Yesterday Littles peed for the first time since Friday night.
I was beginning to get worried and was googling expressing bladders and trying to figure out a way to pay for a vet visit today if he still hadn't gone.
He peed! So exciting.
Unfortunately it was all over my bed hitting every blanket, sheet, mattresses cover, and dog bed around. Fortunately I was blessed to have my mom in town for a sister's weekend (her twin lives about 25 minutes from me). My mom came over just before the monumental urine stream all over my bed. I was so happy but nauseous at the enormous task of how to launder it all. My place has a itty bitty washer that 95% of the urine soaked items wouldn't fit.
My mom swiftly packed up the bedding while cradled Littles in joyful but overwhelming tears and soon enough we were at the laundry mat. $40 and several machines later all my items were clean and dry.
We came home after a run to the Dollar Store for a plastic shower curtain and puppy pads. I had a plan.
Fast forward to this morning and Littles peed on my bed again. This time the puppy pad in his dog bed caught most of the urine. A few drops landed on a sheet that's on top of the shower curtain over my mattress.
All I have to launder is the sheet and I can do that here!
I still need to learn to express his bladder so I can empty it on a schedule so he doesn't soil himself and have to sit in it when I'm not home.
He is going to pull through...I have faith. Time will tell. On day 4 the steroids become leas frequent and will be an indicator of progress.
For now he's comfortable and doing well. He is either crated or sitting in a dog bed lounging....or laying next to me in his dog bed on my bed. He doesn't willfully want to move unless I'm eating and he wants to beg. I have to eat while he's crated or he'll try to pull himself over.
Oooh Littles!
Thanks for your well wishes everyone.
Oh that is awesome. Pee is good, although pee on the bed would become tiresome pretty fast! I'm surprised the vet didn't show you how to express the bladder, or at least put a catheter in so that the bladder could be emptied (which is what we did for the first few weeks) How is she with the bowels? Does she have control?
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that she is showing some improvement, and happy that your mum was able to help out:)
He is able to pass stool on his own though without rear leg mobility he goes wherever. Once I was holding him outside when he went. I draped him over my leg and tucked his back legs up. He lifts his tail and his anus muscles seem ok. Yesterday he simply pooped on his bed.
DeleteHe's 9lbs and poops firm little legos so going randomly isn't such a big deal. I just grab toilet paper and flush.
I was shocked after doing some reading the ER didn't discuss urinating...lack of or how to express his bladder. I'll likely have to make an appointment just to be shown. That's a huge :( thankfully he's peeing. I take him outside and hold his rear legs up for him but he doesn't even look interested in urinating when we are outside.
A huge expense*
DeleteKaren remind me again about your experience? Hope it's a positive one!
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ReplyDeleteSo will you be getting him a scooter with harness for his back legs eventually? I've seen several dogs who get around quite well with them, but never quite figured out how they peed. I think you answered that just now! Good luck and continued recovery to Littles.
ReplyDeletePotentially. From my understanding first I need to keep him completely calm and on "stall" rest to determine how he recovers on his own.
DeleteI'm not sure if meds long term are an option, but it is ideal if the pain goes away and mobility returns. If pain goes away and mobility doesn't return its wheelchair time. I hope because he is small it would be a smaller expense?
I saw on Karen's blog she has a wheelchaired dog (over 15 years old and walks miles and miles!)..hopefully she can describe her experience.
Frick, just wrote a long comment and lost it. Anyway, here is kind of a sappy video I made 5 years ago about Calli. She was injured in 2006. Please feel free to ask any questions. She has used the wheelchair (Calli's cart) for the last two years for walks, as her back end has got weak as she aged. We have also had to express her bladder all the time for the last few years, although she did have some control prior to that, and could sort of pee on command, but then she lost her hearing... She has never had bowel control, so we learned how to stimulate her to go when we needed to control the 'where and when'. I'm rooting for Littles!
Deletehttps://youtu.be/jfD0_yVbot0
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DeleteOh good!
ReplyDeleteWe have a mini diaper -- using a poise pad -- that we use on our dog, only for overnight, or if he has to be left alone for more than 3 hours. It's just a sewn strip of fabric that you stick the pad to, and then secure it around him with velcro. It's super easy, and is much better than dealing with clean up (for everyone involved). I can send you a photo if you want to see how simple it is?
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Rooting for both of you here. :) So lucky your mom was there to help - and a little personal emotional support never hurts either.
ReplyDeleteEmotional support that is greatly needed. I got a text from Johnathon before I took him to the vet on Friday and haven't heard from him except to tell me via text he didn't see any deer hunting on Saturday?!
DeleteNo asking how Littles is or providing me support.
That's that.
Oh that is so sad to hear regarding the BF:(
DeleteI wanted to add that every dogs situation was different. Just before Calli was hurt, someone I knew slightly had her large dog wake up one morning and be paralyzed. She went for the $7000 surgery and it didn't make a difference. He also didn't have any deep pain sensation, and never improved like Calli did. Calli never regained her deep pain sensation, but did gain enough strength to get around well for 7 years. Every dog is different, as every cause of the paralysis is slightly different in every dog. What Littles has going for him is that he is, well, little, and easy to carry around. If it comes to a wheelchair, you can probably just make something for him. Google is your friend,(for the most part) at this point. It's only when something like this happens that you realize how much information is out there for disabled dogs.
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DeleteMy comments seem to keep coming through twice.
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DeleteI think my Cali needs a wheelchair too! As long as pain isn't a factor I think Littles will be ok.
DeleteI'm looking at wheelchairs now and I think I could make one!
There's a neat one that's not on the market yet that they can lie down in and even go down stairs. So interesting.
Sometimes mine post 3 times. I haven't a clue why.
DeleteI am so glad Littles is showing some improvement!
ReplyDeleteFirst, that guy is not a good person if he knows your dog is hurt and isn't there for you. You deserve better. Way better. Second, am I the only one that thinks the dog may not want to live like that? Of course dogs adapt and will smile at us even in the worse circumstances, but are you keeping this dog going for your best interests or for the dog's best interests?
ReplyDeleteMeredith said he was very inactive anyway. I think some dogs will adapt very well to limited mobility, wheelchairs etc. depends on the dog. There was a video circulating recently with several wheelie dogs playing outside-- they were definitely having a blast.
DeleteAs long as he isn't in pain his lifestyle will not much differ. In fact with a wheelchair he will be more mobile than he was before. Due to a previous break of hid right rear leg that was never treated and fused incorrectly mobility was never his strong suit. I've always walked the other 2 holding him, with him in a dog carrier, or in a bag. The easiest is during winter when I can zip him snuggly in a jacket and be hands free.
DeleteI always put my animals first. If I thought their would be a decline in wellbeing I would not hesitate to humanely euthanize.
I don't want my dogs to suffer.
I know. Im not trying to be mean or criticize. I know she appreciates all lines of thought even if it's not in line with her own thoughts. I just thought I would put it out there even as a lone voice.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't think you were being critical. It's an interesting topic since all pet owners will face the day when they have to objectively think about their pets quality of life.
DeleteIt's a good point! Littles is a bump on a log. As long as there is no pain we will figure it out.
DeleteTime will tell once we wean off the drugs.
I don't think dogs 'think' about what they can't do, they live in the moment. Once my dog was over first few days, she was all about getting on with life, nevermind that her back end wouldn't do what it did before. That was what made me so glad that I hadn't rushed with the decision I had made to put her down after the vet's diagnosis.. Obviously that was just our situation, and every dog is different. But as long as Littles isn't suffering with pain.... Meredith has already said that she is begging for food from her, given half a chance, so I'm thinking she is feeling pretty decent.
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