Generally, Scooter seems to be doing well - one week on and he loves his ex-pen "bedroom". He's eating and barking and pooping and gumming away at his rawhides and all the things that bring a Dachshund joy. Sometimes in the afternoon I will lay down on the floor and have naps with him.
Today and yesterday though he has seemed a little more wobbly on his legs than usual. Perhaps it's the cold and damp (it's been VERY cold and damp); and perhaps it's me overreacting. Who doesn't have an "off" day, right? But this morning on our potty outing, he stumbled, and I swear my heart stopped for several seconds. I rushed him inside immediately and checked to be sure he could still flip each back paw right side up (you all know the drill). Which, he could - easily - and he was monumentally annoyed with me for the whole process, both of which are good signs. And then I set him in his ex-pen and let him take a few steps around and he seemed okay as well.
He's tucked away in his crate for the day while I'm at work, but I'm sitting here completely distracted and overcome with worry. GOOD GRIEF. Fellow humans with wonky-backed Dachsies, do they ever have minor bad days? Should I keep him crated over the weekend? When do I panic and when do I wait and see? Do Senior Wieners' get stiff joints in bad weather just like Senior Humans? I swear, sometimes I think I'm going to pass out from the stress... (and then some days, I wonder if poor Scooter laments the fact he has such a melodramatic mom)
Argh. Thanks for letting me vent. *sheepish grin*
Maybe he stepped on a pebble, or something that small, and that made him stumble? He's already wobbly, my guess is it wouldn't take much. As long as he's OK now, I wouldn't worry about it. I know, easier said than done. IF ONLY THEY COULD TELL US WHAT THEY FEEL!!!!!!
One other thing I've learned, is that they CAN, even years later, have bouts of pain that make them scream. I don't know if that's only with the ones that have had surgery. It happened to Gretchen, about a year after her surgery. She walked in circles, screaming! Scared the life out of us. We scooped her up and off to the ER vet we went. He gave her a shot of some powerful pain med (can't remember the name) and sent her home to sleep it off. He explained it, but I can't remember that either! LOL! I know, "thanks for the info, Delia - very helpful!" She's had a few episodes since. Now, we have Rimadyl and Robaxin on hand. A few days of that and crate rest and she's good as new. I just wanted to warn you, incase it happens to Scoot-man.
Delia, thank you! This is actually very helpful! Just hearing your story and knowing I'm not the only one who gets scared to death reassures me.
Also, I'm thinking perhaps I should call the vet and get a supply of painkillers and anti-inflammatory to have on hand, just in case. Do you think they'd do that for me?
Perhaps five weeks in the crate wasn't enough...POOR SCOOTER.
Don't expect the recovery to be a straight trajectory. There will be crappy days. If he is on daily meds, you might want to put a heating pad or warms towel on him for 30 minutes of so. Not only does the heat help, but he'll still for 30 minutes.
Remember this ONE TRUE THING: the dog is not worried. He is not wondering: "how long will it hurt? Will it get worse? What if...."
They only know, "I feel crappy right now." or, conversely "WOW! What a great day! I'm a dachshund, time for trouble!" :grin:
If ya can adopt that perspective--and yeah, I know it's hard, your mind will rest easier. In the long run, you will provide the best possible care and treatment without delay. Who could ask for more, eh?
Aw, thank you Leslie! You're right - whatever Scooter may or may not be feeling right now, he is not worried.
He's done with his meds and is just on a daily joint supplement. But if he's still wobbly when I get home tonight, I'm going to definitely try the heating pad and a couple days' crate rest. And if, God forbid, things get worse, I will deal with them as they come.
I will do my best to adopt a perspective with more...well, perspective. :grin: Thank you again! Your words of wisdom have been very helpful!
Oh, yes ... very definitely a heating pad. Good point, Leslie. Gretchen loves that thing. Just be careful it doesn't get too hot. Ron sits in the recliner with her and her heating pad. That way he can turn if off if it gets too hot. If Scooter is like Gretchen, he'll melt and fall into a deep sleep.
I bet your vet will give you some meds to have at home. As you know, these things seem to happen in the middle of the night and on a weekend.
You might also try wrapping a bag of rice in a towel then popping it into the microwave. Here's how to make a heating pad with rice:
http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-microwave-heating-pad/
My cat loves her heated rice pad.
:confused: Not to add more drama to the trauma, but . . .
Has anyone ever heard of hip dysplasia in dachshunds? :scratch:
Auntie Karen :heart: :heart:
Thanks, Marcia!
UPDATE: I found a local vet who not only does accupuncture, but makes house calls! HOORAY. She is coming out next Saturday to visit Scooter, and her cost is only $75 a visit, far less than the $200 I was looking at for the other vet's office I'd checked out. *whew* Please keep your fingers crossed that this will be good news for my little Scooterman.
Karen YES to hip dyspalsia...........................Oliver has it slightly with a tad of arthritis around the edge of the left hip. That was what was wrong with him last year. With that he was rested then gradually worked up to movement, he has days with it to.
As for scooter, its the yo yo effect. Amy had surgery in 2007, then last year for no reason she was sore, so back in da pen for two-three weeks. She does have off days, when she is not a happy camper, make sure he does not have to drag or jump into his bed as we think that effects Amy. Must admit the bowen helps her, Amy does not wobble, she just looks as if she is walking on glass, which we found out was not the back but some of the muscles spasming.
Did they say to do short, and I mean short walks, leash on for the width of a house plot then add, a house plot every week, and let them go at their pace. As they do have to strrenghten the muscles again
The bed causes us problems as all beds here have high sides so we have now put a 3 inch wool pad under their old bed, which looks a sight, but they love it.
We had a laugh last year when we took her to the vet for a check up after the event, Amy now does the footie flip thing is you touch her back feet, Jane the vet thought it hilarious, sort of "you want me to do that, OK"
Roberta
You can also put the rice in a clean sweat sock and heat it in the microwave.
Noel - I agree with Delia - Lily is 4 years post surgery and we have pain meds and muscle relaxers on hand due to the occasional bad days. They don't last, but cause me major angst! She will walk very stiffly and shake and a couple of pills and some crate rest and she is back up and at 'em. I think they can get stiff from the cold and damp and arthritis just like us older humans can. Relax and know that the good days far out weigh the bad ones.
Of course they get stiff in cold damp days just like us humans they get Mr.Arthur too just like us, Mr Arthur does not discriminate between humans or animals wish we could shoot Mr.Arthur he is a pain in the A$$.
Congratulations on finding the Vet. that does acupuncture and actually makes house calls!!!! How AWESOME is that!!!! Zoe had surgery in 2006. We have occasional days when she is moving a little slower than others....we too have tramadol and dexamethasone on hand, just in case. Now it's not just for Zoe but for Winston too...
Thanks, all! Scooter seems to be feeling better - he only fumbles a bit when he tries to get in too much of a hurry, but his slow and steady walk is a-okay - hooray!
We're looking forward to meeting Dr. Kim on Saturday. Well, I am, at least. *g*