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Story: Having a dog you can't lift
Posted By: CarolC
Date: Saturday, 23 April 2005, at 10:34 p.m.
Wednesday lifted heavy packing crate at work, back strain. Thursday took golden retriever to groomer, hour on table, he fell on his bottom trying to get in car afterward, had to lift him in.
Friday night golden fell on his bottom getting into La-Z-Boy, I had to lift him in. At midnight he was miserable, neighbor put him in car, I took him to Emergency vet, home at 3 AM, dog on painkiller asleep on emergency brake, I pulled him out, controlled fall on his bottom on the ground, woke up and walked into house, zonked out on floor.
To bed at 4 AM, up at 8:15 to call regular vet for follow-up, to vet at 9:30. Golden is on Prednisolone, Baytril, and restriction. Supposed to be in small room, didn't have one, not spending more money to buy another x-pen, used old rusty X-large dog crate. He's crated for a week. Had to assemble heavy old-fashioned crate, drag La-Z-Boy out onto porch.
Oddly, this has been going on for a while. Slight foot drop on walks, stumbles once in a while up step to kitchen. Thought it was weakness brought on by kidney problems they forewarned me about. Kidney values are good, that's not it, so they don't know. Can walk but doesn't turn his foot to pads down as fast as he should when tested, and even with pads down one middle toe not corrected. Recheck in a week.
I've called in sick for tomorrow.
Re: Story: Having a dog you can't lift
Posted By: critters
Date: Sunday, 24 April 2005, at 8:18 a.m.
In Response To: Story: Having a dog you can't lift (CarolC)
"I've called in sick for tomorrow." Don't blame you!
He sounds a little neurological to me, maybe a little arthrisis in his back or something. It doesn't seem to be uncommon in old puppers, but I hope he's better soon!
Ideas to lift
Posted By: Karen, Andy's ^i^ mom
Date: Sunday, 24 April 2005, at 9:20 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Story: Having a dog you can't lift (critters)
When I brought Jude home, he was 25 lbs. easy to carry to front door down stairs and outside. Later, he gained so I was dragging him by his armpits outside (smashed pelvis shot front leg) I dreamed up a grocery cart, like grandma pulls (hey, wait, that's me!) and taking off 3 sides, saving the back with the wheels and putting pup on that, lifting front handle and going to porch. We tried so prototypes, including putting him on a tarp and dragging it through a long long house to front door and then dragging him - that's when we built the ramp for the concrete steps, so he wouldn't go bump bump bump bump down the stairs, and Jude weren't havin none of it. He learned to walk.
That's all it takes. MomKaren fiddlin with tools and the animals run for cover, or WE HAVE A MIRACLE!
He frolics now BTW.
Re: Ideas to lift
Posted By: SandyNY
Date: Sunday, 24 April 2005, at 4:50 p.m.
In Response To: Ideas to lift (Karen, Andy's ^i^ mom)
If Jude is only having trouble in the back end, why don't you try a bottoms- up leash? You will not have the strain on your back as you can take the weight with your arms and hands. If you cannot invest in one now, look at them and consider working with an old leash or two to make your own. Another option is to use a beach towel as a sling. Depending on your back problems and the speed of the dog - sometimes this can be cumbersome because they can take off fast! That is why I like the bottoms up leash much better. To get in and out of the car to travel to the vets, examine the car and see if you can devise a ramp or some steps to get into the car. Instead of lifting, my large dog did a lot better when we put scraps of wood together to make two or three steps; then using the bottoms up leash to support the backend, he was able to walk up the steps with his front feet.
 
Posted By: CarolC
Date: Sunday, 24 April 2005, at 10:52 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Link *LINK* (SandyNY)
How short can you shorten the leash part? I want to be able to lift at my hip level suitcase-style, not at my chest level like the guy in the ad. Thanks.
Re: leash *PIC*
Posted By: SandyNY
Date: Monday, 25 April 2005, at 10:19 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Link (CarolC)
With Porkchop, I put the leash on him as it should be. But instead of holding the handloop, I always held onto the part in between the legloops. Will try to put two pictures on that shows.
Re: leash, other pic *PIC*
Posted By: SandyNY
Date: Monday, 25 April 2005, at 10:29 a.m.
In Response To: Re: leash *PIC* (SandyNY)
Even with me having carpal tunnel, surgeries, nerve damage in hands/ arms I was able to hold with one or two hands inbetween or even within the leg loops.
BTW, for back muscle pulls, I just love the old tar back plasters ( some Rite Aid stores still sell them, Made by Johnson & Johnson) Alkl those new Capsasum ones are ok but nothing like the old ones.
Re: leash, other pic
Posted By: CarolC
Date: Monday, 25 April 2005, at 12:03 p.m.
In Response To: Re: leash, other pic *PIC* (SandyNY)
Thank you, those pictures are just precious. I don't have all the carpal tunnel and surgery you do (hoo-boy!), but poor grip strength in my hands and no biceps or thick wrists like Mr. Brawny in the ad. I can see you used it short as I would do. It's tempting to write them and ask why don't they offer another model, short. Thank you very much, and it's good to see Porkie's sweet face again.
Re: Story: Having a dog you can't lift
Posted By: Pam (Riley's mom)
Date: Monday, 25 April 2005, at 2:48 p.m.
In Response To: Story: Having a dog you can't lift (CarolC)
I'm sure I don't need to tell you to watch for tingling or numbness in your legs. I learned the hard way (picking up a mere 25 lb dog without bending my knees) that a herniated disc will prevent you from taking excellent care of your babies until it's healed.
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