Hi, we would have posted sooner but we've been busy ordering Black Lab Tripawd merchandise from the site – HOORAY!!!!! 

Here's our update, I started a new topic but if you search "Ajax" you can find the history:

Post-amp days 6-8 were post-Rimadyl, Fentanyl patches off, and we thought we noticed gradually increasing discomfort and reluctance to move.  To go "out"  is down a hall, down an elevator, to the curb and off the curb, so it can be an endeavor if you're not feeling well.  Nothing dramatic was happening, just generally unhappiness.  Evening of Day 9 we gave 3/4 of a dose of Tramadol, which seemed to help, except it made him pant.

Day 10 visit to the surgeon for stitches to come out.  We were a little on the early side of the 10-14 day window, but the surgeon is leaving for vacation so we wanted her to see him.  She said the healing looked great (apart from some redness where he licks EVERY TIME I TURN MY HEAD FOR ONE SECOND).  She also said she didn't think he was in a lot of pain, and that we can begin increasing his walks, just to keep an eye on the incision.   When we said we weren't thrilled w/ the Tramadol, she gave us a few more days worth of Rimadyl to take home.  We gave that to him last night and this morning and it is clearly helping.

Here our are Day 10-11 experiences and tips:

Experiences

Day 10 in a cab in the rain for stitches to come out, come home and flop.

Day 10 pm Mom and Dad put me up on the high people bed where I usually sleep and I was uncomfortable, trembling and clutching the sheets with my toenails.   Not ready to be up high yet.  Mom and Dad gave me a treat and took me down and Dad spent another night on the floor.  No biggy, I took over his sleeping bag and gave him a sheet.

Day 11 morning.  Drill sergeant Dad took me out and because it was not humid and I was pulling him, we walked all the way to Central Park and back!!!  I was psyched to be back to my normal routine.  It is about 1/5 mile each way.  This walk was not authorized (and would not have been authorized) by Mom (who was sleeping in the real bed for a few hours), but she was super happy when I came home.

Also mom reads about my new Tripawds clothing line, and calls an agent to work on my next endorsement deal. Call everyone in office over to computer to see me.

Day 11 lunchtime.  I go to the little park around the museum across the street from my house.  Instead of a quick "pop out", I am there 1/2 hour talking to about 20 children who are curious and want to ask me questions and pet me.  Who needs a leg when I am getting this much attention! 

Tips

– We are having better success with Rimadyl than Tramadol

–  We finally figured out why he staggers around at night when he is wearing the conehead.  To have his balance, especiially in small spaces to turn around, he puts his head down (don't know if this is temporary or permanent).  The conehead then hits the ground and gets in his way and makes him feel unbalanced.  Same thing with the orthopedic dog bed, which is about 5 inches high.

– We reviewed the CARE videos on stretches and post amputation care on this site.  We haven't done all the stretches yet, but adapted some for a stretch/massage of the remaining rear leg, which he is  keeping tense all the time.  He seemed to like it.

Question:

– Has anyone actually used the buja board (besides Wyatt, who was awesome on it)?  Given that we are not likely to manufacture our own here in Manhattan, has anyone with a big dog bought the blue 20" wobble board that is on this site and used it with success?  I am afraid I'll buy it and because it's not big, he'll just skip over it and accomplish nothing.

OKAY — you've all heard more than enough from me ….

yes, we would love to bring Ajax to Ajax Mountain if someone would only loan us a plane ….

Hey there Ajax!

I thought you were another 'spammer' on my blog today, sorry it took me a while to 'approve' your comments :-) 

For the buja board I wouldn't really suggest anything smaller than mine for your dog (which I think he is bigger than Maggie?  Maggie is 65 lbs and 25"+ at the shoulder and long bodied).  My buja board is 3 feet in diameter(typical size for agility training).  It USED to be a 4 ft. square though.  Making it round, makes it harder to work on(a good thing) but for a new Tripawd, I'd be careful with height of it until he has some strength regained.  I looked at the one's Jim posted the other day(and was looking for them again the other day and can't find that blog but I see he posted above!)  I don't know how big those went?  

For the FitPaws pads – buy two and tape them together.  That way you can get your dog's entire body on it and work him on it.  This is really a good workout…do sits/stands repetitions, do 'reach for treats' at shoulders and try to go for hips too…that is tougher. Walk him on and off the pads – you can also do down/stands but that is pretty tough..start with sit/stands.  All these same things can then be transferred to the buja board.  I'd suggest doing Fitpaws pads first(or you could try looking at a camping store – maybe some sleeping foam pads?  I looked at some in a catalog as I was looking for a bigger piece.)  I contacted the makers of FitPaws pads but they don't make anything bigger   I would just suggest that it be rather 'stiff' and dense rather than soft and cushy…that is what the FitPaws are…dense but still give with weight.

Did you watch my Youtube video's on her blog?  If so, then I won't go into this stuff any farther

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

PS you can easily make a homemade buja board – mine is homemade…if you can?  Living in NYC not sure you have access to a skill saw and lumber?  My hubbie made mine…

So glad my video's were helpful!!! I should make some more….did you see the cavaletti one?  Her hopping over little jumps spaced evenly apart?  These are the things I regularly do with her:

• FitPaws or Buja Board work – reach for treats to shoulders and hips and between front legs too.  Sits/downs/stands. Walk on/walk off pads or board.
• Two cones – do serpentine's around the two cones
• Cavaletti's – 5 roughly 4" high 'jumps' about her body length apart.  Hops the full length of them not knocking them over.
• Perch work – her front feet on a short 'perch' of sorts(mine is an end of an old log about 3" high) and she pivots around it

These two things are what Maggie used to compete in or does compete in now & helpful for her fitness:

• Rally obedience exercises – basically lots exercises in heel – turns(180's,270's,360's), sits/downs/stands, weaving around cones in heel
• Agility exercises – just playing going thru hoops and a short tunnel – this is only because she was an agility dog for 8 years – she still LOVES it – so I play a little bit with her on the 'safe' obstacles

There are both rally and a bit of agility video's on her blog as well.  Not that these need to be done for PT work but the Rally could easily be done in NYC – it is a great fitness/strength help for Maggie.

Thanks Tracy for the list of exercises – I'm posting it here so you'll see it.  I think that will also keep Ajax from getting bored bored bored as he regains his stamina.