Violet is down, but not counted out!
So Chuck/I had made all of these plans to take Sunday off, from a side job he's doing, and go back to central Brevard and kinda remanise about our "landing." We had also planned on having lunch at our fav restraurant Durango while we were up in the area. As we were talking about our plans on Saturday, I mentions to him that it's odd how every anniversary/birthday or some other special day, something always goes wrong and we don't get to enjoy it. I guess this one was not going to be an exception. So Sunday rolls around and Chuck couldn't take the time away from the "project" and he had an appointment with one of our saferack customers on his way to work to his regular job, so we said we'd try again another time. oh well. So yesterday, the 4th the "official" anniversary, after Chuck got home from working "nights" he went to bed for 6 hrs, got up and we went out to do some errands. When we got home, we found Violet stuck on the floor. She couldn't get up. When I finally was able to get her up, she couldn't use her one leg. I checked her leg all over to see what was going on. As many of you may remember, Violet has a mild case of hd. We knew she had hd when we adopted her at 9 mts old from the Rescue. She has really done well, but every once in a while will twist herself and will be sore for a few days. As many of you from FB know, I've been dealing with a very painful knee for over a year and just last week after having an MRI found out what was wrong and had a shot, that gave me back my life. Well, now I know why God wanted me fixed, if only temperary. So when we found Violet and checked her out I lifted her rear end with my arms under her, so she could get around.. Chuck carried her in and out the door for potty until he headed out for work. I fed her dinner by hand because I could just see she didn't feel well, and was having difficulty eating. We also cut her coat down, because I just knew we were in for a time and who knows what that coat was going to look like, so she's all cut down.  So last night as Chuck went off to work, Violet was in our bedroom on the carpet, which she seems to do ok on, sound asleep. So I watched some tv and went to sleep, I woke up around 5:00 and Violet wasn't in the bedroom any longer. So I got up and threw on my bathrobe (because it was cold this morning) and found her in the Dining room in front of the china cabinet. I think she was trying to go outside. You have to go from the bedroom to piano room to dinning room to kitchen to get out the doggy door. There was no mess on the floor, so she may have given up. Anyway, so I help her get up, and take the belt off my robe to use as a hoist to keep her backend up and we work our way to the slidding glass door to help her out to go potty. Mind you it's 5:00am. Did I mention she is blind as well, so she's used to going where her "markers" are, such as potted plants, hot tub ect. She is also a creature of habit and wanted to go out the doggie door. So I convinced her to go out the slidding door and took her up to the grass. She seemed to do better on the grass and was able to walk out on the grass of a fashion, so when she was done doing her business, her rearend started to go down again, so I had to go out and help her off the grass. She, of course , felt she needed to touch the Bird of Paradise planter (as her msrker) and as she did that, she knocked me down on to the cement patio. omg, that cement was cold and all I thought of is "what do I do if my knee is reinjured and I can't get me or Violet in." Amy may not come outside until later. Of course Asia was there trying to help, going in circles around me, which didn't help at all. I was finally able to get up, thank god no one saw me I hope, and thank god I had on my robe, and was able to get Violet up as well. We both finally limped in, I gave the girls there breakfast, of course holding violet's rear up. Violet ate. That is one thing about Violet, she has an appetite. So finally I get her situated on the doggy bed in the livingroom. I get my pot of coffee going and wonder what her life was going to be like from now on. I always have those terrible thoughts now with so many of the older dogs going to the Rainbow Bridge on here.Violet slept most of the morning, behind Chuck's chair and vomited at one point. That was a quick clean up. We had to go out on an errand and Amy kept an eye on her for us. Amy has her own disabilities so isn't much physical help, but at least if there was a problem she could call us and we could come right home. So we stopped at Arby's for sandwiches and as soon as we arrived home and Violet smelled the smell, she was hauling her sore rearend as close as she could to get her fries. After she had some fries, I took her out to potty, once again, her butt in a sling She seemed to be doing better. She slept most of the afternoon, was super hungery so I gave her two cups of food and she came in my office and slept at my feet. She got up when she heard the garage door open when Chuck came home from a customers and she was able to walk, delicatly, on her own to the backdoor. I thinks she's going to be alright, she seems to be improving with every nap. Please send postive lights and thoughts Violet's way, we would appreciate it. At one point she did go after Asia, so she's still Violet injured or not. lol Like I said Violet might be down for now, but she is not out for the count.. |
|
|
| Oh boy, this sounds very familar! We put a special doggie lifter on MO and left it on her, day and night. It is about 8-10 inches wide (we originally got it for Fox the Pyr), denim or canvas, so had to be modified to fit MO. It had web handles that we could grab when she "splatted" on the the floor or just needed a hand to get up more quickly. She was fine on carpet or grass, paving was iffy. The slippery floors in the house all got throw rugs and she's use those to get to the water bowl, etc. yes, the "lifter" matted the coat underneath so some trimming there, but MO was really loosing hair at the end. The "splats" seem to pinch nerves so indeed the legs are slow to recover, MO too would have a numb leg after being stuck for too long. She'd also fall backwards, unintentional sits. She could not tuck rear legs under herself, but had them up along her body. The poor girl. I assume Violet has some pain meds? MO never cried out in pain, which was strange as she was a woosie about other pains in her youth. Watch for excessive panting or lip licking, signs of pain or stress. Going after another dog is self preservation. She felt threatened and lashed out. Maybe the other dog bumped a sore spot or something.......... Harry almost always remembered to give the old lady her space, approaching slowly. If he forget and tried to initiate play, he was reminded quickly. Hugs to Violet.  |
| Sending positive thoughts to Violet and yourself. |
If you don't have a sling you may want to try a big bath towel folded lengthwise a time or two. It gives you more width than a belt, which is more comfortable for Violet because the pressure on her belly is spread over a greater area, and, hopefully, you don't have to bend as much, so are less likely to reinjure your knee.  to both of you. Kristine |
| I just don't know what to say.... but wish I could give you a hug. Hope she improves more... |
| That sounds like quite the bad stretch, for both you and Violet. I hope she's on the mend now. My daughter works at a vet equipment supply company, and they make an item called a Quick Lift. They work great. Marilyn ordered one a couple years ago for her guy when he needed lift help, and she really liked it. She actually got a "second" - it had something off w/ the stitching, but didn't affect the product performance. http://www.fourflags.com/s.nl/sc.7/category.3952/.f I hope the link works - if you are interested in looking into it (she gets an employee discount too), just let me know. She's off on maternity leave with baby Owen, but she can help! |
| I always get sad when I see someone write on their difficulties with walking and getting up with their babies. Our Pooh Bear had those problems and brought me to tears many times....still does when I think about it. They always have the look on their faces of "I'm sorry that I am like this" I remember one time that Pooh went out and he did the "bunny hop" to get down the 3 steps and he landed on the cement and his back legs did a complete split. I just held my breath, but he got up on his own after that fall. Hope you are on the mend and Violet too!!!! |
| Sending special thoughts and healing light to you and Violet. |
| |
| Dawn- not sure if Helen is interested... but I sure am. I think we have reached the point with Max that additional help in lifting would come in handy... |
| Quick Lift is very similar to what we got. Since it was orginally for the Great Pyr years earlier, it had the shorter handles like the ad's St. Bernard. It also had two web straps with fasteners for the back and another strap and fastener to run across the chest. I took that chest strap off, didn't care for it. When I modified for a much smaller dog I added the fleece and a few tucks. She didn't mind wearing it all the time, even tho the handles would slip a bit to the side, but easily straightened as needed. It was a PIA to put on an already down dog so I just left it on her. Imagine Florida weather that might not work. |
| |
got sheep wrote: That sounds like quite the bad stretch, for both you and Violet. I hope she's on the mend now. My daughter works at a vet equipment supply company, and they make an item called a Quick Lift. They work great. Marilyn ordered one a couple years ago for her guy when he needed lift help, and she really liked it. She actually got a "second" - it had something off w/ the stitching, but didn't affect the product performance. http://www.fourflags.com/s.nl/sc.7/category.3952/.f I hope the link works - if you are interested in looking into it (she gets an employee discount too), just let me know. She's off on maternity leave with baby Owen, but she can help! Thank you so much for the advise on the website. I'm going to order one for her today. |
| Lori and Helen - I will check w daughter Lisa and see if she can get you a better deal. What size are you looking at for Max and Violet? |
Hope she gets better  |
Hoping Violet improves  Dawn, that lift looks like something very handy to have around the house, just in case. |
 to you both |
| Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you and Violet. |
| hugs to both of you!! you remember coming to my house with miss daytona i had to build ramps all over the house |
| **UPDATE** I would like to thank everyone for their positive thoughts a good wishes to Violet. She is one amazing dog. I can't believe how much better she is doing today. Last night when I went to sleep she was sleeping on the doggy bed in my bedroom. When I work up about 4:30 this morning, she had left the room on her own. I got up and looked for her, not in the dinningroom, not outside on the patio. Amy was outside and said Violet had come out twice during the night, yes through the doggy door. I finally found her fast asleep in my office, in her favoritte spot. She seemed to have less trouble getting up and staying up then she did yesterday. The problem areas, were as expected, on the tile. Susan I'm going to take your suggestion regarding throw rugs. As the day went on she needed less and less help and was letting her independant spirit shine through. I am a full believer in letting them do as much as they can on their own, with my encouragement. She went out to go potty on the grass by herself and was able to steady her rearend to do her business. I am just so proud of that girl, she will never give up. She slept most of the day in the bedroom with Chuck under her fav curtain. She ate her dinner without losing her rear and has made it to the water bowl a number of times. I just watch from a distance to be there if she needs help. I did leave the tie on her, as Susan had suggested and it seemed to work and encourage her. When Chuck/I ate our dinner she was right there for her part. So I'm crossing fingers and praying that Violet keeps getting better. Thank you again for all of your well wishes and suggestions I do appreciate them. Suzi@you have one of the coolest houses I've ever been in and yes full of stairs. The great thing is where I live, we don't have any stairs even to go in the front door, which makes life so much easier for Violet and myself with our silly leg issues. Of cours with Amy's wheelchair she doesn't need to have to deal with stairs either, so at least that is in our favor. I've ordered the harnes, thank you Dawn for that website, I know we will be using the harness in the future. |
| I don't know if she is or not, but it sure sounds like she ought to be on pain meds at this point. If she isn't it will probably make a world of difference. |
 Until the end MO could pee and pooh on her own, no falling, no help. It was the tumor that go MO, who knows how much longer she could have gone on. Violet is made from the same tough stock. The throws trip me up sometimes, so be careful. I still have them down for Harry, though he doesn't need them, I noticed he sticks to them when possible. |
Ron wrote: I don't know if she is or not, but it sure sounds like she ought to be on pain meds at this point. If she isn't it will probably make a world of difference. Yes,she is on pain meds, first line of comfort. |
| Violet is doing so much better, she amazes me. Wednesday night both Asia/China started barking around midnight, so I got up to see what was going on and I found that Violet had gotten caught in the doggy door. I'm glad the girls had come in to let me know. Violet was ok, once I pulled ouer out backwards. She had been on her way back into the house, so the good thing is she was able to get out in the first place, all on her own. So I just tucked her right arm/paw in and lifted her back out. Felt around for any injuries and then in the slidding door she went. Right to the bedroom and off to sleep. We are reconfiguring the doggy door this weekend. We're going to drop the bottom panel down a few inches. Other than that, Violet did really well yesterday and is using both of her legs like normal....she even ran at one point when daddy came home. Thank you again for all of your great advise and support, I really do appreciate it. |
| So nice to hear! Hope she continues to improve. Kristine |
Oh Violet! Getting stuck had to be no fun. Great that you are able to modify the door for her.  |
| Oh sorry to hear about violet having such difficulty. Hope she continues to get better. |
| A quick update on Violet: She is doing so much better these last couple of days. Her leg is back functioning as it should. I still don't know what happened that caused her issue, but am glad it is almost behind us. We're adjusting the doggy door so that Violet doesn't have to lift her legs so high to get through. As most of you know, sheepies are creatures of habit and when she wants to go out, she still goes to the doggy door and would get stuck halfway in or out. So twice during the night Asia came in to get me. Asia will bark at me and I get right up because I know something is going on. She directs me to Violet. She reminds me of Lassie from our childhood. Anyway, Violet is doing better and I wanted to thank everyone for their concern for her. I always worry, with her getting older how much longer we have together. Seeing Mariah celebrating her 13th Birthday today did make me feel better regarding the longevity of Violet and China. So now we'll gear up to celebrat St Paddy's Day tomorrow! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|