wINSTON

[cheryl186]

 A little over a week ago I noticed Winnie whine a little when I re-positioned him in bed...and this past Thursday when hubby was "boosting" him up into a chair (they were loving on each other on the floor)...he whined (seemed like a long time to me...).  Took him to the vet this morning and there is tenderness in his lower back....so he is on two weeks crate rest (which hubby actually has a death grip on him now...sitting by him in the chair...he had to beg me to do this).  Winnie is also on an anti-inflammatory for two weeks....the Vet was pretty optimistic and said we were being precautionary.  Winston doesn't display the tight belly, shivers, hunching of the back and no hesitation to do anything....he is running and playing normally....Vet said it could be sore muscles....or the start of something that we can "nip in the bud"....so please send rays to Winston that these two weeks of crate rest and meds will do the trick.  Have others here had success with "dodging the bullet" with the meds and crate rest for two weeks?  We hope it is just sore muscles...may be a little inflammed....sigh...sigh...sigh...

[Barb]

Rays on the way in full force.  My Rudy has had 2 similar episodes and with crate rest, steroids and anti-inflam. he has done ok.  During the create rest time, I make him walk very slowly and not very much.  It is much harder on us - keeping them still !!!

Keep us posted !

[Valerie]

The first time Cookie had issues with her back we were succesful with the strict diet, and medications (steriods, I think?).  She was perfectly fine for about a year, until she got heavy again and the back went out again (that was when we had the surgery).
I highly advise not letting him get fat.  (which is so hard with a doxie) and keep him on the crate rest.  I'll keep fingers and paws crossed here that he recovers fine and never needs anything more than rest!  :xfinger:

[cheryl186]

Okay I need advice....let me know if you think this would be okay.  His incessant barking and whining (like a parrot on crack) is driving us completely nuts.  Also is upsetting Winston and Zoe (who had back surgery a year ago)...and our other Dog.  We left the house today on purpose and got back at 6:30 so he was crated all day.  Right now he is sitting in hubby's lap and only allowed to get up to get a drink or something to eat.  I did just take him out to potty and right back in.  There are no steps in our house whatsoever...ramps to the chairs...the bed is surrounded by baby bed guard rails with a ramp at the bottom....if we crate for three weeks from 8am until 5pm and stay outside a couple hours after that...say until 7pm and then allow him in hubby's lap....then let him sleep with me in the bed described above (I do not move during the night) do you guys think this would work?  I know when a crate it not available people confine their babies to bathrooms and ex-pens or small kitchens.  Let me know if this sounds okay....our sanity to relying on it.....ps:  since it is the holiday and my vet isn't open until tuesday, I called the emergency clinic to see if they could recommend getting benedryl, rescue remedy, etc...they would not recommend anything until I talked to the vet because Winston is on steroids (anti-inflammatory called dexamethasone)...am going to call vet to see about the benedryl or other calming aids on Tuesday...that will make him sleepy and not want to move around so much.   :verdict: :idiot:

[Jeri]

Rays to Winston and anti whining rays for you!  We hope the crate rest is successful and that there is no surgery in his future!

[Barb]

Definatly use the rescue remedy to help calm him down.   8 hours is a long time to be in a crate - is there anyway someone could let him out at least once during the day?  As long as his activity is restricted, being out of the crate while you are home should be fine - you just have to watch him.  When Rudy was on crate rest - I got very little done around the house, because I didn't want to leave him in the crate while I was there - and they both always want to be right with me.  So I did a lot of resting as well !!!  We would snuggle in on the loveseat and I would lift him up and down and take him out periodically.

Also, Rudy has slept in the big bed since day 2 of us having him - and he would whine and bark if he couldn't sleep there. So even during his healing time, he would sleep in the big bed.  He normally does not move around much, and I don't either.  Of course dad has his whole side - but I just make sure Rudy is comfy on my side !!!!

We have ramps too - to the couch, loveseat and big bed - but while Rudy was recouperating, I wouldn't let him use them - I would lift him up and down. 

The main thing is he doesn't do anything to hurt himself.  Is an x-pen an option during the day?  You can make it smaller so there is not much room to move around, but maybe he can live with that better than being in the crate?

Keep us posted !

[doxielady5569128]

Oh No!!! Winston, we hope you get feeling better.  Hope you get out of da jail weal soon!!   Don't dwive your hooparents too cwazy wif dat barking.  i know its hard cuz you are madand wants attention.   My momma always puts a nice warm bwankie in my cwate and den she covers da outside wif my favowite bwankie so I can't see out.  Dis weally helps cause den I can't see all da fun eberyone else is having.   Den I gets bored and fall asweep.   Maybe dis would help you too??   Hope my 'vice helps.   

your fwiend,
Porky Pie

P.s. we're sending rays dat you feel better weal soon!!

[Roberta]

Iz is da latest fallen woman on da board, just do as youz mama says and youz will get better
WeE AmY

[cheryl186]

Hubby will let Winston out for a potty break around noon.  Thankfully hubby works only two miles away from home and normally comes home for lunch.  I have to talk to the vet today about Pepcid for his tummy. 

[MyLittleBoo]

Oh, Winston!!!  You poor little guy...   We hope that you get to feeling better soon, and that this crate rest and meds will help...  Just remember, your only in the crate, cuz your momma and daddy love you very much...           Cheryl, I will be praying for all of you...             :xfinger:      Hugs, prayers, rays and love coming your way from Idaho....              

[Barb]

Thats great that Dad can come home and let him out during the day....and then snuggle with him in the evenings !!!  Were you able to get him something to settle his tummy?

[cheryl186]

His tummy seems to be better and his stools are not as lose as they were.  At this point we are crating probably about 85 percent of the time...he is sleeping in the big bed with us which is completely safe and surrounded by baby bedrails.  At this point all I can say is Thank God for Benedryl...we had a really good night last night.  He was let out to potty at Noon and 5pm and then crated and hubby and I stayed outside until about 7pm.  I gave him the benedryl and he got sleepy....actually he and mommie then headed to da big bed around 8pm and we slept and slept until this morning....I have been so stressed out.  Thank you all for your healing prayers, rays and well wishes.  I will keep you updated on Winnie's progress. 

[Frankys_mom]

Gosh, major hugs to you and major rays headed your way for Winston!
Glad that his tummy is better... that Pepcid works wonders.
It seems like most, if not all of us have faced some form of back or neck issues with our babies.
I hope Winston continues to improve.
:xfinger:
Dawn