Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Sampson Update

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There is so much I want to tell you about Sampson’s surgery, but right now I’m so damn tired I just can’t put a decent post together.  I can’t wrap my mind around it and pull it together.

I will just tell you this.  Sampson and I are staying on a futon mattress on the floor in my office.

When will I get out of this room? WHEN?

When will I get out of this room? WHEN?

This is where he’s been spending 97% of his time.  The other 3% is spent on potty breaks outside and five minute leash walks twice a day.   Because we live in a raised ranch, his leash walks are taking place on our deck.   Each walk consists of between 19 to 25 trips back and forth.  After he walks, I ice his leg for 15 to 20 minutes.

Yes that's me walking on my leg.

Yes that’s me walking on my leg.  You can tell he’s not putting full weight on it based on the size of his foot, in comparison to the others.

He also has range of motion exercises that I do with him three times a day.  Today our walks increase to three times per day, my plan is to do his range of motion exercises and then walk him and ice him.

This week I’m working five and a half hour days and when I’m off to work, he has to be in the cone.  We have to make sure he can’t get at that leg.

What the woof did I do to deserve this?

What the woof did I do to deserve this?

The combination of the cone and the confinement is giving him a little bit of stress.  I feel bad for him.  Yesterday when I came home he was panting a lot, and wouldn’t settle down until I sat with him.  Then he calmed down and went to sleep.

Hopefully we can both hang in there until next Wednesday when those staples come out.

Any of you who’ve gone through surgeries with your pets have any suggestions to help keep him calm?  Or make him feel less stressed? This tired Mama would appreciate any suggestions you have.

The Cone that Ate Sampson

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Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-Up Friday.  The post where I highlight reader’s comments, answer questions and generally wrap up my week.

You Make Me Smile – March 23, 2014

YMMS 3-23-14

Emma said, “Goodness, I’m guessing hubby is in bed too which would make four full sized bodies in a full bed over full!”

Actually, Sampson and I have been staying on the futon mattress in a spare room.  Hubby and Delilah are still sleeping in the bedroom.  Except Hubby doesn’t usually settle in as early as Delilah would like, so she comes in and snuggles with us.

Frankie and Ernie said, “They Truly do LOVE getting to cuddle up with us, don’t they?”

This Mama sure does!

Donna suggested, “Maybe you can get YOURSELF a comfy dog bed?’

There have been nights when I’ve actually thought about sleeping on one of their beds. 🙂

I Dehydrated a Pancake

Many thanks to Vlad & Barkly’s Dee for the new (to me) gluten-free website!  I’m always up for finding new sites to help me with this dietary requirement.

Jenna, Mark “HuskyCrazed Drady said, “I saw this giveaway also, and I wanted to enter, but have no idea for a recipe, or anything like that!

Don’t let that stop you!  Here’s a little tip that Jodi gave me, if you can bake it, you can dehydrate it.  Take one of your favorite dog treat recipes and then place it on a cooling rack and set that rack on a cookie sheet and bake it at the lowest setting in your oven.  The time varies depending upon the treat.  You will have to check it.

Head For the Hills

Try to keep up woman, life is short and there are lots of good things to smell.

Try to keep up woman, life is short and there are lots of good things to smell.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “Ducky, on the other hand, could jerk your arm right out of its socket when she pulls.”

Guess what Sue?  Sampson’s physical therapist told me about a different type of harness designed to stop the pulling.  I’m working on getting one and will keep you updated if it works.

No is When the Negotiation Begins

I'm comfy, how about you?

I’m comfy, how about you?

Molly the Wally said, “LOL D makes us chuckle as I try and do lap dog too.”

Molly, I think you are the perfect size for a lap dog. 🙂

Sue said, “In my experience, the hardest part will be towards the end of that – when he’s really feeling good and you’ll still need to keep him quiet.”

I do believe you are right.  He already tries to run (he tucks that leg up.)  Twice already Delilah’s started barking and he’s tried to run and investigate.  I’ve been off since Wednesday so I can care for him, but next week I go back 1/2 days,  which is why Hubby put the crate back up and he will have to be in the crate when one of us isn’t here.

I totally hate putting him in the crate with that giant cone on his head, but I can’t take a chance that he will run.  Have you seen that freaking cone?

I feel like a giant sunflower in this thing.

I thought I was supposed to eat cones, not the other way around.

 

It’s gifuckingnormous.

The physical therapist insisted he have a cone that large because he has a long nose.  Personally I feel he’s so dejected when I put it on him, that he will simply lie there.  BUT we can’t take any chances, so I have to put my baby in a cone and then in a crate.  But as the PT reminded me, it’s only for two weeks and most of that time someone will be monitoring him.  Although I do put the cone on him at night, just in case.

True story, the first night Sampson decided he wanted to snuggle with me and I got smacked in the face by the cone at 3 in the morning.

Jan K said, “There is nothing like a little silliness to help relieve stress! You and your sister sound like quite the pair.”

 

We like to think so Jan. 😉

Jan says, “I love what the vet office always says when you call with a problem. “Keep an eye on him.” Like, gee, who would have thought to do that?”

Right?  Like how do you think I spotted it to begin with?  It wasn’t because I was playing Candy Crush. 😉

Well that’s a wrap for me, hope you all have a great weekend!  And thank you again for all the love and support!

No Is When the Negotiation Begins

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I’ve frequently said Delilah and I are very alike.  We are both determined, stubborn, and persistent, with a desire to please people. These traits can be both a blessing and a curse depending upon the situation.

One of my favorite sayings that I heard from my friend Laura is “No is when the negotiations begin.”  I would say this holds true for both Delilah and myself.  The surest way to get me to do anything is to tell me I can’t do it.

I try something and it doesn’t work so I try it in a different way.  Sometimes though, I have to accept the fact that it’s just not doable.

Thankfully dogs are not capable of understanding can’t. And Delilah NEVER takes no for an answer.

Me: Delilah you aren’t a lap dog.

 

I'm comfy, how about you?

Delilah: How can you say that?  Look I fit.

 

When we got our last big snowstorm, I didn’t get around to shoveling off the back stairs and once the snow starting melting, the stairs got really dangerous.  I took to placing a wicker patio chair upside down at the bottom of the steps to prevent the dogs from going up or down.

Except it didn’t.

What the woof is this chair doing in my way?

What the woof is this chair doing in my way?

Delilah of course,  went off into the snow and jumped off the wall.

These dogs will be the death of me.

Sampson had his ACL surgery on Tuesday.  

The surgeon said it went exactly the way you’d like your dog’s surgery to go.   The procedure used is called TTA.  This required Sampson to spend the night at the vets.  That was super hard for me, as he has never stayed at the vet’s office before.  I checked in on him throughout his stay and he seemed to tolerate it well, although he may have a touch of stress colitis going on, so I’m keeping a close eye on him.

My sister went with me to help me get him in and out of the car and into the house.   While we were waiting we got a bit silly.

3-27-14-2

 

They had this really cool statue in the lobby, I’m not sure you can tell or not, but it’s on a platform with wheels.  After waiting about 10 minutes, my sister said, “Let’s put the cone, collar and leash on the ‘dog’ and I’ll push, you pull and we can take it for a walk.”

We giggled.  Then I handed her my phone and said, “Push this button and take my picture with the dog and the cone.”

Oh yes I did.

3-27-14-4

I’m best not left alone to my own devices when I’m anxious.

Eventually we met with the physical therapist and FINALLY she went and got Sampson.  As soon as he got out of the car, he peed and pooped.   Once in the house he took a big drink of water and finished his breakfast.  About fifteen minutes later,  he threw up.  The next time he went outside and pooped I noticed a little blood on it.  I called the vet’s office and that’s when they said he may have some stress colitis going on.  We both tended to agree the vomiting was due to him drinking so much water. but I was advised to keep an eye on it and call if it continues.

I’m planning a post on Sampson’s recovery and what it entails and that will probably be some time next week, but I did want to update you all and let you know how he was doing and thank you all again for the awesome support.  I couldn’t have gotten through Tuesday without your texts, phone calls, messages and comments.  You are the very best friends a girl could have!!  Please bear with me as we get through the next phase of Sampson’s recovery and I hope to be back visiting and catching up with all of you soon!

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