SheepOfBlue
Premium Member
Have you considered getting him a fan as a toy? Sounds like it would be a special treat for him 
Tinsel's Journey
- Thread starter Tagg
- Start date
Ontario Sheltie: thanks for the offer. Anything you can suggest to me is always welcome.
Tinsel went back to wearing the dreaded collar and short lead as he was not having a limping problem and I was seeing some strength in his rear legs and right side. His topline looks normal now - well except the bump of hair that was left on after his original "trim". He was enjoying being brushed but still didn't want his nails or ears touched. I could hardly wait for vet day with our awesome Carol. She has such a gentle manner and is a fellow horsewoman so is well versed in soft body language.
He also had to get his microchip done so it was going to be a full appointment.
He was good for the examination, didn't enjoy have blood taken from his neck but I was assured he just struggled. I had no problem collecting his morning urine as he was now used to me coming out with him and petting him while he peed. She swabbed his ears and discovered a lot of wax build up suggesting he may have had mites prior to him coming and the revolution the vets of the humane society used on him would have taken care but thought I should use some Burosol to clean his ears every day for a week just to clean the rest up. His urine was clear and there was no presence of crystals in it which there would have been since he was not eating the right diet. She also said there was no incision so there must have been another dog and mistakes in record keeping. With 527 dogs seized and 90 puppies born post seizure it's not a big stretch to think that there was the occasional slip up. They elected not to trim his toenails as they felt he had been through enough for one day. They were doing a full blood profile and including a thyroid check as thyroid issues can cause the intermittant limping and she had noted that his heart rate, even though he was nervous, was on the slow side. The SOS coordinater also wanted a preliminary heart worm check so that was included. Microchip in place he went back out to the waiting room for a little visit with the ladies and off he went home again.
The next day we got the results. Urine is absolutely clear. Blood is great except thyroid which was low normal. Because of his recent past and possible illness requiring meds as well as his just being neutered we are going to repeat the test in a few months and do a full thyroid panel with circulating T3 and T4.
I spoke to a knowledgeable and trusted friend that has a dog that is currently in physiotherapy and got some advice on working with his body weaknesses. We have started with some light excercises for his back flexability and to strengthen his legs. My favourite is walk up mom and then give her a hug first on one side then repeat the exercise and hug the other side of my face. He thinks he is soooo clever. Well I agree because he caught on really quickly. We have to pick up some little pylons and some dowelling to make cavellettis at just the right height but first we have to get him to walk on a lead so that we can guide him. He continues on his supplement and we continue on his walking briskly through the house. I'm starting to think he may soon be ready for visiting my daughter's house. She will not get all bent out of shape if he forgets himself and lifts his leg but I do want to see what he will do in another enviroment that is a home instead of a groomers or a vets. He has lots of invitations once we can get him over all his studdy stuff.
Tinsel went back to wearing the dreaded collar and short lead as he was not having a limping problem and I was seeing some strength in his rear legs and right side. His topline looks normal now - well except the bump of hair that was left on after his original "trim". He was enjoying being brushed but still didn't want his nails or ears touched. I could hardly wait for vet day with our awesome Carol. She has such a gentle manner and is a fellow horsewoman so is well versed in soft body language.
He also had to get his microchip done so it was going to be a full appointment.
He was good for the examination, didn't enjoy have blood taken from his neck but I was assured he just struggled. I had no problem collecting his morning urine as he was now used to me coming out with him and petting him while he peed. She swabbed his ears and discovered a lot of wax build up suggesting he may have had mites prior to him coming and the revolution the vets of the humane society used on him would have taken care but thought I should use some Burosol to clean his ears every day for a week just to clean the rest up. His urine was clear and there was no presence of crystals in it which there would have been since he was not eating the right diet. She also said there was no incision so there must have been another dog and mistakes in record keeping. With 527 dogs seized and 90 puppies born post seizure it's not a big stretch to think that there was the occasional slip up. They elected not to trim his toenails as they felt he had been through enough for one day. They were doing a full blood profile and including a thyroid check as thyroid issues can cause the intermittant limping and she had noted that his heart rate, even though he was nervous, was on the slow side. The SOS coordinater also wanted a preliminary heart worm check so that was included. Microchip in place he went back out to the waiting room for a little visit with the ladies and off he went home again.
The next day we got the results. Urine is absolutely clear. Blood is great except thyroid which was low normal. Because of his recent past and possible illness requiring meds as well as his just being neutered we are going to repeat the test in a few months and do a full thyroid panel with circulating T3 and T4.
I spoke to a knowledgeable and trusted friend that has a dog that is currently in physiotherapy and got some advice on working with his body weaknesses. We have started with some light excercises for his back flexability and to strengthen his legs. My favourite is walk up mom and then give her a hug first on one side then repeat the exercise and hug the other side of my face. He thinks he is soooo clever. Well I agree because he caught on really quickly. We have to pick up some little pylons and some dowelling to make cavellettis at just the right height but first we have to get him to walk on a lead so that we can guide him. He continues on his supplement and we continue on his walking briskly through the house. I'm starting to think he may soon be ready for visiting my daughter's house. She will not get all bent out of shape if he forgets himself and lifts his leg but I do want to see what he will do in another enviroment that is a home instead of a groomers or a vets. He has lots of invitations once we can get him over all his studdy stuff.
OntarioSheltie
Forums Celebrity
I have rehab/physio experience too (My sheltie suffered from a spinal stroke a year and a half ago). I'll PM you about that too.
Tinsel is starting to show some independance. He is no longer glued to my side when I'm at the computer. Instead, he is over in the corner on another bed having a sleep when the occasion warrants. He also decided it was time to watch tv and went into the family room and waited for us there. His coming out of the crate is starting to show promise but only at breakfast and dinner - still, an improvement. Still no limping so we are working on his lead training. He is starting to walk on lead outside and I'm using a martindale collar so I can ensure he doesn't slip out if he pulls backwards. I use no pressure on that collar though - in fact have a 30' drag line attached to make sure of it. His feet must be tender as he doesn't want to go into the hay field's coarser grasses but will walk on the lawn. I'll take this much as he was just laying down and refusing to move up until now. It scares him when the other dogs bark if someone comes to the door. That's creating a problem with his learning that people are great as he stays away from anyone the dogs have been barking about. He will eventually come back to his bed and will allow them to approach after a while but is very skittish about it. Anyone with suggestions, I am all ears!
I will be talking to an obedience instructor that is a behaviouralist about enrolling him in a class, not to train but for the socialization. This lady has done a lot of rehab - usually has one or two at her house most times - and therefore will understand that we are working with a lot of baggage. She is a bit of a drive though and with it being winter, I am concerned that there could be gaps in attending her classes because of weather. There is one much closer but I want to go and visit her classes to make sure that positive reinforcement is her mantra, not just her advertising. Fortunately, Tinsel is a good traveller. No car sickness so far and will sleep on the back seat. I haven't crated him when he's in the car because of his "I don't want to come out of the crate" routine so I have been travelling on the seat beside him while hubby drives. This has to change though. The trip to the vet was nerve wracking since hubby had to go to the office which left me to take him by myself. Tinsel kept trying to stand against the back of my seat and I was, in turn, trying to get him back on the seat. Good thing my clinic is only 6 minutes away or we might not have made it. He now routinely comes in from the play yard but going out is another problem. He will go to his bed when I ask him if he wants to go out, wag his tail while laying there in a happy posture but will not walk over to the door. I carry him over, open the door and have been backing up before putting him down to make the trip for him to walk a little further away from the door - not each time - but gradually. He will walk into the room with the door when he doesn't need to go out but not to go out. Silly Tinsel! Fingers crossed that we cross that bridge soon. It will make life sooooo much easier! I think I will have to move a comfy chair into that room and sit there for as long as it takes with clicker and his breakfast. My mentors in operant conditioning keep telling me DO NOT LURE but it is sooooo tempting to try when we hit these hurdles.
I will be talking to an obedience instructor that is a behaviouralist about enrolling him in a class, not to train but for the socialization. This lady has done a lot of rehab - usually has one or two at her house most times - and therefore will understand that we are working with a lot of baggage. She is a bit of a drive though and with it being winter, I am concerned that there could be gaps in attending her classes because of weather. There is one much closer but I want to go and visit her classes to make sure that positive reinforcement is her mantra, not just her advertising. Fortunately, Tinsel is a good traveller. No car sickness so far and will sleep on the back seat. I haven't crated him when he's in the car because of his "I don't want to come out of the crate" routine so I have been travelling on the seat beside him while hubby drives. This has to change though. The trip to the vet was nerve wracking since hubby had to go to the office which left me to take him by myself. Tinsel kept trying to stand against the back of my seat and I was, in turn, trying to get him back on the seat. Good thing my clinic is only 6 minutes away or we might not have made it. He now routinely comes in from the play yard but going out is another problem. He will go to his bed when I ask him if he wants to go out, wag his tail while laying there in a happy posture but will not walk over to the door. I carry him over, open the door and have been backing up before putting him down to make the trip for him to walk a little further away from the door - not each time - but gradually. He will walk into the room with the door when he doesn't need to go out but not to go out. Silly Tinsel! Fingers crossed that we cross that bridge soon. It will make life sooooo much easier! I think I will have to move a comfy chair into that room and sit there for as long as it takes with clicker and his breakfast. My mentors in operant conditioning keep telling me DO NOT LURE but it is sooooo tempting to try when we hit these hurdles.
danisgoat
Moderator
It seems like he is doing better and better.
Agility has been a fabulous tool for us with our rescue. She has gained so much confidence doing agility and she absolutely loves it. The change in her personality since she started agility is amazing. She is a happy, confident girl when she is running around an agility course.
Agility has been a fabulous tool for us with our rescue. She has gained so much confidence doing agility and she absolutely loves it. The change in her personality since she started agility is amazing. She is a happy, confident girl when she is running around an agility course.
I'm really hoping that one day he will be strong enough to do some agility. Not at all interested in competing in any venue but just having the playtime with him. We have a regulation tunnel, a couple of the jumps and the weaves here. I guess I'll be dragging them out again once we have solved his right sided weakness and his interittent lameness. Yup, he had a limping episode yesterday.
He's getting better and better on lead walking. Doesn't appear to enjoy it much, well except the treats that he gets during the walk. We did part of the hay field today with Rhiannon. He heard the tractor next door and stopped to look but carried on. The cars are still 400 feet away but he didn't care too much about them either. He is going through a stage of " If you walk towards me I will scurry into another room". If I crouch down he will come to me but all the picking him up to go outside is having a bad effect. We try not to follow him to take him out but sometimes you know he has to go and we don't want it to be in the house so we have to casually walk with him until he stops and then pick him up. We continue to work on getting him to walk to the doorway to the carriage house to go out but unless we carry him part way, he won't go anywhere near it when I ask him if he wants to go outside. He goes to his comfort bed and lays down with his head up and a tail that is wagging, not apprehensively, but like he thinks that is what he is suppose to do. Anyone with suggestions?????
He went down to the groomers on Saturday and had his nails trimmed. He was pretty good about it. He didn't enjoy it but he didn't create too much fuss. Then he got to wander around with two Golden Retrievers for awhile and got a treat from one of the ladies. He also lifted his leg once so he's still got a ways to go with that. Thanks again Meaghan for your patience and kindness.
He's also starting to come out of his crate quicker. Yeah!!!! I guess I'll have to go back to click, reward for approaching a person. Maybe even a target reward for touching a person. Hmmm might just work - I'll let you know.
He went down to the groomers on Saturday and had his nails trimmed. He was pretty good about it. He didn't enjoy it but he didn't create too much fuss. Then he got to wander around with two Golden Retrievers for awhile and got a treat from one of the ladies. He also lifted his leg once so he's still got a ways to go with that. Thanks again Meaghan for your patience and kindness.
He's also starting to come out of his crate quicker. Yeah!!!! I guess I'll have to go back to click, reward for approaching a person. Maybe even a target reward for touching a person. Hmmm might just work - I'll let you know.
corbinam
Moderator
I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to say that I am loving reading about Tinsel's story. Keep up the wonderful work with him
(And by the way, I love his name!)
(And by the way, I love his name!)
sheltiemom4
Forums Enthusiast
Wow!! what an amazing, heart-warming story. So glad to hear he's improving. God Bless You and your husband....
Thanks for all the support everyone. I am not the most patient person with people for sure but I find it easy to be with animals. My mom once said to me that she thought I liked animals better than people and I responded "most of the time". I'm feeling my way through a lot of this the same way I did with my first rescue back in 1979. She also was a blue merle but was an Australian Shepherd that had been beaten as well as neglected. Her problems were completely different to Tinsel's and I have learned a lot in the years since Towyn. Not enough yet so still learning and searching for answers to help him become whole.
Ontario Sheltie, I will be PM you tomorrow. Tonight is a grooming night for the horses so I'm about to go down to the barn. Hope the raccoon that we saw in there a couple of weeks ago was only passing through!
Ontario Sheltie, I will be PM you tomorrow. Tonight is a grooming night for the horses so I'm about to go down to the barn. Hope the raccoon that we saw in there a couple of weeks ago was only passing through!