Hopefully that's a light at the end of the tunnel....

It's going to take some time for him to have less pain unfortunately but great news that he's not incontinent or any of the other awful side effects they said could happen. Definitely keep him on the pain meds still. I would wait another week to try tapering. I predict at the end of this ordeal he will be a much happier and more normal little guy. Hang in there.
 
Margi said:
I had him on gabapentin three times a day, and just changed him to two a day, but I think its too soon. Suddenly he's going down very gingerly and ofter jumps right back up to try the other side.
Click to expand...

FWIW I found with tough surgeries like this one it's best to stay with Gabapentin 3x a day. It's not going to hurt them, and if it makes the pain easier why not. If the combo of gaba and Miralax makes things easier, I'd do it. I don't reduce to 2 until just before their recheck and then I wean them down from two to one before discontinuing. I'm glad to hear he's doing well overall! Countdown to stitch removal!
 
Thanks for the feedback re gabapentin. Sharon and Ann! I gave him one mid day today after watching him have trouble settling late morning and will continue the third pill until next week when we see doc maybe at stitches out time? I don't know if they want to check their work so to speak...
 
Glad to hear he’s recovering well! I agree, keep him on the Gaba for as long as necessary at 3/day. Better that he not feel any pain. I think Piper had been 2/ day and we increased it to 3 after his surgery…it helped immensely.
 
Have any of your shelties had trouble settling in for the night during recovery, when they were fine all day long?? I'm exhausted from lack of sleep. He was awake and pacing till almost midnight. Countless times out in the backyard with a flashlight, because in the past few days he has not been going potty in the evening--just one really good poop in the morning. (He had been going twice a day-since the surgery--so this worries me). He was two hours into his third gaba for the day, so that should have kicked in. He didn't appear to be in pain. Everytime I got up he was wagging his tail. Maybe he was just full fo pent up energy and didn't want to go to bed!
Stitches out tomorrow 9 am so one more night, and I am hoping to figure out a way to get some sleep tonight--this is the third night of this.
I don't think I can continue to keep him on house arrest for two more weeks! Praying doc says he can move freely again.
 
I haven't had this problem after surgery, but I always crate them overnight next to my bed when they're recovering from surgery. I have had this with some of my older dogs. You might try giving him a Melatonin (get the ones for dogs, 10 mg I think) an hour or so before bed and see if that helps. It may be that the inactivity during the day is catching up with him as you said. The other option is to crate him overnight. That might help him settle and sleep, it always works for mine.

Hooray for stitches out!! I hope the vet gives you some suggestions for nighttime and gives Benny some more freedom!
 
Could very well be he’s antsy from inactivity. Could you try a puzzle game with him to work his brain a bit before bed? Sometimes that can be as tiring as a walk. I wonder too if it’s also the inactivity that is causing only one poop a day. Can you walk him yet?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ann
I have been cleared for a 15 min potty walk--not just a 5 min potty walk. I am trying to get him to poop on lead, but he is already starting the holding it until he gets home routine he's done for 3 yrs now. He will pee on leash now(yeah!). I'm trying to take note of the time he's goes in the morning, so I will get him out then for walk. I have started taking jerky treat pieces and rewarding and making a happy fuss when he potties. I'm back to housebreaking behavior LOL, but I want to travel with him and if he won't go on leash that is impossible unless I get an airbnb.
His favorite sleep spot is in the hall, just outside my bedroom door, so he is right by the hall night light, Thanks though it was a good idea!
I'm going to try walking him for 15 min as late as I dare to. Unfortunately, dusk is the critters favorite time to come out too. I worry about sharing the road so to speak with the coyotes and javelina and of course my old favorite the rattlesnakes!
Looking up melatonin now!
 
I can understand how important it is to teach the dog to do their business on a leash. I taught Piper years ago when he was a puppy and he’ll still poop on command. Have you tried putting the leash on him in the yard and practice at home?
I don’t blame you Margi about not walking after dusk! I’m glad we don’t have those problems here!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top