As I was staring at the wall the other day, I was thinking, our pawrents aren’t the only ones who need tips about this amputation business. So, here area couple I came up with to start with:
The e-collar (aka “The Cone of Shame” in the movie “Up” – great movie!) – ughhhhh! Need I say more? So, here’s a trick that worked for me to get F.M. to give me a break from it:
When you’re wearing the cone, smother your pawrents with love! It works on them on two levels. First of all, their little people hearts melt and they want to give you belly rubs and ear scritches and all, and that’s not so easy with the cone on!
On the other level, the cone works a bit like a snow plow (that’s where I got the idea) as you try to reach them. You gotta keep at them as if the collar weren’t in the way (they’ll think you just haven’t gotten used to it yet and don’t know any better). Yes, it’s a bit uncomfortable for them, but it’s for the greater good of our recovery (I heard a vet say that about wearing the e-collar, but I say it’s just as true about not wearing it all the time). They’ll probably put it right back on if they have to leave the house or the room, but oh well. Be warned too, that if you make it hard for them to get the e-collar back on, your pawrents will be less likely to take it off for a break in the future!
Then I have one more tip for us rear-leg amputee boys (or any girls out there who like to pee boy-style). If you live in an area that gets snow, it is possible to raise your back leg to pee – sort of – if you have a snow bank. What I did was get my back foot up the side of one before I let it flow. If you have the flexibility and practice it a bit, I’m pretty sure it’s possible to get some good height with that method. For you new front-leg amputees, Spirit Yoda told me that lifting either back leg was no big thing, but that you should remember to concentrate on your balance, because it won’t be as easy as before.
Let me know how these tips work for you all. Maybe most of you have figured them out already. I’d love to hear more tips from the rest of you – I’m only 11 days post-amputation, so I’m sure there is plenty to learn that I haven’t, and that even Spirit Yoda didn’t figure out while he was here.
Before I go – guess what folks! I might be down to using no more Tramadol! So far so good today. Then maybe I’ll be done with the Rimadyl soon and that’ll be no more meds to trouble my tummy. Maybe that will take care of my shakes finally too, though one theory is my muscles are just tired. We’ll see!
