Day 19: It’s Swim Time..as long as he doesn’t pee! But can he hold it?
- Samantha Knight
- Feb 21, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 6, 2022
What a fabulous morning. So far all going to plan.… trust me when I say this does not last!
It’s blowing a gail outside, it’s storm Franklin brewing today I believe, but that will not deter me from my new morning routine of breakfast outside in the hope that the toilet habits that follow will also be outside and no mess to clear up in my now clean and sweet smelling house.
Lloris hates the cold as I’ve mentioned previously, so I’ve bought him a few of these cheap dog coats from Home Bargains for around £8 each for him to wear in the garden and easy to wash or throw if he destroys them with peeing etc. Not the most stylish but it’s keeping him warm!
…. My plan works!
As he takes his last bite of minced beef, mashed potato, mixed veg, cottages cheese, all of his supplements mixed together with lactose free yoghurt. (He loves this dish although always spits out the peas. I’m always quite impressed how he manages to do that!) … it’s shortly followed by a pretty circle of peeing and even a no. 2. SUCCESS
A morning with no accidents in the house and nothing to clear up!! Strange the things that now put a smile on my face!
I let him stand and wonder around out there and as I sit outside watching him, it occurs to me how very far we have come just these passed few days. It was only on Day 6 where I was telling you all he can stand for is 10 seconds if I lift him into position.
Now look at him, we’re just day 12 of home rehab and he can not only get himself into that stand position but he can stand there for pretty much as long as he wants to!
I let him have an attempt at unsupported walking but it is just a little early for it and whilst he doesn’t do a bad job he has scraped his toe. Awww
My frustration is mounting a little though in that he will make the effort to stand and sort of walk/stumble outside but won’t even attempt to stand inside. With all the smooth floors he’s perfectly happy scooting around on his butt.
I’ve invested in some more washable floor runners from Amazon to lay around his usual routes in the house to make it more grippy but still doesn’t seem to be enough for him to bother to stand and walk. Unless it’s rough ground that’s actually going to hurt him to drag himself around he just won’t try. I feel another talking too is brewing! We do not do laziness in this house!
Swim Time! Aqua Aerobics here we come!
It’s a big day today. He’s so ready for hydrotherapy but can he hold his pee. I still haven’t managed to get a grasp on this expressing him thing, so I’m zero help to him emptying out his bladder. I have everything crossed that his morning piddling is enough and he will hold anything left.
He's much better at home now. No nappies at night or when he’s chilling with me in the evenings. I know there will be accidents with food or when he’s dashing to back door and can’t quite hold it, but in the main. It’s better
I’m quietly confident.
My confidence could not be more misplaced!
We walk through the door to meet the lovely Nisha from Paws and Hooves and the first 10 seconds go ok.… THEN…
Lloris is infatuated at smelling the floor. He was on our last visit as well. He’s not wearing a nappy as remember he must be fully in control of his toilet habits to go in the tank …
…and then it starts flowing. As fast as we are both mopping it up it just keeps on coming. I’ve never seen him piddle so much in my life! Where is it all coming from??? I haven’t given him any water this morning. Hes been saving this little lot up especially - clearly!
I keep assuring Nisha that it must be all out now and sure we’re all good for a swim. Definitely empty bladder!… as i’m putting down a puppy pad for him to sit on just as a precaution …he’s covered it in pee before I’ve even straighten it out. Shoot me now … but wait…
This is going far from well … but it‘s about to get oh so much worse!
Accepting defeat, I frantically search for a nappy in my bag and manage to whip it on him before he can let out anymore. Oh dear, we have failed the test.
To seal the deal and full on show the pair of us up he then scoots over to the door mat and squeezing out a great big no.2.
Give me strength! I have no words. NONE.
Whilst i‘m stood there half expecting to be asked to leave, Lloris decides to put on the charm and gives Nisha a little demo of his standing and walking progress. So he’ll stand and walk on her slippey floor then??! Just not at home!
Thankfully Nisha falls for his charms and agrees he’s ready for ‘swimming’ but will have to keep his nappy on and can therefore only have shallow water.
“Well that bad behaviour has just backfired on you, you naughty little bulldog! …. You’re still going in!”
Despite his earlier inexcusable behaviour, I am so very proud of him. He‘s picked up walking on the tread mill pretty quickly and after a little rocky start…away he goes!
I’m not going to say he‘s enjoying it but he certainly doesn’t seem to mind it. He is getting tired quite quickly though but to be expected. These back legs have done exceptionally little in the past 18 days.
Pulsed electro magnetic field therapy.
Directly following his ‘swimming’ a sort of plastic electric blanket is put over him which should ease any pain and help with his blood flow.
He’s generally happy enough to sit with it on. It is nice and warm after all!
Nisha has suggested he practises walking on different terrains such as grass, bark, shingle, pebbles, etc
So when we get back to the office after he’s had a little lunch and a snooze we give it a whirl in the blustery wind.
Not bad at all little man!
I have a very hungry and exceptionally sleepy french bulldog on my hands this evening. No more work for him today. Just a nice massage and bed.
Sleep well my Prince x
Wow! Wow! Wow! I cannot believe how amazingly well he’s doing darling! It’s just so lovely to see 😍 In less than two weeks! Keep it up Samantha, I can’t imagine how exhausted you both must be but it’s clearly paying off! 🙌🏻💪🏻😘