Jump to content

When Their Interest Seems To Be Waining....


 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi Megan,

CFS has offered some good advice here as have others. Perhaps consider keeping Fergus quieter and stick to on lead walking for a few days until after your appointments. His drive for the ball may have over-ridden any discomfort and he could be at be a risk of doing further damage. If he is cleared of any injury, then by all means go for it and enjoy lots of stress-free, high energy games. :D

S

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 41
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

A little update: We're booked in to see Ray Ferguson on Tuesday and we saw the Bowen Therapist (like massage but very gentle) yesterday. Fergus was very good and relaxed and was lying down, happily being massaged. When she got to his right hind quarter though he started furiously licking her hands (his "that's sore" tell). She said she could feel the stiffness there and started to work the area, all the way down his leg.

I touched the area this morning and he didn't react at all, so hopefully it is loosening up. We will go for a follow-up treatment in a fortnights time just to check on progress, although she said that dogs don't often require a follow up and they respond to treatment very quickly.

Edited by megan_
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hopefully that's the case Jules. I'm still going to see Ray "just in case" and I'd rather waste some money to be told that he's okay than have something niggle at him and for him to land up hating agility.

I don't think I've been warming him up enough so I'm going to put more emphasis on this and maybe get him massaged at regular intervals just to make sure that everything is nice and loose.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm glad you managed to see Deb with him :) The difference in Zig has been wonderful and we had seen a very good chiro, a massage specialist and another Bowen therapist - they either couldn't see what I could see or the effects were only very short term. He has loosened up so much, especially the day after a trial/big training session and is rearing to go again. I take him back to see Deb maybe 2 or 3 times a year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another quick update: We went to see RAy Ferguson this morning. I am glad I'm such a paranoid dog owner because Ray picked up things that my normal vet didn't (who is good for the day to day stuff):

* Fergus had a about of tonsolitis a few months ago. I noticed him clearing his throat a bit lately so I wanted that checked. His tonsils are fine, but Ray pressed around a bit and Fergus gave a throat clearing cough. Ray said that he has a very mild case of chronic (something) bronchitis. Teh crhonic bit only indicates that it is persistant, not bad. He said that if if stays this mild it shouldn't impact Fergus and no treatment would be advised. If it got worse he would be put on the dog equivalent of the puffers that are used for humans. He said this wouldn't be the cause of Fergus sometimes avoiding the jumps.

* He then bent Fergs around like a pretzel and poked and prodded. He found two major trigger points. The hind quarter (which the Bowen therapist picked up too) and his left front, top-of-the-leg area (clearly dog physiology is not my strong point). He wanted to give him some pain relief, some chiro and then take it a bit easy for a few weeks and see how he progresses. He suggested x-rays if that didn't resolve things (because HD can cause this kind of pain too, however given his age and size this is unlikely). I asked him if he suggested waiting on the x-rays just to save me money, because I'd rather just spend it upfront and know where we stand. So Fergs is staying in hospital today to get his x-rays, pain injection and chiro. I really hope I'm just wasting money getting the x-rays done and it is purely a muscular thing.

I'll know more at 3pm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Judi - but Jo is #2, *I* am #1! I just phoned to check on his results, and Ray is caught up at the moment, but the vet nurse did mention that he gave lovely cuddles. He sure knows how to charm vet nurses....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just spoke to Ray - his hips are good!

He says it is just soft tissue then and with rest he believes it will resolved, so lead walks only for the next 2 weeks with a check-up in a week to see how things are progressing.

ETA: He is enrolled for the Greg Derrett workshop this weekend. He'll be in his crate most of the time anyway. It is a handling training session, so I doubt there is much jumping. Does anyone know? I'll try to contact the organisers just in case.

another edit: I also learnt a few things about both myself and my dogs at Mia's seminar last weekend. There is a fine line between motivation and begging, and I cross it a fair bit! She only uses play and motivation when they're paying attention. I also practice NILIF, but once they've done something for me, they get what they want in return (eg when I have youghart, I always make them sit, focus on me for a while then they get to lick the tub). I tried just ignoring them and not giving them any, Lucy tried a sit and then a drop (clever girl) and gave up, walking away happily. Fergus tried a sit, a drop, pawing at my hand, licking my hand then barking and banging on the door - he is very smart and persistant. Because they are good dogs and don't break the rules, they most probably think there are no rules IYKWIM? So I'll be implementing a few new rules (you never get youghart from the tub, for example) so that they know there IS structure, and shenanigans won't get you very far.

Finally, thanks for everyone's help and support - "normal" people just don't understand!

Edited by megan_
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  On 31/01/2012 at 4:29 AM, megan_ said:

Thanks Judi - but Jo is #2, *I* am #1! I just phoned to check on his results, and Ray is caught up at the moment, but the vet nurse did mention that he gave lovely cuddles. He sure knows how to charm vet nurses....

Lol ..... I wouldn't DARE suggest you are anyone other than #1, Megan :eek: :laugh: . I meant his "favourite Jo", not his favourite ie Jo. Sorry for not putting it more clearly. Great news about his hips :thumbsup: .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Megan,

I am glad to hear that there is nothing serious wrong. Trigger point soreness can be treated a lot more easily than a dog that has genuinely "turned off for no apparent reason". It also explains shy he was happy to play ball (excitement will over-ride that sort of soreness) and did not enjoy jumping.

Perhaps you should audit your seminar.

Reintroduce agility gently, and with lots of games, because the memory of being sore will, in some cases, have a lingering effect.

Cheers,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...