Baxter's IVDD

Baxter

Baxter is a black and tan dachshund we adopted from Little Shelter Animal Rescue in New York. He is what we in the United States call a tweenie, meaning he's too big to be considered a mini but not quite big enough to be a standard dachshund. Little shelter rescued him and many other dachshunds from a hoarding situation. He has turned into my little mommas boy. they estimated he was about four years old when I adopted him in 2014. I have been blessed to have him in my home for three years now.

Baxter is a very happy, wiggly dachshund who loves playing in the yard with my other two dogs. He also loves chasing squirrels and barking at every dog that walks past my house. We have ramps for our dachshunds to use to get up stairs and onto the couch. My first indication that something was wrong was his refusal to go up the ramps and he was walking very slow. His wonderfully cute wiggle was gone as he would walk very slowly and gingerly. He then cried when I tried to pick him up. Baxter's right back leg was weak and he would have muscle spasms. His Tail would tuck under and he was wobbly when he walked.  Baxter never went down paralyzed which I am grateful for.

I had a dachshund before that had IVDD so my first instinct was to set up a recovery space for Baxter and make an appointment at the Vet. I took him to our usual Animal Hospital but he didn't see our usual Vet at this visit. This Vet believed that Baxter's issue was in his neck. The Vet prescribed muscle relaxers and cortisone. He didn't want to prescribe a pain medication because he believes that it masks the problem. we however convinced him that we needed the pain medication.

We brought Baxter home and began the first two weeks of his crate rest. At first he was very unhappy. He wanted to be closer to everyone. we finally came up with a way to set up a space in the middle of everyone. He can see us and we can pet him and talk to him.

The first week was very hard and very sad. Heart-breaking really. We had a sling to help Baxter when outside to potty. The rest of the time he was resting. It was hard to pick him up because we were afraid to hurt him.  We and Baxter got through it. The second week was much the same as the first. We did not really see any improvement but keep on with his crate rest and medication.

Baxter in his recovery area

Baxter sleeping with his alien friend.

At two weeks we took him back to the Vet for a re-check. this time we saw our regular Vet. She believed that it was definitely IVDD and refilled all of the medications for Baxter. Those first two weeks were very tough. Baxter looked so so sad and pitiful. I wished I could do more for him. As dog owners it is always extremely difficult to see our dogs in pain. That was the hardest thing for me. I was crushed to see my mommas boy in pain and not being able to do anything more than lay in his crate. I had his crate near to the couch so that I could stay near him and sleep on my couch in the living room to watch over him.

I want to take a minute here to mention a couple of great resources.
1. dodgerslist.com     They are essential for information on IVDD. They also have a great forum to post in to discuss and ask questions. I found them back in 2006 when my previous dachshund went down and was paralyzed in the back end. 

2. IVDD and other back disorders Facebook group. They are helpful, encouraging and supportive.

Baxter before the crate rest began.

Next blog post I will cover weeks three and four of Baxter's recovery.

Thanks for reading. Hug your pups.😃💕🐩🐶🐾🐾 

Summer time and your Dog..

Summer.... wonderful beautiful sunny days. Time to be outside soaking up the sunshine, going swimming, and having picnics and BBQs. What a terrific time of year. We love to include all our family members in our fun activities and our furry family members enjoy the summer as much as we do.

So let's get to some basic summer tips for you and your furry friend.

Time Outside

My furry family members love to spend as much time outside in the summer as they can. They love to lay in the sun and the grass and roll in things that ... well let's just say I don't find as appealing as they do. Be wary of areas treated with chemicals and fertilizers. better to restrict access to areas that have been treated.

Also important in the summertime to use flea, tick and heartworm prevention. When fun in the sun is over or the walk through the wooded trail is done be sure to give your furry friend a quick check for ticks and bugs. always supervise your dog when outside. Dogs sometimes stick their cute furry noses where they shouldn't. Watch for spiders and bees that may sting.

Walks

We all love to go for walks in the nice summer months with our furry friend. My little guys love taking walks around the neighborhood or at a local park. Be aware of how hot it is and plan your walks with your furry friend accordingly. Remember the pavement on the streets in your local neighborhood can get quite hot. Hot pavement can burn the pads of your dogs feet pretty bad. If you wouldn't walk on it with your bare feet it's a safe bet that it will be too hot for your dog. The best way to avoid this is to take your walks in the early morning or in the evenings when it is cooling down. If you love trails and wooded areas make sure to bring water for you and your dog and take breaks in nice shaded areas. For senior furry family members or for those that have a medical issue you might consider a dog stroller to be able to include them in all your outdoor activities.
Summertime errands
With the exception of a fun trip to your local pet store it may be best to leave your furry family member at home. The inside of a parked car will get hot very quickly even with the windows open. Your dog will be at risk of dehydration, heat stroke and death and you will be at risk of criminal charges in a lot of areas. it is definitely safer to leave your dog nice and comfortable at home.
Summertime events and festivals
while some events and fairs may be fine to take your furry family member to a lot of them will not be. In some cases it will be hot and scary for your dog. It will also be very crowed and a lot of dogs do not do well in those situations. My best advice is to really know your dog. If your dog has been socialized to such things then it will be a fun outing for you and your furry family member. If your dog is not good with other people it will only be stressful for you and them. Especially consider leaving your dog at home if it is an evening event that includes fireworks. Many dogs are terrified of fireworks. Leave them safely at home watching TV.
Water Safety
many dogs love the water and love to go swimming. Always take them to safe areas to swim. Always be there to supervise. if your dog loves your pool make sure they have safe entry and exits to get in and out of pool. A lot of dogs also like to lounge on floatation devices just like people.
If you love taking your dog on your boat in the summer make sure to buy them their own life vest in case of any accidents.
Dehydration, Heat Stroke and Sunburn
Always make sure you have water available to give to your dog. I carry a collapsible water dish with me when I venture out on walks or parks with my furry family members.
If your dog like mine is a sun worshiper make sure they are not getting too hot or sunburned.
When spending more time outside with your furry family member it is up to you to set limits. Know when its time for a break or to more inside or have a drink of water. A lot of dogs will just keep playing or running or chasing that ball until they drop, it is up to you to stop for a break.
Know the signs of Heat stroke so you can act fast.

• Rapid heavy panting
• excessive salivation
• Gums red
• Gasping for air
• Collapse

Act quickly to cool dog down. Immerse in COOL water. NEVER USE ICY WATER!!That will cause body temperature to go down too drastically. Using cool water will lower the body temperature slowly. If possible get the dog into an air conditioned room or in front of a fan. You can also use towels soaked in cool water if you can not immerse dog in cool water. Just re-wet the towels in cool water frequently until dog has cooled off. Offer water.

Some breeds are more prone to getting over heated in the warmer weather. Brachycephalic breeds (dogs with pushed in noses) such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers and others are especially susceptible. They love the summer weather and enjoy the outdoors too but can over heat easily. Be sure to supervise any outdoor activity. Dogs that have double coats such as German shepherds and sheepdogs are also more prone to over heat.  

NO DOG SHOULD EVER BE LEFT OUTSIDE UNSUPERVISED.

I find that keeping a little bag of stuff with me can be very helpful. In it I keep things I may need when I'm somewhere with my dog. Now I'm not suggesting you take a big bag with you to take a walk around the neighborhood but if you are going to a park or other outdoor activity it is helpful to have in your car. In my bag I keep towels, a small first aid kit, blanket, collapsible water dish, leash, collar, small amount of food or treat , plastic bags to pick up poop and a few Ziploc bags.

Thanks for reading.
Teri
Next week.... A book review...
Hug your puppies 😄🐕🐕🐾💖