LBB33
06-21-2008, 08:05 PM
Yes, I'm crazy waiting for my surgery to actualy happen. I'm worried about how my dog (german shepherd) is going to act. I was thinking about sending her to doggie camp for a while, but I also want to keep her company. I'm worried about her jumping up and bumping or hitting my foot by accident. Will she understand that I can't take her out and she'll have to wait for others to help out? Will she know that something's wrong? I know pets can sense this kind of thing. When I fell out the front door twice in the same week after my ankle turning, she sat nicely and waiting for me to take a few deep breaths, and eventually be able to get up.
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Tracie1204
06-21-2008, 11:43 PM
I had to smile when I read your post. I am almost 6 weeks Post-Op, and I have 2 Boxers. They are my little babies---they are 2.5 and almost 4. I was VERY concerned about them, right after my surgery---I was afraid they would jump on me, they think they are lap dogs!!!
I camped out in my Master Bedroom for my Post-Op recovery----with a baby gate up so they could not come in. My B/F would bring them in, one at a time, so that they could each have a little cuddle time with me each day---that seemed to keep them satisfied!
But I was very nervous--and still am---about them hitting my incision---and just other wise jarring my leg. But they seemed fine--and seemed to understand--They even had to be locked in their kennels during the day, even though I am home, b/c I could not let them out and take any chances of causing harm to myself while taking care of them. Just make sure she has plenty of attention from the others helping you---I think they realize that we are hurting, and she might just want to be "near" you.
Good luck on your surgery!!!!:angel:
I camped out in my Master Bedroom for my Post-Op recovery----with a baby gate up so they could not come in. My B/F would bring them in, one at a time, so that they could each have a little cuddle time with me each day---that seemed to keep them satisfied!
But I was very nervous--and still am---about them hitting my incision---and just other wise jarring my leg. But they seemed fine--and seemed to understand--They even had to be locked in their kennels during the day, even though I am home, b/c I could not let them out and take any chances of causing harm to myself while taking care of them. Just make sure she has plenty of attention from the others helping you---I think they realize that we are hurting, and she might just want to be "near" you.
Good luck on your surgery!!!!:angel:
emmie54
06-21-2008, 11:54 PM
I have a Boston Terrier so a much smaller dog. It was uncanny how she adapted to my "handicap". She knew she couldn't get close when I was on crutches. (okay,maybe she was a LITTLE scared of them). But she was very "concerned" acting around me until I was up and walking. Ever since surgery whenever my foot hurts, she sniffs all around it and licks the exact spot that is hurting. weird!
LBB33
06-22-2008, 12:02 AM
Thanks. It's great to know other people have similar issues. My little baby (1 1/2) thinks she's a lap dog sometimes too. I think once she understands, she'll be ok. My boyfriend will be around a lot to help out and will make sure she has plenty of attention.
chic43
06-22-2008, 10:47 AM
I have to smile....I have four cats and it was uncanny how they just *knew* something was wrong with mom. They don't normally sleep with me on the bed, they don't hardly sleep with each other in the same room. Would you believe that for the one week I spent in bed with my foot propped up that every one of those cats was in the bed with me. And they were there all day and night as if they were protecting me....and comforting me. They just *knew*....
debbie g
06-22-2008, 01:26 PM
my 2 little dogs seemed to understand. if 1 of them started to jump i would just say no. i did feel bad saying no. they stopped jumping and just came and sat next to me. it was wonderful. i could never imagine sending them away, but of course they 12 pounds each!
Janesfoot
06-22-2008, 02:19 PM
My golden retriever is 100lbs (Vet says he isn't over weight, just huge) of love. When I attended pre-op crutch training the PT said to be sure my dog was in another room when I came home from surgery. She said he would smell the blood and may knock me down so he could check me over to be sure I was OK. She also suggested I unexpectedly drop my crutches (pre-op) to startle my dog, and hopefully he would give me wide berth after surgery when I crutched. I felt mean doing it, but it worked. My dog seemed to understand I couldn't do much following surgery (I'm 6 wks post-op now). His favorite attention ploy is to find a sock in the laundry and to prance around with it in hopes we would come and get it. A couple days into recovery I heard him prancing and knew he had some article of clothing in his mouth. I called him and he came and let me take the sock away. He was getting the clothes from another room and he must have "brought" me six or seven socks. He was a great companion through my recovery, but he seems happy I'm back to being up and around.
skyhighifly
06-22-2008, 04:24 PM
Last summer after ankle surgery I had to deal with a 16 month old lab (85 pounds). He is very well trained and ended up being great. We have a shock collar for him (mostly we use the vibrate option) and when I was home alone with him we would put it on just in case. It also allowed me to bring him out front without the leash, which we rarely use anyway. He always waited so patiently for me to open the door, then he would go through and turn around to watch and wait for me. He would even follow me to the bathroom and lay outside the door until I finished.
I just had bunionette surgery on both feet and I will be going to my parents house on Wednesday and will have to be with him again. I'm not worried at all this time. Animals just know and really DO pick up the vibe from the people around them.
I just had bunionette surgery on both feet and I will be going to my parents house on Wednesday and will have to be with him again. I'm not worried at all this time. Animals just know and really DO pick up the vibe from the people around them.
jean2003
06-22-2008, 06:16 PM
I have a Pomeranian. He is the larger pom about 18 lbs. When I came home from my surgery, he looked at me funny and ignored me. That night I had my foot proped up on two pillows and in the middle of the night he jumped on the bed and came up and smelled my foot and lay at my feet for the rest of the night. He doesn't sleep with us, but for the longest time he would sleep at my feet with my foot proped up. He never stepped on my foot. Even when I walked him with the boot on he slowed down for me.
LBB33
06-22-2008, 10:45 PM
It's great to hear all your stories. My dog also likes to "steal" things of mine so that I'll chase after her. I hope she gets the idea that I can't. She sticks pretty close to me (in front of the door when I shower or am in the bathroom), so I'm pretty sure she'll keep me company all the time. I'll be in great shape as long as she doesn't jump on me in bed. She also has a habit of biting my feet if I fail to take her out when she really needs to. I'll have to make sure there is always someone else around to take care of that.
yakatchew
06-23-2008, 11:25 AM
The concern/ability is not just limited to dogs. I've got a regular ol' house cat and he senses when things aren't just right. When I had my hysterectomy and some knee surgery done (not @ same time) he stayed close to me during my recovery time. Also, when any one of the family is sick he sticks close by that person. Fortunately, he has lost some weight lately tho. He used to be about 15 lbs but is now down to around 12. That's a good thing because his favorite "let me help you recover" position is stretched from my belly up to my chest with his face in mine or his head on my shoulder. Funniest thing.
debbie g
06-23-2008, 05:17 PM
i also forgot to say i have a cat, also. she is a persian and is a snob so only sometimes she sits with me. she will only bother me when she is hungry, but i have helpers to feed the animals.
emmie54
06-23-2008, 05:51 PM
Funny cat story. Our local newspaper ran a story about a cat that lives in one of the nursing homes in the area. This cat will establish a vigil in a person's room and refuse to leave. When this happens the person dies within 24 hours! The cat has never been wrong. It's to the point now that when the cat picks a new person they increase the periodic checks on that person and have even called family in. This happens with patients who are not considered on their death bed either. HOW does it know? uncanny.
yakatchew
06-23-2008, 06:03 PM
Wow, that last post literally gave me the chills.:confused:
emmie54
06-23-2008, 06:10 PM
It was in The Advocate, the local Baton Rouge paper. You might can find it online if you want to read the article. I think it was called "cat predicts death" or something similar. It was fascinating but yeah, a little spooky!
lostmary
06-27-2008, 08:10 PM
Hi all,
Haven't been here in a long long time. Just stopped in to see if some of the old timers are still here. I saw this post and had to add my 2cents worth. I have 3 doxis. I've had over 13 surgeries. Each time the dogs were very careful about my foot, then my back. This last time I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted in my spine, with the battery pack in my butt (this all came about from breaking my little toe. for those that don't know me, this is kinda a quick update, broken little toe on left foot, possible bone infections, picc line for 6 wks, surgery to biopsy, surgeries to remove all bad bones,more surgery, more surgery, removeal of neuroma from bottom of foot, more surgery, more surgery, massive infection, removal of all flesh from top and bottom of foot and on a vacpac for 3 months. 11 days in hosptial, developed reflex sympathic dystrophy from surgery, had blocks, spinal cord stimulator trial, then perm. unit, and in 2 wks they will move the battery from its current position to new area in butt.). each time my dogs have been great with not hurting me. with the back surgery, I did have to protect it with pillows, but I wasn't able to move around for almost 3 months. Even my horses were gentle and caring around me. I really think animals can sense differences more than we can. Animals communicate by subtle movements, not vocal, so they can read us much better.
Hugs
Mary
:angel:
Haven't been here in a long long time. Just stopped in to see if some of the old timers are still here. I saw this post and had to add my 2cents worth. I have 3 doxis. I've had over 13 surgeries. Each time the dogs were very careful about my foot, then my back. This last time I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted in my spine, with the battery pack in my butt (this all came about from breaking my little toe. for those that don't know me, this is kinda a quick update, broken little toe on left foot, possible bone infections, picc line for 6 wks, surgery to biopsy, surgeries to remove all bad bones,more surgery, more surgery, removeal of neuroma from bottom of foot, more surgery, more surgery, massive infection, removal of all flesh from top and bottom of foot and on a vacpac for 3 months. 11 days in hosptial, developed reflex sympathic dystrophy from surgery, had blocks, spinal cord stimulator trial, then perm. unit, and in 2 wks they will move the battery from its current position to new area in butt.). each time my dogs have been great with not hurting me. with the back surgery, I did have to protect it with pillows, but I wasn't able to move around for almost 3 months. Even my horses were gentle and caring around me. I really think animals can sense differences more than we can. Animals communicate by subtle movements, not vocal, so they can read us much better.
Hugs
Mary
:angel: