New Life in the Den

Sunday, we moved Guinness's crate to the den on the main level. Now he goes outside through the front door with a ramp to bridge him safely over the three steps.
I asked the hydrotherapist if it would be OK for him to roam the den which is not large enough for him to run. She was shocked that he has been crated 24/7 until now. Well, that is what the doctor ordered. I assumed the hydrotherapist was familiar with this type of surgery and how careful you must be with the healing dog. I do have a call in to the surgeon to make sure it is OK now.
He definitely is enjoying his freedom and is remaining calm. The hardwood floor is littered with throw rugs to keep him from slipping. Tonight, I saw that he was cuddled up to a slipper he had stolen from Daddy's closet off the den. When I turned on the camera, he repositioned himself away from it. No worries; he will not harm the slipper other than to slime it. Daddy bought him that new bone last week, and he is enjoying gnawing on it!
Notice that his leg is turning brown again! The hair is growing in!

Second Hydrotherapy Session

Look at that HUGE tongue! I guess, that is the reason why labs slime everyone!
Guinness is standing on a ledge relaxing next to the jets before continuing his swimming exercise. He LOVES it! No surprise there. But at $50 a crack, we can't keep this up forever! Or maybe that is cheaper than a pool or cottage?

Physical Therapy Assessment

Today was the day for Guinness's physical therapy assessment! And it included a first hydrotherapy session! What fun!!! He was SO excited!!!

The therapist thinks that his leg/knee is coming along very well for two weeks post surgery. Even though I have not been successful in exercising his leg myself, she says that his exuberance is giving it good exercise. Nevertheless, we do need to curb the exuberance so that he does not injure the good done by the surgery.

This was his first experience of swimming. He took to it like a duck to water. ha!


The hour ended with a bath. ahhhh....

Since swimming gave him a lot of exercise, the therapist said that his leg will be sore and that we need to get a pain med for him. It was 11:30, and our vet's office closes at noon. So I called them, paid by credit card over the phone, and asked them to please leave it outside their door for us, which they did.

Feisty Dog

Guinness is losing his "privileges." I have not been diligent in snapping a leash on Guinness when I let him out of the crate for a meal. For one thing, he races out to his food with no opportunity to get a leash on. In fact, I told his surgeon, right after surgery, that he races to his food about 6 feet away. She said to put his food bowl just outside his crate door. duh... Anyway, yesterday, after gobbling his dinner in two seconds, he turned and raced to the stairs. Racing is a no-no, stairs are a bigger no-no, and I could hear him slipping on the hardwood floor, another huge no-no, in the living room as he was running to return to normal life with access to the house. Now, I will always put the leash on as he devours his food.

The past several days, he has been very interested in a smell beyond our neighbor's bushes. We pass them on the slope leading to where his "potty yard" is, as we have to avoid stairs. As we returned down the slope after our morning bathroom run, he pulled me through the bushes to the area of the wonderful odor. He is way stronger than I! I have not used his pinch collar since surgery, but, we will never leave the house again without it! The white flower petals in my hair gave away his errant behavior to Grant.

Stitches Out

Today was the day! But getting Guinness to the vet's office, into the office, and back home was a challenge. My plan:
At home:
Set up the ramp to the SUV.
Take a photo of the sloping stairs beside the house to ask the vet if Guinness can navigate these short, deep stairs now.
Retrieve Guinness from his crate.
Have a potty run.
Attach a second leash.
Guide him up the ramp into the car.
Place the second ramp in the car also.
At the vet's:
Park adjacent to the back door.
Attach one leash to the armrest of the driver's seat to prevent him from leaping out.
Walk into the waiting room to let them know I am there and need help.
Open the back of the SUV (he is tethered so cannot go anywhere).
Set up a ramp over the stairs to the back door of the building, so that we don't have to go through the waiting room where he will be excited by other dogs and people.
Set up a ramp for him to get out of the SUV.
When help arrives, release the leash attached to the driver's seat and two people guide him down the ramp -- one with short leash, one holding his collar -- up the second ramp.
Take him directly to an exam room; meanwhile, leaving the ramps in place and my SUV wide open.

WHEW!!!!
It worked, but what a crazy clown!!!!

I led him onto the scale -- 71 pounds. He has lost 4 pounds since surgery.
As we waited for the vet, he was peeking through the swinging door and pushing it to get into the inner sanctum.

A technician came to take him in the back for suture removal. When the technician brought him back, a new vet accompanied them into the exam room. Guinness was being wild. The vet told the technician to release him, that he could handle him. Of course, he was happy to just be wandering the room. I was not pleased to have a new vet who doesn't know my dog. Besides that, I just did not like the man. He asked ME what I wanted to do about his care. What?! I replied, "I am not in charge of his healthcare; you are!" I asked when he can have his Elizabethan collar removed. He said in a couple of days. He began to speak about him walking around the house when I interrupted and said that he is in the crate 24/7. Walking around the house? What is he thinking?! They have all the information from the surgeon giving her instructions and medications, etc., yet he asked me what medications they gave him. Huh? The only recommendation he gave me was to call if I feel he needs more pain medicine. I had to ask him if he had examined his leg. He had, and his joint is doing well. He asked if I am exercising the joint, and I told him that he does not allow me to play with his leg during the cuddle time while holding the heating pad on his joint. Besides, I don't have enough hands! He asked if someone else in the family could help. Yeah... sure... Maybe on weekends when Grant is home.
It was a most unsatisfactory visit. I don't think he liked Guinness. Or me. The feeling was mutual.
We reversed the arrival plan and exited with minimal difficulty, but I did need the assistance in forcing him to use the ramps instead of vigorously leaping.

How is Guinness Doing?

He is not allowed to increase his activity for a few weeks. He is tolerating his new lifestyle of being crated 24/7. I am proud of him! :) We are off medications except the anti-biotic which ends tomorrow, so that is a relief. But now I am to place a hot pad on the joint for 10 min. 2-3 times daily. He likes the cuddle time, but 5 min. is all he wants. I am also to try exercising the leg while we cuddle, but that isn’t working either. His surgeon asked me the other day if he tries to “trot” when out for potty breaks. Then she said, “Be truthful.” OK… yes, he trots. She said we MUST keep him from trotting or the surgery will be wasted.

I did buy him a new cushy pad for his crate yesterday so that it doesn't scooch around like this one. Also this one needed a washing, so it is good to have two.
Here is in new pad staying in postion. Did you know that Mommy and Daddy sleep beside him on the sofa bed? :)