Zoe Update

Mike and I thank you for your great puppy rehab ideas. Zoe appreciates your get well wishes.

She's home now. We picked her up Thursday, just in time for a heap of snow. It's just what we needed to make her homecoming more interesting.

She was pretty out of it in the car on the way home, poor little peanut!  We created a puppy hospital pen in the kitchen by moving out  the table and chairs. Zoe has the cozy breakfast nook all to herself. She spent lots of time sleeping in there during the first few days. She came home on all kinds of pain meds and it's probably just as well that all she wanted to do was snooze. You can see how fur they shave off her in the pic below.

 The "Comfy Cone" keeps her from licking at her sutures. She has a set of staples in her elbow and a zipper in her belly (from her spay). She really doesn't seem to mind wearing the cone. It's padded and has fancy velcro closures, worlds better than the old-style Elizabethan collars we used to use.

Mike and I took turns entertaining Zoe during her waking moments. On Friday I went grocery shopping and surprised Mike and Zoe by coming home with two parakeets. Zoe thinks it's pretty cool, having her very own birds. They're on the table where she can watch them from her pen. Birdies spend as much time watching her as she does watching them. But they were no substitute for Farley.

By Saturday morning she'd decided that life was boring without her brother. So on Sunday Farley came home. His favorite place to be is in Zoe's hospital pen! Mike and I take turns sleeping in there with them. Even though they can't play, they seem content to be in each other's company. Farley still gets his outdoor play time and leash walks, but Zoe is pretty much confined to the kitchen for now. She's remarkably good about it. I think having Farley home again has restored a sense of normalcy, though things still feel far from normal as we continue to make our way through Zoe's convalescence. 

They're such sweet dogs, so loving with each other. Farley may be Zoe's best medicine yet.

BTW

Farley also loves the birdies. 

 

Comments

[Joan]

Now that is cozy! I hope she's feeling better and not in as much pain....I'm sure having Farley there for company makes a world of difference.

[Cheryl]

Oh my goodness. I'm not sure what to write, except bless you. Not everyone would willing go through what you are. I'm so glad you are who you are, a very special person. Thank you for loving your animals so completely.

[Meredith]

I am so glad she is doing better. I think that pen looks very cozy, no wonder they both love it. Good luck Barb.

[Torre in MD]

So glad to hear the update on Zoe. What a great set up you have there - looks so cozy and she can check on what is going on outside! That looks like the perfect solution for now. Those new collars look so much more comfortable than those old style plastic ones - at least they can lay down in a more comfortable, natural position.

How nice that they could spay her at the same time as the other surgery!

And birds - what a great idea for a retriever LOL

They sure are cute pups!

[Sumiko]

Ah. Poor little peanut. Her recovery area does look very comfy. I'm glad she has Farley for company and comfort.

And not every pup gets her very own birds.

[Mary Kay]

Zoe and Farley are handsome animals. It is very sad that she has this debilitating disease. You are all in my prayers.

My sister has a pair of Jack Russell Terriers who are hard to keep down. They both can jump over one baby gate, so my sister tried using two expandable gates stacked on top of each other. It works when necessary.

You might check out alternative medicine to supplement your vets diet program. I have osteoarthritis and have been given a fair amount of relief with weight loss, supplements, exercise and acupuncture.

When Zoe has recovered from surgery water exercise might be very enjoyable for both dogs. When I was young our Lab used to race us to the car if he thought we were going to the river to swim. [rural Oregon] I know that my walking regime at the pool has strengthened my knees and contributed greatly to my weight loss. See what resources might be in your area.

I just googled naturopathic veterinarians, there are quite a number of Holistic vets in this country. You might be able to minimize chemical Rx and treat her successfully with diet, maybe some chinese herbs... When you have time, do a little research. I can do a little checking here in Portland Oregon if you would like.

[Manise]

So glad Zoe is on the mend. I love her feather-bedded nook. Fit for a queen. I used a BooBooLoon collar for Rosie with her last small surgery to remove a persistently draining and ugly sebaceous cyst on her ear. Sooo much better than the stiff and scratchy ones the vets usually hand out. Sounds like the parakeets will provide some entertainment for all.

[Barb]

Thanks for your kind help. I just connected with a local vet who does accupuncture and next week we meet with a canine rehab specialist who uses both cranial sacral therapy and hydro-therapy. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to decrease the use of pain meds with the right healing interventions.

I appreciate your taking the time to write.

barb

[Liz]

Best to Zoe (and all of you). There is nothing greater than the power of a loving home to speed recovery!

[KarenWitcombe]

Barb, it looks like you and Mike have got everything under control. Having company (supervised) is really good medicine for sick animals. We breed pointers and have had a bit of experience with injured dogs. We have successfully rehabilitated broken (pinned) legs and torn tendons. It is a matter of being mindful of the limitations they need as most dogs will ignore pain signals until the damage becomes really obvious. We just have to anticipate the consequences for them and try to avoid the circumstances that might aggravate an injury or disability. Zoe will still find ways to play and will be a loving companion for you all.

[lisa mcguire]

Very glad to hear that Zoe, Farley, Mike and you are getting back to a "normal". Love the idea of having birds to entertain the dogs and the together-ness that everyone is enjoying.

[Jean]

So glad Zoe is home and doing well. I'm sure the good care, new bird friends and now Farley are all making her feel better. Your caged area is wonderful. What a great job you're doing! I know there's a lot of time involved here - and the snow didn't help. You're in my thoughts often.