out through the big doors, though by then that dog had left, and into our car.

In the beginning of the ride I was excited to feel the wind on my face but then tiredness overcame me.

Now I’m back home.

My mom can see that I need some sleep so I’m going to just lie here by her feet and sleep. The sun is shining: Maybe later on we will go outside and she will give me an opportunity to lay in the warm grass and watch the other animals that live in our neighborhood. Then Dad will come home from work and we will take a walk together, maybe even the three of us!

*************************

what’s going on?

8: Rehabilitation, 9: Complications No Responses »

Jul 212009

I didn’t tell you what’s been going on because I haven’t known much myself!

The other morning, bright and early, my mom drove me over to the big and now familiar animal hospital. Once inside, a few technicians came and got me and one of them took my lead and out we went! My mom said “Bye, Joey! See you in a few days!” and off I went with the technicians. For the last 5 days I’ve had a great opportunity to make friends here in this little place.

Things were just fine, I started making new friends. This is a nice section of the medical center where I have my own space. But today the a doctor came over to examine me and take some tests on me. Dr. T, who is really nice and gentle with me, took my blood pressure and also took a blood test. When I was having my blood pressure taken, people came over and said “Is that Joey?” They were really happy to see me after a long while and I was happy to see them too.

I’m not sure what’s going on and my parents haven’t come yet to pick me up so I’m just going to go along with the flow.

I’d say that I wish someone would explain to me what’s going on in a way that I would understand but I probably wouldn’t understand. In the meanwhile, I’ll just make friends with the other dogs and the doctors, technicians and volunteers, something I’m good at doing.

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