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Refusing to go on walks
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Canada
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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20 April 2013 - 9:56 am
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The week or so after amputation, Roxy was rarin' to go on walks and would keep pulling even when I decided we should turn back.

For the last few days, Roxy has been refusing to go for walks -- she will seem like she wants to go when asked, but when we get outside, we will walk a few paces, to the end of the driveway, or maybe a little farther, and she will stop and want to turn back. Encouragement and treat baiting doesn't seem to work. So I don't force her, because I want it to be a pleasant experience. We return home. 

Her strength seems to be fine, she doesn't seem sore or weak in her remaining legs, it just seems like she doesn't *feel* like it.

Anyone have this happen? It's kind of strange but there have been lots of changes in her life lately so I don't really know what is normal and what isn't.

Thanks,

Mica

krun15
2
20 April 2013 - 10:23 am
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Hi, I went back and looked at your other posts, looks like Roxy is about 3 weeks out from a rear amp.

My pug Maggie was a rear amp, she spent the first 6 weeks or so after her amp in her bed.  She would go a little ways on a walk, but not very far.  It seems to me that rear amps take longer to build up strength and stamina, that's my unscientific opinion from being around here for awhile, and having had a rear amp.

Some, like Jackson are back to their old ways really fast.  It took us 6 months to get back to walking about half the distance Mag could easily do before her surgery. Those first 6 weeks or so Maggie really didn't seem interested in much- but she was quite a stubborn girl who did not deal well with change in her routine.  How does Roxy handle change?

What if you drive her somewhere new, and walk around there?  New smells to smell and sights to see may interest her.

 

Karen

 

Canada
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20 April 2013 - 11:02 am
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Thanks Karen. What confuses me the most is that for the first week or so, when she was weakest, she was very interested in walking and would want to go even farther than I was comfortable with. It's just in the last few days that she's started to refuse.

I like your suggestion to take her somewhere new. I will try that today.

Thanks!

Mica

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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20 April 2013 - 11:07 am
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I could always relate to Karen's posts during Happy Hannah's ...what seemed like lengthy....recover. Her Spirit Maggie's recovery made me feel like at least someone else has
D a s"slow" recovery!!

Of course you want to ger everything checked out...but if she's eating and drinking and wagging that tail of hers and cont use to smile with her eyes at you........it's probably "some dogs just take longer to recover than others"...

YMy two cents is let her set her own pace....encourage like you're doing g...but not push if she's not up to it, She did a whole lot of walking that first week and I remember thinking....in fact I think so e of us posted....whoa...slow down a touch. So she's maybe just slowly down a touch, rebuilding muscles AND still readjusting. At three weeks it's still so etjhing they have to adjust to, mentally as well as physically.

She probably feels a little more secure in the house too. I think you'll continue UE to see an excellent recover at a pace that's best for Roxy.

As I post on all your stuff....YOU ARE REALL DOING A GREAT JOB:-) :-) :-) :-) REALLT:-) :-) :-) REALLY:-) :-)

Love hear I g about Roxy and e joyed the great picture o. You blog!

Lots of love to you two best buds!! Sally and Happy Hannah

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Virginia







Member Since:
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20 April 2013 - 11:09 am
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Did want to ask one. Ore thing....when she,s inside does she get up to go eat, get a great, drink,etc? Or are you still bring it to her?

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Canada
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20 April 2013 - 11:19 am
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benny55 said
Did want to ask one. Ore thing....when she,s inside does she get up to go eat, get a great, drink,etc? Or are you still bring it to her?

She is very mobile in the house, and in the yard too ... it's just when we get past the yard.

Perhaps it is just a comfort thing, being close to home because she's not feeling all that great.

I feel I should add that this refusal to walk thing doesn't seem to be related to her chemo -- she started doing this a couple of days before her first treatment.

The first week or so of walking, we would only go for 5 minutes or so and turn back, but she was very enthusiastic to go.

Member Since:
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20 April 2013 - 12:08 pm
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i wonder if it's a confidence thing? Even if she was wandering around right after the surgery, now she's got less meds in her and a better idea of her limitations.

It's still early yet. if she's acting normally in the house, I wouldn't worry too much.

What would happen if you took her to a park?

Virginia







Member Since:
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20 April 2013 - 12:14 pm
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Yeah, I think you just nailed it....part of it seems to be the security/comfort thing. Upon reflection, I think Happy Hannah's energy waxed and wained (?) for quite awhile. Three weeks is still early in the recovery of some..........Yeah, I do recall ow that you slowed Roxy down even though she didn't't want to!
Sometimes a sweet gentle birl like Roxy just adapts a mellow kid of way with dealing with it. She may just feel more vulnerable outside of er yard for ow. Her confidence will continue to build.
Keep on keeping on Roxy girl! We are all cheering for you.

Sally and Happy Hannah

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

NC
Member Since:
26 February 2013
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20 April 2013 - 12:22 pm
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Kermit had an adjustment period when we started to wean his meds down.  He was very enthusiastic about playing, but as far as walks were concerned, he'd hop 15 or 20 feet & just lay down, then I'd have to lure him another few feet with liver treats, and that would typically work until we were about 100 yards from the house, at which point he'd lay down for good & I'd have to hoist him up & CARRY him back up the hill to the house. rasberry

Lowering the meds seemed to make him MORE awake but LESS excited about going anywhere.  But he was never a 5-miles-a-day kinda guy anyway.

Now if I want him to get a really good walk in we have to go somewhere exciting... which is pretty much anywhere other than out of our own house!

Have you made an med adjustments along the way?

Canada
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20 April 2013 - 2:11 pm
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dharma said
Have you made an med adjustments along the way?

Good call. She stopped her Tramadol a while ago (is now only on Metacam) and now we only have a few emergency pills for when she is in pain. The refusing to walk thing seems to coincide with that.

We just got back from the park, where she was enthusiastic to arrive, but after a short bit of walking and sniffing around she wanted to go back to the car.

NC
Member Since:
26 February 2013
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20 April 2013 - 3:12 pm
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With Kermie's arthritis we still haven't stopped the tramadol entirely- he still gets 1 in the morning & 1 at night.  The vet gave us a script for 270 of them with 3 refills, so either a) she thinks he's going to have quite a bit of pain, or b) she thinks he's going to live a lot longer than the statistics would suggest! winker I'm going with b... laughing 

...but the point is that you might want to ask about giving her a small dose daily or at least more than "for emergencies" if she has any other issues that might be making her just sore enough to not feel like going out walking but not sore enough to cause any severe problems. (maybe 1/2 or 1 in the morning?)

I know a lot of people like to keep the meds to a minimum, but we ARE playing a timing game here, so I think maintaining an excellent quality of life is more important in most cancer cases than most potential long-term side effects.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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20 April 2013 - 4:05 pm
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Hey Mica, sorry to hear about these confusing signals she's giving you. I know that this isn't unusual, and most of the time it's just a matter of the dog being physically tired. Watch her symptoms carefully, document when they occur and if anything feels wrong, she starts losing her appetite or thirst, call your vet.

Now, even though she was up and about right after surgery, like others have suggested, she was probably still hopped up on the meds and feeling pretty invincible. It's not unusual for this scenario to happen if it makes you feel any better.

I agree with dharma, a certain amount of pain medication for a dog in this situation can be beneficial.

Other than walks, what other kinds of activities are you doing with her? Is she getting a lot of playtime with your other packmates? If so, that can also be tiring to her, which is why she really doesn't need the walks like she used to. Doing stairs on three legs is also a lot of physical activity. All of these movements really add up and can be tiring for a new Tripawd, so try to re-think the kind of activity you two do together. See if interactive games, hide and seek in the house, and that sort of thing keeps her happy for now. Have you checked out our Gear blog with fitness tips and such? This article, "Why Longer Walks Won't Strengthen a Tripawd's Leg Muscles" can also give you some insight.

 

It's still very early, hang in there!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Kelowna, British Columbia Canada
Member Since:
28 February 2013
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22 April 2013 - 4:14 pm
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Thanks for the post Mica. Very strange as I was perusing posts today and was going to post a new thread asking the same questions as you.  

Tahoe is now 5 weeks post amp, no meds, and in his third week post Chemo treatment #1. Next chemo treatment is scheduled for this Friday, barring low WBC counts.

Like Roxy, Tahoe was quite anxious and wanted to hop and run around about 2 weeks post amp, we were doing short daily walks and he was fine. The last few days, we get the harness on, head onto the road and he puts the 3-legged brakes on. Nope...not going anywhere. So, we turn back to the house.

As for other activity, he does assisted stair climbing maybe 2-3 times/day, runs around the backyard but that is about it.

 

The only other change has been the addition of Homeopathic treatments which were started 3 days ago but this does not coincide with the stopping of the walks. Not quite sure what to make of this,as he has been the 'model' tripawd to-date.

 

Any additional thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Stirling and Tahoe

"Tahoe" - Our Amazing Superman and Best Friend.

Dec. 01-03 to Aug. 19-14

Diagnosed with Periarticular Hystiocystic Sarcoma Feb 14-13; Amputation March 18-13, and diagnosed with STS April-14. Tahoe touched so many people while visiting us, leaving a massive void in our lives. Always Missed, Never Forgotten!!

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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22 April 2013 - 5:33 pm
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Hi Stirling and Tahoe......Just a quick thought.....could "the brakes" in anyway e related to the harness? Have you tried going out without the harness? I know this may sound crazy, but could it be that's he's adjusted so well and basicly does'nt rember life on four legs and the harness is just confusing to him and he doesn't feel he needs it?? I know this maybe a little "off grid"...................:-) :-)

Lots of love to you and Tahoe from one of your many biggest fans! Sally and Happy Hannah

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Canada
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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22 April 2013 - 8:00 pm
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Stirling and Tahoe - interesting that you're experiencing the same thing. And the fact that it's 5 weeks post amp shows that it's probably not a pain thing (which I think is the same case here).

The last couple of days seem to be getting better -- Grandma went with us yesterday and we got a bit further before she turned back. Hubby took her today and she was fine (i'm sure the squirrel she spotted helped) :)

We haven't been doing anything different other than the reduction in meds but she doesn't seem to be in pain at all, seems to just be an attitude thing.

As far as other exercises, I've been doing some range of motion exerises and resistance with her rear leg, and some stretches just to loosen her up.

Her confidence indoors is up greatly (able to do the stairs - down - with little help, and less hesitant to go up too).

I'm wondering if maybe something spooked her on a previous walk that made her more hesitant to go very far.

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