I was PhotoSafari-ing one day a few years ago, when this dog came running out to chase the car.  I noticed he was keeping up pretty good, so I kinda toyed with him, slowing to let him catch up, then speeding up a little, playing him like ya would a fish on a hook.

This dog, a boxer as it turned out, ran 29 mph for a long way, then slowed and peeled off the chase.  That's when I noticed he had only one hind leg.

Luce wrote:

Well, you wouldn't eat a dog like that all at once, would you?

This one is getting her shit together. She's following basic commands and holding her bladder better so things are looking up.

bbro wrote:

  Feeling like a total asshole over here.

You may feel that but you're looking like the messiah to me and the pups, you're a great Mom!
 

Uh huh...

@Bruce - the point is I don't like it regardless of what everyone seems to want to label me.  I do not want to be called any type of mom.  I am not one and I don't appreciate it when people insist on calling me one.

@Grav - People usually say I'm a bitch ;)

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

OK, I apologize. I thought puppy mom was a title of honor.

Apology accepted.  To some, I suppose it is.  Not to me, though.

This week has been nuts.  Tess went in on Wednesday for her knee surgery (successful).  Max decided he wasn't going to eat, so he went to the vet on Thursday.  So, I had to pleasure of trying to get two dogs from the car to the apt down stairs when I had to closely monitor the speed/balance of one.  Tess, of course, decided to stop halfway down the stairs.  We sat there for a few minutes, but she was able to continue.  Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do if I needed to carry her.  Not that I can't lift her, but Max doesn't quite get what's happening.

Extra complications: she hates her crate.  To the point where just being in there with the door open prompts her to struggle to get out, panting, shaking, etc.  It would be more detrimental to force it than not.  I ordered a temporary fence that I can move around the apt, but it won't be here until Wednesday.  I've got her blocked off with the cushions from my chairs, but those aren't very effective if she really wants to get out.  Luckily, she's not really fighting me telling her to lay down....for now.  It will be much more helpful in the future.  I don't think she's going to be out of commission (in her brain) for long.  She already wants to take off when I take her out for potty time.  The vet said they'd never seen a dog as quick to stand up as her when the anesthesia wears off.  

Currently, the worst is night time.  I have to put her in the cone because she WILL lick if I'm not watching.  She does not like it, so she gets up, waddles over banging into every little thing (including Max), and looks at me with tail wagging hoping to get on the bed with me.  So, I have to direct her back to HER bed and lay down.  The problem is she can't turn very well or go backwards, so poor Max has to be displaced so I can make a large circle and get her back to bed.  She must've woken me up 5 times last night/this morning.

Nope, I'm wrong, trying to do PT on her is the worst.  I never know if it's hurting.  I try to take my cues from her, but she's just not into it at all.  It needs to be done though!
I'm actually thinking of trying to get her cut down pretty well while she's all hopped up on sedatives

Her first meal after surgery (the vet couldn't get her to eat while she was there)


Final attempt to stop licking so I don't have to use the cone (and the cutest).  It did not work


The poor dejected other dog causing me problems

Update on the pups:

I've managed to get Max eating by adding some water to his food to soften it up.  He's doing much better all around now.  I think it was a continuation of what the vet said was dehydration making him not feel well, so he didn't eat and drink making him not feel well because he was getting more dehydrated.  I'm going to continue it for a but.  It can't hurt for him to get extra water during a southern summer.

Tess is doing well.  She's being stubborn about eating, too.  I had some chicken and rice in the freezer, so I've been mixing that in with her kibble to get her to eat.  She still doesn't like the cone, but she wears it every night and when I leave the house.  She's getting better with it.  She mainly just lays down and doesn't move much.  I also got a temporary fence I can use to restrict how much she moves around the apt.  It makes her nervous, too, but I only use it when I'm not here.  I think I'll have to use it a lot more the better she gets.  She's already using her leg if she walks slow.  Unfortunately, she always wants to take off so she's doing the three legged hop.  I'm using the harness to keep her better restrained when walking outside.  She's got her two week appt set up next week, so hopefully they can tell me I can stop using the cone  

We took 2/3 on a Catskill hike last weekend. Good times.

bbro wrote:

@Bruce - I make sure to talk nice and not treat it like a punishment, but I don't know if it helps.

it will.

I also hate it when people refer to me as mom in regard to my cats (and themselves in regards to their own pets, but I guess that's their choice.....)

...wonder why no-one uses parental titles for people who have cars or other vehicles rather than pets? Those who spend at least as much time and money on them as one might on a pet (or way more) and call them "she"? Anything to do with their sexual reltionship with their inanimate objects? 

Griff;  Tell us about the backpacks.

Thunderbox? 
When we backpacked in the High Sierras in the 1950's, the hiker load was so light that most creeks were safe to drink from. 
Even 20 years later, cat holes had proven no defense in the shallow soils and e. coli, giardia and more became ubiquitous.