View Full Version : Dog-in-a-Box update 2/14
oceangirls
02-14-2012, 10:26 PM
Angel is doing very well today. She had no problem with the prednisone and can walk much better, also can stand to eat without shaking. Previously when urinating, she would start walking off the puppy pad before she was quite finished (probably due to both being unable to tell when she was done and being too weak to stay in a crouched position that long), but DH says this was significantly better the last time he took her in this evening. She still does not seem to be in much pain.
Main problem is she has not had a #2 except for a few "accidental" pieces in the crate yesterday (the vet said that would probably happen, and did not mean she couldn't control it). Considering she was vomiting all day/night Sunday, it's not as bad as it could be, but the vet showed me yesterday on the x-ray that she was rather "full" so she does need to go. It most likely was very uncomfortable to crouch and strain at first. We will follow up with the vet tomorrow and see what we need to do it she doesn't go by then.
She and her sister (who normally nap all day while DH is working in his office) spent the day whining and crying (and there was a certain amount of howling) - apparently they don't like the change. Once he came out and I got home, they fell asleep :rolleyes:.
Dog-in-a-Box says hi.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/rxkah/IMG_0237.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/rxkah/IMG_0239.jpg
Unboxed Dog says hi (she actually was saying, "please drop a piece of chicken sausage," but close enough).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/rxkah/IMG_0240.jpg
Icky warning but have you tried to help her poop? I know we have discussed pulling hairs out but have you considered squeezing the poop out for her so she does not have to or would she just look at you like "really, mom? really?"
I am so glad she is doing better today. Makes me extremely hopeful that she won't need surgery.
Love you to the moon.
oceangirls
02-14-2012, 10:40 PM
I think us trying to squeeze her intestinal area would freak her out. Angel considers being brushed to be a stressful experience :rolleyes:.
I don't think anyone would recommend surgery for her at this point as she is still so functional, the risks wouldn't be worth it.
Thanks for the :love98:, Rae of Sunshine :hug99:.
Your little Dox-in-a-Box is super beautiful. :love98: :sillylove: :love98: As in the non dox-in-a-box :love98:
I am thrilled to read she is doing better today. That is a great update. I think peeing is more important (but Amy can give more info) because you don't want the bladder overflowing. If she doesn't poop in her crate she might need to go to the vet and have it stimulated out of her. I don't think it is tough to do but I think the first time I would want to be shown by a vet.
:crossfin: she keeps on the path to healing.
areese
02-14-2012, 11:17 PM
Peeing is more important for sure. Tramodol can be constipating. I'd give her some plain canned pumpkin-that might help get things moving. Sounds like she is doing wonderfully!!!! :cheer3::cheer3::cheer3:
AmyinFL
02-15-2012, 12:06 AM
Glad she is doing better and doesn't seem to be in pain. :) :bigrayz::bigrayz: for a speedy recovery for your beautiful Angel!
AnnMarieK
02-15-2012, 01:09 AM
From time to time Lulu has back issues...thankfully she has always responded to pred & crate rest. The first time she had problems with her BM's... my vet told me to start giving her Colace to soften her stools therefore she wouldn't have to struggle straining. It took a couple of day, then worked like a charm. I kept it up through her recovery. Every time she has back issues I follow the same treatment and it seems to work for her. You might ask your vet if this might help Angel...
So glad for a good update! Both dox in & out of da box are adorable, as always :)
Dodgerslist showed us how to help with a BM & to express a bladder. You might consider a sling (eg, laptop bag strap), if Angel can't stand for long.
Good that prednisolone is reducing the inflammation & nerve impingement. Pred helped our Buddy too, during the month before his disc ruptured. Buddy showed no sign of pain either, yet went 100% down, so don't let that fool you. A noticeable sign was that while petting Buddy's mid-spine, he'd sometimes pull it away from (ie, avoid) our hand, and also that climbing a stair was sometimes difficult? And bending down to eat was sometimes painful? But any pain showed only for mere moments, not even minutes. Preds made all those signs go away. In retrospect, we should have started total confinement right away, exactly like you are doing for Angel. Have you found a pet stroller yet?
LexieLuvr
02-15-2012, 03:17 PM
Awwwwwwwww, poor girl! Hope the improvement really IS improvement!! More get-well :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz:, and ITA with the pumpkin suggestion.
stampendoxie
02-15-2012, 06:44 PM
So glad to hear that Angel is doing this well. Many years ago I had a doxie with back issues and he could not start his BM - likely pain related. The colace was not yet working so I used just a small part of a glycerine suppository which then lubericated the area and made the BM move easier.
Ok I am going to have to close this thread if we don't stop talking about Angel pooping because she is MORTIFIED!
:rotfl:
Kim- seriously, sincerely SOOO very happy she is doing better. I hear a dox in a box (and a dox unboxed) and am glad all of my Oceangirls are doing better.
oceangirls
02-15-2012, 09:24 PM
POOPING HAS OCCURRED :cheer3:
She did it today prior to any intervention. However, for those who are curious, the vet tech recommended (1) large servings of canned food, and (2) belly-rubbing to get things moving :). I am sure most dachshunds would be supportive of this plan.
Ivan, I have not looked for a stroller yet, although I plan to. Right now she is doing well in the crate, and I think her sister wants to be able to see her. If anyone has a good stroller recommendation, let me know.
Thanks for all the good suggestions, too! You guys are great.
If you have no stairs, then putting your crate on a furniture dolly might work instead of a pet stroller. It's not as easy to maneuver but...
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/outdoors/garden-center/milwaukee/1000-lb-wooden-furniture-dolly-8491.html
I heart my Pet Edge stroller.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=pet+edge+dog+stroller&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1157&bih=645&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=2qCZFTtzse7IKM:&imgrefurl=http://www.debbiedoesdrivel.com/2009_06_01_archive.html&docid=eotsg1fg3Q2d5M&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9h6gBbfOZg/SiR-Q7_fspI/AAAAAAAABQw/GTpmXeHidEo/s400/Dog_Stroller.jpg&w=314&h=400&ei=5W88T7mJG8KutweU4ejWBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=800&vpy=253&dur=6526&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=72&ty=273&sig=117588480854269533598&page=3&tbnh=143&tbnw=113&start=39&ndsp=24&ved=0CJwCEK0DMDE
and there are a bunch here www.petstrollers.cc/
Oh Kim I am so glad to hear Angel is doing better. Just take one day at a time.
Will continue to send healing :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: to your sweet girl.
:hug99: for Cassie so she doesn't feel left out. :)
Frzframe
02-16-2012, 08:46 PM
Glad she's doing better and not still plugged up. More recovery :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: on their way.
You'll need to lift Angel out many times per day. Since Angel can't walk out, an open top design is easiest.
[/URL]
[url]http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies/cratetopconvert.pdf (http://www.%3cb%3edodgerslist%3c/b%3E)
So atop Yo's awesome stroller base, we put a box made from closet shelving:
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=5190159792228B82&id=5190159792228B82!357 (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=5190159792228B82&id=5190159792228B82%21357)
It was perfect for Buddy. Since Angel is petite, you can go all prefab.
lotsadox
02-17-2012, 12:59 AM
The first link doesn't work, Ivan.
I used a cheap one that I got from a catalog for Bogart. It wasn't great but had a mesh top that you could put up or down and it was fine for what we used it for. Since we have a 2 story house, it was also good because being small, I could pick it up and take the whole stroller upstairs. He was very happy in it and didn't ever try to get out on his own. Since it had low sides it was easy for me to get him out without having to reach over the high sides and lift him up. Ouch, my back. If I thought I needed it, I could put the mesh top up to keep him in.
I like several of those, Rae. If I have to buy another, I'm going to invest in a better one like one of those.
Both links worked for me. Good ideas. I liked yours best.
lotsadox
02-17-2012, 11:09 PM
Both links worked for me. Good ideas. I liked yours best.
Yup, it's fixed now :)
Alex's Mom
02-18-2012, 08:10 AM
Geez, Kim, I've been so caught up in my own drama that I totally missed this great update. Sorry!!!!!!! Tons of :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: for both the girls, and a bunch of :hug99::hug99::hug99: for you.
oceangirls
02-18-2012, 01:12 PM
I've been looking for a stroller base like Buddy's forever, since my stepmom has a beach condo and we have to carry the girls' travel crate up an elevator. I really wanted a convertible crate/stroller, but they don't look as sturdy as the regular strollers :scratch:.
I like the Pet Gear Roadster or Expedition - they look sturdy and I like that (1) they look NOTHING like human baby strollers :) and (2) they are close to the ground so walking dogs and riding dogs are almost on the same level.
Incidentally, Angel continues to do great. We will try tapering the prednisone tomorrow. Dh is out of town all next week, but I know my mom will stop by for them. Nice to have a mom around.
lotsadox
02-18-2012, 03:31 PM
I actually like the ones that are a bit taller. They're easier on the back when having to lift the dog out. It also discouraged snarking at other dogs because he was taller than they were. Well, at least taller than MY other dogs. :rotfl::rotfl:
I"m glad Angel is doing so well. :cheer3::cheer3:
Huge thanks to Yolanda for letting us borrow her pet stroller.
It's made by Kittywalk. http://www.petstrollers.cc/kittywalk-original-suv-pet-stroller.html
Fwiw: cage part lifts off, and can be carried separately (see thumbnails)! It's made of fabric & string (chewable), and collapses to 2". Stroller part also collapses, is well built, and has a flat nylon fabric platform where the cage sits. The platform can hold any box up to 16" wide, such as Buddy's home-made "crate". I wish our existing wire crate would have fit.
An open top was nice, to feed, comfort, massage, lift, & change soiled sheets. A handy height for us too, and Buddy never tried to climb out.
The stroller was a great idea, indoors & outdoors. Lisa was right!
Let's hope Angel won't need confinement for very long. :bigrayz:
Mama S.
02-18-2012, 11:35 PM
SO glad she is doing better !! Wish I was closer, you could have the stroller that I bought that neither of my tards would stay in:( So very glad I only paid $40 - it was used but brand new. It is growing cobwebs in my shed:(
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