Gibson's Daily Epi-Tip and Update on Wolf


Here's Gibson's Epi-Tip of the Day! Each day for the month of November for National Epilepsy Awareness Month we will be featuring a different Epi-Tip! Please be sure to read all about our "Live Gib Strong" K-9 Epilepsy Awareness Campaign for this month of November in honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month in our original blog post HERE that will also tell about some fundraisers and giveaways (some are yummy for K9 and humans), and a special guest on our Sunday, November 10th episode of "The Sibe Vibe" on Dog Works Radio.  




Wolf's Surgery & Rehab Update


Wolf's cruciate imbrication surgery for a torn CCL, deranged stifle/dislocated knee cap, blown meniscus & quad was this past Thursday. Yesterday, we picked him up and he is now home on the road to rehabilitation and healing. We've been down this road before (see Chloe's story HERE) and while we are better equipped this time around having some familiarity with the rehab protocols, it is still so difficult to watch another baby go through it. 

Wolf, unlike his twin sister Chloe, has severe crate anxiety. 
Wolf is actually sleeping here, heavily medicated.
Naturally, having to keep a Husky on strict crate rest when they hate crates is...well, an almost impossible feat. Needless to say, it was a long night soothing him and holding his paw to get him to stop thrashing around in the crate...with a plastic Elizabethan collar (that he eventually split in half. Clear package tape came in handy for that one!)...and totally zoned out on pain meds and tranquilizers. He even managed to damage the brand new wire create, opening the latch, and bouncing the entire crate up in the air several times with him in it...all while being drugged up. Then, while biting on the latch, he fell asleep. So, I knew this was not going to work on helping him heal. Time to rethink the rehab situation.

So, today, is a new day. Hu-Dad went out and purchased an almost
Wolf looking innocent.
human-sized ortho bed and we have it right next to me in whatever room I am in and he is crate free, but has come to tolerate the E-collar. I guess it was one or the other, but not both. The crate lost. 

It really boils down to one important factor - keeping him still. The
Wolf, Lamb Chop, and the new giant comfy bed!
ortho bed by me seems to do it. Here here laid all day with hardly a whimper and no need for tranqs. That is a huge step. We will see how tonight goes, but worse case scenario, my living chair and I will be best friends for the next eight weeks if that's where Wolf is comfy being!

Comments

  1. Brian's Home BlogNovember 3, 2013 at 9:30 AM

    We are all sending dear Wolf our best healing purrs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kari in AlaskaNovember 3, 2013 at 8:44 PM

    I hope his healing goes well We went through that this summer with Mesa

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. SissySeesNovember 3, 2013 at 8:49 PM

    Crossed paws!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 3, 2013 at 11:54 PM

    Glad you found something that will work for Wolf! As you know, Riley has had both of her knees operated on, but luckily she was super good in her crate both times. When our older dog, Chloe, had surgery to remove her spleen, she had to be on crate rest for 2 weeks...it was pretty much exactly as you described Wolf's time in the crate!! The tranquilizers did nothing for Chloe when she was in the crate--we eventually had to separate the dogs and let Chloe stay on a leash, tethered to my mom or dad. It was miserable for everyone--both dogs included.

    Good luck, Wolf! Hope your recovery goes smoothly! :)

    Elyse and Riley

    ReplyDelete
  5. White Dog BlogNovember 4, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    At times like these there is nothing more calming than mom. It is what mommas do...and it is the best medicine in the world. We send Wolf our strongest White Dog healing energies, calming thoughts, and the vision to see that the effort now will make him complete and well in the future. Hugs from our momma to you...she knows that you'll not sleep soundly until your boy is recovered.

    ReplyDelete

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