It's been three weeks since Moxie came home from surgery. Her recovery has been some steps forward, some backwards. When she overdoes it, the next 2-3 days are a pullback to little or no exercise. She lets me know when she's in pain and I freak out for a while about what it means before I can chill out into, "Self, she's in pain, just put her in her pen for rest for a while and get out of her way." Thanks to my angels for talking me down from those crazy moments of worst case scenarios, to just dealing with the present.
The staff at Aspen tell me she's doing fine, and that when she's limping, just slow things back down to bed rest. Occasional pain pills as needed. Major surgery, after all. I don't have to explain who I am when I call now... they all know me -- Moxie's crazy person -- or "guardian," as Boulder city ordinance denotes pet people, (and pets are "companions" rather than property). I do find interesting places to live, don't I?!
So, we go on very slow walks around the court so that she is encouraged to put her weight on her leg. Otherwise she tends to want to be a three-legged dog hop-a-long Cassidy, so she can go at her customary speedy clip, to investigate all those new smells along the way.
We also do leg stretches, massages, and some strengthening exercises, such as sit, stand, lean, and step up's. She gets stinky liver treats for some of these...loves those.
And, when she's laying down, I sit with her and play with her new favorite toy (thanks, Monica!), the plastic water bottle stuffed pig. The crunchy sound keeps her busy for a while, and it's actually preferable to the squeaky toys. Though she also loves those horrendous squeaks...and I suffer them out of love for her.
It's been quite amazing to spend this much time in concentrated contact with her. I realized I haven't played like this with her since she was a puppy. Sure, I've walked with her everyday, and thrown her toys for her...but usually I'm multitasking (phone or dishes or computer, etc).
These days, it's just me and her for hours.
It's a special time.
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