Now some questions

[Roberta]

Maybe we should have aplace for all these so duhhhs like me don't ask themagain.
How long long was it till you lsft them Home alone( our case with ADD Oliver}
did you  use the crate when you left her/him
playpens are they any use
did you get any antislip mats.
beds we have a very flattend bumber bed, is a big thick polar tec blankie (6 layer thick better)


We are getting there ramp out the back door made even longer so she has a really slow gradiant than now

We went last night and she had been good till we came then she started her moooooooooooing again. The nurse said she has stood at one point and demanded to get out...........and the vet house cat has now been sighted and recognised as s CAT.
The vets there said we got got onto it pretty fast and they say its up to her when she comes home she has s to poo and wee on her own first. She looked as if she was we'ng onto her bedcloth ok as  I put my arm in it, they said they change them regularly.
I have bought some polar tec to make her a few jackets as its still cold here, and new blankies.
I'm now teriffied to bring her home in case she breaks.............
Oliver's big day is going ot be to-day as he is to be alone, we have some seditives if he needs them but we left him yesterday to visit her and to shop and he seemed OK, Ill ask Marjorie next door to momitor him for barking.

[Valerie]

I'll try to help!

I am assuming Amy can't walk yet?  It took Cookie almost 2 weeks of being home before she stood up and started walking.  But, she tried her best to drag those back legs behind her.  :crazyeyes:

Cookie has not been crated and hates it, so we didn't stress her out by crating her, rather we used the baby playpen to keep her confined.  My DH took 2 sections out of the playpen to make it a smaller square.   We found the playpen very useful.   We kept towels in there for her to lay on, nothing to fluffy at first.
I am trying to think how long it was before we left the house, and I can't remember.  :scratch:  My Dh works from home, so she had someone with her.

The first day and night home with her were terrifying for us.  Like you said, we were afraid of hurting her.  She was tired, crabby and obviously in some pain from the surgery.   She was fidgety and didn't want to sleep.  It took about a whole day at home before she started acting like she even knew who we were.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with.  But... each day got a little easier. 

Bathroom time may be one of the harder things.  I learned how to hold Cookie's rear end up while she pooped.  We didn't think about that, and the first couple of times she pooped she ended up sitting in it.  

When you bring Amy home, you will do fine.  Ask as many questions as you have!  This board was a lifesaver for me after COokie's surgery.

[Delia and girls]

Wow, Roberta, I missed the whole thing until now. I had to go back to your old post to catch up. Glad to hear she's doing so well so early in the healing process. A wagging tail is definitely a good sign. Kudos to you for catching it so fast. Rays and prayers going your way from Texas.

I think your idea of a playpen (or expen) is good. When Gretchen had her surgery, I found it difficult to get her out of her crate. She wasn't strong enough to stand up and help me get her out and I cringed at the thought of hurting her as I reached in and pulled her out as gently as I could. I ended up putting her in an expen(I made it as small as it would go), where I could open it, walk in and pick her up to take her to potty. I put a flat pillow, a bowl of water and after she was not sleeping as much, something to chew on. If it's cold, maybe throw a blankie over her? As for how long until we left her alone - I can't answer that. Ron and I have the luxury of working opposite each other and during that time, we made an extra effort to never leave her alone.

[Barb]

Oh Roberta - I am just now catching up.  Sending more of the Texas rays that Delia sent.  Sounds like Amy is doing really good - wagging tail is great !  The few times that Rudy has had back episodes, I crated him and came home at lunch to let him out (4 hrs) - then Jimmy came home by 4.  I put Brandy''s day bed right by the crate and she would sleep right by the crate during the day.  I think the x-pen or small play pen is a great idea.  If you have to be away at work all day, is there someone that can come in once maybe twice to check on Amy, and Oliver?

Please keep us posted - we are here for you and are praying that she gets to come home Tuesday !

[Roberta]

we can get her home to-night if we want. She is walking just a little weak at the back end.  when I called for an update this morning they said she has eaten and piddled on her own and basically wants MUM................
I think we just got to it in time, she having the physio see her to-day and we may have to take her daily for a while, as long as its not swimming as that girlie DOES not like getting any part of herself in water!

The crate I bought I did not like as as you say its hard to get her in or out easily. I may make her a thick pad of polar tec for a bed. I'll see about the pen to-morrow, is the ex pen the wire ones you get for dogs etc.
roberta
 

[Barb]

She will be so glad to come home to her family !!!  Yes, the x-pens are the wire pens.  Look forward to a report tomorrow.  Hugs to you !

[doxielady5569128]

I am so glad everything turned out okay for you and Amy!   How terrifying that must have been.   

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

It will be a relief to get her home I am looking forward to picturing her there with Mum and Dad and brother Oliver! Poor little girl, they go through so much when this thing hits. You have a long road ahead but it's amazing how fast it can go once you get started. Then comes the neurotic watching over her like a hawk when you can start letting her out  :crazyeyes: but that fades too when you see her doing things and not having any problems. Give her a hug for us, I think the idea of an xpen for her is good!

[Delia and girls]

I think you will be happier with the expen vs the crate. Yes, it's the wire ones. They fold down really small and you can make it bigger as she is allowed more freedom. The biggest plus is you can get in there to pick her up. AND...you can get in there and lay down with her.

It sounds like she's going to have the same recovery Gretchen had. I think it was the day after the surgery, she was walking - very wobbly, but walking and pp'ing. It's been about 4 years now, and you couldn't tell if you didn't know it. If she's done that well at the vet's, you'll be absolutely amazed how fast she recovers at home. Then the really hard part, though - keeping her still/confined when she doesn't see the need to anymore.

[Kari]

We brought Penny home 3 days after her surgery and I think it was a couple of weeks before she could walk on her own. Even at that she was really wobbly. We used a towel under her belly to support her back end when she went out. We used an Xpen in the shape of a small square (4 panels) for her so we could lift her in and out of it easier. There was enough room for a flat mat for her to sleep on. She was pretty sedate for the first couple of days and just slept. She did whine and cry at times but we just ignored it and sat outside the pen and pet her. We did let her out of the pen only if one of us was holding her on our lap. I was terrified the first day I was alone with her that I was going to hurt her but it does get better.

Please let us know how it goes! Rays headed her way.

Kari

[cheryl186]

Roberta, so glad that Amy is doing so well....that is wonderful :apls:.  With Zoe, I was off from work for two weeks to help her recouperate.  After that, I would have hubby come home from work to let her out to pp and potty at lunchtime.  Has the vet's office told you to use a "sling" or a towel to help  her when she goes potty?  The first couple of days we used it to help hold Zoe's back side up while she went potty.  That is easy to do and our vet hospital let me practice there before I brought Zoe home.  The ex-pen is a wonderful idea.  Also, to make her feel involved with the family and not isolated, if you have a doggie stroller it will help her if you wheel her from room to room to be with the family and not isolated in one spot (although with the ex-pen you could probably fold it up and place her in different rooms of the house to be with you).  I had several crates set up in different rooms so Zoe could be with us all over the house.  After several weeks, I know others would take their babies for walks in their strollers and the puppers loved it.  For when she starts to feel better and you have trouble keeping her occupied in her ex-pen, kong toys filled with peanut butter, and knuckle bones help keep them occupied for awhile.  I had Zoe on a total of 8 weeks of crate rest; they say 6 to 8 weeks.  You also may want to join Dodgerslist.  I still belong on that list and between everyone here and there, you will get wonderful advice and support.  And yes, it is frightening after the crate rest is over and you must start to let them be more on their own...but we will help you get through that too.  Take care and give Amy and Oliver extra hugs and kisses from us all :thumb: