Draco & Wicca's Adventures

[miz molly 1,800]

These dogs are so amazing. I just know Wicca knows what's going on and will be careful with her actions. So glad to hear the surgery was a success, and not as involved as it could have been. Now I guess it's time to say that old saying, "time will heal." Paws crossed for you all. By the way, the surgeon did a "neat job" on Wicca's the new hair cut....... showing a little thigh.

[Starghoti 466]

Wow Gib.

That's a lot of skin.

We have a theroy about the ratio of area-shaved/chance of recovery..

 

This just shows that Wicca will be fine. Good thing though, that dogs don't have the same reckoning of style that we do.. lol

Love the little unshaved foot- So cute.

 

Our thoughts are with her and you all - for a speedy recovery, and I hope she gets to run with the 'big dogs' soon.

All our Luvs!

[Sherab 2,337]

Wow those two brothers are beautiful. Baby girl looks good. No apparent swelling.

 

I made a spectical of myself laughing over Julia's "worst day" saying. I was on a plane.

[Gib 291]

Wicca's energy is beginning to spark. Yesterday afternoon, she asked to go outside. I leashed her up and instead of peeing, she went to one of her favorite pull toys. She didn't really have the energy to play; nor would I have, but she was so cute.

 

Then, she peed. Then, she was tired.

 

She didn't want to go back in the house -- the Sun was shining and it was warm.

 

(This one, to me, kind of looks like they grafted a chihuahua's back leg onto her. Creeps me out.)

 

 

 

It didn't take her long to drift off into healing sleep.

 

 

 

I was pleased that she had her leg so straight. It's one of the things we make sure she does -- don't want any atrophy.

 

 

 

And that wonderful crescent stretch.

 

 

It's going to be sunny the next few days. I'll send some more pictures soon.

[miz molly 1,800]

aaaaaaaah, there is nothing like feeling the sun warm the bones. You go girl!

[Chinatola 927]

Poor girl looks shell shocked in the first picture! Glad that she's beginning to take it in stride.

[Gib 291]

Poor girl looks shell shocked in the first picture! Glad that she's beginning to take it in stride.

 

Shell shocked. Post traumatic stressed. And shy.

 

When I updated Kim I asked him a question but would like to pose it to the forum as well.

 

Kim said, when we picked Wicca, that she was the shy one. I asked him how that information might determine the nature of how we navigate through Wicca's recuperation.

 

For example: she is definitely not allowed to jump up or down. Even with a one foot leash and only three usable legs, it only takes a heartbeat or eye-blink for her to visualize, plan and execute a jump. I saw her thinking about it and said a stern "No." She looked confused that I corrected her, her pupils enlarged, she started licking her lips, her ears went down, she bowed her head.

 

 

 

Knowing she is shy, how does that change the fundamental, practical application of alpha-ship and/or leader-ship? Or does it?

[Starghoti 466]

I would use it as a great way to work on a "wait" command, followed by pick-up/put of Wicca and a treat.

I wouldn't want her to think that Jumping is Wrong, just that waiting is much preferrable.

But that's just me.

[Sherab 2,337]

I like Star's suggestion. Miss Tara is a shy dog. She needs lots of structure. If every day were 100% the same (like ground hog day) she'd be in heaven. She tends to interpret things as "I'm in trouble". That includes getting her leg caught in the hanlde of a recycle cloth bag and getting pricked with Grape the Cat's claws when he would knead her out of love. She did well with structure - down, stay, heel and every day the same routine. Shiva is her opposite: "I'm here where's the party". Still what works for him might work for Wicca. He had more of a grasp for why he couldn't do something when he had an injury and needed to rest because he doesn't think he's in touble by default his ego is very healthy (sometimes even when he is in trouble it's not a thought for him). We put him on a pillow and tell him it's "pillow time" while fussing over his injury lightly. He gets it and likes being fussed over. When Tara got her metal plate in her knee she did more than she was supposed to do faster (we couldn't stop her) she's a lot heavier than Wicca and she's fine. We didn't need to do pillow time for her because she is naturally a couch potato. She did get up on the sofa (a forbidden activity per our vet), we think it was beause she felt better with the metal plate than she did with her knee problem. Shiva was much harder to restrain. Neither have ever acted the invalid for attention after healing. Hope that helps.

[Sherab 2,337]

You can also tell her no jumping with the owie and fuss over her knee. These guys are smart.

[Gib 291]

I would use it as a great way to work on a "wait" command, followed by pick-up/put of Wicca and a treat.

I wouldn't want her to think that Jumping is Wrong, just that waiting is much preferrable.

But that's just me.

 

Just had a surprise visitor. Wicca was up in her window bed. I told her to wait.

 

She was perfect while I greeted our niece and brought her to see Wicca. It was Wicca's first perfect people-greeting!!

 

She has, as you suggested, a couple of gentle waits so I could help her up and down.

 

~~~~

 

 

Yes, it's going to be a real, up close and personal next few months for Wicca and I.

 

I anticipate our leash work to be subtle and flawless. I also anticipate our telepathy/empathy systems to be pretty tightly synchronized, too.

 

Star, can you say more about the telepathy & proximity training idea you mentioned elsewhere? I'm googling it too...

[Gib 291]

I like Star's suggestion. Miss Tara is a shy dog. She needs lots of structure. If every day were 100% the same (like ground hog day) she'd be in heaven. She tends to interpret things as "I'm in trouble". .....

 

Yep. Sometimes it appears that Wicca can't figure out why we are punishing her when we put groceries in the back of the SUV with the dogs,

 

So, we are trying to micro-time-slice to catch her in time to "lure" & treat her into the right behavior. Any sudden movement or abrupt command has at least a slight chance of being misinterpreted.

[Chinatola 927]

You know, it's sad that she has to go through this but in a way it's a good thing too because it'll create a very tight bond between you & Wicca Gib, which will produce bountiful harvests for a long time I'm sure.

[Allison 2,369]

Poor little sweetie. Look forward to seeing her running around again.

[Gib 291]

Today is day 5. we've made it this far!!

 

Here's an update I sent to Joan. (Who is in California attending to her very ill 91 year old mother).

 

~~~~

 

I've been very strict about slow-walking: not loud or aggressive correction but we don’t go unless she’s calm and slow. We went out the sliding door to the right; stepped around the tree and started slow-walking, loose leashed out toward the fence.

 

I am only looking far enough ahead so I don’t trip over something; mostly keeping my eye on her. We do that all the way out to the lounge chairs when I look up. No wonder Wicca has been so alert – the two boxers, Ari & Porter and our neighbor Meredith are standing at the fence.

 

Wicca and I continue our slow walk and she gets just a little excited and I stopped. She instantly sat down. We went another couple of steps and stopped. She sat. We then slowly walked up to the fence to sniff A & P. She was definitely wiggle-butting but not pulling on the leash at all. We stood at the fence for just a couple of minutes when A & P started wrestling and running. Wicca just stood there. Honest.

 

You can ask Meredith. I showed her that the leash was lying across my hands, completely loose. After just a few seconds of this, Wicca turned, led me up to the ivy by the gate so she could pee. Then, she led me back over to the fence. Ari & Porter came by one more time and Wicca sniffed noses with them. Then, she turned and led me back to the house while A & P were still looking through the fence.

 

I said goodbye to Meredith and Wicca brought me back into the house. She got a drink of water and curled up in her bed.

 

She was wonderful. She did great. No popping up. No straining.

 

She’s putting good weight on the foot when standing or walking slow. She hops if we go even a little faster. She is fully extending the leg when walking, stretching, etc.

 

I've been lightly massaging her legs a few times a day alternating the Arnica and Aloe for her razor burns. We haven’t put anything directly on her incision. I’ve caught her licking it a few times each day but she will immediately “leave it”. She really has been spending more time licking the razor burns and itchy hair growing back.

 

~~~~

 

Day 5. We're getting through it!!

 

Wicca's energy is turning up a notch every day.

 

Object lesson: It's not easy but not as hard as I had imagined.

 

A long time ago a mentor told me there is a fine line between Caution and Hallucinations of Catastrophe.

[miz molly 1,800]

Your mentor is very wise.....glad to hear that Wicca is behaving and going slow and knows her own comfort zone.

[Sherab 2,337]

Hallucinations of Catastrophe - love it. Scott has been using this one on me for years - you " ... have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened".

Mark Twain Very glad things are going well.

[Gib 291]

Hallucinations of Catastrophe - love it. Scott has been using this one on me for years - you " ... have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened".

Mark Twain Very glad things are going well.

 

I love it!!

[Karen 41]

I, too, hope that was the worst day of the rest of Wicca's life. She's still small in my mind, since that's how she was the last I saw her, and that makes picturing her walking with you all the more poignent. Even if it isn't realistic. I loved the story you wrote to Joan - what a great thing to do for your wife.

[Gib 291]

Very similar to an earlier picture, but taken yesterday.

 

 

She's mostly walking on her repaired leg now. And, her energy is returned to near full.

 

Now the reins really draw close.

 

She's shown signs of cabin fever but not too bad.

 

More later....

[Sherab 2,337]

The incision looks good Gib, nice and flat, no redness. Aren't you past the watching for infection phase now? Mabye you can take her to a sidewalk cafe'. Lots of stimulation yet not a place associated with much movement on her part. Then again maybe the car ride isn't a good idea yet. 44 lbs, eh? If Kim had kept Waki as a stud he'd need a step ladder.

[Karen 41]

Maybe you can take her to a sidewalk cafe'. Lots of stimulation yet not a place associated with much movement on her part.

 

Ha - Gib lives in my neck of the woods, and outdoor cafe season has not yet arrived and will not do so for about another month. You can always be hardy and sit outside a Starbucks if you want, though.

[Gib 291]

Today was Wicca’s appointment – two weeks is actually not until next Tuesday -- so this was really her 10 day check-up. Wicca’s asleep, so I’m going to write while I have opportunity.

 

The doctors and assistants don’t examine the dogs in front of us. After answering a bunch of questions for the surgery tech assistant, she took Wicca in back to be examined. They had Wicca in back for just a couple of minutes when the doctor came in beaming.

 

“Wicca is doing so good. I am very happy. We really tested her knee. The patella is very stable. Her flexibility is good – nearly full range of motion. The incision looks good and should be fully closed up soon. We’ll see Wicca again for her six week exam and will take radiographs at that time to confirm the healing process. Whatever you are doing, it is working. So, JUST KEEP DOING THE SAME THING FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.”

 

Thus, we are 1/3 of the way through the first phase of recuperation!!

 

The doctor said that she has other dogs coming back for checkups healthy who are virtually out of control in exam rooms and doesn't know how their owners manage at home. And they get through it. She tells them the same thing, “do your best” and they seem to survive.

 

She said Wicca may be energetic but she’s a calm and well mannered patient. That’s in our favor! She follows our direction and will be a willing patient for us.

 

I was envisioning the hours I’ve already spent keeping Wicca distracted from running around and playing. I looked down and Wicca had laid down and fallen asleep on the exam room floor.

 

Dr. Walker said to keep doing what we’re doing and in four weeks we’ll start gradually letting her do more and more.

 

Whew..... This too shall pass.

 

In the meantime -- I'm looking forward to puppy stories!!

[Karen 41]

That's great news. You and Wicca seem to be equally matched in patience, I virtue I do not possess. Great work, Gib, but you already know that. You two are going to be inseparable, if you aren't already. Joan is going to have to win Draco over so she has a dog of her own. I'm sure it won't take much.

[Sherab 2,337]

Well that's wonderful news! You are through the worst. Past the risk of deep infection and through the preliminary healing when she's most vunerable. Tara had a schedule of 10 min walks gradually lenghthening after her first mile stone but she did about 2x what was recommended (with a metal plate) and it turned out fine. My point is don't beat yourself if you get tired and miss something and she does a little more than you want. Home stretch. I'm sure you will be in for a sweet summer.