Re: Onset Paralysis
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2021 11:05 am
CarolC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 25, 2021 4:11 pm What a sweet picture! He looks SO glad to see you in that picture. And I see what you mean about the size! That IS a cute pic!!
That's really cool that he's urinating a better stream. It could be the medicine or it could be improvement, or he could be helping when you squeeze. Here is something I wrote about my dog.
I'm glad he got his other pottying taken care of, too. He must have been a little constipated or backed up from being in the hospital and is now getting back to normal. Yay!!!https://handicappedpet.net/helppets/viewtopic.php?p=20225#p20225 wrote:My dog also regained a degree of control so that about 5 or 6 months after her injury she became able to help me as I expressed. This is part of the reason we are able to get it all, because I am squeezing as well as I can but she is also using her inner muscles so we express together. I ask her, "Ready, Freddy?" and then we go, and we pretty much get it all.
You are right about the wraps. Here's a long answer. They were recommended by someone here, and I tried them and think they are wonderful. They are still available, but let me explain the whole thing. They are sold through a place called the Tiny Dog Store, but don't worry, they make big sizes, too. However, when I looked, I saw they no longer made the XXLarge size, which I think your dog might need (but I'm not sure). So I went on the website and found the phone number and called Customer Service and asked. The lady was super nice. I think she was the owner, and a real dog lover. She said they quit offering the XXLarge size because it takes so much fabric to make, but they will make some for you, they do that for customers, they just need to know the waist size. (And it sounds like it's no big problem and nothing out of the ordinary, they're glad to do it.) What great customer service!!
They come in tan or black. When you read the website, I would ignore what is says about weight in lbs and only look at the waist measurement in inches. For example, my dog had a 23" waist and wore an XLarge, and the website says XL is for up to 35 lbs, but Merlie was 55 lbs. That's why I say just go by the inches, not the pounds, if that makes sense.
Anyway she invited you to call her and give her his waist measurement, and they would make some for you. I do not know what it will cost, but you can probably get a rough idea from the cost of the XLarge. I always recommend having 2, one to wash and one to wear. My way is 3--1 to wear, 1 for backup, and 1 for dirty, but I don't have washer, dryer, etc. I machine washed Merlin's wraps and hung them on the shower rod where they dried in no time because of the fabric they are made of. They never seem to wear out, they pretty much last forever. Here is the link and the phone number.
https://www.tinydogstore.com/index2.asp?id=&cid=68 wrap
https://www.tinydogstore.com/cust_svc.asp Customer service
The last thing is, in the photo of Merlin, I had actually altered his wrap. It did not come with straps attached. He was a senior dog and he had to wear a belly band 24/7. Since he was older, he would have trouble getting to his feet, and I would need a sling to help boost him. It was a hassle to have to get the sling every time he wanted to get up, so I finally tried sewing handles onto his wrap. That way he was wearing a wrap 24/7 that doubled as a sling 24/7. I never had to put a sling on him because he was always wearing it.
Sewing on handles works with this kind of wrap, because they lie flat and do not bunch up (unlike the ones with elastic). I should add that I was not using it to sling him long distances. At first it was to get him to his feet. Later it helped get his feet in his wheelchair (lift and drop). Anyway, here is the link showing how to add straps. I am not sure that would be appropriate in a case where your dog is not weight bearing yet. When he can stand a little if you only help him up, then it might be very handy.
The other thing I might mention (regarding making a wrap into a sling) is that different male dogs have their manhood in slightly different places. In some dogs the p*nis is closer to the ribs, in some it is closer to the tail. Merlie's anatomy was pretty far back, which made the wrap with handles work well for him.
https://www.handicappedpets.com/mediawiki/?title=Male_wrap_with_handles