If monetary rewards were issued every time I uttered the words “don’t jump” over the last 48+ hours – I would be financially secure right about now.
Jaxson was neutered Friday. There were no complications and he woke up with that same goofy smile and happy disposition. #grateful
When it was time to bring him home, I sat with Johnna (vet tech) as she reviewed his “post surgical home care instructions” with me. She covered three sections.
The first two seemed really easy to comply to –
- MEDICATION – ✔︎
- FOOD & WATER – ✔︎
But that third one #saywhat?
- EXERCISE – 🚫
What in the doodle! –
no running, jumping or free access to stairs for 7 – 10 days?
For a brief moment I actually thought about asking them to keep him. Talk about an impossible feat. I felt doomed before I started.
There’s a reason I call Jax the “maniac.” He doesn’t walk or climb. He runs, hops and jumps everywhere and for everything.
Our forecast promises gorgeous weather for the next 7-8 days. Clear blue skies, low humidity and average normal temps for this time of year.
Yet they’re asking me to:
- keep him on a leash
- don’t let him run around the yard
- no racing up and down the stairs
- and no doodle romps with Harley OR Finley from next door #shootmenow
The hospital staff watched with empathic faces as he pulled me through the doorway towards the car. I glanced back at them with a crooked smile, trembling lips and eyes that begged “help me.”
They promised lied and said he’d be groggy and sleepy Friday evening. #not
By Saturday afternoon each sentence I used had the phrase “don’t jump” in it. I’m talking EVERY conversation. Whether it was about Jax or not.
For example. I’m on the phone –
Hi, yeah, I can’t wait either JAX – DON’T JUMP I’m excited about the bridal shower too!
Or, I’m talking to my husband –
Honey, do you want JAX – DON’T JUMP any bacon for breakfast?
Even Harley has had to learn my new language –
Harley do you want JAX – DON’T JUMP to go potty?
By Sunday I was trying different languages:
- No Saltes (Spanish)
- Ne Pas Sauter (French)
- Wala Kuruka (Swahili) #byanymeansneccesary
It’s difficult to contain Jax on a leash and we’re not used to spending ALL day indoors.
With Harley’s help I created an outdoor cell for Jax so we could at least have a change of scenery. I placed an old puppy gate up against the stairs to our deck.
It’s not “quite” wide enough to lean securely against the rails, so I placed Harley on guard duty. His only job was to alert me when Jax got too close to the gate…
He did an excellent job.
When the neighbor came to visit, Harley clung to her for dear life. You would have thought I’d had him in solitary confinement…
Jax was “all over her” but by then I’d given up – I just couldn’t say those two little nasty words again – I just couldn’t…
He broke my heart when he cried for Finley. He watched her and whimpered as she ran around her yard…
I’ve got to keep this routine going for at least another 4 days. But please know he’s doing just fine…
It’s me who’s going to loose her mind #doodlenuts
I am joining the Monday Mischief blog hop brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, My Brown Newfies. The Hop that wraps up the weekend.
August 24, 2015
Oh man, I am not looking forward to this! We have Piper’s surgery scheduled for next month, and I am already nervous about trying to keep my little Texas Tornado still for a week! Your post encourages me to work really hard with her over the next month on “down,” “stay,” “settle,” and “wait” commands! Sending you and Jax well wishes!
August 24, 2015
Thanks Amanda. I can tell Jax is healing nicely because he is moving a little easier. I’ve lifted the ban on stairs today – so no more gate on the deck. But I will not play ball with him or allow Finley to come over just yet. Probably wait until the weekend #ifIcan 🙂
August 24, 2015
I agree, Vets live in a dream world.
We have a fenced back yard and Teddy, (7 Month GD) wants to play in the backyard, the house and on his leash. It’s not getting any better. He walks, runs straight ahead and bangs his collar against anything in his way.
Good Luck,
Rich
August 24, 2015
Rich – you said it! “dream world” I stared at her like she was from another planet on Friday when she told me to “keep him quiet” I love my vet team so I couldn’t be upset. But I’m half way there, so I will continue to keep the faith. Thanks for stopping by!
August 24, 2015
That is the hardest thing, dealing with an active dog after surgery. It’s almost like you have to keep them crated because they want to jump and play all the time. I’m glad Jax is doing great and making a speedy recovery!
August 24, 2015
I want to tie his feet together Elaine like they do with cattle LOL If he would only stay still for a bit. I’ve got a final dress fitting with my daughter this afternoon, I can’t wait to leave this nuthouse!
August 24, 2015
When Bailie was spayed it was just as bad! She was ready to be her old self less than 24 hrs after the surgery and keeping her down was a project. I wanted to play with her too, which Mom said did not help things. Trust me, time seems like an eternity now, but it will be over before you know it and in the long run, it’s only a few days! Good luck, don’t jump!
August 24, 2015
I’m thinking the same way Emma – I figure I’ll eat this elephant one bite at a time – meaning I will only think about the day that I’m in, and not worry about tomorrow until I wake up again. It’s like my own little countdown.
August 24, 2015
When Ethel was spayed, it was hard work keeping her rested in her crate. She’s a fairly high-energy dog, and loved it when she could return to normal and bounce around again!
August 24, 2015
If I remain “still” with him, he is fine, but that is just not realistic these days. I did that Friday night and he slept on the couch next to me. He’s using the stairs freely now, and I’ve been checking his wound area. Everything looks rather normal, so I guess we’re okay!
August 24, 2015
Oh my doodle, that is soo hard!!
We can sympathize, we had Jack neutered shortly after we got him and it was terrible trying to keep him down and following doctors orders!!
Best of luck!
August 24, 2015
It’s a trying experience to say the least DZ but I think the worst is over. Jax has been wonderful, he doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort, in fact all he wants to do is play – so we’ve been doing a lot of cuddling lately. 🙂
August 24, 2015
Oh no! LOL!! Poor Jax! Just so you know, you can request sedatives if you need them. I don’t know why more vets don’t realize that owners with young puppies need them and just prescribe it automatically. I’m sure you guys are doing fine, but I thought I’d let you know. 🙂
August 24, 2015
WOW! I had no idea Lauren. Doodle Doc is such a minimalist I doubt she would go for that 🙂 Jax seems to be healing well. I will still try to keep him as calm as possible for the rest of the week. I can only try!
August 24, 2015
I hope you still have your sanity by the end! I’m glad we didn’t have Mr. N when he was neutered. I would have been nuts too.
August 24, 2015
It’s Monday night and I think I’m gonna make it! I’ve been going to bed at 9:30pm LOL and will continue to do this for the rest of the week. It should help.
August 24, 2015
I can only imagine how tiring that has to be for you! You’re in the home stretch now!
August 24, 2015
Girl – I \’ve been going to bed like a 4 year old. As soon as the street lights come on, I start yawning. LOL
August 25, 2015
Oh no! You are doing a great job at being his puppy mom 😉 The only words of relief I can offer is be thankful he’s not a girl dog. It’s much more serious when they jump after spays.
September 14, 2015
So I’ve been told Ann, hats off to all you girl dog momma’s #yourock!
August 25, 2015
Not an easy assignment. Having very active dogs, we’ve been through it. Good thing, it ends and all returns to normal. ACTIVE!
September 14, 2015
Yes De – I would agree. Some would say it’s mission impossible! But we survived it and he’s all better now 🙂 #thankthedoodle
August 25, 2015
I told you! LOL Cathy, this was hilarious. My favorite lines “for a brief moment I actually thought about asking them to keep him”, and “I glanced back at them with a crooked smile, trembling lips and eyes that begged “help me.”
I also used the gate on the deck trick when Luke was neutered (and later when he had his bad knees checked), but I had to leave the girls on the other side so I could play with them and not have them get out of sorts! I tried some of those Nina Ottosson games to occupy Luke too, but he wasn’t that impressed!
Honestly, with all the dogs I think we gave up before the full time was over (and thank goodness never had an issue).
Hang in there…you’re almost there! 🙂
September 14, 2015
Jan – I’m going to start a petition that puppies should be neutered BEFORE you bring them home LOL We survived the week, and had no issues at all. #thankthedoodle
August 26, 2015
Oh, man, that’s some mischief! Hope he’s recovered by now and can JUMP again! (We totally cheated when our beagle had her surgery long ago. We just couldn’t keep her quiet as long as they said, but she was fine.) It’s hard to keep an active dog down!
September 14, 2015
I’m beginning to believe they tell us all that so they can get a few laughs imagining us trying to do the impossible. I was doomed for failure from the start!
August 31, 2015
I’ll be honest and say that after the first day when the puppies came home, we didn’t keep them still. They healed really quickly, but having 2 puppies in a 4 dog home made keeping them still an impossibility. We were lucky.
Rodrigo and Sydney, on the other hand, were drowsy and slept forever after they came home. Different vet, definitely different meds.
September 14, 2015
Someone wrote me telling me that their vet gave them a sedative to give their dog for the first two days to keep him quiet. She said it worked like a charm! Jax did okay, Doodle Dad was great staying upstairs with him most of the morning while I did other things, then we switched roles. Harley seemed to enjoy the solitude while Jax was quarantined LOL