These two have my heart…if it's not obvious to anyone by now…I'm a little obsessed with my dogs. That's Angel in the background and Charley up front. I just can't get over how much they love each other too. This picture was taken underneath my desk. Angel likes to hang out there and Charley has a bed in the office where he lays while I work during the day. Charley decided to cram himself under the desk the other night when Curtis was taping up boxes. I don't know when it started but when you use tape or get out the wrapping paper, Charley FREAKS out. He usually runs to the other person who is not taping and scratches your leg with his front paw, which usually hurts. I have never heard of another dog freaking out about tape before…
He had back surgery two and a half weeks ago and I'm happy to say he's doing so much better! They removed his staples last week…can you see his shaved back? And he had his first rehab session on Thursday. It kicked his butt. I felt terrible for him, you could tell he was sore. Curtis is insistent that we don't do rehab or we just do it twice a month…they are recommending it twice a week. I might compromise and do just once a week. I know it's good for him but it's hard to see him sore and obviously in a little bit of pain. Is it similar for humans who have to go to physical therapy? It's hard work but worth it? Ideas?
Curtis is giving the dogs French fries…yes we spoil them and yes we give them human food sometimes. Don't call the dog police, please. (Why don't you see all of Curtis? This is what I'm allowed to show. He hates when I take pictures of him/hates being in pictures…I give up.)
/ Ignore the messy kitchen…eeek!! Since around Christmas, Curtis has been working on the flooring in the majority of the house. The foyer and the living room is done…you can see part of the kitchen needs to be finished and so does the dining room. Next up will be the family room. I need to find a big rug for the kitchen because we get water splashing on the floor all the time. Would love your ideas for a kitchen rug!
/ Things I'm obsessed with lately…
flowers / this liquid soap / these shoes / this diy project
/ Things I want so badly…
mint jeans / this purse in that color (but oh man $$$)
/ Things I want to make ASAP…
potato chip macarons / strawberry glazed doughnuts / these gooey butter bars / black bean pizza
/ Pinterest things (boards) I'm loving lately…
spring makes me happy / strawberry love / inspiration
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diane and todd says
so glad Charley is doing better and hugs to all of you!! Angel is such a sweetie!
Martha Richitelli says
Hi Julie: I have been wondering about Charley , and so happy to see you posted some photos of him and Angel. Tell Curtis he looks good…what I can see of him!! Our Milo also loves french fries. Sorry that Charley has to do rehab, I know how painful it is! Why don’t you try it once a week and see how
that goes. He will be so much better for doing the PT. Our best to all of you.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I’m glad the surgery went well! I definitely think you’re right about taking him to PT. I’m sure it’s hard to see him in pain, but you have to remember it’s for his own good! He doesn’t realize that, but you do!
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste says
Love, love, love this! What cutie pies! XOXO
Alicia @ Alicia Carlson Photography says
So glad to hear he’s doing better! 🙂
Alejandra says
I’m so happy he’s doing better! I would definitely stick with the rehab and follow the doctors rec of twice a week at least for the first 4-6 weeks. (I had to do it for months for a back injury, so I know!) It will get easier and less painful for him, and in fact will probably start to become fun after a few weeks. And actually the process will happen faster if you do the rehab more frequently than not. If there are longer stretches in between, it’s going to be like starting almost from scratch each time and so the pain will always be bad. It’s like if you only lift weights or run once a month–it’s the repetition that helps your body heal. Spacing it out will hurt the process.
Pam Greenwell says
Julie, so glad to hear Charley is doing so much better. I remember when Lily broke her front leg when she was only 5 months old and had to have surgery and a pin put into her tiny leg. It broke my heart, but I had to do PT and put her leg on ice and work it. She would cry and I would cry – what a mess, but I knew it had to be done. Her initial cast was almost as big as she was, and she didn’t know how to walk with it. I so wish our dogs could speak human to us so we could explain the things we do. I hope that what I had to do will help in the future to prevent arthritis and any other associated pain.
Rita says
I agree with the previous comments about your dogs being cute and beautiful and the importance of rehab pt in spite of the pain. The main difference that I can see is that humans understand the reason for pt, and that if they tolerate the pain, they should benefit in the long term. This is the key which helps us endure the pain, but unfortunately, we cannon communicate this to our dogs. If only we could!
Paul Corsa says
Follow the Vet’s recommendations for rehab. I had a knee replacement in May 2013. If I miss my gym time it stiffens up. People who had the surgery and didn’t do the rehab had to go back into surgery to have the knee exercised under anesthetic- dangerous.
For the kitchen consider a padded rubber mat in your work area- they can come in wood grained patterns. Rugs are dirt catchers in a kitchen.
Keep up the good work on your blog.
Julie Deily says
Thanks, Paul, for the tips!
As for rubber mats…do you have one? Any particular one you recommend? Such a great idea, thanks!
cherie says
They’re adorable 🙂
I’m glad the patient is improving – p/t is essential as stated by those above – it will get better – did the vet give you instructions for anything for pain or inflammation? That might be a good compromise – it’;s awful to see them suffer but worse you don’t do it – it will make it better in the long run
Julie Deily says
Thank you, Cherie! We agree with you! 🙂 Yes, he’s on Rimadyl for inflammation and Tramadol for pain. He’s been on both for a while now for his hip dysplasia actually.
Sheila Best says
I vote for PT. Charlie will feel better for it. You guys will be happier pet parents when he does better. Angel won’t worry about Charlie like she is now. Hugs to you and your pups.
Julie Deily says
Thanks, Shelia, for your vote on my side. Hehe No seriously, it means a lot for the vote of confidence. Hugs right back to you!
Harvey Morris says
Wanted to say I really enjoy your blog (new reader) and now even more that I know you love dogs so much. I have four pugs myself. And I agree with sentiments above that you need to do the rehab with Charley. You know him best, so just pay attention to what’s enough to push him without going too far. Generally speaking, the sooner he gets through the PT the sooner he’ll be able to get stronger and in a better place, health-wise.
Julie Deily says
Hi Harvey, I can’t believe I was questioning myself when I was writing this post. So glad I did and to hear from fellow dogowners/dog parents who care so much about their pets! Hello to your pugs! 🙂 Thanks for the advice and for the kind words about my site!
Amy says
Glad to hear your puppy is doing great after surgery! As a vet tech, I’m going to agree with what your vet is recommending – I have seen enormous improvements on dogs who have had back/knee/hip surgery… They really do benefit a lot from it! Especially the underwater treadmills – they’re an amazing rehab tool. Maybe start out with a once a week session, and until charley seems like he’s getting a hang of it, then maybe increase to the twice a week like they’re suggesting. 🙂
Julie Deily says
Hi Amy, thank you so much! I read your comment to Curtis too. 🙂 Charley had an FHO last year and rehab helped just a little bit but we think that his back has always been a problem and was probably a cause of his setbacks after the FHO. Thanks again for your helpful advice!
Julia says
Pardon me while I put on my vet hat: Absolutely do the rehab. It has a positive effect on outcome and long-term function, and you’ve already invested thousands in the surgery. Your therapist should be able to work with you on creating a schedule that works for your family. If you can’t make it twice a week, there is a lot you can do at home.
Julie Deily says
I really appreciate you put your vet hat on and commented, Julia. I read your note to Curtis. We have our homework and I’m trying to work on those exercises with him. Thank you again and you’re so right!
Sally Tews says
It is amazing how dogs love to snuggle and be by one another~our two do the same. 🙂
Would Never call the dog police Julie,but have you ever made their own dog food?
We do all the time~NEVER feed anything that is from China,lost a dog from food that
had wheat produced there.All human stuff for ours~we even make our own chicken
treats in the dehydrator.
Happy Angel is doing better. <3 <3
Julie Deily says
Hey Sally, I’m so sorry about your dog. That’s terrible! My heart hurts for you. All of your ideas are such great ideas, thank you so much.
Dina says
Our dog, jinx, scratches us like that when she doesn’t like something or wants our attention. It can be very annoying. Glad Charley’s better!
Julie Deily says
Hey, Dina. Thanks so much! Charley does that too…to let us know he needs to throw up…so we can take him outside. Maybe Jinx is trying to tell you something! 🙂
Dianna says
I’m so glad Charley is doing better, Julie! And yes, rehab is very important (and worth it!) for both pups & humans. My husband is a chiropractor so we see a lot of this type of thing in patients of the human variety. 🙂 And my grandma (who is 90) recently underwent back surgery and has been in a rehab facility for the past month! She complained about the pain a lot but they kept explaining to her how important it is to keep it up. (She is now doing a lot better.) It is a long process, but you want to make sure that he’s staying flexible and active the way the therapists want him to. Hang in there!
Julie Deily says
Thanks, Dianna! I’m so glad too…and after the hip surgery last year too! I hope he doesn’t have to endure hip surgery on his other hip! How’s your doggy doing?
Thanks for the advice and for sharing. So glad to hear your Grandma is doing a lot better now too!
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
I’m so glad that Charley is doing better! PT is painful, but absolutely worth it. I did not do PT after my back surgery (identical to Charley’s!), and I regret it to this day. Charley’s core needs to get stronger to compensate for his now weaker back. That soreness will go, the more he works at it. Says the mama who is *still* doing core workouts to make up for her lack of PT, 8 years on.
Julie Deily says
Amber, thanks so much for telling me this. This is what I needed to hear!! And they kept mentioning the same thing about his core. THANK YOU!!