[Skylar]

My trainer in obedience class noticed Theo was walking funny throwing one leg out as he heeled next to me. Then I saw he was sitting funny, like a floppy puppy so we made a vet appointment.

He was sedated for an X-ray which was normal. The vet called it a soft tissue injury and he’s on two weeks of bed rest and Galliprant medication. No running, jumping, stairs etc.

I have no idea when or how he was injured. He never cried, I saw no accident. He was jumping and bouncing around like normal. I assume he wasn’t feeling much pain, or enough pain to avoid jumping on and off couches or rearing up to walk on his hind legs when he wanted.

I have him tethered to me on a 6’ leash. I’m so glad I had him tethered as a puppy for several months because he understands what it means and doesn’t fight it.

However he still wants to be active. It’s driving me nuts trying to stop all his jumping. I have to be quick to get him up or down before he does it himself.

I’m also thankful I can carry him up and down stairs.

What I didn’t expect was how it would change the dynamics with my other minipoo Babykins. I’ve had to stop them playing and they miss it terribly. She’s upset because Theo is often in her spot (tethered and can’t move). The dogs are used to going back and forth between couches and dog beds so they each get special time with Me and that’s disrupted.

We normally have an active schedule, and now we stay home, doing nothing. The only thing we have been able to do is a little Scentwork. But I have to be careful where I set hides so he doesn’t jump up or want to run and bounce while hunting.

We have one more week to go and I can’t wait. It’s exhausting to keep a 2 yo minipoo on bed rest when he doesn’t understand and wants to be active. I hope we all survive this last week.

 

[twyla]

Oooh I feel yout pain, keeping an active dog quiet is ... well interesting and a bit trialing at best.
Speedy recovery to Thei

 

[Skylar]

Here’s a picture showing how funny he’s sitting. We had a rally trial just before we saw the vet and before the vet told us bed rest. I wouldn’t have gone except he was acting completely normal at home.

I also set up his pen hoping he would rest inside and I would get a break from tethering. This is what he did. Oops, back to tethering.

 

[Skylar]

Thanks Twyla. I suspect this would be easier if he had bed rest prescribed after surgery or if he seriously felt pain and wanted to avoid it. It is interesting.

 

[twyla]

Oh Skylar, sometimes even surgery doesn't slow certain dog's down.
Cue fond memories of Bea scaling gates and pens post both of her knee surgeries

 

[Skylar]

Oh Skylar, sometimes even surgery doesn't slow certain dog's down.
Cue fond memories of Bea scaling gates and pens post both of her knee surgeries

Yikes

 

[Kukla the Tpoo]

Ugh, keeping a dog on bed rest can be so difficult for both you and the dog. I hope this second week of bed rest goes by quickly for you and Theo!

 

[Skylar]

Ugh, keeping a dog on bed rest can be so difficult for both you and the dog. I hope this second week of bed rest goes by quickly for you and Theo!

Thank Kukla I can’t wait for it to be over.

 

[fjm]

Ouch - crate rest is so important but can be such hard work. Ottosson toys, Kongs to chew and - as you have found - carefully staged scent games worked best for us when Sophy was on three weeks complete rest for her back. By the final days she was trying to run zoomies on a 6' leash...!

 

[Minie]

Poor Theo. Praying for a speedy recovery

 

[Skylar]

Ouch - crate rest is so important but can be such hard work. Ottosson toys, Kongs to chew and - as you have found - carefully staged scent games worked best for us when Sophy was on three weeks complete rest for her back. By the final days she was trying to run zoomies on a 6' leash...!

I haven’t pulled out the feeding puzzles because I’m afraid Babykins will get jealous, even if Theo has them in his pen. They are like 2 toddlers. It doesn’t matter how many or how evenly distributed the special toys are, they both want what each other has. if I did feeding puzzles I would have to have my husband take Babykins on a walk outside. I have taken out several bully sticks for both dogs. They haven’t had them in a while so that was special

Kongs are part of our evening ritual so that is going well.

Poor Theo. Praying for a speedy recovery

thanks Minie

The worst part is pilling Theo, he’s the worst, I’m using every trick in the book and bacon flavored pill pockets. Chicken, cheese and peanut butter isn’t good enough. I’m feeding him so many pieces of empty pill pocket to slip his pill in that he’s not eating well. Oh well, this will all be over in a week and quickly forgotten. Babykins is enjoying this part because he sees her gobbling down the pill pocket pieces which is encouraging him to eat his “treats”.

 

[twyla]

I am a firm believer in not hiding pills I just straight up open their mouths and pop them down back of mouth, but there still has been a time or two I have crushed up pills and mixed them in a little meat baby food most recently it was Nellie soooo, I do understand

 

[Skylar]

I am a firm believer in not hiding pills I just straight up open their mouths and pop them down back of mouth, but there still has been a time or two I have crushed up pills and mixed them in a little meat baby food most recently it was Nellie soooo, I do understand

Twyla I do the same with Theo for smaller pills, put them at the back and hold his mouth while I tickle the throat to swallow. But these pills are too large for that. I might try mixing with baby strained meat. Thanks

 

[ShamrockPoodle]

I have had two relatable experiences. When Toula was a baby she had orthopedic issues which ended with surgery after she turned a year. The only way I could cope with two minis that wanted to play was to set up an extremely large expen in the family room with yoga mats and non slip rugs on the floor. Toffee could come in the expen only when I was in there with Toula to supervise the little games I made up. Funny—they still play those games!!! My previous mini poo Teddy Bear often had some tissue injuries from jumping. He was the only poodle and learned to settle down and ask for assistance to get on and off of couch. Hoping Theo heals soon and you can resume your normal schedule!!!

 

[fjm]

We have a daily pill round for all three dogs - Poppy gets Denamarin and a vitamin B+E pill, Sophy a glucosamine supplement broken into two pieces and Freddy half a B+E - all are wrapped in chicken or a blob of tinned food and Freddy gets an extra taste to keep things fair. It means that medicines are considered treats and greatly anticipated which makes life so much easier when there are drugs they have to take.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

Poor Theo. And poor you! Looking forward to a happy update next week when all—fingers crossed!—returns to normal.

 

[Starla]

I’ll be wishing this week passes quickly for you!

 

[Skylar]

I have had two relatable experiences. When Toula was a baby she had orthopedic issues which ended with surgery after she turned a year. The only way I could cope with two minis that wanted to play was to set up an extremely large expen in the family room with yoga mats and non slip rugs on the floor. Toffee could come in the expen only when I was in there with Toula to supervise the little games I made up. Funny—they still play those games!!! My previous mini poo Teddy Bear often had some tissue injuries from jumping. He was the only poodle and learned to settle down and ask for assistance to get on and off of couch. Hoping Theo heals soon and you can resume your normal schedule!!!

Thank you, I can’t wait for our normal routine. I wish I could let my two play, but the play is too vigorous, definitely not bed rest. I never thought to play quiet calm games with the both of them. Theo is learning to look for me to lift him, but not consistently.

I did have a tpoo who developed a patella problem when she was older and she learned quickly to be lifted up and down. It did make life easier and safer knowing she wouldn’t jump down.

We have a daily pill round for all three dogs - Poppy gets Denamarin and a vitamin B+E pill, Sophy a glucosamine supplement broken into two pieces and Freddy half a B+E - all are wrapped in chicken or a blob of tinned food and Freddy gets an extra taste to keep things fair. It means that medicines are considered treats and greatly anticipated which makes life so much easier when there are drugs they have to take.

Fjm, Theo is hard core awful to pill dog. He goes to a lot of training classes and I’ve had him try so many high value treats that my friends use and he spits them out. Freeze dried stinky salmon, fresh cheese, home cooked chicken Etc. Then he will work the pill pocket off in his mouth and spit the pill out. I’ve tried coating pills with all kinds of tasty foods and they get spit out. I play the random game, several random pieces with no pill followed by a pill and then more with no pill. I also sit Babykins next to him using the pressure that if he doesn’t eat it quickly, she will. But I’m always worried she will eat his pill if he spits it out. I hope I never have to pill Theo daily, small pills I can put in his mouth to swallow, but large ones would be awful.

Thanks PtP and Starla.

 

[Streetcar]

Oh this is so tough on all of you. A thorough and rapid healing to Theo, Skylar. All the best this next week.

 

[Skylar]

Oh this is so tough on all of you. A thorough and rapid healing to Theo, Skylar. All the best this next week.

Thanks Streetcar.

Babykins and I are competing in a scentwork trial this weekend. Daddy will be reinforcing bed rest during the day which will give me a nice break.