The resiliency of dogs continues to amaze me. As you can see below, G is not only getting into a good “hopping groove” but he’s getting to enjoy the “little things” in life. We may not be hiking any mountains anytime soon … but that doesn’t mean we can’t lay in the sun, hang out in the grass and appreciate simply being together. These may be our “new normals” but that doesn’t make them bad.
We are finally starting to breath a sigh of relief. His appetite has been great, he’s getting around well and has almost broken into a run a few times. Grover is known for being absolutely maniacal about incisions in the past. He will even use the EDGE of an E-collar to scrape them open! What skill. This incision is an important one though and we are watching him like a hawk to try and prevent him from doing damage.
We are watching his diet closely. Our veterinarians said the fact that he was already so lean likely played a roll in how well he recovered and that veterinarians are now realizing that obesity has a more negative impact on recovery from amputation than actual size of the breed. Our activity level has dropped dramatically so it’s up to us humans to make sure G’s calorie intake drops too … it’s so hard when we want to smother him with treats! Unfortunately, obesity in pets is a real problem. Over half of the dogs in the US are obese and this can have serious effects on their health, mobility and ability to recover from major surgery. Did you know that if you are working to get weight off your pets, many vet clinics will let you stop in to jump on the scale for free? It’s can be a great tool to help us keep our dogs on track. Dog food is a hot topic these days and one we don’t really want to dive into … but we will advocate for keeping your pet lean regardless of what you feed them! Here is a website that offers information about pet obesity, tips and hints if you are like us and need to watch the pounds: petobesityprevention.org
Grover getting his groove on:
Getting some sun time in the grass
BEAUTIFUL! Grover’s just looking sooooo good, we are thrilled!
And yep, overweight Tripawds will have a harder time recovering. It’s not impossible, though, but it does make their first days and weeks on three legs harder than it needs to be. I’m so happy you are up on the latest pet obesity recommendations, and kudos to your vet team too. Grover is rockin’ the Tripawd life because of the excellent people on his side.
I’ve been following Grover”s blog post and all the great pictures. He just melts my heart with thise beautiful Soulful eyes nestled jn thst sweet, gentle face.
I love the videos. It shows so clearly he’s mastering rhe arr of three. He uses his back legs so skillfully in perfect coordination with his front leg. He’s actually a very graceful, and that’s hard to accomplish as a tripawd!
Grover will, indeed, be able to do everything he did before. Yes, with some moderation, rest stops, more time for strolling and sniffing all the scents of nature.
And you realky nailed it when you said:
“..but he’s getting to enjoy the “little things” in life. We may not be hiking any mountains anytime soon … but that doesn’t mean we can’t lay in the sun, hang out in the grass and appreciate simply being together. These may be our “new normals” but that doesn’t make them bad.”
All Grover cares about is being with you. Sure, hiking with you is fun, and so is sunbathing with you. WITH YOU is the purpose.
Thanks for the great update and pictures. The videos are a great way to chronicle his gait. We are all head over heels in love with Grover❤❤❤
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!