Day 26: Don’t let me JINX IT! …. And the indulgent gadget purchase ..

I’ve decided to save my very best news until last today…just in case anything changes!

---

It has always been my fear that with the leaps and bounds Lloris started to make from around Day 10 onwards that we may reach his full potential also early on and all progress come to a stop.

Whilst yes he is mobile and I’m so very grateful for that everyday!! He isn’t quite ‘fixed’ to the extent that he can go on walks longer than say 10–15minutes or to run around and play with other dogs AND of course we still have the issue of his double incontinence.

I’m concerned that his walk is so very lopsided and awkward looking that, that in itself may cause injury to his hips and we still have the right foot being scuffed until it bleeds on every outing.

Aren’t I sounding all very negative on this Monday morning! Monday Blues as they say, give me a minute and I’ll snap out of it!

He is officially only ‘out of jail’ later this week which marks his 4th week post op so I am

aware it’s still very early days.

For us crate rest has been pretty much a breeze. I didn’t use a crate as he was too squashed and I was hurting him squeezing him in there so I instead used a pen approx 1mtr x 2.5mtrs in size with a big comfy (waterproof) bed with blankets. I had a matching one also built in my office so he could go between home and work with me for a change of scenery.

When I’m home I let him out of his crate to sleep on his favourite rug or bed in front of the fire, where he will stretch out and sleep for hours not moving a muscle accept for the odd fidget.

I’m not sure this is the best sleeping position for an IVDD dog!

Then of course he’s ‘on release’ 3-4 times throughout the day for physio exercises and also our little 10minute toilet break walks twice a day which he’s been able to do for the past few days now.

I have not (in the main) been faced with a sulky caged beast to deal with. He’s pretty chilled out and has always loved his sleep so as long as he has company and he’s warm he’s happy to not move. My understanding of post surgery ‘crate rest’ is that he shouldn’t be bombing around crazy all day and should be getting plenty of still rest time. However you achieve that can be up to the dog to a certain extent. I firmly believe keeping him happy in himself aids recovery.

Zzzzzz

This week is about moving forward and learning how to improve his balance, posture and walking technique.

That’s a tall order and not something we plan to achieve in a week but as from Thursday we can start to now build his walk time up (if his scuffed paws will allow!) which will gives us more opportunity to practise.

We are also going for a physio re-assessment with his surgeon this week to get ourselves a new routine to practise his range of motion and hopefully sort out this ‘wonky’ right foot.

---

Alessi Loop

So far during his rehab I have been entirely guilty of reading about something that’s recommended and then instantly ordering it!

I have many items that I have panic purchased from Amazon that have proven to be utterly useless.

The Alessi Loop however, I read about a good 10 days ago now and thought it was worth a try.

They are designed in Australia so I understand, and I had difficulty finding somewhere to purchase it from here in the UK and it has still taken 10 days to arrive!

It isn’t cheap at £250.00 and in all honesty in hindsight I probably wouldn’t have ordered it seeing where we are now with his walking, but it’s here now so let’s put it to the test!

It’s designed to send a pulse through the animal to take away pain and inflammation. I can see this being something I may use periodically on him in the future as well.

It’s very simple to use, just lay it on the required area and press button. It’s shuts off automatically after 15minutes.

I linked it through his harness and he didn’t even realise he was wearing it!

I can’t honestly say one way or the other if we have achieved anything positive from it, but I shall choose to believe all of the hype and add it into our daily routine!

Now for the DON’T JINX it part…

I’m actually too scared to write the words in case I find myself disappointedly having to amend them later … BUT as at 8.15pm on the evening of Monday 28th February 2022 we have officially had ZERO accidents

I may well have to update this blog later though… let’s hope not!!!

Long may this dry spell continue!