Lexx seizured last night around 12:30 am...
length: around 1 minute
reduced paddling from normal, no bowel control loss, excessive drooling present.
No post ictal pacing, he just fell asleep on my lap, panting and drooling.
no signs that he's any worse for wear this morning other than exhaustion ( on both of our parts! )
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Training update and improvements
First of all! A TRAINING UPDATE!
its been months I know, but here we go!
I decided that Lexx needs to do a little bit of obedience work. Not because he's badly behaved or impolite, but I'd like to think that being mentally stimulated is healthy for any creature, man or dog.
We cut up some cheese pieces, pulled out his training equipment and strolled to the one flat spot on the property where I used to train frequently.
Keeping in mind that Lexx now MUST wear a halter, I no longer have any control of his head, and NO ability to correct.
We started with some simple focus exercises. At first he was a bit skimpy on the focus, but over the course of a few minutes I built it up, starting with him in a front, then at my side in heel position. Once he realized that there was CHEESE involved, he was much happier to start "lovingly" into my eyes.
We then started working on heeling again. its been so long that I've gone right back to the beginning, re teaching him to spring off his hind end on the first step, to keep his head up and attention on ME. We worked one step at a time. He remembered the exercises well and performed them better than I had expected he would.
We then worked on stays ( difficult because I kept waving my arms around to get the bugs out of my face and poor lexx didn't know if that meant come, or what!) and started working on finishes to the left again.
His finishes were actually REALLY good, and after a few times luring him, he would do it all on his own.
The best news out of all of this? HIS SITS! They are still FAR from perfect, but they HAPPEN! and STRAIGHT! I have noticed lately that his trot has been much more even in the hind end. He still runs weird, but his trot is SO much better. Maybe the strangeness of movement in the hind is being corrected due to his surgery and this makes the sits easier. Maybe his brain is working better and he understands what I WANT better, I have no clue, but I'm happy about it.
I then decided to teach him something new, the moving stand. Its a strange thing to try since its not required until higher levels of obedience, but the move has always interested me, so I thought hey, why not.
Lexx doesn't have a good kickback stand yet ( same as the problem with the tuck sit... doesn't do well with hind end exercises here...) but he does know that STAND means STAND and stay still. I use it at the vet on a REGULAR basis ( being much more regular than your typical dog at the vet), I use it when i'm checking him for ticks, brushing him, or just observing his sutures etc.
So.. Here we go. Lexx FUS.. lexx STAND, drop the leash and I keep walking. Here I expect a little dober nose going mom? what? i'm here? what? Or at least some tentative foot moving, but no... I turn around and what do I see?
A square STILL standing doberman, looking slightly perplexed, but solid RIGHT where I'd left him. wow. WOW. Treats! lots of treats!
Lexx meanwhile is probably thinking, this is the easiest thing I've ever had to do! All I have to do is STAND!
I tried it a few more times and only ONCE did he shuffle his feet forward a step, he never sat, never downed, never kept with me.
VERY PROUD.
Obviously its a random accomplishment, but considering what we've been through in the last few months, it left me feeling warm and happy inside. Accomplished, joyful that Lexx was alive and still capable of learning new things.
its been months I know, but here we go!
I decided that Lexx needs to do a little bit of obedience work. Not because he's badly behaved or impolite, but I'd like to think that being mentally stimulated is healthy for any creature, man or dog.
We cut up some cheese pieces, pulled out his training equipment and strolled to the one flat spot on the property where I used to train frequently.
Keeping in mind that Lexx now MUST wear a halter, I no longer have any control of his head, and NO ability to correct.
We started with some simple focus exercises. At first he was a bit skimpy on the focus, but over the course of a few minutes I built it up, starting with him in a front, then at my side in heel position. Once he realized that there was CHEESE involved, he was much happier to start "lovingly" into my eyes.
We then started working on heeling again. its been so long that I've gone right back to the beginning, re teaching him to spring off his hind end on the first step, to keep his head up and attention on ME. We worked one step at a time. He remembered the exercises well and performed them better than I had expected he would.
We then worked on stays ( difficult because I kept waving my arms around to get the bugs out of my face and poor lexx didn't know if that meant come, or what!) and started working on finishes to the left again.
His finishes were actually REALLY good, and after a few times luring him, he would do it all on his own.
The best news out of all of this? HIS SITS! They are still FAR from perfect, but they HAPPEN! and STRAIGHT! I have noticed lately that his trot has been much more even in the hind end. He still runs weird, but his trot is SO much better. Maybe the strangeness of movement in the hind is being corrected due to his surgery and this makes the sits easier. Maybe his brain is working better and he understands what I WANT better, I have no clue, but I'm happy about it.
I then decided to teach him something new, the moving stand. Its a strange thing to try since its not required until higher levels of obedience, but the move has always interested me, so I thought hey, why not.
Lexx doesn't have a good kickback stand yet ( same as the problem with the tuck sit... doesn't do well with hind end exercises here...) but he does know that STAND means STAND and stay still. I use it at the vet on a REGULAR basis ( being much more regular than your typical dog at the vet), I use it when i'm checking him for ticks, brushing him, or just observing his sutures etc.
So.. Here we go. Lexx FUS.. lexx STAND, drop the leash and I keep walking. Here I expect a little dober nose going mom? what? i'm here? what? Or at least some tentative foot moving, but no... I turn around and what do I see?
A square STILL standing doberman, looking slightly perplexed, but solid RIGHT where I'd left him. wow. WOW. Treats! lots of treats!
Lexx meanwhile is probably thinking, this is the easiest thing I've ever had to do! All I have to do is STAND!
I tried it a few more times and only ONCE did he shuffle his feet forward a step, he never sat, never downed, never kept with me.
VERY PROUD.
Obviously its a random accomplishment, but considering what we've been through in the last few months, it left me feeling warm and happy inside. Accomplished, joyful that Lexx was alive and still capable of learning new things.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY LEXX!!!
Today is Lexxington's second birthday.
I get teary just thinking about all we've been through and the fact that we've made it this far.
He's on an upswing, post surgery dog is doing well. And he's made it... He's still alive at 2. It sounds silly, but there were days when I seriously wasn't sure that we'd ever make it this far.
and here we are.
Happy birthday to the absolute love of my life. Even with everything thats happened, I'm SO glad that you've been a part of my existence for the last two years, you've taught me more than anyone will ever know or understand.
I love you
xoxoxo
-Mom
I get teary just thinking about all we've been through and the fact that we've made it this far.
He's on an upswing, post surgery dog is doing well. And he's made it... He's still alive at 2. It sounds silly, but there were days when I seriously wasn't sure that we'd ever make it this far.
and here we are.
Happy birthday to the absolute love of my life. Even with everything thats happened, I'm SO glad that you've been a part of my existence for the last two years, you've taught me more than anyone will ever know or understand.
I love you
xoxoxo
-Mom
Monday, April 27, 2009
Away from my MOMMY?
Well! since Lexx's surgery I've been home pretty much 24/7 with him except a few hours in the evening when I manage to SQUEEZE in some time in the lab.
Today, for the first time, I decided that he needed to do something NOT with me and Kyle and I planned for him to spend a portion of the afternoon at Kyle's job with him.
Lexx has never really been to work with Kyle except a few random times the first summer that we had him, when among other things he managed to fall into a 4 ft deep post hole and get stuck.
So, we decided that I would drop Lexx off and leave him while I was grocery shopping, that way if it was a disaster, he'd only be there for a short period.
Turns out that he was FANTASTIC. He supervised the deck building process, chewed on his marrow bone for a bit and then passed out in the sunshine.
I returned from my shopping with banana popsicles for the guys and sat around chatting for a few minutes, sharing my popsicle with Lexx.
We then decided that I could leave him there the rest of the afternoon so that Kyle could work later and not hinder my SQUEEZING of lab hours.
Kyle reports that he was fantastic, but that he missed me and sat by the gate with his sad ears on whining for awhile after I left. At one point the wind blew and the gate moved and he got excited that MOMMY was back, and proceeded to be very disappointed when I, in fact, was not.
I got greeted with a TON of nubbins when I got home from the lab, like he hadn't seen me in DAYS
I love that he misses me but was still such a good boy. He's growing up
Today, for the first time, I decided that he needed to do something NOT with me and Kyle and I planned for him to spend a portion of the afternoon at Kyle's job with him.
Lexx has never really been to work with Kyle except a few random times the first summer that we had him, when among other things he managed to fall into a 4 ft deep post hole and get stuck.
So, we decided that I would drop Lexx off and leave him while I was grocery shopping, that way if it was a disaster, he'd only be there for a short period.
Turns out that he was FANTASTIC. He supervised the deck building process, chewed on his marrow bone for a bit and then passed out in the sunshine.
I returned from my shopping with banana popsicles for the guys and sat around chatting for a few minutes, sharing my popsicle with Lexx.
We then decided that I could leave him there the rest of the afternoon so that Kyle could work later and not hinder my SQUEEZING of lab hours.
Kyle reports that he was fantastic, but that he missed me and sat by the gate with his sad ears on whining for awhile after I left. At one point the wind blew and the gate moved and he got excited that MOMMY was back, and proceeded to be very disappointed when I, in fact, was not.
I got greeted with a TON of nubbins when I got home from the lab, like he hadn't seen me in DAYS
I love that he misses me but was still such a good boy. He's growing up
Sunday, April 26, 2009
defenseless?
Ok, I'm going to start out this post by saying that I adore my dog to bits.
However,
Last night, Kyle's mom was scheduled to arrive late at night. We gave up on waiting for her and went to bed. Lexx is still recovering, so we are still sleeping with him downstairs.
Around two am, Im woken up to key scratching in the door and footsteps in the front hall. Obviously it was them arriving, but it was a strange set of noises to wake up to. Now, they are moving around, moving in suitcases, etc etc.
What does my doberman do? Looks up from his doberball, yawns once, and goes back to sleep.
Now, i know that it wasn't a REAL threat. I know that he's still recovering. I know all of this.
But I can't help but be disappointed in him. I really wanted a doberman for the characteristics that they are known for, protective, loyal, defensive. Does that make me a bad person?
Does it make me a bad owner that I wanted this dog to make me feel SAFE and SECURE?
Maybe he knew not to be concerned. But I still really wish that he'd AT LEAST gotten up to see what was going on. I prefer that he'd have barked. Maybe because I secretly hate that she still has keys to my house and I wish that he'd scared her a little bit...
Maybe because I just... wanted a dog to make me feel safe.
Now a part of me wonders if he'd even wake up if someone came in with bad intentions.
However,
Last night, Kyle's mom was scheduled to arrive late at night. We gave up on waiting for her and went to bed. Lexx is still recovering, so we are still sleeping with him downstairs.
Around two am, Im woken up to key scratching in the door and footsteps in the front hall. Obviously it was them arriving, but it was a strange set of noises to wake up to. Now, they are moving around, moving in suitcases, etc etc.
What does my doberman do? Looks up from his doberball, yawns once, and goes back to sleep.
Now, i know that it wasn't a REAL threat. I know that he's still recovering. I know all of this.
But I can't help but be disappointed in him. I really wanted a doberman for the characteristics that they are known for, protective, loyal, defensive. Does that make me a bad person?
Does it make me a bad owner that I wanted this dog to make me feel SAFE and SECURE?
Maybe he knew not to be concerned. But I still really wish that he'd AT LEAST gotten up to see what was going on. I prefer that he'd have barked. Maybe because I secretly hate that she still has keys to my house and I wish that he'd scared her a little bit...
Maybe because I just... wanted a dog to make me feel safe.
Now a part of me wonders if he'd even wake up if someone came in with bad intentions.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
nothing good happens here.
10 minutes I left him in his crate.
10.
I just needed some space
I just needed some time without worrying about him. I just wanted to garden alone without watching him stuff himself full of grass...
He smashed his incisions open. blood was everywhere.
Now, 150$ and one MORE trip to toronto under my belt, i'm at the end of my rope.
I cannot do this for much longer.
10.
I just needed some space
I just needed some time without worrying about him. I just wanted to garden alone without watching him stuff himself full of grass...
He smashed his incisions open. blood was everywhere.
Now, 150$ and one MORE trip to toronto under my belt, i'm at the end of my rope.
I cannot do this for much longer.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
2 week follow up appointment
Lexx had his follow up appointment today with Dr. Kilburn ( who is back from vegas.. jealous jealous jealous...)
He seemed rather dopey and out of it all morning, including when he was in the examination room. Even though I'm obviously hoping for improvement in that department, at least the doc could see what I'd been talking about and didn't think I was a big nut bag.
I took photos of his paw in case he didn't show signs of weakness while we were there, but he did, so good boy proving that mom isn't dumb.
Dr. Kilburn ran some neurological tests on him and was a little perturbed at the weakness and shaking in his hind end, but ironically he seems more BALANCED now (in terms of both sides suck, rather than one being worse) which is odd. He watched him run, walk, trot and sit/lay down. He also tested his reflexs ( gag reflex, eyes, ears, etc) and pain tolerance in his abdomen.
We aren't sure if the dullness is being caused by pain, so he's been placed back on the pain drugs for a few days to see if that makes a difference at all.
Don't you know it, lexx throws up a HUGE pile of grass in the examination room ( lovely) so he's been put on Pepcid to help with his poor little tummy.
His stitches were removed and his head was xrayed to ensure that the shunt was properly placed, which it is. Using the piece installed above the valve he tested to make sure that the shunt was working, which it is. So that is all good. The tubing has actually uncoiled a lot since the surgery, so he's also happy with that aspect.
Ironically, Lexx is looking great this afternoon. Bright eyes, tail and ears erect and alert, trotting instead of dull dragging walking. He's currently napping, but I feel that things will get better and I'm so glad we had this appointment so that I could ask all of my questions.
He seemed rather dopey and out of it all morning, including when he was in the examination room. Even though I'm obviously hoping for improvement in that department, at least the doc could see what I'd been talking about and didn't think I was a big nut bag.
I took photos of his paw in case he didn't show signs of weakness while we were there, but he did, so good boy proving that mom isn't dumb.
Dr. Kilburn ran some neurological tests on him and was a little perturbed at the weakness and shaking in his hind end, but ironically he seems more BALANCED now (in terms of both sides suck, rather than one being worse) which is odd. He watched him run, walk, trot and sit/lay down. He also tested his reflexs ( gag reflex, eyes, ears, etc) and pain tolerance in his abdomen.
We aren't sure if the dullness is being caused by pain, so he's been placed back on the pain drugs for a few days to see if that makes a difference at all.
Don't you know it, lexx throws up a HUGE pile of grass in the examination room ( lovely) so he's been put on Pepcid to help with his poor little tummy.
His stitches were removed and his head was xrayed to ensure that the shunt was properly placed, which it is. Using the piece installed above the valve he tested to make sure that the shunt was working, which it is. So that is all good. The tubing has actually uncoiled a lot since the surgery, so he's also happy with that aspect.
Ironically, Lexx is looking great this afternoon. Bright eyes, tail and ears erect and alert, trotting instead of dull dragging walking. He's currently napping, but I feel that things will get better and I'm so glad we had this appointment so that I could ask all of my questions.
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